Simple Devotion

Processing with Eternal Filters

2011-11-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In myFather's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. Igo to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I willcome again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14: 1-3

The followers of Jesus were having a difficult time understanding him whenhe talked about heaven. Not ever having heard this concept before, their mindscontinually returned to the here and now – the tangible. They were stuck in therut of earthly thinking.

We are creatures of the same habit. Often in our spiritual lives weinternalize the principals of Jesus’ teaching. But internalizing is onlytemporary. Our focus should be on eternalizing our thoughts and actions. Thinkingin terms of our beliefs having an eternal effect puts perspective on what we doand say. Our vision of life should extend beyond our life on this earth.

God has given us a glimpse of heaven and it’s a picture that is almost toobig for us to comprehend. But when we change the way we think, and keep oureyes on eternity, the concept becomes clear. Are we processing our beliefsthrough eternal filters?

Life is not about the here and now. We must let go of internalizing life.Think bigger than you have ever thought before, then think even bigger thanthat! You will be closer to understanding the kind of place that will be yourhome for eternity.

Be Mindful of Your Seeds

2011-10-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

"And what you put in the ground is not the plant that willgrow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then Godgives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from eachkind of seed." I Corinthians 15:37-38

I have often marveled at the amount of parables and teachingthat comes out of the principle of sowing a seed. The object of the seed isused by Jesus to make many different points of great meaning. It’s a wordpicture that is easy for us to understand and relate to our lives.

Today, as I read scriptures about the parables of seeding, Ithought about my husband and the way he farms his wheat land. He is a goodfarmer, and always does a great job at doing all the proper things in theproper order. It’s imperative for us to reap a good crop every year. But Iwonder what would happen if by some careless mistake my husband planted all thewrong seeds?

What would he do? Would he tear up the entire field to startall over with the planting process? Cost prohibitive. Would he just takewhatever plant happened to grow and make something out of it? Most unlikely.Would he have a nervous breakdown? Probably.

Seriously, I think my own parable tells us that we should becareful what seeds we are planting. They will grow, they can’t help it. Butwhat will they produce? I want only the best and most productive seeds plantedin my life. I never want my farming efforts to be in vain, producing a productthat will offend, mislead, or damage someone else. I want to help feed theworld with good fruit. I know you do too. Be mindful of your seeds – before youplant them.

Dear Lord, bless my seeds and make them into fruit You canuse. Forgive me when I am careless.

Oh, the Heart...

2011-09-06T20:40:00.001-07:00

1 Samuel 16:7

“But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or hisheight, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looksat. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Why is this such a hard concept to grasp? I don’t know verymany people who don’t struggle with this reality on a daily basis. We don’thave to be obsessed with self to forget the importance of a clean heart. Wedon’t have to be overly vain or self-centered to fool ourselves into thinkingthe condition of our heart is under lock and key – not visible to God or anyoneelse.

God looks at our heart because He knows therein lies ourtrue self. The condition of that vital “organ” is the barometer for everythingelse we do and say. If it is covered with layers of fear, bitterness,unforgiveness, jealousy or even indifference, the heart will be uglier than anyimaginable disfigurement of our outward appearance.

When beauty, youth and robustness are the standards we useto measure our value or someone else’s value, we are dangerously missing themark. I say dangerous because when we are distracted from the true measure of aman, we cannot meet their needs. We may miss what God is calling us to do inand for the world.

Pray every day for the eyes of discernment – the eyes thatsee others as God sees them. And even to see our own hearts for the conditionthey are in. Only then can we effectively make an eternal difference.

Put on the Armor

2011-06-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

“But to do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval. Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit – which is the Word of God.” LIVING BIBLE

When I read this scripture, I think of an old movie I saw with Roman soldiers. I wondered how they could possibly fight in a battle with all that heavy, metal gear. How could they even stand up?! The Bible tells us to “put on the full armor of God” – but this kind of armor won’t weigh us down. Its purpose is to aid and protect us in the battle. Yes, we are in a battle every day. Satan will try to throw things at us to make us stumble and fall away from God. He will invade our minds to plant lies and seeds of discouragement. The influences of the world around us will quietly wear us down.

Truth, righteousness, the good news of peace, faith, salvation, and God’s word, are all parts of the armor God gives us to win the battles. Truth gives us stability to stand. Righteousness is God’s goodness in us – it shelters our heart, which is so vulnerable. The good news will give you sure footing and a reason to fight. Faith – our belief in God and His promises – is the shield that makes the temptations and other things that may hurt us bounce right off. Salvation, which is our hope, keeps us pointed in the right direction. God’s word is the ammunition we need to keep fighting. It’s all there anytime we want to put it on. We never have to go into battle unprepared or alone. God is faithful.

Mothers, teach your children to put on the armor each day before they enter the world. Their tender little hearts need the protection while they are away from your care.

Blessings all!

Now I know why...

2011-01-21T17:45:00.000-08:00

As I sat staring at the scenery around Sedona, Arizona today, I had a revelation. No, I didn't see a vision, or an angel or hear the voice of God. But I did come to realize something important to understanding God's character.

He did not create all of this magnificent beauty for himself. He has the universe, the galaxy and beyond to behold. He created this earthly beauty for us to enjoy. He knew we would need something to catch our eye in a big way - something to be in awe of - something we can actually touch, feel and admire to the fullest.

It's like a father who wants to bring home the best toy he can find for his precious child. Something that will make him smile and squeal for joy. He loves his children enough to do some of his best creating just for us.

I saw some of that creation today and I appreciate it more than ever before. Especially now that I realize why it's there.

Because He loves me.

Following Instruction

2011-01-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

“I take joy in doing your will, my God,

for your instructions are written on my heart.”

Psalm 40:8

Whose vision are you living? Is it someone else’s vision, or one that God has given to you personally? Are you trying to live out someone else’s direction?

God has instruction for all of us. He speaks to us individually—writing dreams and visions on our hearts. They are meant just for us—tailored to suit our gifts and personality.

How will we know his direction unless we hear his voice and answer his call? It takes practice in stillness, expecting and listening. Many of us have poor listening skills and are not good at waiting to hear God speak. Yet his words are life, and following his instructions brings joy.

Just as the compass points us in the right direction, God shows us the right path we are to take. We only need to pay attention to the teacher and guide. He will never lead us astray.

Jesus, through patience and stillness, I will listen to your direction.

Look no further..it's all here.

2011-01-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

"It is ironic how we stretch our imagination and seek extraterrestrial life forms with unique qualities in the dark vastness of space, when in essence they are amongst us in the light of day. Those mysterious life forms we call animals." P.A. Rittler

This is a strange quote to find on a devotional blog, I know. You may be wondering what in the world it has to do with anything spiritual. Let me explain.

We took our grandchildren to the zoo the other day. Once again I saw strange and mysterious creatures, some are beyond my ability to describe. As I walked through and examined the variety of life forms, I was again struck with the awesomeness of a creative God. No human mind could ever contrive such intricate uniqueness in this world and beyond. We serve a Creator that knows how much we need to explore and seek. He has provided enough interest here to last a lifetime of discovery.

Psalm 111:4 (Amplified Bible)

"He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious, merciful, and full of loving compassion."

It was his pleasure to create this wondrous world for us. Sometimes it's best just to look in your own back yard before wandering beyond to satisfy your longing. Let us praise Him for his creative gifts.

Respect for Mary and Joseph

2010-12-20T17:51:00.000-08:00

I sang a song in church a few weeks ago that was in Mary's point of view. I had to stop and remind myself that her situation was indeed unique and certainly different from the others in the stable that night. The other observers could admire, adore, worship and walk away. Mary and Joseph however were Jesus' parents - they had to stay and bear the burden of rearing the Son of God.

They knew Jesus would have a difficult road ahead. They could not afford all the dreams and hopes for their child as we do for ours. They could only love him from afar - knowing that Jesus was not really theirs to possess.

When I think of the sacrifice that Mary and Joseph made, it humbles me. Although many others in the bible made the ultimate sacrifice for Christ, his parents had a special heartbreak to endure. They did not choose - they were chosen. They did the job that God asked of them. Then slipped away into obscurity, losing their child to the world.

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord, let us also take heed of the example left to us by his parents. There are lessons in obedience and humility and sacrifice to be learned from these two figures in the manger.

Merry Christmas.

Science vs Revelation

2010-12-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

"Science is showing that you and I are crafted with astonishing precision so that we can, on occasion, peer into a spiritual world and know God. And rather than dispel the spiritual, science is cracking it open for all to see." Barbara Hagerty

I sometimes get discouraged at the efforts the world is making to erase God from the hearts and minds of people. We hear the negative theology shouted that man is his own creation, or that we are here by sheer accidents of nature.

The whisper of the enemy tells me that soon everyone will be convinced that God never existed at all. This is the lie of all lies.

The smarter man gets, the more likely he is to prove God does exists and that He alone is responsible for the galaxies and beyond. Man can't help it - he has a inborn need to discover. And the only real thing there is to discover is God. Behind and underneath everything is God - waiting to be exposed. It's only a matter of time before all the scientific maneuvering will make the crack that God will shine through.

We need never fear that "they" will win. We already know who holds the victory.

Whom do you fight and with what???

2010-11-18T18:06:00.000-08:00

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age..."
Ephesians 6:11 & 12

I must admit that I have a hard time remembering this admonition. When people are in my face or I have been thwarted on every side when Im just trying to do good, I want to jump in and fight with someone.

But our fight is not with people, it's with the influences, powers and darkness of this crazy world we live in. Why do I continually take on battles that are not fought in the natural? And why do I not consistently put on the armor of God? Pride? Laziness?

We are distracted from out post by all the little battles in our lives when we should be standing guard where God has positioned us. What more can we ask? He gives us a commission, armor, ammunition and a cause for which to fight.

Let us answer the call to fight the right battles in the right way. Anything else is a waste of time and effort.

Can You Hear Him?

2010-10-24T07:49:00.000-07:00

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16

How does God speak to us? Can He speak to someone who hasn't received Him?
Do you remember as a child attaching a long string to 2 tin cans and using it as a telephone to your buddy?

Our connection to God is a Spirit to spirit one. The string that connects us to God is his Spirit living in us. He cannot speak to our flesh or our reason - they dont have God in them. But our spirit is indwelled with God's spirit when we commit to communion with Him - receiving Him into our life.

Our flesh and reason is under our command - we have the power through Christ to make them obey and come into line. But our spirit is the temple where God speaks. If we aren't in tune with our spirit, we won't be listening for his voice. We must find Him where He is and then listen.

Can you hear Him? Tighten up that string.

Are You Being Taught or Made?

2010-10-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

"We are inclined to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching. In actual fact, it is to be turned into something even better than teaching, namely, character. The mountaintop is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something. There is a terrible trap in always asking, “What’s the use of this experience?” We can never measure spiritual matters in that way. The moments on the mountaintop are rare moments, and they are meant for something in God’s purpose."
Oswald Chambers/My Utmost For His Highest

What a profound statement this is. Many of us tend to think in terms of God teaching us rather than Him making us. Anyone can teach...only God can make.

My husband and I had a discussion last night about Christians who never do anything. By that I mean they are content to be saved and in their own little world without impacting those around them in any significant way. I find it hard to relate to people like that. There is so much to be done and so many opportunities to reach out and make a difference. If we are truly letting God make us into his image, how can we not do something?

Maybe my impact isn't as big as I would like it to be, but I cannot just sit on what I know. I don't want to just be taught, I want to be made.

Run to the Most High God

2010-09-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

“Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘You are my place of safety and protection.’ You are my God and I trust you.”

Psalm 91:1-2

How many times have we been rescued by God? We cry HELP when we are in trouble or don’t know where to turn. He is faithful to cover us, and protect us from ourselves. I personally can’t imagine how to live without his sheltering arm.

But I’m not sure God’s children fully comprehend the magnitude of that protection. The arm of our Creator is broader and longer than our minds can fathom. The fact that He would outstretch it just for me is an expression of his loving character. All I need to do is to go to Him, trusting He will do as He says.

It’s not that God needs to acknowledge us, He does that in ways we don’t even realize. But when do we acknowledge Him? Only when we need help? Only when danger lurks? He is ready to gather us in every minute of every day. He watches and faithfully guides all who look to Him.

As a child, I knew my parents would be there if ever I needed them. When I was in danger, I would run to them. Our Heavenly Father waits like a caring, protective parent. But his power to protect is mighty. Our praise and thanksgiving should rise up accordingly, for his shelter is undeserved.

Hope of Heaven

2010-09-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

"In my Father's House are many mansions." John 14:2

I read in a devotional today that "If you have a well grounded hope of Heaven you are never really unhappy."

I had to think about that for a minute. I have always believed in my home in Heaven - since I accepted Christ as Savior. But there have been many days when I have been truly unhappy. I know of many other Christians that live with fleeting happiness, struggling to hang on to joy. So how do we fit in to that statement?

The key is the "well grounded" part. Hope of Heaven is to be rooted deep in us. We must think of ourselves as eternal beings. I know in my spirit that this earth is not my home and that God has prepared a place for me. I often joke about hoping there will be pristine golf courses to play on!

I only have to bring that hope to mind and my mood lifts. But I also know that if I had not that hope, I would be experiencing a certain kind of unhappiness that I never want to know. I need to thank God every day for my future home. That's what will keep my hope well grounded.

Be Still? Right.

2010-09-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you invited God's Holy Spirit to guide your day? Too often, I forget to do it. But this morning, as I tried to start my day, I lifted my voice to heaven and asked what I was supposed to do. My project list is getting longer by the day and my ability to concentrate has been compromised lately.

Then here is the devotional verse today from an old devotional book I use. Psalm 46:10:
"Be still and know that I am God."

"But I don't want to be still, God," I protested. "I have so much writing and other things to do."

Then I read more: "How often have we thought and said 'I have so much to do, I do not know how I will ever get it all done!' But then have we analyzed what we have to do and why we have to do it?"

Ok. I got the message. It was time to be still, rest, and let God take care of my list of projects. My body is tired and my mind was feeling the effects of it. But I was obedient and didn't push the day.

It's a good thing God can make up for lost time.

The Gift of Dreams

2010-08-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

"In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you." Romans 12:6

God has given you your gifts. You didn't choose them. Your gifts are essential to finding God's will for your life and you will find fulfillment in them.

If you are a new creature in Christ and are in communication with his Holy Spirit, you will begin to notice desires and ideas that point you to a dream. If you are trusting God, you can trust Him to point you to your destiny. Your heart's desires is what He uses to motivate you to doing what you were destined to do.

If you aren't sure what your dreams are...ask God and then listen. Be still and hear what He is calling you to. Your dream will only make sense when you have heard from Him and implemented his plan for you. Your dream is your own, designed just for you.

Stay with it - take courage when all seems for naught.

God Sees The Heart

2010-08-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

1 Samuel 16:7

“But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Why is this such a hard concept to grasp? I don’t know very many people who don’t struggle with this reality on a daily basis. We don’t have to be obsessed with self to forget the importance of a clean heart. We don’t have to be overly vain or self-centered to fool ourselves into thinking the condition of our heart is under lock and key – not visible to God or anyone else.

God looks at our heart because He knows therein lies our true self. The condition of that vital “organ” is the barometer for everything else we do and say. If it is covered with layers of fear, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy or even indifference, the heart will be uglier than any imaginable disfigurement of our outward appearance.

When beauty, youth and robustness are the standards we use to measure our value or someone else’s value, we are dangerously missing the mark. I say dangerous because when we are distracted from the true measure of a man, we cannot meet their needs. We may miss what God is calling us to do in and for the world.

Pray every day for the eyes of discernment – the eyes that see others as God sees them. And even to see our own hearts for the condition they are in. Only then can we effectively make an eternal difference.

Lullaby CD winner......and thought for the day.

2010-07-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Jeanette....I hope your friend enjoys the CD.

Thought for the day:

The path of least resistance isn't always the best way. It's resistance that builds muscle, holds the earth in place (gravity), and keeps us walking upright.

Blessings.

Don't Get Ahead of God

2010-07-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

Here's what I learned today:

1. Do not be afraid.

2. Take your station.

3. The Lord shall do battle for you.

4. You shall keep still.

This is what Moses told his desert wanderers when they were ready to revolt. Waiting for God's plan for our lives can be frustrating. We want to jump ahead and make things happen. But our actions just might delay our dreams and God's call on our life even further.

I'm learning to wait...have a ways to go. How about you?

The four points were taken from a DVD by Joseph Bentz titled "When God Takes Too Long"

Lullaby CD GIVEAWAY

2010-07-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

In 2008 I wrote, performed and professionally recorded a lullaby CD. My daughter had been suggesting it for several years and I finally did it.

It was a labor of love and I enjoyed every minute of the process. I especially liked it when my little grandchildren showed their approval.

God gives us all certain gifts. We may only use them for a season, or we may make a life journey of them. But they are meant to be used. My heart's desire has always been to have my gifts glorify the One who gave them to me. Even when I'm unsure of my abilities, I listen to my heart and am once again reminded of the mission He has given me. Singing is only one of the things He has for me to do, but I will be faithful to it as long as He requires it of me.

What about you? Do you have a gift lying dormant? Have to let God encourage you to use it?

If you would like to win a copy of this CD, leave a comment with your email address and I'll contact you. I will choose the winner by next Wednesday (28th). You may listen to a sample of the CD on my website: http://www.jancline.net/.

Sweet dreams & blessings.

Plant the Right Seeds

2010-07-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed.
I Corinthians 15:37-38

I have often marveled at the amount of parables and teaching that comes out of the principle of sowing a seed. The object of the seed is used by Jesus to make many different points of great meaning. It’s a word picture that is easy for us to understand and relate to our lives.

Today, as I read scriptures about the parables of seeding, I thought about my husband and the way he farms his wheat land. He is a good farmer, and always does a great job at doing all the proper things in the proper order. It’s imperative for us to reap a good crop every year. But I wonder what would happen if by some careless mistake my husband planted all the wrong seeds?

What would he do? Would he tear up the entire field to start all over with the planting process? Cost prohibitive. Would he just take whatever plant happened to grow and make something out of it? Most unlikely. Would he have a nervous breakdown? Probably.

Seriously, I think my own parable tells us that we should be careful what seeds we are planting. They will grow, they can’t help it. But what will they produce? I want only the best and most productive seeds planted in my life. I never want my farming efforts to be in vain, producing a product that will offend, mislead, or damage someone else. I want to help feed the world with good fruit. I know you do too. Be mindful of your seeds – before you plant them.

Dear Lord, bless my seeds and make them into fruit You can use. Forgive me when I am careless.

A Very Present Help

2010-07-15T13:33:00.001-07:00

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. That is, in Christ, he chose us before the world was made so that we would be his holy people—people without blame before him. Because of his love, God had already decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and what pleased him, and it brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely, in Christ, the One he loves. In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God's grace.

Ephesians 1:3-7

What does crisis do to your faith? Does it shake it to the core, or does it reveal to you how big your God is? If God is who He says He is, then He’s the same in crisis or in calm.

Our level of security plays a big part in how we manage our faith in difficult times. If we are secure in God and his promises, we will stand firm in the midst of the storm. When we know who hold our lives in balance, we need not run scared from a battle.

When we are insecure about who we are in God, our relationship with Him won’t be deep enough to learn to trust Him above anything else. The Bible tells us that we are loved, chosen, redeemed and blessed. He has adopted us by his choice and takes his parenthood seriously—but do we?

When a child is secure in knowing his daddy will protect him, feed him, forgive and prefer him, there is strength to take on the world. The bond that trusting brings to a relationship is a valuable thing, and God gives us every opportunity to share in that trust. Our daddy is faithful and gracious in good times and crisis. That’s enough to rest in for a lifetime.

Lord, I am grateful for the chance to be your child. Thank you for choosing me.

Watch Out for the Sneaker

2010-07-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

" So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded."
I Thessalonians 5:6

The Bible tells us that Satan comes as a roaring lion seeking to destroy and steal. But he also comes as silent darkness, trying to deceive us and cover us with doubt, fear and turmoil. It would be nice to have a roar to warn us of his impending doom, but the truth is he knows when to slither into our thoughts and turn them away from the positive.

You may have heard the expression "sneaker waves" when hearing about certain beaches around the world. They are waves that sneak up on you and either knock you down or sweep you back into the ocean. If you aren't on your guard these silent sweeping waters can be scary.

It can be the little things we aren't paying attention to that grow behind our backs. Then when we finally turn around, it's very large--hanging like a huge wave about to crash down on us. But we have our personal alarm to sound the danger. The Holy Spirit watches even when we don't and gives us that gentle nudge when Satan is sneaking up on us. All we have to do is turn into the right frequency.

It's like the severe weather alerts on the radio. They can save your life, but you must have the radio on and your ear tuned in to listen.

Let's be watching for those sneakers in our midst. We might save ourselves some danger.

Our Nation Under God Quotes

2010-07-05T16:07:00.000-07:00

"I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection; that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another....and finally that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation."
George Washington

"Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God....What a Utopia, what a Paradise would this region be."
John Adams

God Bless our nation UNDER GOD. Happy Birthday America.

Blessed is the giver

2010-06-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

“And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.” Heb. 7:7

Have you ever felt like your efforts to guide, counsel and love someone who needs help have gone unnoticed and unappreciated? There are times in our lives when we feel led to pour all our heart and wisdom into someone who is in a difficult circumstance – either spiritually, mentally or physically. We pray, we give, we love. We get involved because we care enough to want to see that person whole. The cost to us is not taken into account, but sometimes that cost is higher in the end than we anticipated.

But there is someone who notices our sacrifices and offerings of support. Jesus calls us to be like Him, and any time we reach out in love and concern, we are showing Jesus to the world – even if it’s just our own little sphere of influence. It still brings Him honor and glory to extend grace, mercy and love, even when we aren’t rewarded with so much as a “thank you”.

God is the One we hope to please. He understands that giving the blessing is more important than getting one. He is our supreme example. Don’t be afraid to move forward with what you have to offer others. God will see and say “well done.”

Lord, humble me to serve you better. Let me not be hindered by pride or jealousy.

Yes Lord

2010-06-26T06:42:00.001-07:00

I can just see Ananias shaking in his sandals! The Lord has just asked him to rescue the zealous enemy of the early Christian church, and Ananias was clearly apprehensive to say the least. I greatly admire this man. He was just an ordinary guy, minding his own business when out of nowhere God speaks this rather large request. He may have hesitated, but he did go.

I wonder if Ananias realized just how important a job he was about to do. Isn’t it just like humanity to argue with God when approached with this kind of proposition? But this was a formidable foe, this Saul. I think I would have tried much harder to get out of the deal! But Ananias was obedient and did as he was told – not even knowing what this all meant to the advancement of the church.

Are our hearts primed to hear God’s voice? It takes spiritual awareness and practice to know that voice speaking in your spirit. And how many of us would go where He asked us to go, even though it means possible danger? Are we ready to take on the burden of doing the tough job if we are asked? If we were as in tune with God as Ananias, and we were as obedient, we could change the world.

I would like to think I’m among the many Christians with a heart to serve God whenever and wherever. I know that I’m still learning to hear his voice and be obedient. If the work of God is to be done, we must answer “yes Lord.” He will prepare the way and stay with us through it all. Draw courage from the experience you have that tells you God is faithful. Ananias did, and see how incredibly he was used!

Lord, I want to say yes to you. Teach me how to recognize when you are calling me. Thank you for using even the meek and lowly for your glory.

Just Say No

2010-06-21T07:39:00.001-07:00

“And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.”

Mark 6:31

It’s difficult to escape the “yes syndrome” in this age of busy lives and abundance of opportunities for everyone in the family. Most of us find it hard to say no, especially when it’s presented as a need that only you can fill. But it’s a discipline that must be learned in order to preserve the best of you for the things God would have you do.

Even Jesus escaped the crowds from time to time. They brought to him their pleas and requests for help. He couldn’t reach them all, and at times had to put distance between himself and the agendas of others. He said no to some good things in order to say yes to the right things. Not all good things are right for you to do. Rest is an essential element to our effectiveness.

It’s understandable to want to avoid guilt and keep up appearances to your friends and church family. But saying yes to everything that comes along may take you away from the real calling God has for your life. The devil would like nothing better than for you to be so distracted by your obligations and commitments that you forget the purpose God has for your time and energy.

Take time to evaluate your priorities and ask God to help you know where He wants your energy to go. He can make peace and sense of the merry-go-round of our lives and bring about more fruit for blessings.

My Pile of Sticks

2010-06-17T09:29:00.000-07:00

Ever play a game of Pick Up Sticks where each player has his own pile and the other player advises him on which stick to pick up so as not to disturb the rest of the pile. You could advise them according to what pattern works for you, but that may not work for the other person's pile. Their configuration of sticks may be designed a bit differently. It would be best to tell them to to use their own plan - especially if it is led by God.

Most of us offer advise based on own own experiences and life configuration. The patterns of our lives may not be the same as another. God orders different paths for different individuals. Of course, some of His principles are universally applied, but some are designed with a purpose only you and God can discover.

To assume that the way you manage your pile of sticks will work for another is assuming you are as all knowing as God. The steps one takes may not be the steps ordered by the Lord for another.

Would you want to be responsible for someone else's pile to crumble? Spiritual pride can cause us to do just that. We don't see things the way God does, and we should allow grace for others to work their pile.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

A Heart of Honor

2010-06-14T20:58:00.001-07:00

“Love each other like brothers and sisters; Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.” Romans 12:10

Here’s a tough one. It’s not hard to do, just hard to remember to do it. Giving others more honor than we give ourselves. Just as Jesus gave honor to the Father, we are to esteem others higher than ourselves.

I don’t believe this necessarily means just with words of praise or compliment – words can be loosely said and without meaning. I do believe it’s the attitude of the heart that overflows into honor and respect for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and in the world. And the simple truth is that it’s a commission from God, not an elective service.

I have only a few friends and acquaintances that I can always count on to have a word of praise or encouragement that I know truly comes from a genuine attitude of honor. I am usually pinched with a reminded when I see them- a reminder that I fall short of this gift. All I need to do is to ask the Lord to give me this change of heart and He will do it. The rest is up to me to develop the behavior that goes along with a new attitude.

Troubles and trials may consume us, and if we let them, will draw us back to the preoccupation of self. It is only through commitment to the vision of true love for others that will keep us mindful of our commission. When we sign up with God, we sign up for a lifelong job of caring for those we come in contact with, and the equipment we use for the job is the Holy Spirit in us and the word of God.

Yes, it’s a tough one – only because we make it so.

Dear Lord, forgive me for failing to give honor to those you have placed in my life. Remind me daily to work on changing my heart.

The Miracle of the Oil

2010-06-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the LORD. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”
“What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?”
“Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.
And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. 4 Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”
So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 6 Soon every container was full to the brim!
“Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons.
“There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.
When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.” 2 Kings 4:1-7

Out pastor shared this story last Sunday. There are so many lessons to be learned from this scripture. God is such a great story teller. He recounted real life to us in the Bible and it has blessed throughout the ages. Here are some key points I received from this account in 2 Kings.

1. Just like the creditor, there are powers out there that want to steal our prize possessions. Our loved ones, our comfort, our joy. We let fear consume us and forget we have defenses against our “creditors”.
2. We all have something in us that God can use to thwart our enemy. It may seem insignificant to us – a small bottle of oil so to speak. But offering it and being willing to obey God on how to use it can alter our circumstance more than we could imagine.
3. God is gracious to teach us lessons of faith. Often, he wants us to share it with someone else. Our personal miracles are great opportunities to give God glory. This widow was instructed to go in with her sons and shut the door. What a wonderful time of discovery it must have been for her sons – to witness the miracle with no one in the room to challenge it. The sons must have needed to see the working of God in their lives.
4. As our Pastor said, the oil will keep flowing as long as there is a vessel to pour into. There is no shortage of “vessels” out there that need the precious oil of the Lord. It is our job to bring them into the flow of it.

Stay in the flow of his anointing today. It may alter your circumstance, or at the most, alter the way you see God working in your life. Then share it with someone else.

Lord, make me a willing vessel and release your anointing to flow in me.

Where Will You Stand?

2010-06-03T07:12:00.001-07:00

"For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth." Psalm 33:4

“Truth is timeless. Truth does not differ from on e age to another, from one people to another, from one geographical location to another. Men’s ideas may differ, men’s customs may change, men’s moral codes may vary, but the great all-prevailing Truth stands for time and eternity.” From Peace With God by Billy Graham

By what standard do we want to measure our lives, behavior and thoughts? As Billy said, man’s standard will change and flex with every passing fancy. How can a secure stable life be built on that kind of standard?

I would rather stand on a mountain during an earthquake than stand on sandy soil. The mountain may rumble, but will stand firm in the turmoil. Sandy ground may be soft and comfortable, but it will swallow us up when the shaking comes. There is a term called liquefaction. It is demonstrated like this:

If you are walking on a beach of damp, firm, hard sand, you feel pretty secure – it feels solid. If you were to crouch down and pat that damp sand with the palm of your hand a few times, that solid sand would soon begin to look like jello. Because of the shaking, the water underneath has risen to the surface to destabilize the solidity of the sand.

Give me the solid rock of truth any day. I can rest on it, trust it, rely on it and not be moved. And even though it might me a rough road at times, God will help me stay true to the standard.

Satisfy Your Soul

2010-06-01T20:06:00.001-07:00

My soul yearns for you in the night;
       in the morning my spirit longs for you.
       When your judgments come upon the earth,
       the people of the world learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:9

Nothing satisfies our soul except fellowship with God. We were created to know Him, worship Him and learn of his character. He makes himself known to us in creation, in spirit and in all that is true.

We can avoid serving God by staying ignorant of his ways—hiding from what is seen all around us. We can refuse to commune with Him and be lacking in the knowledge that will give us life. But we will deny our hunger to the point of starvation. Our inner longing can be neglected but at a price.

Are we willing to pay the price? What will we gain by going the way of the world but losing the life our spirit longs for? We can try to push God to the back of our lives but our inner consciousness will still long for Him.

Seek Him and satisfy the longing in your soul. He waits.

Im Positive About This

2010-05-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I looked up some promises in the Bible to post above my desk. I felt impressed to be speaking out faith over my heart and mind. I don't always know how or what to pray for, so I believe this will energize my prayers.

"God's Word is His promise to us, and we should speak of those things He promised us as if they already existed." Joyce Meyer

By continually speaking the negative, we are declaring negative things into our lives. Sometimes it is best to not say anything aloud at all, lest we speak against God's will for us - his best for us. But if we can speak aloud the promises and positive words God has given, we will experience the power to believe He will do those things in our lives.

Words are powerful instruments and God will use them if you speak life, prosperity, health, peace, joy and love over yourself and others. If you look through the words of Jesus you will see he applied this principle of positive declaration when He healed the sick and spoke of the kingdom to come. The Psalms encourage us to speak positive words as well.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all Your wonders. Psalm 26:7

It's difficult to be positive when things are falling all around you. But you have nothing to lose by speaking victory - except for defeat - and that's the whole point.

It's Your Choice

2010-05-24T07:43:00.001-07:00

“But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you. But when you ask God, you must believe and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown up and down by the wind. Such doubters are thinking two different things at the same time, and they cannot decide about anything they do. They should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:5-7

Is Doubt A Choice?

Sounds to me like it is. I God said “don’t doubt” then He will give us what we need to be strong in that area.

Doubt comes to us through our thoughts. Sometimes Satan will place thoughts of doubt in our minds when we aren’t paying attention to his whisperings. This is why it is so important to guard our thinking and keep our thoughts restricted. Satan wants to destroy our faith and he will lie and plant seeds of negativity in our minds to accomplish his goal of tearing us down.

God gives faith. Satan gives doubt. It’s that simple. God may plant a thought in our minds to direct us from doing a certain thing, but if we are in tune to his voice, we will know it is direction and not doubt. The thoughts of doubt are designed to steal your faith and it takes practice to know the difference between direction and doubt.

Don’t let doubt and unbelief rob you of victories and happiness. We all have a calling. Doubt and lack of faith will only lead us off our path. What have you got to lose by being positive? It’s your choice.

Jesus, thank you for the measure of faith you have planted in me. Help me to grow it into the mighty things you have for me to do.

Jesus is Our Leadership Example

2010-05-19T15:43:00.001-07:00

“He told his disciples to have a small boat ready for Him, so the crowd would not crush Him.” Mark 3:9

I am here in Kansas to attend the graduation of my son in law from a Advanced Military Studies school for Majors. He just bought a book that had some great stuff in it about being leaders according to Jesus’ example. I wanted to share a portion of it with you. We are all leaders - it is crucial that we are leading in the right direction by our example.

“Visionary leadership requires both a long-range view of opportunitie4s and short-range plans to advance to the next level. Measure your leadership by this. Do you have the ultimate goal clearly in mind? Do you know how to move to the next step?

Jesus’ master plan is the most brilliant, awe-inspiring one ever conceived. He repeatedly demonstrated his leadership abilities through the precision of his planning. In even the seemingly small things-from the colt that was made ready for his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to the upper room that was made ready for the Last Supper-he made things happen by planning. Follow his perfect example. Be a leader. Be a planner.”

From The Leadership Lessons of Jesus by Bob Briner and Ray Pritchard

It's Not Done Yet

2010-05-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

Philippians 1:6 (New Living Translation)

⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Do you ever feel like you will never achieve the level of completeness you desire? There are days when I think I shall never arrive. Just when I think I have learned my lessons well, I do something stupid. Just when I think I know enough, I find out I don't know anything. The more I learn, the more I need to learn.

What a blessing to know that the work God began in us is never done. He hangs in there with us even when we blunder, fall, and generally mess up. He has a work to continue and complete and He is no quitter.

Our journey is long and arduous, but the end is in sight. This place and this body is not our home. We have a prize waiting at the end of the race. If we remember that God cares enough to see us through to the end, it makes the struggle worthwhile. Even when we want to give up - He never does.

That makes me feel better - don't you?

Look Out Below!

2010-05-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

"A few days later, when Jesus came back to Capernaum, the news spread that he was at home. Many people gathered together so that there was no room in the house, not even outside the door. And Jesus was teaching them God's message. Four people came, carrying a paralyzed man. Since they could not get to Jesus because of the crowd, they dug a hole in the roof right above where he was speaking. When they got through, they lowered the mat with the paralyzed man on it. When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralyzed man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven."
Mark 2:1-5

When was the last time you had a friend like the one who lowered this man down through the ceiling? Or more to the point, when was the last time you made such an effort with one of your hurting friends?

All of us reach a point when we need a helping hand - when we need to be carried to Jesus. Our troubles and pain can bring a different kind of paralysis, keeping us from reaching the One who could heal us. If it were not for the boldness and determination of certain people in our lives, we may lay there growing more discouraged by the day.

Jesus recognized the faith of these caring friends and rewarded their efforts by healing the man. Sometimes, it takes a lot of trouble and energy to go that far for someone, but when we know it's what we are called to do, we must do it.

Consider the paralytics in your life. Do they need a helping hand?

It Is Wll With My Soul

2010-05-13T07:55:00.001-07:00

“When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well with my soul.”

This hymn was written by a Chicago lawyer, Horatio G. Spafford after losing one of his children. The words which Spafford wrote come from 2 Kings 4:26, and reveals a man whose trust in the Lord is unwavering.

The Spaffords were also prominent supporters and close friends of D.L. Moody, the famous preacher. In 1870, however, things started to go wrong. The Spaffords' only son was killed by scarlet fever at the age of four. A year later, it was fire rather than fever that struck. Horatio had invested heavily in real estate on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1871, every one of these holdings was wiped out by the great Chicago Fire.

Even after all this tragedy, Horatio could still pen those beloved words.

Oh, that I might have that kind of faith. We never know what tragic things might come our way in this world. We must go deep in our relationship with Christ to anchor our hearts, minds and spirits. Only then will we know that whatever our lot…it will be well with our soul.

Cast Your Cares

2010-05-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

I’ve really never been much of a worrier. At least not in the sense of wringing my hands and pacing the floors over something. But I do tend to have periods of feeling defeated. It’s the “what’s the use” attitude I struggle with. I like to see a purpose for everything laid out in front of me, all nice an orderly.

But both conditions come from a lack of faith. Do I trust God with my food, clothing and shelter? Yes. But the fact that I need to know the future with regard to outcome of a given task or talent is a sign of inadequate trust on my part.

I am learning to just do what I know to do…use what God has given me. The outcome is by His design, and after reviewing everything He has already done for and through me, I should know the best will be done with whatever I commit to Him.

Worry comes in many forms. It sneaks into our lives like a vapor, and is more powerful than we are willing to admit. We may think that a little worrying never hurt anyone. But the Bible tells us differently. Worry has its roots in something bigger, and a daily cleaning will keep it from growing like an unwanted vine in our minds. Take care to cast your cares upon the One who supplies all our needs.

Father, thank you for caring for me. Forgive me for not trusting You with the big and little things in my life.

Out of Town

2010-05-07T07:13:00.000-07:00

I wont be posting for a few days. Im at a conference in Seattle.
Blessings for your weekend.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Are You Two Sided?

2010-05-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 3:26

This verse speaks to the two sided people we were created to be – strong and yet vulnerable. It sounds like a paradox, but many biblical principles appear to be that way. It’s our finite minds and worldly views that cant make sense of this kind of Godly principle.

“To be vulnerable is to voluntarily place yourself, for the sake of a larger purpose, in a situation that could bring pain.” Author Paula Rinehart

Sounds kind of like something Christ would do and did for us on the cross. He became vulnerable so that we might have life. Yet it took great strength to go through with this mind boggling plan. He was our perfect example of the dynamics of vulnerability and strength.

We can never reach the fullness of sacrifice without both of these attributes. And sacrifice is what we are called to do for the sake of the Kingdom. Dying to self and standing firm in our beliefs will call attention to the One we serve. It takes vulnerability and strength to serve. We know that vulnerability is a choice, but what of our strength? Our strength comes from God. He knows our hearts will fail us, yet He offers his strength in the portion we need for the moment. Without it we would remain in that place of failure.

Lean on Him. Borrow the strength you need. Be willing to place yourself in that situation that could help another – even at your own risk. Be sure you are acting in God’s will and He will bring success.

Thank you God for making your strength available to me when I fail.

In His Shadow

2010-05-03T19:48:00.001-07:00

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1

This Psalm is one of my favorites. I often counsel people to read it when they are experiencing anxiety, nightmares or just struggling about anything. It speaks hope and comfort.

I remember when my youngest son was about five years old, he began having nightmares like so many children do. I would read this Psalm over him when he went to bed. I go to it when I need to know that I have a place of shelter, a protective wing, a resting place of safety.

There is significance in the word shadow. The Hebrew meaning is shade or defense. We can relate to this in many applications. How often have we sought shade when the heat of the day is wearing on us? It’s coolness brings relief from the strain of the sun. And how well know that the shade or shadows can hide objects from view. There we can hide from our enemy and rest until we are strong enough to be out in the open.

The most profound thought however is that the shelter is the Most High God. He sits up high waiting to protect and provide a resting place. He cares about every one of us and is watching out for us. Imagine – the Most High God is always there to cover us with his strong arm of love and mercy.

Father, help me to run to You when I am weary and in trouble – always being thankful for your sheltering shadow.

My Favorite Quotes

2010-04-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some great quotes from some of my favorite books to get you through the weekend. Enjoy.

"We cannot inherit Christianity,. We might have had a Christian father and mother, but that does not necessarily produce a Christian child. I could be born in a garage, but that doesn't make me an automobile! God has no grandchildren." from Peace With God by Billy Graham

"Initially, we might wonder why Christ wouldn't give us a cake-walk kind of Christian experience if He really loved and cared for us. But we have to realize that the inevitability of crosses in our lives is not the result of a careless Leader who wants to make life tough. Crosses are hewn from the reality that the cause of Christ is being carried out through my life in an imperfect world that is hostile to the One I follow." from Following Christ by Joseph M. Stowell (love, love this book)

"Yes, the Father has a plan and He has ordained that every blood-washed believer in Christ be a part of His magnificent purpose. It is important to understand the Father's position and purpose in our lives, or we will be distorted in our view of who He is and what motivates His heart. When we see the Father more clearly, our disappointments and problems become steps on the path toward a closer relationship with Him." from The Father Revealed by G. Craig Lauterbach

Three Simple Steps

2010-04-28T07:42:00.001-07:00

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Sounds easy enough. Three steps to fulfilling God’s will for your life. Be joyful, pray and be thankful. Three simple steps.

Simple, but not always easy. Between life’s trials, our finite mind and faltering faith, there are many roadblocks to keep us sad, non-communicative and grumpy! But if it were not possible to be and do those three things, God would not have asked it of us. He supplies the means to rise above the world and live in a realm where we can be joyful, thankful and in constant prayer.

We may not live in that state for days on end, but each time we practice the presence of God, it becomes a little more familiar. Each time we stop to remind ourselves that this is God’s will for our lives, we may be encouraged to try it again.

These requirements are not dependant on our feelings, our social status, our education, or anything else – except obedience. If we are obedient to keep pressing forward to the life we could have in Christ Jesus, He will reward us with confirmation in our spirit.

Lord, I take a moment right now to express my joy, speak to you, and be thankful for your saving grace.

Does It Feel Hot In Here?

2010-04-26T07:03:00.001-07:00

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12

Paul tells us in this scripture that because of our faith in Christ, we are no longer under condemnation of the law. But he goes on later in the chapter to explain that our bodies are members of Christ’s body. Therefore we have a responsibility to whatever we allow into our bodies, minds and spirit.

The bible is full of cautions about plunging headlong into practices that could drag us down – chipping away at our faith. If we dabble in those things long enough we run the risk of eventually going against God’s will for our lives. The old story of the frog in the pan of water is a true warning. As the heat is slowly turned up by our selfish desires and lack of awareness, we don’t even notice that we have reached the boiling over point. Then it’s too late – we have crossed the line once again. We let ourselves be deceived into thinking we could manage on our own.

This is when we find we have been mastered by our indulgence. What seemed innocent at the time now has us back into the bondage we were so happy to be rid of. And we discover that we have worn ragged the relationships of people who have tried to support us.

But there is a Savior waiting to restore us. Jesus will catch us when we jump from the fire. It takes time to heal from the burns and brokenness, but He has strong arms and a longsuffering heart – enough to get you back on track. But you must take that leap!

Thank you Jesus that you stand ready to restore me once again. Forgive me for my indulgence and carelessness.

Battle Cry

2010-04-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

"He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins" Ephesians 1:7

Do we realize the authority we have in Christ? Do we do battle against the enemy of our soul? Do we experience the power of prayer on a regular basis?

These are questions that we should ask ourselves. In this moment in history our world boasts of freedom of speech, actions, rebelliousness, sexuality, drug use...the list goes on and on. Our children hear voices that speak of self image, doing what feels good and ignoring God. They fall prey to Satan's lure when they are not covered with the spiritual authority their parents have in Christ.

The same blood that gave us forgiveness of sin can give us freedom from the same. How do we impart the message to our children?

These are difficult times for our young people, more difficult than any generation before them. How tragic it is when they are thrown to the wolves without a firm foundation and knowledge of God in their lives. What standard will they use to measure their actions and beliefs? The worlds?

Lord, help us to cover our children with prayers of protection by the blood of Jesus. Help us to be bold in our efforts to teach and guide.

A Resting Place

2010-04-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

“I find rest in God; only he gives me hope. He is my rock and my salvation. He is my defender; I will not be defeated. My honor and salvation come from God. His is my mighty rock and my protection.” Psalm 62: 5-7

There are times in our lives where we feel there is no resting place. Troubles and busyness cast a shadow on our spirit, leaving us in a dry, shallow place. Old memories or a repeat in unpleasant circumstances weigh heavy on us, and sap our energy.

These are the times when we long for rest in a peaceful place. For some, it may be a last cry of desperation – I need a resting place! Some of us have been in turmoil for so long that we have forgotten what real rest is and what it can do for us.

We all know how strong a rock foundation is. This is where we come to find that blessed rest. The rock of our salvation stands firm – strong enough to hold all the burdens we carry. The rock fortress is our protector and defender – holding us up on a higher place – a place where we can see far and wide. Then the face of our enemy can be seen. The quiet high place gives us the distance we need from our adversary. We can breathe again – we can trust again.

Run to your high place. Close the gate and distance yourself from the battle for a while. God will give you strength to carry on when He sees you are ready.

Thank you Jesus for a resting place. May I be ever mindful of the open invitation to run to my high place.

Can You Hear?

2010-04-14T08:08:00.001-07:00

“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Matt. 13:9 NLT

Ears to hear. Not just listen, but really hear. There is so much that God wants to tell us. His instruction is endless and He longs to communicate to us his plan for our lives. It’s up to us to listen for his voice, hear what He is saying and then do what He wants us to do.

For those of us who have children, we remember the days when we thought they would never learn to listen. I would get in my children’s face and have them look straight into my eyes while I gave instruction. Sometimes, depending on the distractions, that wasn’t even enough to make it stick. It’s very frustrating to a parent to feel they are not getting through to their little ones.

God is never frustrated, but He still desires to speak to our hearts with words of comfort, wisdom, exhortation and love. He waits patiently to reveal the secrets of the universe as they pertain to us.

Stop. Take time to listen. Hear the voice of the Lord. Let his words soak into your heart and soul.

Heavenly Father, teach me to listen and hear. Tell me what you want me to know and I will do my best to please You.

Understanding Salvation

2010-04-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." I Corinthinas 1:18

New Testament references to salvation indicates an ongoing process. Christians are people who are "being saved". This is the manifestation we are to show the world. Not that we have arrived and they have not. Not that our work is complete, but that we are living through our salvation with expectation and obedience.

We are all still vulnerable to the clutches of temptation and sin - after all, we live in a world full of it. But we wait on God, persevere and pick ourselves up time and time again. It's an ongoing race that can only be finished by clinging to His righteousness and grace.

There are those that will see the message as foolish. But if we consistently live Christ in front of them, their doubts just might be dispelled. Being honest about our rescue from our sin on a daily basis will show them the validity of Jesus in our life.

We cannot take the process of salvation for granted. The word tells us to be on our guard, lest we forget our Savior's sacrifice and fall into the trap of complacency.

Thank you Lord for keeping us daily in your plan of salvation.

How Bright is Your Light?

2010-04-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

"For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true." Ephesians 5: 8 & 9

Living as people of light is the call of this scripture. Sounds easy enough. We just need to behave, be nice and do a good deed here and there.

This is not the definition of the kind of light mentioned here. The greek translation of this word "light" here mentions "luminousness" and "fire".

It's not enough just to not do bad things. To illuminate is to bring attention to something - to make something easier to see. And fire brings to mind an intense light, one that catches your eye. That is what we are to be - a light strong enough to call attention to Jesus. Our attraction is the fire that burns intensely enough to make others take notice. Blending in is not escaping the darkness. Only living in the light will do that.

A plant that doesn't get the proper proportion of light will not bear fruit. The world needs much more of the fruit that we have to offer through the Lord. We are called not to be Chameleons, blending into our surroundings for our own protection, but the fire that calls the world to come and see the Jesus that lives in us.

Lord, make me burn bright with the light of your righteousness that I may draw others to You.

Easter's Contrasts

2010-04-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Chuck Swindoll on the radio yesterday. He told about how his church has a Good Friday service each year. They come into a darkened sanctuary - the theme being the dark tomb of Jesus. They meditate on how significant Jesus' death was and how final it must have seemed to those who mourned. Then the lights come on and the rejoicing starts as they celebrate the power of the resurrection - the light.

I thought that was a great idea. We don't always think about the contrast of those days - darkness and light, death and life, sorrow and great joy. How confused his followers must have been. How happy they must have been to have Him appear to them again when they thought all was lost. The contrast of their emotions would be enough to rock their world.

What about you? Do you experience the Easter holiday with intensity? Are your thoughts of Jesus in the dark cold tomb? Do you recognize the power it took to raise Jesus from the dead?

What a blessing that we have reason to rejoice.
Happy Easter everyone.

The Light of the World

2010-03-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

"The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1: 4&5

The bible talks a lot about light and darkness - the two most extreme things in the universe. The analogies you can design from these two universal expressions are endless. God created both, and has a great deal to tell us about Himself and our lives through those words.

Darkness cannot exist where there is light - even the smallest flicker dispels the blackness. When you open the door to a darkened room, even the slightest crack will illuminate the room. The spell of the dark is broken with just a spark.

So it is with our hearts and minds. When we are consumed with darkness and can't seem to break free, it only takes a flicker to begin to bring full light where we need it the most. Satan would like nothing better than to keep us bound by fear in the blackness. He cannot exist in the light. That is why it is so important to keep the candle of faith burning. We must respect the light and the darkness, and not take for granted the power of both.

Jesus is the light of the world - and the light we depend on to survive as Christians. Seek it, treasure it and guard it.

Shrink To Fit

2010-03-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

“Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before." Matthew 9:16

Our church has decided to relocate. The fact is, we can no longer meet the financial demands of our building. Our congregation has dwindled over the last few years and the burden of balancing the books has become too much for the staff and board.

We have a positive attitude, even though it will be difficult to leave. A move will bring new possibilities and spark new growth. After all, the Lord himself never stayed in one place very long!

It has got me to thinking however. I read the scripture above during our church meeting yesterday. I was wondering how it will be to move an imperfect body of believers into a new structure. Or more than that, what would happen if a dysfunctional body of believers moved to a new building? I am hoping that this would be the opportunity to face our shortcomings head on and make things better. No church is without some measure of disunity or unresolved issues - ours is certainly no exception. But I know that just moving a family that has some dysfunction will not make it go away, and the dysfunction will still go on.

How important it is to make sure we have gone through the "shrinking" process before we are "sewn" into a new place. It's not the building that will make us fruitful - it's the heart of every individual in the family. The building will house any kind of believers - but effectiveness depends on how we are meshed with each other and with Christ.

Thank God, he makes the process bearable, with grace and mercy available to all who want the fit to be perfect.

Quotes for Inspiration

2010-03-22T16:26:00.001-07:00

I am on vacation this week, but I hope to post here and there. I have selected some quotes for thought that I will be posting instead of my usual devotionals. I hope you will enjoy them and pray for our country. We have as a nation steadily let politics turn us from our founding father’s dream for the United States of America. Embracing any and all religious freedoms is the right of every American. But as Christians, let us not forget our Creator, the truths of the Bible, and the good news of Jesus Christ as the first and steadfast foundation of our faith.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

John Adams
2nd U.S. President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence
"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be." _{--Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vol. III, p. 9.}
Patrick Henry
Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here." _{--The Trumpet Voice of Freedom: Patrick Henry of Virginia, p. iii.}

Do You Hear The Instruction?

2010-03-19T07:50:00.001-07:00

“I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart.”

Psalm 40:8

Whose vision are you living by? Is it someone else’s vision, or one that God has given to you personally? Are you trying to live out someone else’s direction?

God has instruction for all of us. He speaks to us individually—writing dreams and visions on our hearts. They are meant just for us—tailored to suit our needs and personality.

How will we know his direction unless we hear his voice and answer his call? It takes practice in being still, expecting and listening. Many of us have poor listening skills and are not so good at being patient to hear God speak. Yet his words are life, and following his instructions brings joy.

Just as the compass points us in the right direction, God shows us the right path we are to take. We only need to pay attention to the teacher and guide. He will never lead us astray.

Jesus, through patience and stillness, I will listen to your direction.

Trust in His Purpose

2010-03-16T18:29:00.001-07:00

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways says the Lord.”

Isaiah 55:8

Craig Lauterbach in his book The Father Revealed, says this:

“Yes, the Father has a plan and He has ordained that every blood-washed believer in Christ be a part of His magnificent purpose. It is important to understand the Father’s position and purpose in our lives, or we will be distorted in our view of who He is and what motivates His heart. When we see the Father more clearly, our disappointments and problems become steps on the path toward a closer relationship with Him.”

I have to ask myself if I really trust the plan of the Father even when I don’t understand it. Do I fully embrace the light of his plan, or do I prefer to sit in the darkness—afraid of the unknown? I know in my heart that whatever He has in mind for me is for my good, but trusting Him to guide me out of my comfort zone is a true test of my faith.

He may require us to walk through difficult times and unpleasant circumstances. He may ask us to go in a direction that is foreign to us. He might stretch us beyond what we thought we could bare to be stretched. So we seek his wisdom, rest in his comfort, release to Him our will, and keep pressing forward to the end of the race.

We must learn not to interrupt God’s plan for us with doubts, fears or self-serving agendas. The road is long and hard enough without getting ourselves off track with foolish distractions. Thank God, He is faithful to wave us back on the right road!

Dear Lord, help me to keep my focus on your plan for me. Give me light to dispel the darkness of uncertainty.

How Do I Love Thee...

2010-03-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do.
John 15: 12-14

Does the ability to love and show affection come to us by nature or by example? Considering our condition of being born into sin, I have to wonder if we come by loving honestly. We have all read the stories about humans who are left to be raised by wild animals, or seen images on T.V. about animals raised in isolation. It’s easy to see that the level of understanding about love and affection is limited in those rare occasions.

I know from personal experience how difficult it is to show affection when our own upbringing is lacking in outward expressions of it. Yet Christ commands that we not only love, but demonstrate that love by how we treat one another. We don’t have to go around looking for opportunities to literally lay down our lives, but there are other ways to show strong affection.

It doesn’t take a huge investment on our part to demonstrate love. Christ invested his very life to put his love into us that we might share it with others. He laid down his life so that we might experience the kind of love that was meant to give away. A simple smile, a warm handshake, a heartfelt hug are sometimes all it takes to relate affection to another.

We are called to be the love of Christ on earth. Contrary to what we might think, it is not an optional part of being a Christian. Even though it may not “feel” natural or comfortable, we must pass on the love that is given us. We don’t walk by feelings, but by faith and obedience.

Who will you love today?

What's Your Shape?

2010-03-08T10:17:00.001-08:00

“Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.” I Corinthians 12: 14 & 15

Do you remember that kid’s toy that was a box with different shaped holes? It came with plastic shapes to teach the toddler which shape went in the right hole. I used to watch my kids progressively get better at recognizing the squares, stars and other shapes. It was very tempting to help them along as they tried to stuff a square piece into a round opening. I just had to keep my hands to myself and let them figure it out.

Many of us are trying to fit the wrong shapes together in our own lives. God has molded us to fit in a certain place, and when we try to fit somewhere else…well, we either have to force the opening to change or we rearrange ourselves to fit in a place that wasn’t meant for us. Oh, it can be done if we are persistent. God will give us over to our own selfish will. He will patiently wait for us to see that it isn’t working out so well.

We lean on our own understanding of our make up instead of asking Him first what He would have us do with our talents. When we are tired of being pinched and squeezed, we turn to God and ask why He hasn’t made things work for us. Getting into the wrong shaped hole is tough, but wait till you have to push your way out backwards!

Paying attention to what part we hold in the body of Christ will make us effective in its function. We will find peace in doing what we know we were created to do. Life is difficult enough without spending so much energy on stuffing and squeezing into a place that will never be a comfortable fit.

God's Grace in Conflict

2010-03-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
2 Corinthians 1:12

There are times in all of our lives when we have to deal with unpleasant situations with our brothers and sisters in Christ. No one likes to confront or try to make right a wrong. It can be heartbreaking, to say the least, when conflicts arise and someone gets hurt. But some things can't be ignored, and it becomes necessary to do what you need to do.

It is so very important to preface your handling of these situations with prayerful consideration and not rely upon our own understanding of each situation. Godly wisdom is the only kind of insight that will accomplish His will in any given conflict or confrontation. Jumping in to set someone straight without the blessing and guidance of the Holy Spirit can be a disastrous mistake. It will probably make matters worse.

Going to a brother in confidence that you have surrendured all to God in the matter will give you the best chance for reconciliation when the whole issue has been addressed. That should always be our utmost goal - restoration. Otherwise the entire work of the kingdom will take a hit.

Pray for those whom you know are in the midst of disputes, that they may know what is right and do it.

Lord, go before those today who are taking a stand and leaning on your everlasting arms for strength and wisdom.

You Can Count On It

2010-03-03T06:31:00.000-08:00

“And then God answered: ‘Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming-it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.’” Habakkuk 2:2 The Message Bible

Timing is everything. God’s timing that is. But if He says something is coming, you can bet your life it is coming.

When you feel God has given you something to do, a desire, a passion, then wait. Wait, write it down. Keep a journal, prepare yourself. In his time, it will come to pass. It will seem slow while you wait – we are impatient beings. But if He put it in you He will bring it about.

Remember that God starts the work – it all originates with Him. But in his graciousness He allows us to be his instrument. We are partakers of the gifts he bestows on us. The hard part is to let Him teach us all He wants us to learn. We want to venture out before it is our appointed time. But He will complete the work in His time and we must let Him.

Keep hold of your dream, nurture it, and write it down. Then wait and see what He will do.

Holy Ground

2010-03-01T06:51:00.001-08:00

When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:4-6

This passage almost sounds like science fiction. We have all seen the movie The Ten Commandments haven’t we? The scene with Moses at the burning bush is low on special effects, but accurate in dialogue. Moses had been curious when he saw the glow of fire on the mountain, and couldn’t stand it any longer. He had to go see what God looked like – even if it cost him his life.

Moses actually got very close to Jehovah, close enough to be afraid to look at Him. God had to tell him to take off his sandals because the ground around the burning bush was “holy ground.” He called Moses by name. The presence of God was overwhelming for Moses and he was forever changed. He was a chosen man, but still just like you and me.

I have to ask myself, have I ever gotten close enough to God that He would ask me to “remove my sandals” because I stood on holy ground? Have I ever been curious enough about the God whose fire burns on the mountain that I felt compelled to see his face – no matter what the cost?

Maybe a trip to the mountain is what you need today – what we all need. I know I will have to work at allowing God to give me courage to go deeper. I will admit, in some ways, I’m scared. But I know someday I will see him face to face, and I want him to call me by name.

How's Your Soil?

2010-02-25T15:52:00.001-08:00

“…and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.”

Mark 4:17 The Parable of the Sower

My husband is a farmer. He will be planting his crop as soon as the ground thaws a bit more. The process of sowing and reaping is a very real concept for us. We depend on it for our living. How much more important is this process when we depend on it for our effectiveness in the Kingdom, and even our eternal status.

The shallow, superficial state of character is a dangerous place to be. Someone comes by to share, or you read the word of God and say Yes, I want that—I agree. But since we are hardened on the outside by our own foolishness or negative outlook, the seed that was sown doesn’t have a way to send down roots that will sustain it in tough times. The wind just picks it up and carries it away.

If our wheat crop doesn’t have the right conditions to send down deep roots, several things happen. First, it will not get the nourishing water and nutrients that are vital to its health. Second, it will not produce the fruit—the wheat that it was meant to. Third, it will not survive any adversity. The snow, wind, and freezing temperatures will kill it where it stands. The roots are what make it survive. The deeper the better.

How clever of Jesus to use this cycle of life as a parable to explain the importance of environment. If you do not cultivate the ground, or in this case your heart, the roots will have no chance. Those of us who take for granted the opportunities to prepare our soil will lose out on the harvest.

There is nothing more disturbing to a farmer than to see his seeds wasted. Or to see a field of wheat destroyed by disaster. How must God feel when He so graciously and lovingly plants the eternal seeds, only to see them whither and die? He has provided everything we need to send down good roots, and be strong enough to remain standing.

Dear Lord, I receive your seeds of life, and I will make sure that my soil is in good condition to provide growth and health for my spiritual life.

Who is Our Defender?

2010-02-21T18:19:00.001-08:00

Psalm 35:22-24 (New Living Translation)

²² O Lord, you know all about this.
      Do not stay silent.
      Do not abandon me now, O Lord.
²³ Wake up! Rise to my defense!
      Take up my case, my God and my Lord.
²⁴ Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice.
      Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.

It happens to all of us eventually. Someone misinterprets a situation and turns it against you. You are slandered and punished for something that wasn’t your fault. It happened to me last week. I was shocked and stunned to experience repercussions from an innocent misunderstanding. Someone felt they could only save face by passing the buck and pointing the finger at me, ending our collaboration.

I was crushed. Not because I lost out on a beneficial opportunity, but because my reputation had been tarnished for no reason. As the Psalm says, “Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.” I got over it pretty quickly by God’s grace.

So how do we find a defense for the wrong done to us? We don’t always have any recourse. In my case, I did write a letter to the powers that be to explain the truth of the matter. But who knows if it will take the blame off me. My only real defender is the Lord. He has seen the situation from the beginning. He knew it would happen, and He is the only One who can raise the sword of defense. I have made my claim and can do no more. The rest is up to God.

We cry out for God to declare us not guilty, but He may not always rush to set things right. He may want to see how we react, behave, pray and grow from the incident before He takes up our case. When we submit to his will for our lives, He will make things right—his way and in his time.

My ultimate goal is to do what Jesus would do. He knows what false accusations feel like. He knows what it is like to have to wait for the Father to rescue. Ultimately, He wants to see our character changed to be more like him. This is not our home, and someday all our accusers will bow—not for what they did to us, but in recognition of the Lord who is our defender.

Lord, please come to our rescue. But mold me in the process. Help me to know You will take care of any situation that distresses me. Thank you for defending me.

There but by the grace of God......

2010-02-19T11:04:00.000-08:00

I am reminded today of the great mercy of God. I am thankful that he shows undeserved mercy to me when I stumble. Most of us don't have to air our sins in front of the cameras for everyone who has a TV to see. You may not be a golf fan, but celebrities have the disadvantage of living in a fish bow. We at least can hide behind closed doors.

I don't know if Tiger Woods is a believer - it's not for me to judge. But I know that he at least might be considering his spiritual life in these dark days. It could be that someone will enter his life at this time and offer him the answers to his questions. I would want that for any sinner - even me.

I do know that the compassion Jesus feels over the pain of those of us who stumble, is a miraculous thing. He cares for all of his children the same and gave his life for all the Tiger Woods in the world. It's a humbling thought to consider. Sin is sin, pain is pain, and God is the judge and healer.

I hope we will pray for Tiger today. It may sound silly, but it would be like praying for all of us who fall and rise again to face another day.

I Used to Draw

2010-02-17T12:41:00.000-08:00

I used to draw.

Found an old envelope full of pictures I drew back in junior high. I used to sit for hours in my room drawing everything I could see. If I liked a picture in a book, I would sit down and draw it freehand. Then I would sit down and write a story.

It was my world for many years until I found another outlet - singing. So the music began and the drawing and story telling was set aside. Now the story telling is back after all these years, but what happened to the artist in me? Is it still in there somewhere?

It's like that with the things we see and hear throughout our lives. The images and sounds and noises are still in there somewhere waiting to be extracted. When we reach in and pull them out, they can come alive again in our writing. How much more wonderful would our stories be if we could duplicate the emotion of our own life story on paper.

What have you tucked away that should be pulled out to put in your story?

Who, me?

2010-02-17T07:40:00.001-08:00

Her children stand and bless her.
      Her husband praises her:
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
      but you surpass them all!”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
      but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Reward her for all she has done.
      Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Proverbs 31:28-31

I used to hate reading this passage in the bible. Only a man could describe such a perfect woman. She sounds like the kind of woman I could never be. She sounds like the woman that other women have a hard time being friends with. It would be too difficult to measure up to a friend like her.

But this woman is only an ideal. This fictional woman doesn’t exist exactly as she is written. What is not written about this woman is that she has low moments, temptations, distractions, hormones and bad hair days. Just like you an me! Yet an entire chapter is devoted to this accomplished woman. Hard not to be jealous, huh.

Well, guess what…God sees us as that woman. He knows who and what we could be, and always looks at us through the eyes of great love—despite out shortcomings, failures and bad moods. When we see a haggard, frazzled woman who is always one step behind, He sees a woman of value—“more precious than rubies” (v. 10).

We can’t be this woman in all aspects every day of the week, but if we set our hearts toward pleasing God, we will gather in her attributes. In fact, we may be even a bit more wonderful. After all, she didn’t have to run the kids to soccer practice, bake cakes for the fundraiser at school, fight the crowds at Walmart, change all the batteries in Johnny’s electric toys, put up and take down all the Christmas decorations….well, you get my point.

So give yourself some credit and a break. You don’t have to be the Proverbs 31 woman 24/7, and God loves you even when you fail at it. Keep your eye on the prize of God’s eternal love and mercy, and when you see Him face to face, you won’t be ashamed.

Valentine's Day Every Day

2010-02-12T07:08:00.001-08:00

The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:31

It’s that time again. The time of year when all we see and hear on TV, billboards and ads is about the coming holiday – Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Candy stores and flower shops all over the country are gearing up for big sales for the sake of love. Fine restaurants will be filled with couples celebrating the day. Valentines will fill the postman’s bag, and e-cards will by flying across the airwaves.

Yes, most of us have loved this holiday since our days in grade school. Dropping our Valentines in the little decorated bags at the front of each desk was the highlight of the year—especially if you had a crush on a fellow classmate.

As much as we all love this holiday devoted to our sweetheart, I wish there was a day on the calendar that encouraged us to love our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, our enemies. That may sound silly, but when you read through the scriptures on love, you soon discover what priority God places on loving our fellow man—yes, even our enemies.

The lover of our souls, the One who gave his life for us, is always ready to teach us how to truly love. His love knows no boundaries, is available to all without asking for it. He loves us no matter what, and there is nothing we can do about it. What a world this would be if we applied those principles to our neighbors, our brothers and sisters, and our enemies. It could be Valentine’s day every day!

As you remember that special someone on Sunday, take the time to do a little loving for other’s who may not have that special someone in their life. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day!

The Plan, The Victory, and The Praise

2010-02-10T07:08:00.001-08:00

“He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15

King Jehoshaphat was pretty shook up when he was told there was a great army on their way to make war on him and his kingdom. He gathered all the people he could in Jerusalem to fast and pray for guidance from God. Things looked grim until the Spirit of God fell upon one of the men there. His message was clear—fear not, this is My battle.

What seemed impossible to the people was already in the hands of their God. When they obeyed Him and went into battle with song and shouting praise to God, the enemy was defeated before the battle even began. God had a plan—therefore the battle did not belong to Jehoshaphat’s kingdom. It belonged to the One with the plan. God gave instruction for the plan and the people believed and followed.

God received the glory for the victory because He shared his plan with the army. If they had gone their own way and either froze in fear or marched in at the wrong time, they surely would have been defeated by the enemy.

Do you want your battles to be won? Do you want God to have the glory for your victories? Then follow his plan. You need not fear if you will listen for his voice of command. He will go before you, and as you praise Him and stand your ground, He will provide a miracle for you. The children of God from the Old Testament were familiar with God’s voice, and had already seen his hand upon his people. They had practiced trusting Him for generations. They knew when God was speaking.

Listen, praise, stand, trust, obey and rest in the spoils of your victory won by God. The battle is really not yours. Give it to the One with the plan.

There is a Storm Coming

2010-02-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

"Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.'" A voice came out of the sky: "I have glorified it, and I'll glorify it again." John 12:27

Are you in the midst of a storm? What are the seas like in your life right now? Are the waters nice and calm, and you are enjoying smooth sailing?

Be on guard. The storm will come. The storms and trials of life come to us all. God allows them to strengthen us and bring glory to Him. He never promised us calm seas all the time—they are a blessing to have when we need rest, but we don’t learn much about persevering when there is no challenge to get through. When our boat is sailing along on water smooth as glass, there is no opportunity to sharpen our skills and learn how to maneuver in rough seas.

It’s the crashing waves and tossing wind that really gets our attention. This is when we need to know how to steer the boat. A fierce storm can arise at any moment—catching us off guard. If we have used our time of rest to prepare for it, we will be better equipped to take the helm with confidence.

Use your time wisely when you are in between storms. Search the word of God and pray. Let Him teach you what you need to survive the next storm. Yes, it will come. Don’t be the one whose boat is capsized by it. The Lord is always willing and ready to guide us through our trials, and if we are caught unaware, He still provides a lifeline.

Don’t take your smooth sailing for granted. Be on your guard.

How Do You Know?

2010-02-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:1 & 3

My sister is a teacher, and has worked for 20+ years at a partially underground school. She has spent many hundreds of hours in that place. Over the last 8 years, she and 4 other long time teachers in the building developed breast cancer, and several others experienced other major health problems. The building is equipped with a radon filtering system that has not always worked properly, and hardly ever maintained. The EPA is finally getting involved in an investigation.

Even though there is no clinical indication yet that this invisible radon causes breast cancer, my sister and her colleagues are convinced without a doubt that there is a link between their cancer and radon, or some other unseen thing in that property. They have witnessed the effects, and no matter what the outcome of the investigation, they will go to their grave believing the evidence.

So it is with those of us who have faith in a God that we cannot see, smell, taste or touch. We have witness in our hearts and minds that tell us He is near to us and will greatly effect our lives. Like the invisible radon gas, the more time we spend with Him, the more He touches our lives. The only difference is that radon kills, and God gives us life, rest, peace, joy and an opportunity to spend eternity with him.

Why is it so hard for people to bow to a God like that? Why is it easier to spend time fighting an unseen gas, than it is to spend time with an unseen God who wants to communicate his love to us personally? Maybe that sounds silly, but it’s true. The world will chase the unseen things that will never last, but will ignore the loving God of the universe.

The scientists cannot prove He doesn’t exist, any more than they can prove that radon causes breast cancer. But He does exist. The evidence is all around us. I know that I know that I know, and like the uncounted other Christians in this world, I will go to my grave believing and serving my Creator.

It's time

2010-02-03T16:30:00.000-08:00

"Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Romans 13:10-12

Oh, how we love to slumber. It relieves tension, takes us away from our responsibilities - even if for just a little while. But the bible refers to slumber in a negative connotation for the most part. God calls us to awake from out slumber and take note of the late hour. There is much to be done for the Kingdom, and time has a way of slipping away.

In his book "To Be Told", Dan Allender says "Something must awaken us to the fact that we are asleep. And what awakens us is usually a moment of exposure when we see that the conventions that guide our steps and promise us a good life are nothing more that illusions."

It is often that we go the way of our own choosing and arrive at a rude awakening because of our folly. How much better it would be to have the gentle whispering of God to wake us from our slumber. When we follow His agenda, He will prescribe the right time for rest, and give us strength to accomplish much in our calling.

Let us heed the gentle shaking from God, and wake up to see the needs of others. Knowing that time is short, ignore the world's illusions. They will never satisfy.

Knock, Knock, who's there?

2010-02-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

The Word of God tells us that He has made himself known to us through his Spirit, his word and through creation. Our inner conscience has witness of Him when He enters our lives. Nothing will fulfill our longing for God except communion with Him. It’s not enough to admire the creation, attend church, or say grace at the dinner table. It’s fellowship we need.

Knowing about God isn’t sufficient to enter into the kind of fellowship He desires to have with us. Our love, worship and service for and to Him must be genuine—seeking to know Him more. It’s in these times when He speaks to us, and shows us his way of living. God communicates his will for our lives whenever we care to listen. More than listen—we must hear. It’s our choice.

The result of rejecting intimacy with God is that our Christianity is ineffective. When there is no true fellowship we cannot know what He wants for us. If we don’t know what He wants for us, we can’t do his will. If we don’t do his will, He won’t get the glory. See the cycle?

Who wants a heart that is darkened by futile thinking? Of course, none of us do. Yet the more we refuse to hear Him, and the more we neglect to worship and praise Him, the farther we get from his voice.

What an awesome thing that the God of the universe would want to commune with us. The Bible says He stands at the door and knocks. It’s our decision to let Him in to fellowship.

Hit Delete

2010-01-29T17:06:00.000-08:00

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12

My husband had an incident with his computer the other day. He decided to play around with networking and accidentally deleted some very important files. After much agitation and a few phone calls, he did manage to undelete most of them.

Lesson learned.

How many times have you deleted a file of your own? Say, a file of confessed and forgiven sin—only to undelete it. Why is it that we continue to bring up old hurts, sins and unpleasant memories? God has long forgotten our forgiven issues, but it’s so tempting to undelete them.

Satan would like nothing better than for us to be trapped in our past—especially if it holds pain. But our lives go by so quickly, it’s a shame to be lost in a sea of constant regrets. We become ineffective when stuck in this pattern of delete, undelete.

God wants us to live in victory over our past, and by resurrecting those files buried deep inside, we are making light of the forgiveness provided for us. Let us stop trying to recover the things that made us stumble, and keep pressing forward, looking upward, and giving thanks for a fresh start.

What's Your Plan?

2010-01-25T09:47:00.000-08:00

"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." Jer. 29:11

How many of us go through our week, planning this, planning that. Most of the time we don't even think about what God might have planned for our time and life. Caught up in the scheme of life, His plan is taken for granted.

Many times I have caught myself plodding along in a certain direction, looking behind me to see if God is following. "Come on Lord, bless me in this place I am headed." Then if I pay attention, He gently takes my hand and guides me back to his plan.

Prosperity, protection, hope and a future are what He plans for us. Why then wouldn't we want to walk in HIS way? Could it be that we just can't see the distant future as He does? We don't see with his eyes. We don't even love ourselves as much as He does. His plan stems from a kind of caring a Father has for his children.

Let's ask today...Lord, reveal to me your plan.

Don't be a fool...

2010-01-21T07:24:00.000-08:00

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
Proverbs 3:13-15

First of all I have to comment on the fact that wisdom is referred to in the female gender. How great is that!? Sorry, that’s just a personal observation that tickled me. I’m sure there is a reason behind that, but that’s not my focus today.

The bible talks a lot about fools and the folly of mankind. There are many warnings in scripture about knowing and being attentive to God’s voice. A fool will only hear his own voice and obey it above any other.

This encouragement to gain understanding and wisdom is serious business. Our spiritual lives will stagnate without this dynamic duo, and without them we are pulled back into the world, not caring about the impact our foolishness has on those we love.

God compares wisdom to silver, gold and precious gems. He wants us to value and desire wisdom as we would covet all those prized possessions. If our heart is hungry for God, and our prayer is to stay right, wisdom and understanding are life to us.

The great thing is that it’s all available to us. He has given us his word, his Spirit, and his very voice to teach, guide and direct. Our job is to seek, listen and heed. Then we will be blessed with fellowship with God, better relationships, effective spirituality and joy.

Don’t be a fool—be a treasure hunter.

Are you internalizing or eternalizing?

2010-01-19T08:40:00.000-08:00

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14: 1-3

The followers of Jesus were having a difficult time understanding him when he talked about heaven. Not ever having heard this concept before, their minds continually returned to the here and now – the tangible. They were stuck in the rut of earthly thinking.
We are creatures of the same habit. Often in our spiritual lives we internalize the principals of Jesus’ teaching. But internalizing only makes things temporary. Our focus should be on eternalizing our thoughts and actions. Thinking in terms of our beliefs having an eternal effect puts perspective on what we do and say. Our vision of life should extent beyond our life on this earth.
God has given us a glimpse of heaven and it’s a picture that is almost too big for us to comprehend. Turning our small vision of God and the home He is preparing for us into something we can grasp is difficult. But when we change the way we think, and keep our eyes on eternity, the concept becomes clear.
Life is not about the here and now. We must let go of internalizing life. Think bigger than you have ever thought before, then think even bigger than that! That will get us closer to understanding the kind of place that will be our home for eternity.

Go with your feelings? Not.

2010-01-14T16:31:00.000-08:00

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. Colossians 2: 6-8

I was once elected foreman of a jury on a felony assault case. I had a difficult time keeping the other jurors on task and focused on the instructions and statement of law. Sometimes I felt as though I was babysitting a bunch of little kids in an unruly classroom.

The biggest challenge I had was to keep the emotions and feelings of the other 11 people reeled in. It was a revelation to me how fast things could get out of control because people were going by their feelings to make a decision that would effect the life of another human being. Facts and letters of the law were easily set aside when emotion ruled the room. At times, I felt I was the only one who understood the evidence and could see that our only choice was to convict the defendant. Had I gone by my emotion, I would never have been able to send someone to prison.

Isn’t it the same way with trying to live out the Christian life – making important decisions and walking daily in God’s will. We have a foreman who keeps reeling us in, and a book of “law” to keep us focused on the real truth.

Living by emotion and making decisions based on feelings is a dangerous thing. We walk by faith in what we have learned from bible, and consider all the evidence that is put before us regularly. Then we compare the evidence with the word to make sure we are on the right track. How very easy it is to get sidetracked by fear, pride, sympathy or even carelessness. It is a sad thing when we skip a step in the process of finding out where to go and how to live. We are bound to miss the mark, hurting ourselves and others along the way.

In my case, we did convict, and when the judge met with us afterward, he shared with us things that left us with no doubt that we had done the right thing. Some of the ones who had gone on an emotional tangent, unable to bring themselves to face the truth, were brought up short. The judge knew things that we didn’t know, but according to the way of democracy, he had to let us come to the right conclusion with the tools we had.

Isn’t that just like God? He knows, but gives us tools to make up our own mind. It’s free will, and let’s hope we all set aside the things that hinder us from using it properly. I am thankful He gave me discernment when I was put in a position to need it. Without his guidance, I might have been sucked into the vortex of emotion.

Do we realize what we have?

2010-01-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

“Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘You are my place of safety and protection.’ You are my God and I trust you.”
Psalm 91:1-2

How many times have we been rescued by God? We cry HELP when we are in trouble or don’t know where to turn. He is faithful to cover us, and protect us from ourselves. I personally can’t imagine how to live without his sheltering arm.

But I’m not sure God’s children fully comprehend the magnitude of that protection. The arm of our Creator is broader and longer than our minds can fathom. The fact that He would outstretch it just for me is an expression of his loving character. All I need to do is to go to Him, trusting He will do as He says.

It’s not that God needs to acknowledge us, He does that in ways we don’t even realize. But when do we acknowledge Him? Only when we need help? Only when danger lurks? No, He is ready and waiting to gather us in every minute of every day. He watches and faithfully guides all who look to Him.

As a child, I knew my parents would be there if ever I needed them. When I was in danger, I would run to them. Our Heavenly Father waits like a caring, protective parent. But his power to protect is mighty. Our praise and thanksgiving should rise up accordingly, for his shelter is undeserved.

Go the Distance

2010-01-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12 & 13.

I have pondered this scripture many times. I have prayed for understanding about loving our brother, especially in times when our “brother” treats us with less compassion and generosity than the world does. Yes, it happens to all of us I suspect. Our hearts are crushed when we discover that friendship means little to ones we thought we had bonded with.

My dilemma lies in figuring out the balance between expectations and grace when it comes to friendship. That’s tough isn’t it? I am one who doesn’t like the “change of seasons” when it comes to relationships. I always expect it to be a never ending mutual commitment. I am not good at seeing my investment crash in the stock market of love.

I believe that laying down our lives for our friends encompasses many different things. Genuine love requires investment, and some are better at it than others. As an author I have been taught to show, not tell. This is how we truly communicate our story to others, showing that they matter - showing that we are willing to go the distance with them. This is the true example of laying down our lives.

Christ’s example of love is our model. He always looked into the eyes of his brothers and saw them. Looking away from our friends doesn’t take any sacrifice – investment does. Let us lay down our lives by taking time to see those God has given us to love. Let us go the distance.

It Just Never Ends

2010-01-04T07:30:00.001-08:00

"You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever." Psalm 16:11

I've been a Christian for all of my adult life. I've fallen short more times than I care to admit, and I've had victories and grace that I didn't deserve. I have searched the scriptures, written about God, and shared His word with others in studies, speeches and song.

What continually amazes me is that in my 40 or so years of knowing Him, what I actually know is only a drop in the bucket of all there is to discover. I will say part of me is frustrated over that. Part of me is excited. Mostly, I'm just dumbfounded.

We never arrive, and I'm one of those people who wants to arrive. But God wouldn't be a god worth worshiping if we could come to the end of our knowledge of Him. His greatness and vastness has to be beyond time and space, beyond our comprehension in order to be God.

So we keep striving to understand, know, connect and discover with our creator. It will take eternity to satisfy me. So glad I accepted the invitation to go.

Who holds your future?

2009-12-31T17:16:00.000-08:00

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. Revelation 21:4-6

It’s a new year – a time when everyone takes time to look back and look forward. Self evaluations bring hope, fear, depression, excitement – the gambit of emotions. Somehow we feel the necessity to celebrate a new start, a new beginning, another chance at our dreams and goals. The parties go on all over the world.

But Father Time goes on without knowing it’s a new year. Not even God takes note of our man made milestones. The significance of newness is not measured by what we hope the future will hold. What will 2010 hold for us? What is our 5 year plan for life? Where do we want to be in 2020? What do we have to look forward to in our distant future?

The answers to these questions might be very important to us for our lifetime. But what about the question of eternity? What does that hold for us? There will be no marking of time then. We will not be looking back anymore, and we won’t have to deal with old issues or problems. Behold, all things will be made new! No more sorrow or pain, no broken lives, no insecurities, no fear of the future. My thirst will be forever quenched – how about yours?

It will be a new beginning that will never end. Now that’s a party I don’t want to miss.

Whom will He use?

2009-12-29T16:49:00.000-08:00

“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been born blind. His followers asked him, ‘Teacher, whose sin caused this man to be born blind – his own or his parents’ sin?’
Jesus answered, ‘It is not this man’s sin or his parents’ sin that made him be blind. This man was born blind so that God’s power could be shown in him.
…he spit on the ground a made some mud with it and put the mud on the man’s eyes. Then he told the man, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.’ So the man went, washed, and came back seeing.”
John 9: 3, 6 & 7

We all want to put blame somewhere when there is tragedy in someone’s life. Whether it be injury, death, infirmity or poverty. It seems impossible to us that these things could have come about only to give glory to God. Surely, someone must be at fault. Surely sin has taken its toll.

But here Jesus says that not only was the infirmity not born of sin, but it was designed to give glory to the Father. How shocked his followers must have been to hear those words. Our human minds cannot comprehend that God’s plans supersede any reasoning we may have about a given situation.

Then, to top it off, Jesus makes mud with his own spit and uses it to bring about healing for this blind man. Why, mud? Why not just speak the word and call it good? There may be several explanations for this, but I would like to suggest that perhaps Jesus wanted us to see that even the lowliest of tools could be used to accomplish God’s will. Formed from the dirt to make the healing balm, the mud - when given power by Jesus, worked the miracle everyone needed to see. God received the glory, and the people were taught a valuable lesson.

Let us not sell ourselves short. If Jesus can use the dirt to touch lives, He can use us and our talents. The goal is to give God glory, and we can be the tool He may use to do it. It doesn’t matter who or what is to blame for the infirmity. It needs to be fixed, and God will use us to fix it – if we let Him.

Jesus, use me to accomplish your will. Help me to see where I might be formed into a healing balm for my brothers and sisters.

Come and be faithful

2009-12-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
Come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n
Glory to God, all glory in the highest.

O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Yet another carol of proclamation and invitation. The proclamation that Christ was born – come to us as the King of Angels. The invitation is to come and adore Him, to worship Him as Christ the Lord.

The invitation is ongoing – not just at Christmas time but every day of our lives. When we neglect the invitation, we miss out on the awesome opportunity to join the chorus of all those who worship Him. It is interesting that God not only invites us to worship Him, but makes it a commandment. He is holy and sovereign, and demands and deserves our adoration and attention.

We have free will to decline the invitation, and unfortunately we exercise that free will too often. It’s easy to remember the call to worship when the whole world is decorated and primed for a celebration of Christ’s birth. But what we do with the invitation all the other months and days of the year is really what loving Him is all about.

Jesus came to serve, but He also came to be worshipped. Follow the star, go the distance, bow before Him each and every day.

Jesus, we celebrate your birth. We come before You to adore and worship. Thank you for the blessed invitation.

Christmas Carol #1

2009-12-13T21:38:00.000-08:00

“He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of His love.”

Last verse of Joy To The World

This beloved Christmas song is one of the most popular Christmas carols. This cheerful tune tells the world to rejoice and celebrate the birth of Jesus, the King. Its message of hope and salvation encourages us to take heart and be happy in the gift of Jesus. It inspires optimism and…well, joy!

This is a sentiment that should be on our hearts all year round. The miracle of Jesus’ birth and the promise of his return is the reason we worship – not just at Christmas – but even in our everyday lives. The song of our life should be Joy to the World. Through trials, danger, flood and sorrow, our voice should be heard above the rabble of the downcast.

Perhaps if we read the words of this Christmas carol once in a while, we would be reminded to “repeat the sounding joy.” We have so much to be thankful for – our hope and faith that came when Jesus came.

Thank you Father for sending your son that first Christmas day. Help us to share the joy of knowing him to a lost world.

Jesus Loves Me This I Know

2009-12-11T06:51:00.002-08:00

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 9:38-39

Can anything separate us from the love of God? Is there anything we can do to cause Him to stop loving us? This scripture says an emphatic no. I don’t know about you, but I can’t quite wrap my head around this. I know it is true, because the word says so. I know God well enough to know his character would not allow Him to let go of us. His parenthood is a bond that cannot be broken.

As the mother of a prodigal child, I find this scripture comforting. To know that the Father still watches over, cares for, chases and waits for my child is what every parent stands on – especially for those who are separated indefinitely from that loved one. Even though I don’t fully understand the depth of meaning for this fact, I know I must cling to it.

The truth is that God does not love with human love. There it is in a nutshell. We measure God’s love with human love and come up so short that we can’t comprehend the depth. You can only measure God with God. Nothing else makes any sense. So we live by faith that He means it when He says his love is never ending and all encompassing.

Father, I live by faith and rest in the knowledge that you will never leave or forsake me or my beloved child. Help me to understand your love for us.

Jesus Loves Me This I Know

2009-12-11T06:51:00.001-08:00

Give Honor To One Another

2009-12-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

“Love each other like brothers and sisters; Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.” Romans 12:10

Here’s a tough one. It’s not hard to do, just hard to remember to do it. Giving others more honor than we give ourselves. Just as Jesus gave honor to the Father, we are to esteem others higher than ourselves.

I don’t believe this necessarily means just with words of praise or compliment – words can be said loosely and without meaning. I do believe it’s the attitude of the heart that overflows into honor and respect for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and in the world. And the simple truth is that it’s a commission from God, not an elective service.

I have only a few friends and acquaintances that I can always count on to have a word of praise or encouragement that I know truly comes from a genuine attitude of honor. I am usually pinched with a reminded when I see them- a reminder that I fall short of this gift. All I need to do is to ask the Lord to give me this change of heart and He will do it. The rest is up to me to develop the behavior that goes along with a new attitude.

Troubles and trials may consume us, and if we let them, will draw us back to the preoccupation of self. It is only through commitment to the vision of true love for others that will keep us mindful of our commission. When we sign up with God, we sign up for a lifelong job of caring for those we come in contact with, and the equipment we use for the job is the Holy Spirit in us and the word of God.

Yes, it’s a tough one – only because we make it so.

Dear Lord, forgive me for failing to give honor to those you have placed in my life. Remind me daily to work on changing my heart.

Can You Hear Him?

2009-12-03T09:53:00.000-08:00

And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! John 5:37-39

Have you ever opened a cupboard door to look for something and can’t find it. Then you step back and take another look. It was right in front of your face. You may have expected the item to look like something else, or you may have been distracted by the package of Oreos on the shelf. It could be that you didn’t really think the item would be there, and so you skimmed right over it.

It can be that way with seeking and hearing the message God has for us. Jesus said we search everywhere to find the message, but often come up empty hearted because we have no faith. Or perhaps we have been distracted, or think that God’s message will come a certain way in a certain form. It’s too easy to miss out on the message unless we truly believe there is a message to be heard. God seeks us out to commune with us. Are we too distracted or busy or skeptical to hear Him?

When we are born again, our spirit is joined with God. We are then programmed to be able to hear the voice of God. He whispers to us, and even if we don’t recognize it, He guides us in our spirit.

Tune your ears to Him so that you may hear his personal message to you. He desires to build you up with his words and point you to Christ.
Father, help me to hear. Point me to yourself, and teach me how to live.

Count on His Fathfullness

2009-11-30T07:14:00.000-08:00

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
2 Peter 1:3&4

Did you know that there are about 8,000 promises in the bible? Considering they are given by a god who cannot lie, offers us eternal life, created the universe and loves us beyond our comprehension, I’d say we can count on Him to fulfill them. Our faith may waver because of the past broken promises of man, but we must separate that from the real truth of God’s word to us.

We must also be careful lest we impatiently impose natural nudging to see those promises come about. Just as Sarah took matters into her own hands when she grew tired of waiting for God to give her the child of His promise, we too are tempted to find another way to secure it. But that only delays the promise – we mess up the timing when interfere with God’s plan. Even when it seems impossible – if God said it was coming – it’s coming. He knows how old we are, how sick we are, how broke we are! He hasn’t forgotten us. He’s not too busy keeping score, too angry with your behavior, or too overwhelmed by mankind to remember his promise to you.

God is gracious to give us promises in order for us to “participate in the divine nature.” What a double blessing – to be a part of His own nature and be blessed by an undeserved gift, all at the same time. It all brings glory to the One who delivers the promise – as it should be.

Heavenly Father, I stand on the promises you have given your children. Help me to wait for your plan to be accomplished in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T06:33:00.000-08:00

There are 34 references to "give thanks" in the King James Bible. There are 29 references to "thanksgiving". Here are a few of my favorites. Have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday wherever you may be.

Psalm 26:7
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Revelation 7:12
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 106:1
Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Model For Prayer

2009-11-23T06:46:00.000-08:00

"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us." Luke 11:2-4 Matthew adds: And do not lead us into temptation. But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen

The disciples that followed Jesus were in a position to observe His communion with the Father. No doubt they could sense there was special power in Jesus' prayers. If it were me, I would have wanted to have the kind of communication that existed between Jesus and his heavenly Father. His followers had been given a glimpse of the true Kingdom, but weren't sure how to enter into a fuller understanding of belonging there.

This model of prayer that Jesus gives them speaks to God's holiness, life on earth, provision, forgiveness and sin. Embedded in the words are declarations, praise and supplications. It is a guide for concise and deliberate prayer or conversation with God. It's simple, to the point and powerful.

We need not make prayer a complicated endeavor. God already knows our heart and the thoughts rolling around in our brain. I believe it is the praise and declarations that provide effectiveness for our prayers, and continual communion with our heavenly Father provides us with stability and peace.

Lord, help me to continually commune with you. I desire to seek your Kingdom and know You more.

So I Fall

2009-11-20T07:01:00.000-08:00

“So brace up your minds, and, as men who know what they are doing, rest the full weight of your hopes on the grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ reveals himself.”
I Peter 1:13 The J.B. Phillips Bible

This verse reminds me of the exercise you might see at a group therapy session, or at a youth retreat. One person stands with their back to a group of their peers or friends. He puts his trust in them, that they will catch him as he falls backward into their arms. It can be a scary experience, especially if you don’t know the other people well. The exercise of trust is putting your full weight into another’s hands.

What is your full weight? It’s your life – all of you. Whose hands are they? Jesus’ hands.

We live our lives, pressing through each day, with an assurance that we can trust Him for grace, happiness and eternal life. I can’t wait for the day when Jesus will reveal himself totally. I will stand before him, weeping and jumping for joy. In Him lies all that is worth hoping for. He deserves all our worship, yet he came to serve us in this way. He points us to the Father with his love.

The pain of this world will disappear when we see the gates of our new home opened by the lover of our souls. We are to consider soberly what God has done for us in his great mercy. Even when we feel despair, anguish or fear, He is standing behind us, waiting for us to fall into his arms.

Will you trust Him to catch you?

Would You Go?

2009-11-17T19:43:00.000-08:00

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings an before the people of Israel.” Acts 9:10-15

I can just see Ananias shaking in his sandals! The Lord has just asked him to rescue the zealous enemy of the early Christian church, and Ananias was clearly apprehensive to say the least. I greatly admire this man. He was just an ordinary guy, minding his own business when, out of nowhere, God speaks this rather large request. He may have hesitated a bit, but he did go. It took a lot of courage and faith in God.
I wonder if Ananias realized just how important a job he was about to do. Isn’t it just like humanity to argue with God when approached with this kind of proposition? But you must remember, this was a formidable foe, this Saul. I think I would have tried much harder to get out of the deal! But Ananias was obedient and did as he was told – not even knowing what this all meant to the advancement of the church.
Let me ask, how many of us have our hearts primed to hear God’s voice in the first place? It takes spiritual awareness and practice to know that voice speaking in your spirit. Secondly, how many of us would have gone where He asked us to go, even though it meant possible danger? Are we ready to take on the burden of doing the tough job if we are asked? If we were as in tune with God as Ananias was, and we were as obedient as Ananias, we could change the world.
I would like to think I am among the many Christians with a heart to serve God whenever and wherever. I know that I am still learning to hear his voice and to be obedient. If the work of God is to be done, we must answer “yes Lord.” He will prepare the way and stay with us through it all. Draw courage from the experience you have that tells you God is faithful. Ananias did, and see how incredibly he was used!

Lord, I want to say yes to you. Teach me how to recognize when you are calling me. Thank you for using even the meek and lowly for your glory.

How Big Is Your God?

2009-11-16T07:44:00.000-08:00

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish hart was darkened…..For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1: 21&25

What is your concept of God, and where did it come from? Boy, is it easy to miss the mark on really knowing who God is. It doesn’t matter how long we have been a believer, we can be mistaken in our thoughts about Him.

Often our conception of God is mostly made by the conclusions we draw from life and the opinions of others. It happens slowly and without us even being aware of what is happening. If our knowledge about life and its mysteries is faulty, or biased, or based on feelings, our “knowledge” of God may be the same. This makes God a mere magnified version of a human. Modeling Him upon what we know of man may be easier, but it doesn’t fit with who He truly is. If our God was nothing more than a super-human, living somewhere up in Heaven, He would not be big enough to handle this world and all His children. We are a handful!

Have we as a Christian culture exchanged the truth of God for a lie? Yes, According to the apostle Paul, in the case of the Romans, their worship of idols and behavior in unspeakable things led them to reduce God to nothing. They paid a great price for it – God handed them over to the darkness. We must be sure that we keep God where He should be in our lives and in our churches – on the throne. There He will receive the adoration that He deserves, and we will see Him as the big God that He is.

Lord God, forgive me for the times I reduced you to smallness in my mind and heart. Help me to change my thinking by reading your word and getting to know you more.

Rescue Me!

2009-11-13T06:30:00.000-08:00

“Yet I am poor and needy, may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God do not delay.”
Psalm 40:17

Have you seen the movie “Castaway”? Tom Hanks plays a man that gets stranded on a deserted island after his plane crashes in the ocean. It soon becomes obvious that he is not a survival expert. He spends his first night with only his wet clothes and torn rubber raft for shelter. The next day items from the plane start washing up on the beach. Several of those items were quite useful for his survival and actually saved his life.

He could have just sat on the beach, crying over why no one had come to rescue him. But he paid attention, and realized that the articles that washed up on shore could provide him with an answer, maybe not the answer he wanted, but it got him by until he was finally rescued. He came to see that he must use what was provided, and begin to build a solution to his dilemma.

How many times have we been in a situation that we thought was hopeless, and felt like we were stranded with no rescue in sight? It’s easy to sit on the beach, cry and be upset with God for not coming to take us out of that place. When we open our eyes to see that He sends us certain items or people to aid us while we wait, we can spend our time fashioning those things into tools for growing and surviving. Our rescue is sometimes delayed because God has something for us to learn. He will always send us help in times of trouble, but it is in his timing, not ours.

There is a danger that comes with refusing to wait for God’s rescue. We often invent our own way out when we tire of waiting for God. We leave the tools behind, and go out on our own. It’s hard to wait when you feel like you are in trouble. Don’t ever forget that God knows where you are, and knows just the right time to provide your rescue.

Father, help me to wait. I thank you that You care enough to send me aids in these times. I know you will come for me.

The Altar of Worship

2009-11-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

“He (David) appointed some of the Livites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel: …They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.” I CHRONICLES 16:4&6

The dwelling place of God was always at the altar of worship. There He waits for his children to come and offer themselves. His eyes and his heart will delight in our prayers when we set our minds in his direction. When we are fixed only on what God will do for us, we miss out on what He wants to be in our lives.

David knew the way to God’s heart was through worship. In battle, in heartbreak, in triumph – these times were always soaked in the sweetness of praise to God. There was no holding back. All the instruments and voices were directed at regular acts of worship before the altar. It was their custom to “make a joyful noise” before Him. All the Israelites were brought up to know that worship is essential to those who are God’s children.

When we don’t bring our best worship to God, it doesn’t go unnoticed. Others see and most importantly, God sees. His desire is for us to enjoy worship and do it with our whole heart. It is in worship that we can offer ourselves and experience the communion He desires to have with us. It is our choice to either engage or let the opportunities pass by. It’s a decision we all have to make to do whatever is necessary to express our devotion and gratitude to our Creator.

Worship is an attitude of the heart. Once we realize who God is and what He has done for us, we know what we must do. As we let our hearts receive the truth about worship, we will be transformed into the kind of worshipers God is looking for. It’s a matter of dwelling at the altar.

Dear God, I want to dwell where You are. Help me to learn how to praise You in a way that pleases You.

Grow In Confidence

2009-11-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”
“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27: 1, 13 & 14

This Psalm discloses David’s personal relationship with his God, and relates his experiences in a way that reflects an ongoing attitude of confidence. Through all the trials and calamities of his life, David could look back upon those days when God rescued him, and take courage in knowing he didn’t let fear corrode his faith. He understood that in order to accomplish God’s will, he would need the confidence that only comes through capturing the beauty of God’s character in his own life. It came to be as he sought His habitation daily.

If we have the courage to wait upon the Lord we will begin to see that our prayers will be answered, and that God is always in control. God uses waiting to renew, refresh and teach us. The very powerful words that the Lord gave to King David brought personal assurance to his walk, and focus to his task at hand. In our times of waiting, we can be in a better position to hear the voice of God. As we hear his voice, we grow in confidence – and confidence will be expressed in all areas of our lives.

Confidently express yourself with your talents and abilities with God’s power. You can then play your part in building momentum to take the church to the next level of faith. Waiting and listening are hard for us to do. It takes practice to feel comfortable in this seemingly passive state. We know from David’s writings that he did a great deal of waiting and listening. In turn, he came to know God in a special way – earning his favor.

All things, seen and unseen, are subject to the glory of God. As we yield to Him, growing closer to Him, we find the confidence we long for.

Dear Lord, help me to wait. I want to face my fears. Open my eyes to see the confidence I need to serve you better. Thank you for being patient with me.

Gather The Wind

2009-11-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

“But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6 NASB

“Are they as straw before the wind, and like chaff which the storm carries away?”
Job 21:18 NASB

My son left an unusual post on his My Space page some time ago. It was unusual because it was a thoughtful, well written story. Unusual because my son never writes, and doesn’t always articulate with clarity. The story was about a piece of newsprint he saw out his window. As he watched it blowing in the wind, he meditated on how he would like God to be the wind that directs his path.

I thought about this for several days after reading it. It was a great analogy and one that would speak to me in the days to come. It is amazing to me that God will use the simple observations in life to plant seeds of faith into our hearts. A piece of paper blowing in the wind reminded my son of God’s direction in our lives and I was fascinated at comparing the ways we let the wind guide us.

I personally would not want to be blown about, feeling myself pushed up and down, over and back. There seems to be no purpose to that kind of direction. The wind of our own choices, our worldly connections, and casual attitudes can blow us without plan or wisdom. We are propelled by a force that could either carry us a long way off track, or straight into the arms of God. It is a matter of being stronger than a thin piece of paper that is torn and tattered by life. When we are weakened by trials and misfortunes we are easily tossed to and fro by whatever wind would come along.

There is another kind of wind that directs. The wind of the spirit blows us toward the One who created it. If we have kept our hearts strong, we can be a sail that will catch the wind and capture the mighty power it brings. If we have taken great care in our responsibility for the plan, if we will stand tall in adversity, we will only be driven in the direction God would have us go. It takes courage and determination to be the sail and not the newsprint. The desire to be in the center of His will comes from a relationship with Him. He will fashion us into the sail we were meant to be. Then He sends the wind that we desperately need.

It takes faith to believe in things we cannot see, like the wind. But we will be pushed by it whether we see it or not. We can be tossed without purpose or driven in our Creator's plan. Our minds tend to waver, and our moods go up and down, but the stability God brings to us will make us sail worthy.

A Double Portion

2009-11-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.” 2 Kings 2: 9

Elisha had been following Elijah around for some time. He had observed miracles and seen first hand the blessings of God on the life of this prophet. Elijah had been promised by God that he would be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind – the only prophet to be given an alternative to death. As time for that big event approached, Elisha stuck as close as he could to his mentor, not wanting to miss anything. Elijah knew Elisha would be succeeding him as prophet so he wanted to grant him a request to get him off to a good start, so to speak.

Elisha wanted to inherit a double portion of whatever it was that Elijah had. Elijah built a legacy and left it to Elisha. It was a legacy of faith and favor from God. Elisha did not ask to be left with riches, or possessions. He wanted the blessing. He wanted the inheritance of powerful service and a double portion of it! He was hungry for the kind of life that would bring the most fruit. He was ready to do it without the comforts of the world.

Most of us are caught up in the world we live in, and the desires of our hearts are not always for the things of God. Guess what, God knows that. He is aware when we are operating at much below our potential and gives grace for that. But He also waits for us to ask for the blessing. He longs to hear the words from our hearts that we are ready for a double portion of His spirit. We have followed Him around long enough to know what He is capable of. Jesus left us with a job to do, just like Elisha. We don’t always understand what we need in order to accomplish the mission.

Are you ready for a double portion? Are you ready to release the glory that God is waiting to share with you? Read, pray, listen, share. Stick close to God so you can succeed at the mission.

Father, show me how to enter into oneness of knowledge with you. I pray you will help me be ready for the job you have in store for me. Bring the harvest, Lord.

Just A Little While

2009-10-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:8-11 NRSV
All Christians will face resistance when their light shines in the darkness. Just as a trainer will tell you that resistance exercises build strong bones and muscle tone, the bible explains what resistance does for followers of Christ. Even though it can be a bit painful, in the long run it does make us stronger, providing we are answering the call to “his eternal glory”.
The choice to serve Christ is not a blind one. God has given us a road map, his word and his spirit, showing all the bends and turns, pit falls and valleys of life. He also provided for us, by his grace, rest stops and mountain retreats. Too often we tuck our maps away in the glove compartment of our cars and go racing off down the road. When we come into unfamiliar territory and the road gets rough, we frantically reach for God’s map! “Oh Lord, restore my path!”
Some suffering we bring on ourselves, not from serving God, but from serving the god of self. Thankfully, the grace of God still covers us, and even when we mess up He can restore us. What a great word that is – restore. It brings on visions of health and wholeness. Restoring us to strength again, we can stand firm and steadfast, growing stronger with each trial.
If we are in Christ we need not fear suffering, for it is padded with restoration, grace, and the promise of eternal life.