RED:Reach, Encourage and Disciple

God Answered With His Love....

2011-01-29T16:05:00.000-08:00

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son... that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have life everlasting. John 3:16

January began with a punch in the gut this year. No other words could describe the way Dan and I felt when we received some news from someone very near and dear to us. We quickly reached out to our prayer partners and asked them to lift us up in prayer. We didn’t know what roads may lay ahead but we knew we needed peace in just walking. The wonderful thing about our prayer partners is, they didn’t ask questions, they just began to pray and encourage us. Not one of them needed details, they just knew we needed their prayers. We specifically asked for peace, wisdom, strength, truth, love, compassion, protection, and restoration.

Dan and I did very little for 3 straight days other than pray, and search scripture. Our prayers were angry, sorrowful, hurt, and at times silent.

On the third day, I began to question God how this person could make a choice like this that would affect their entire life. How could they go down the road of sorrow that was inevitable. My physical body was wiped out and I couldn’t even cry anymore. As I sat silent, I began to think of God giving Jesus over to a life of pain, suffering and ultimately a horrible death. I couldn’t understand how a loving father could do that. How could he choose to allow his son to walk that path? I got up from my knees and finished my day and continued to ask God, how?

The next morning I awoke to this text message from my dear sister, Tina. She had no idea of the questions I had been asking the day before.

Karen, The Holy Spirit has been ministering to me all night (I love how He does that) through dreams, thoughts, words from our Pastors sermon tonight, etc.... but He just woke me up with a vision so vivid that I don’t even know that I can share it, but I want to try. The scripture He brought to mind are Ephesians 3:18-19 and Romans 5:8; but, the vision is of Christ hanging on the cross, sword piercing His side and blood flowing so profoundly that it’s covering brings to mind the phrase “a multitude of sins”. The word, the feeling, I really don’t know what you call it, is that God’s love is so great He has covered “this person”, the sin, the entire situation with His Son’s blood. We can’t even comprehend the magnitude of that love. I don’t feel that I am articulating this very well, but Karen, know this, the feeling I’m feeling is so overwhelming in that Christ has this covered with His own blood because of the greatness of His Father’s Love.

After reading that text, all I could do was sit in awe. God answered my question, “How could he choose to allow his son to walk the path of suffering”. He chose it because his love for “this person” is so great. His love for all of was so great that he would allow his son to die for us. For the first time, I realized that Jesus suffered, and so did our Father God.

We are still in the middle of this battle, but really knowing the magnitude of God’s love has given me a new resolve. I am resolved that God is fighting this battle for us and that I need to just trust Him to take care of it. At times I will take deep breaths and almost take on the worry, but then God gently reminds me that He has this covered.

Thank you God for your love! The magnitude of it is far greater than I can even imagine. What peace I have knowing that your love covers all my sins, all my failures, and all my worries. Let those around me feel your love. Open their eyes and their hearts so that they too may enjoy your never-ending, faithful love. Amen

Find JOY In It!

2010-09-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

I awoke this morning singing, “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, as we wait upon the Lord”. I wasn’t sure why, as I think I was just as tired when I woke as I was when I went to sleep. Reached over grabbed my phone for my daily bible reading and the scripture that jumped out to me was, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Yes, I shook my head, lately I have seen trials and sorrows and was glad for the reminder that Jesus has overcome, so can I with His help. I moved into the kitchen for a quick bite to eat, and what do I find in Twitter?

What? Not only am I told this morning that my strength will rise when I wait, I’m told I will have trials and sorrow and I must find JOY IN IT? So am I suppose to jump up an down and shout that I have trouble and trials? I think instead I will just sing, “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, as we wait upon the Lord”. Some days, minutes or hours I may sing it louder to remind myself. So, I searched through the scriptures for Joy today and found this blessing that I am praying over me and each of you.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13.

Future King Gone Wild!

2010-09-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

About a week ago I was sitting on the bed reading my bible, when I suddenly began to laugh out loud at the story I was reading. My daily reading plan has me reading about David, and I am often tickled at David’s stories but this one really made me laugh out loud. I have to share.....

1Samuel 21:10-15

So David escaped from Saul and went to King Achish of Gath. But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing,

‘Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’?”

David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.

Finally, King Achish said to his men, “Must you bring me a madman? We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?”

Can you picture the drool running down his beard and him scratching at the doors? It struck me that here was a guy, an anointed a king none the less, who because of his fear he resorts to acting like a madman. I can just imagine what our media today would do with this story, “Future King Gone Wild” or “Madman or King?”. I got very tickled.

Why was this Anointed King so afraid of the words being spoken about him? Wasn’t he told he would be the King of Israel? Where was his faith?

God then began to speak to my heart. We do this so often. God tells us to not fear. He tells us He will take care of us. When we accepted Christ into our lives as our Savior, we were anointed as Heirs with Christ. Yet, when we hear people talk about us, or we get overlooked for that job we wanted, or that relationship didn’t work out like we wanted, we begin to act like madmen(women). We run and hide, we cry our eyes out, slobber runs down our faces and we act like wild people scratching on anything in our way. David did it as a distraction because of his fear of death and lack of faith. Why do we? Is it simply our lack of faith?

Ouch! Needless to say I quit laughing and began praying. I prayed that I would not act like a madwoman when I don’t get my way or when I become fearful. I prayed that my faith would grow strong and that I would trust God with the big and little details of my life. I prayed over you too Sisters. May you have supernatural faith that takes the “madwoman” out of you.

Be blessed!!

Believing in God But... Not Prayer

2010-04-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday morning and I awoke as my husband was leaving to go work at the church. They are working on the landscaping in the back. I reached over and grabbed my iPhone so I could read a few chapters of the new book I'm reading (The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel). The titles of the chapters all begin like this: When You Believe in God but.... But, the 3 little letters that completely discount each statement before it.

I was humored by a story that Craig told in Chapter 4: When You Believe In God but Not in Prayer. In this story a pastor asked his church to begin praying that God would shut down the neighborhood bar. They gathered for a prayer meeting and pleaded with God to close the bar. A few weeks later the bar was struck by lightening and it burned to the ground. The bar owner then sued the church. In court the bar owner argued that God struck his bar with lightning because of the church members' prayers. The pastor began to argue that yes, his church did pray but they didn't really expect anything to happen. The judge of course was perplexed, he stated: "I can't believe what I'm hearing. Right in front of me is a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and a pastor who doesn't."

This story hit me right in the heart. How many times have I prayed and not expected God to answer? How often have I said I believe You God, but...? How often have I said I would pray over something and then didn't because I really didn't think God would care? How often have I said with my actions, "I believe in God but not in Prayer"? Question after question kept running in my mind.

Of course I believe, don't I? YES!!! I do believe that God can and does answer prayer. I've seen many prayers answered. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 instructs us to Never stop praying, Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. If you are a Born Again Christian, it doesn't matter what you are praying for, God hears your prayers and is ready to answer. Are you really believing he will answer? Are you not praying because your afraid He won't answer and /or you will be disappointed with the answer? Can you trust Him to answer according to His will? What would happen if we really believed in the Power of Prayer?

Lord, help us in our unbelief. We say we believe in you, yet our actions speak otherwise. Let us walk in your will continually seeking your guidance. Develop in us a heart to communicate with you. No matter how big or small, remind us that you want us to talk to you. Whether we talk to you in spoken word, written word, song or dance remind us that you hear us and that you love us. Put a burning desire in our hearts to come to you with our arms open, ready to give ourselves to you.

Got Your Back Girlz... Luncheon

2010-03-13T22:22:00.000-08:00

I believe our luncheon was a success today. Many came dressed in their Zebra print. I love the participation. Take a look at the picture video.

One In A Million

2010-01-16T14:34:00.000-08:00

Hi Ladies! Please join us for One in a Million, a Bible study that will challenge you to conquer your wilderness living and teach you what it means to live free in Jesus Christ. This new 7-week study from Priscilla Shirer is a one-in-a-million opportunity to fully engage in the abundant inheritance God has waiting for those who are willing to follow Him into the promised land. Be prepared to dig into God's Word and gain prayer support from the women who will be walking beside you in this journey. We hope you have a great time of Bible study and fellowship in the weeks to come!

You can sign up in the church lobby or drop us an email at CWCWomensMinistry@gmail.com

Where: Calvary Worship Center

When: Begins Monday, February 15 through Monday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Cost: $20 for materials

That His Power May Be Seen

2009-12-02T17:18:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday a visiting minister greeted our congregation and proceeded to talk about the healing of the blind man in chapter 9 of John. As I read the text that morning, I became stuck on verses 2 and 3. "Rabbi," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins?" "It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." I have read these words over and over the last few days and just wanted to jump and shout each time. I'm struggling holding back my emotions even as I write this now.

Monday morning I was greeted early at work by Lind, a beautiful lady friend of mine that speaks faithfully into my life. She had a huge smile on her face and said, "How great is our God?" to which I replied, "pretty great." She continued to smile as she described a call she received over the weekend.....

Lisa (a dear friend of Linds and a former teacher of one of my boys), her husband and children are missionaries to Thailand. Well, last August Lisa and her children were in a serious car accident that left Lisa with a critical brain injury. The doctors told them that 90% of patients with this type of injury usually die shortly after the accident and the other 10% that live do so in a vegetative state. The family was really not given any hope and Lisa was in a coma.

Lind set up weekly prayer meetings specifically to pray for Lisa, and refused to believe that Lisa would be the 90% or the 10%. After a couple of months Lisa opened her eyes but she was still lost in her own world. Lind and her prayer group continued to pray for little miracles along the way. Many friends and family members stalked the website for updates. The call Lind received last Saturday was from Lisa herself. Not only had she awaken completely from her coma of 3 months, but she was talking with a strong voice and giving Lind words of instruction from the Lord. Lind was still celebrating that call on Monday.

The doctors gave no hope, but I believe this happened so that God's power can be seen in Lisa. Just think, she is in Thailand, a country that is primarily a Buddhist nation and only 2% of the population are believed to be Christian. How many lives will see God's power in Lisa? I think the number to be unmeasurable. The doctors are calling Lisa "A Miracle Girl".

"This happened so the power of God could be seen in him"? Do you really get it? The blind man in John 9 was blind so God's power could be seen in him. The trials you and I go through are so God's power can be seen in us. The illnesses we suffer and so God's power can be seen in us. For too long we have sat back and accepted the trials, illnesses and adversities as a part of the suffering we must endure. God wants to show His POWER in US!!! We need to pray that God's power will be shown in all our circumstances.

I asked Lind how she was able to keep praying so faithfully when the doctors gave no hope. She simply replied, "I refused to listen to any negative talk nor was I willing to accept anything less than what God's word told me. I knew I needed to pray for that miracle recovery until God answered or said otherwise". Wow!!

What have you given up on because you didn't get your answer right away, or you thought there was no hope of a miracle? Let's take God at His word and believe it to be true.

God, let us see your power in our circumstances. Reign down on us. Your word says that you forgive our sins and heal us of our diseases. You heal the brokenhearted and bandage our wounds. Lord help our unbelief and show us your mighty power. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

When Will I Be Enough?

2009-10-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

As I was getting ready for church this morning, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I was less than impressed and began to lecture myself for the recent weight gain I experienced. Many of you know that over the last year I have worked hard to lose weight, so just imagine my frustration to find that I’ve picked back up a few of those pounds over the last couple of months. My self lecture continued for a few minutes when I was reminded of two things I have said over the last couple of weeks: “Every girl needs ice cream when she is sad”, and “Chocolate! I’m feeling a bit stressed and need some chocolate”. I was stunned when I remembered those words, especially when the Spirit whispered to my heart, “When will I be enough?” While the reasoning behind these statements and the emotions true, the statements themselves showed me that that food had become my God. I’ve allowed my worries, my anxieties, and every other emotion to be shared with and comforted by chocolate, ice cream, rich foods, and sugar instead of my loving God. The food lasts for a moment and tastes good on my lips, but God is my portion forever.

Psalm 73:25-26 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Lord, forgive me for not giving you all of me... my worries, anxieties, fear, joy, happiness, all the emotions that sometimes cause me to seek other means of comfort. My desire is for YOU! The love I have for the rich things that are not good for me has hurt me in the past and began to destroy my health. I give that all to You! Help me to restrain myself. Help me to not eat out of emotional whims or mindless comfort. Let me be a woman seeking you first in all things. Let my desire only be for You. You are my strength and my portion Forever!!! Amen.

Make It Known

2009-05-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Life is very busy, but God is so faithful! It is easy to feel overwhelmed and anxious when life is so busy and there is so much to do! God gave me this word this week and I wanted to share it with you!

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

It only takes a moment to breathe a prayer and God hears each and every one of them. I encourage you to post this scripture somewhere that you will see it!

I will leave you with this old hymn and remind you to take it, whatever it is, to the Lord in prayer!

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Little Faith, Big Building

2009-04-24T15:51:00.001-07:00

***My husband wrote this article on faith. I thought it was appropriate to share it on our blog. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. If faith can move a mountain, it can certainly build a sanctuary.***

What type of faith do we have? A casual one: if it works out then it is great, if not, then it wasn’t that big of a deal. Working faith: we have faith it will happen, but we are going to start working on it ourselves just in case God doesn’t do it. If we believe that God will provide the means necessary, which is more a display of faith; working to provide those means ourselves, or working to use those means the best possible way?

This reminds me of Matthew 15:32-38. Jesus tells his disciples that He is going to feed the multitude. They immediately asked where they could possibly find that much bread in the wilderness. Automatically, they thought that they had to help Jesus do something He said He was going to do.

That is us so many times. We immediately say, “How am I going to get this done” after God has said he will take care of us. “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. (Matthew 6:29-32)

I think our faith is small many times because we do not want to take the chance that God will not come through. We want a backup plan. We have that doubt that it might not work out, so we try to help get it done. This is contrary to having faith. True faith lets us begin the second phase. We can start acting on the result, knowing it is on the way. Remember the ten lepers that asked Jesus for mercy in Luke 17:12-19. As soon as Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest they took off. They didn’t wait to see the healing, they believed it was going to happen. The Bible says, “as they went, they were cleansed.” This is a remarkable example of expecting with faith. They sincerely embraced that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) They acted on the result before they witnessed it. Can we step out with this kind of faith? Can we truly begin as Peter did; stepping out of that boat onto water knowing that it just doesn’t make any sense? Can we stop ourselves from trying to complete what we have entrusted to God?

No opinion on faith can be complete without using the scripture about how little faith you need. “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:19-21) This seems to make it pretty easy to use faith until you read the end part. Fasting!! That is pretty difficult to do. I need those calories every day. But it is very clear to attain the faith needed to move mountains we must sacrifice ourselves in prayer and fasting. Have we done this lately?

As we approach the end of our building project we have given time and money until it seems we do not have anymore. Our financial situation is now near desperate and we are not sure how it is going to get done. Now is the time we can say, “God, I can’t do anything else. It is up to You.” We cannot have the casual faith, because this has to be done. We cannot have the working faith, because we are unable to complete it ourselves. We have to have faith the size of a mustard seed! Have we prayed, fasted, and had faith that God will supply the money and resources for our new building? If so, we have to prepare for the people who will show up at our door. If haven’t, then we need to take care of that, so we can prepare to use His blessings accordingly.

Written By James Wiley

Cross The Jordan!

2009-04-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

There’s an old saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence,” but for two and a half tribes of Israel, the grass wasn’t greener on the other side of the fence. They were content to stay just where they were at. I have to wonder, were they really happy there? What did they miss out on?

The story that I am referring to is in Numbers chapter 32. Here were the Israelites, who had wandered in the desert for 40 years. They were preparing to enter into the land that God had promised them. Remember, the land was promised to Abraham way back in Genesis chapter 12. This promise was a long time coming. The Israelites had come a long way through slavery, oppression and forty years in the wilderness to this point in history. They knew the inheritance that lay just beyond the Jordan River. They knew that all they needed to do was go, in the power of God and possess the land.

We find in Numbers chapter 32 that two and a half of the tribes of Israel (Reuben, Gad and part of Manasseh) wanted to stay on the East side of the Jordan River. They wanted to settle right where they were at, instead of going into the Promised Land with the rest of Israel. The reason that they gave for this was that they were herdsmen by trade and that they land that they were currently residing in was good for the herds (32:4).

There is quite a bit of dialogue after the fourth verse, but the part I want to get to is in verse 33. These tribes went with the rest of Israel into the Promised Land and defeated the enemy. Yet, they chose to return to the land on the East of the Jordan and this land became their inheritance. They gave up their stake in the land that God had promised them for a land that was good in their own eyes. They were walking by sight, not by faith!

The Bible doesn’t give a whole lot of detail on this story, but from what I can tell, those who stayed behind were willing to settle for what seemed good to them. We know that the land that God had promised was a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey (Numbers 13:27), yet they chose to stay where they were. No doubt the land they chose to stay in was good land. They were permitted to do this, but it wasn’t the perfect plan that God had chose for them from the beginning. Don’t you wonder what they missed out on? Doesn’t it make you wonder?

So where’s the life application part for us? How is this little chapter in Israel’s history going to teach us anything? I think often times as Christians we settle. We have a good life. We have a good relationship with our Savior. We look around and we see good surrounding us and we are content to stay exactly where we are at. It’s the enemy of complacency. We have a good life, so we see no need to press on to the Promised Land and find the treasures and blessings that lay beyond the Jordan River. Do you ever wonder what you are missing out on by staying right where you are at? When we ever realize that good in our eyes is not good enough?

Going beyond the Jordan for these tribes would have required a lot of work. They would have had to move their herds and their families across the Jordan. They had come this far, and were willing to settle in the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, instead of the land of Canaan. I have no doubt that the land there was good, but I know that because it wasn’t the land that God had chosen for them, it wasn’t as good as it was supposed to be. There’s nothing more completely satisfying than being in the perfect will of God. God in His sovereignty knows what’s best for you and your life.

Are you standing at the edge of the Jordan right now? Are you happy where you are at? Are you wondering what may lay beyond the Jordan? Maybe there is something in your life that you have refused to give up to this point. Maybe your prayer life is not what it should be. Maybe you aren’t devoting yourself completely to the work that God has called you to do. Are you content with what you know about God’s word? Are you content with your relationship with Him?

Make the commitment with me today to go beyond your current status and press on to a deeper and more meaningful relationship with your Savior. Pray that you will desire to press on beyond where you are at. Pray that you won’t be content, but that you will long to move forward in God’s perfect will for your life. It’s not going to be easy. I am not going to sugar coat it. It will take work. It will take determination. But just as God promised He would go with Israel into the battle, He will go with you (Deuteronomy 31:6). Cross the Jordan and enjoy the blessings that come to those who will chase God with their whole heart. It will be worth it!

I worship you my Heavenly Father. You are so good to me. I have such a good life. Your blessings abound in my life. But Lord, I don’t want to just stay where I am at. I don’t want to miss out on the blessings that you have for me if I will press on in Your ways and in Your work. I know you God, but I want to know You more. I love You God, but I want to love You more. Go with me God. Guide me in Your perfect will. Help me to press on and remind me that there is something better on the other side. I thank You Lord that You have chosen little ol’ me. Lord, use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
--Deuteronomy 31:6

Really?

2009-03-27T02:42:00.000-07:00

I’m often humored at the things God will do in my life, just because. Yesterday afternoon I was having an average day, following a typical busy schedule and not really thinking a whole lot about me...... then I saw something that hit me in the eyes.......

I was pulling back into the parking lot at work after lunch. The one thing I consistently ask God for is a close spot to the door. I usually carry a very heavy briefcase, so I do not want to park in the North 40 and carry that bag. Some days God sees fit to give me a close spot and others He allows me to walk. I’ve asked Him a few times for consistency in the close spot, but up to that point He had not granted me my request. Anyway, yesterday I was granted a close spot, one isle from the door. As I was turning off my car, I looked up to see a sign marking a parking spot within 15 feet from the door. The sign simply read, “Reserved, Executive Assistant.” The first words from my mouth was, “Really?” and then I finished it with, “are you kidding me?”.

This year our corporate office announced that the management teams would not get raises in 2009, (the specifics behind it are not crucial, so I will leave those out). I made peace with that decision thinking I was just thankful I had a job in this economy. However, as I was getting out of my car yesterday, after seeing the “reserved” sign, all I could think of was, “so I don’t get a raise, can I have a stinking parking spot?”. I didn’t think much more of it as I walked past the space into the office building.

This morning, as I was getting ready for work that sign flashed into my mind. I shook my head and thought again, “Really?” the Admin has a parking space close to the door and I don’t? I know, your thinking, “its just a parking spot”. Well, to me it was the principal of the matter. I did have a close spot a couple of years ago, then it was taken away to add more visitor parking. The Holy Spirit put me into check quickly to not be envious. Truth be told I wasn’t envious, but just wanted a close parking spot. I decided not to dwell on it any longer and continued about my day.

As I arrived at work this morning, I found a close spot and it immediately put a smile on my face. I whispered a quick “thank you” and continued to my desk. I wasn’t there more than 10 minutes when my director called me. She asked me to stop by her office when I got a chance. She wanted to give me a parking pass so I could park up front. Seriously my first word was, “Really?”. I was surprised. It still makes me giggle when I think about it. I can just see God watching me yesterday. He saw my eyes move over the sign, heard my words of sarcasm, searched my heart for my reaction and said, “Would someone give that girl a close parking space please?”

My mind goes to Jesus’ teaching about “asking” in Matthew 7:7-11. Here Jesus basically says, “Ask and you shall receive” but I like verses 9 - 11, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him”. I had been asking and looking for my close spot daily. Today I got that close spot and then God also let me know that tomorrow I have a close spot, and the next day, and the next.

This may seem small and somewhat trivial, but I just wanted to illustrate how sometimes God chooses to bless us even in the small things. As a parent, I look for ways to bless my children and beam with happiness when they are are pleased. So, I can only imagine that God, with His great love, wants to bless His children even more. Just image how delighted God must be to give us those small things, and there is no budget that limits Him. We only look for the big blessings, but God gives us small blessings daily if we look for them. When we recognize His hand in the ordinary and give Him the thanks, it just makes Him want to give more.

Father in heaven, how I love You. Many times in my busyness, I don’t see the things you lay before me as gifts. Often times I shake them off as coincidences, when you are there the whole time waiting for me to acknowledge You. Your word says, “You have examined my heart and know everything about me.You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” Thank you for your hand of blessing upon my head and for always working in my favor and for my good. Keep my feet on the right path, Lord, that leads directly to you. Amen.

CRASH!

2009-03-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

There’s nothing like a car crash to wake you up! On Monday morning, at 7:40 a.m., my kids and I were in a car accident.

I was going about my normal routine. We were in the car, on the way to school. I was thinking about my day, all the things I needed to get done. Drop off Preston. Drop off Elliot. Go to school myself. Go pick up Elliot. Feed Elliot. Feed myself. Go pick up Preston. Take the kids to the dentist. I was focused on the road, with my eyes fixed straight ahead. I knew where I was going and my eyes were fixed right on my destination.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see a green blur. It’s a car. It’s coming right at me. I might just get past it before….CRASH! A man had come through a stop sign and crashed right into me. Just for the record, I was not at fault in this accident. I had the right of way.

It wasn’t the way I wanted to start my day, or my week. But it was one of those things that just happen in life. I honestly don’t know if there was anything I could have done to avoid it, but as I replay the events in my mind, I realized I was in tunnel vision state. I had my eyes fixed on the road ahead. I was only concerned about myself, my kids, and where we were going. I didn’t even see the guy until he was almost in the side of my car. At that point, it was too late!

Sometimes in our spiritual life, we are the same way. We are looking to the prize. Our eyes are fixed on ourselves and our relationship with God. We have spiritual tunnel vision. We forget to scan side to side and look for that person that might be passing by.

The danger in spiritual tunnel vision is that we forget that there are other people around us who need what we have. We forget that behind a lot of the smiles that we see everyday are hurting, lost people. They are people who need hope, people who need a Savior. They might not even know it yet.

We are all called to be fishers of men. If you are a believer, you have been called to share the gospel with the lost and dying souls in our world. Jesus said, “Go to all the world. Baptize them. Teach them to observe my teachings. I will go with you as you do this. You won’t be alone.” (a paraphrase of Matthew 28:19-20)

So here’s the honest truth about the crash. Had I been scanning side to side as they teach you in drivers’ training, I might have avoided the accident. I might have avoided the hassle of a rental car, repairs, insurance, police reports, not to mention the stress of it all. But I did re-learn to scan as I drive. I learned not to become so focused that I forget to look around. It took a crash to shake me out of my tunnel vision. Thank God for His protection! No one was hurt!

Don’t get to that point. Don’t become so self absorbed in your walk, that you forget that there are others around you who need what you have. Yes, keep your eye on the prize (Philippians 3:14), but don’t forget your call to share your Savior with the world. I hope it doesn’t take a crash to wake you up out of your spiritual tunnel vision.

Father, you have been so good to me. Your hand is on my life, and I am so thankful for Your protection. Forgive me for all the times that I neglect my call to share Your love with the world. Let my heart be obedient to the leading of Your Spirit. Lead me and guide me as I walk towards the prize. Give me Your eyes to see the needs of those who are around me everyday. Give me the boldness to share Your truth with them. I thank you for saving me. Salvation is my greatest treasure and it’s a treasure that I can share with others. I love you Lord.

A Rack Shack Moment

2009-03-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego (see Daniel chapter 3), has really been laid on my heart lately. Maybe it’s on my heart because I feel like I have been walking through the fire a bit lately. This morning, I pulled out my Bible and began to read again about this wonderful and mighty deliverance. I would like to share some encouraging words with you through this story.

From now on, I shall refer to Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, as Rack, Shack and Benny (compliments of Veggie Tales).

This is a well-known story, but I think the details of this story are often lost. Rack, Shack and Benny were important men. They had been set over the province of Babylon. The king, Nebuchadnezzar, who will be referred to as Ned, had built this huge golden idol and had called all of his officials, which included Rack, Shack and Benny, to come and worship this huge golden idol. They didn’t and according to the Bible, King Ned didn’t even know. It took a tattle tale to come inform Ned.

When Rack, Shack and Benny were brought before King Ned, it is their response that I love so much. They said (I am paraphrasing), “We know that our God, the God we serve, is big enough to bring us out of your furnace and your hand, King Ned.” They went on to say, and this is my favorite part, “Even if God doesn’t deliver us, it’s going to go down in history that we served God, not you King Ned and certainly not your gold statue.” I love that part. Even if God doesn’t deliver us, we want to be known as the people who didn’t follow the crowd. We want to be remembered as the people who stood firm on their faith in the One True God. Even unto death, we stand on God’s side!

King Ned didn’t like this. King Ned was a proud man and he wasn’t going to be embarrassed by these men. So he ordered that the furnace be heated up seven times beyond what it was normally kept at (verse 19). I love this, because Ned had no idea that he was just setting God up to be glorified even more! He was thinking he was going to show them. But God said, “I’ll show you Ned.” When the men took Rack, Shack and Benny up to be thrown in the furnace, the furnace was so hot, it killed the guards (verse 22). That’s one hot fire!

When King Ned saw that Rack, Shack and Benny were in the fire, and they were not alone, he was amazed. You see, Rack, Shack and Benny weren’t just in the fire. They were up, walking around in the fire! They weren’t on the ground, writhing in pain. They were walking through the fire, with God at their side and they weren’t even affected! Isn’t our God amazing?

When Rack, Shack and Benny came out of the fire, they didn’t even smell like fire. Their hair wasn’t singed. Their clothes weren’t burned. It was as though they had never even been in the fire (verse 27)! As a result, Ned glorified God(verse 28-29).

I walked through a furnace this week, but I wasn’t alone. I walked through a fire this week. I had my Rack Shack moment this week! It was hot, and it would have consumed most people. However, my hope is in the name of the Lord. When I woke on Tuesday morning to face the furnace, I woke with this prayer in my heart. “Oh God, you are my hope. You are my strength. You are my defense and my refuge is in you, Oh God (see Psalm 62:6-8).” I am so thankful that I never have to go alone, because I serve the One True God. I serve the same God that brought Rack, Shack and Benny out of that furnace. I serve the same God that brought the Israelites across the Red Sea. God is faithful. He brought me through the fire too!

Sometimes we look at the Bible and we see “stories”. We forget that these “stories” are the Word of God. They are true! They are real! They happened to real people, just like you and me! They aren’t stories. They are real life. They happened! Don’t forget that!

I know we all face the fire. We all face the furnace. But, if you serve the Lord, you don’t have to go alone. I pray that you will face the fires and furnaces this week with the same response that Rack, Shack and Benny had. “I know my God is big enough to deliver me from the fire. I know that He can take the fire out of my way. But even if God doesn’t take this fire out of my way, let it be known that I serve Him. Even if I have to walk through the fire, even if I don’t make it through the fire, I want the world to know that I serve my Lord Jesus!”

In His Hands

2009-03-05T09:24:00.001-08:00

The other day, as I was driving home with my children, we began to sing a song. It’s a song that all of you know, but it was such a blessing to me. We sang, “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.” We must have sung it for a good five minutes at the top of our lungs. We would go another round and put people’s names in the song. “He’s got Elli and Preston, In His hands.” It is such a simple song, and such a simple truth, but we often forget these simple truths that can give us strength to walk on and keep the faith.

It was no coincidence that when I went to my weekly Bible study this week, that same truth was reiterated to me. We studied in Numbers about the twelve spies that went into the land. Ten of those spies came back and gave a report of unbelief and only two believed God was big enough to overcome their enemies and bring them into the Promised Land. Like a disease, the unbelief spread throughout the whole congregation of Israel.

Joshua and Caleb are honored in the Word of God for their unwavering belief. They took God at His word and believed Him for the victory. When they looked at the battle that faced them, they compared their enemy to God and they knew that their enemy was no match for the Almighty Creator. They knew the promises of God and they knew that God has the whole world in His hands.

When we look at our circumstances, it is easy to look in unbelief and think that they are too big for us. Guess what! They are too big for us! But, (I love those buts) we have a BIG GOD on our side. When we compare our circumstances to our God, the God of Jacob, Abraham and Isaac, the God of Joshua and Caleb, we know that our God is much bigger than any circumstance and through His power we can overcome. The person speaking said this, “Gaze at God, glance at circumstances.”

Belief is an action, a decision, it is not a feeling. We choose how we react to our circumstances. We can choose belief or we can choose unbelief. We cannot rely on our feelings to tell us what to do, because feelings change in the blink of an eye. We must rely on what we know about God. God is truth. God’s Word is truth. He will do what He said He would do. He is bigger than anything I can face. All power in heaven and earth belongs to God. Are you choosing to believe His word? Or are your feelings dictating your response? Are you gazing at God and glancing at your circumstances?

I encourage you as you face life’s circumstances this week to start singing “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.” Are you facing illness? He’s got the whole world in His hands. Are you facing marriage problems? He’s got the whole world in His hands. Are you battling depression? He’s got the whole world in His hands. There is not a situation that He is not in control of. There is nothing too big for our BIG and MIGHTY GOD!

God, You are a Big GOD. Forgive me for my unbelief at times. I pray as I walk through life this week that You would constantly remind me that You have the whole world in Your hands. God, I pray that you will give me the strength to respond in belief and not react in unbelief to the circumstances I face. I want my children, my husband and my friends to see Your glory through Your mighty hand in my life. Take my life. Hold it in the palm of Your hand. I trust You Lord. I thank You for Your love and grace in my life. I know that if You can overcome the grave, You can overcome anything. I love you Lord. Amen.

He’s got the whole world, in His hands
He’s got the whole world, in His hands
He’s got the whole world, in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands!

He’s got you and me Sister, in His hands
He’s got you and me Sister, in His hands
He’s got you and me Sister, in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands!

The Cure For Cancer

2009-02-19T08:02:00.000-08:00

As I was doing my studies today, I came across this passage in Numbers chapter 11. It says in verses 1 through 3 (I am paraphrasing) that the Israelites complained (again) and God didn’t like it. God got angry and sent His fire and it burnt up some of the people around the edges of the camp. Then the Israelites cried out to Moses. The passage ends with Moses praying and the fire of God being removed.

What brought on this wrath of God? It was the complaining of the Israelites! God wanted them to know just how displeasing this was to Him, so God showed His anger in a fire. This is an Old Testament illustration of the basic truth that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

But is complaining really a sin? Paul writes in Philippians 2:14 that we should “Do all things without complaining and disputing.” Another version says to do all things without grumbling and complaining. Anyway you look it is a command, written by Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit. It says do. It doesn’t say I suggest or I urge, it says DO ALL THINGS.

Now before you feel as though I am being self righteous, I want to confess that I have been really failing at this. I often complain without even thinking twice about it. But when I read the passage in Numbers about how displeasing it was to God when the Israelites did it, I was convicted of this sin that is so commonplace in many of our lives that we do it without thought. It’s almost as if complaining is a reflex (an uncontrolled reaction to a stimulus).

Complaining is a cancer. It eats us up. It focuses our attention on the negative things going on around us. It changes our mood and frame of mind. Think about the last time you were around someone who complained non-stop. Did you really want to be around that person? When my children begin complaining about something, it is a matter of seconds before I have had enough! Complaining not only changes your own mood and frame of mind, but it changes the mood of those around us. Ms. Teressa Wiley said in a Bible study about our homes, “The atmosphere of your home is dictated by your reaction to the seasons of life.”

Why then is complaining a sin? Complaining about situations in our life is the voice of unbelief. It is saying that you don’t think your God is big enough to handle the situation. It can be that we question God’s sovereignty in a situation. The words that say “I don’t think God knows what He is doing here.” If an unbeliever was around you and saw your constant complaining, how would they view your God and Savior? We are to be a reflection of Christ to those around us. Complaints do not reflect God’s nature of love, goodness and purity. Our witness is demolished when the words we speak are constant complaints.

There is a cure for the cancer of complaining. Paul not only gives the command to do all things without complaining, but later in Philippians, Paul gives us the cure for complaints. In chapter 4, it says “Be anxious for nothing”, or don’t worry about things in your life. “But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Going to God in prayer with thanksgiving, refocuses our mind on the good things of God. Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.

Further on in the fourth chapter of Philippians, Paul tells us the rest of the cure. In 4 verse 8, Paul tells us to think on the things which are good, the things that are true and pure. If there is anything praiseworthy, think about these things. What is pure? What is true? What is good? Only God is!

God, You alone are holy and true. Forgive me of my complaining. Help me to listen closely to Your voice as You remind me that my complaining is a sin. God, give me the strength to weed out this sin and change my heart. Cure me of my cancer so that it doesn't eat away at myself and my family. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14). Amen.

The Perfect Anniversary Gift

2009-02-10T17:17:00.000-08:00

Love is about compromise. That is what we hear all the time about relationships. But remember, we live in a society that does not honor God. When I really think about pure and true love, I know in my heart and soul, that love is about sacrifice, not compromise. Compromise means that the two meet in the middle on an issue. Sacrifice means that we totally surrender to the other person. Compromise means both people get something, while sacrifice means that only one person is getting their way. Maybe so many marriages are failing today because we expect compromise from our mates, instead of sacrifice from ourselves.

Today is my anniversary. I have spent the last eight years married to James, my love and my partner. I am so blessed to have him in my life. James makes me feel loved. When James proposed, he said he couldn’t promise me extravagant things or money, but he could promise me that I would have all of his love. When I look back, I know that he has kept that promise to me, not because of compromise, but because of sacrifice. He has always made me feel as though my happiness was more important than his own.

The book of First Corinthians, chapter 13 says that love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t prideful. Love doesn’t seek for its own good. Love doesn’t keep score. Paul is telling us in a nutshell that love is all about sacrifice. It’s all about giving yourself to another.

Christ was the ultimate model of love. He sought His Father’s will, not his own. As Jesus prayed in the garden, he prayed if it was possible, that the cup pass from him, but above all that God’s will would be done (Matthew 26:39). Jesus was facing death. Jesus was facing anguish and pain, but Jesus refused to compromise. He would lay down His life in obedience to God. He gave His life to show love. Jesus chose sacrifice. Jesus chose God’s way, without compromise.

Romans 5:8 says that God showed his love toward us by Christ’s death, even when we were still sinners. God’s love was is not conditional on our behavior. God loves us and has proven His love by Christ’s death, even when we were still living in our sin. We didn’t have to turn from our sin and turn to Christ before Christ would give His life. The sacrifice was made, regardless of our choice.

Loving those around us is the second great commandment. The first is to love God wholeheartedly. We show our love to God by keeping His commands (John 14:15). I encourage you to look at love through God’s eyes. I encourage you to look at your relationships, whether friendships or marriages, and discover the ways that you can sacrifice yourself to that person to show love. Who needs to feel love in your life? Who needs your time? Who needs your service? What can you give to show your love?

When I took my vows to my husband eight years ago, my vows were not dependent on James keeping his vows. My vows said that I would give myself to James, I would serve him no matter what life sent our way. Nothing says love like sacrifice and as I searched for the perfect gift to give James for our anniversary, I realized that I was the perfect gift. Giving of myself to him, considering him first, speaks volumes more than my words and material gifts could ever say. It’s a costly gift because it means putting my wants and desires aside to serve the one I married. It means there will be times that in exhaustion, I will serve. In times of hurt, I will serve. In times of happiness, I will serve. Yes, it’s a costly gift, but it is my calling as a woman of God. In serving James, I honor God.

God, you have called us to love. You have loved us so perfectly. You have given us your Son, a sacrifice, to prove and model Your love for us. Show us how to love your way. Show us how to give ourselves to You and to our loved ones. Open our eyes to their needs and their desires. Give us the energy and desire to meet those needs. Show us how to serve others with our lives and give our service to others as an offering to not only them, but to You. God, help us to love our friends and our spouses, even when we don’t feel loved by them. Give us Your perfect love for others, especially when we find them difficult to love. God we love You. God we want to serve You. God we thank You. In the precious name of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, we pray. Amen.

"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15

Caught!

2009-02-07T11:45:00.000-08:00

My day began as any other Wednesday would. Get up, shower, devotional time, get dressed for work, prod Joey from bed to get ready for school then out the door with him in tow. I was on my way to drop him at school driving like I always do, when the stop light turned yellow. I continued through the light and turned left toward the school. As soon as the turn began, I heard sirens and saw the flashing lights in my rearview mirror. “What dummy is this cop going to pull over” was my thought as I pulled to the right and she followed me. “Am I the dummy? What did I do wrong? Why is she pulling me over?” I couldn’t imagine what I had done to deserve this. I am the one that always drives 25 MPH in the school zone for the protection of the kids. I always stop at stop signs, and rarely do I speed.

I was fishing for my license when the officer approached my window and knocked. I rolled down the window with I’m sure a look of ‘what did I do’ on my face. She quickly told me, that she didn’t need to see my license. Instead she reprimanded me for blowing through the red light? She ended with, “I’m not going to give you a ticket this time. But I wanted you to know that the time you tried to save by running through the light was just removed by me pulling you over. Have a good day.” She then walked away.

Of course I felt like a child that got caught with her hand in the cookie jar just before dinner. I got caught breaking a law that I ‘technically’ didn’t break. When I entered the intersection the light was yellow. It’s not my fault that it turned red just before I completed my turn. The cars in front of me were moving too slow. I continued to justify my actions all the way to work. How dare she do that to me, and in front of my 15 yr. 11 mo. old son ready to get his license in a month. I felt like a victim. What was she doing, sitting and waiting to pull someone over? Then it hit me... regardless of all my excuses, I was guilty of running a red light. I was in the intersection when the light turned red. I had broken the law.

Many times I have tried to justify my actions by technicalities. I walk as close to the line as I can without getting caught. Like driving 70 MPH on the Freeway when the speed limit is 65 MPH. I heard that a CHP will not pull you over unless you are going more than 7 MPH over the speed limit, so that means 70 to 72 MPH is okay, right? Another justification to my speeding could be, its late and no one is around for miles. I can continue for hours with all the good reasons why it would be okay for me to speed.

When it comes to my Christian walk, I can think of many ways to justify my actions as well. The bible doesn’t address everything directly, so it’s okay right? I can act one way at work, another at home and another at church. But... The bible does say, He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out. Proverbs 10:9 I love the verse right before this one too, it says in verse 8, ‘The wise of heart will receive commands, But a babbling fool will be ruined. Boy I could babble my way through keeping things I shouldn’t, doing things I shouldn’t, saying things I shouldn’t, but I always risk being found out. Do I want to be found guilty of doing wrong or do I want to walk in integrity and do so securely? What about you? Do you walk in integrity or do you pervert your ways with excuses and justifications?

Lord, we give our babbling ways to you. Help us to always walk in integrity, whether at home, at work or church. Let us always receive correction with submission and a willingness to change, so that we can not be found guilty of doing wrong. Teach us Lord to receive your instruction and follow your ways. Let Your word be planted in good soil, that we will produce good fruit. Grant us wisdom, knowledge and mercy. Amen.

The B-I-B-L-E

2009-02-03T17:03:00.000-08:00

Often times in the teaching that we receive, we hear these giant concepts but not real practical suggestions for application. The purpose of this blog entry is to give you some real concrete tips for studying your Bible.

We all know that the Bible is an important part of our relationship with God. It is our daily bread. But, if you don’t know how to feed yourself, you will starve. Too often, we wait to go to church and expect our weekly dose of bread. Jesus prayed to the Father asking Him to give us our DAILY bread. We have to learn to feed ourselves through the week and not depend on others to feed us. I hope this gives you some practical tips for studying the Word on a daily basis.

BEGIN WITH PRAYER
We are so blessed. We have the opportunity to go before our holy God. He has given us His Spirit to teach us and to guide us. Without the Spirit working within us, we cannot have true understanding of the Word of God. The second chapter of 1st Corinthians, verse 10 says “…God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” In the 14th verse of the same chapter, we see that the things of God can only be spiritually discerned. We have to be in the Spirit to understand the things of God. I am not asking you to have a 2 hour prayer session every time you pick up your Bible. But begin with a few words of adoration. Ask for cleansing. Then ask the God to open your understanding through His Spirit. This is the purpose of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is our teacher. We don’t need anyone else!

READ TO KNOW GOD
This section is particularly convicting to me. I often pick up my Bible in the moments of chaos and weakness and search for something for myself. I read with the intention of getting something for me. The Word was given to us that we may know God and we should read the Bible with the intention of knowing Him better. In the process, we will undeniably be lifted up, but that cannot be our focus. An intimate relationship comes from knowing someone fully, their thoughts, their character, their attributes. Read your Bible with this purpose alone, “To know God on an intimate level.” Ask yourself these questions as you read. What did this scripture tell me about God? What attributes of God do I see throughout this passage? I can usually list several when I really look at scripture in this way. Know God by knowing His Word and read His Word to know Him.

FIND OUT WHAT WORDS MEAN
We all learned to use a dictionary in school, a skill you still need to apply. Looking at definitions of words will give you a better understanding of what the author is telling you. Don’t take the definition of a word for granted. A dictionary is a valuable tool and I have a free one for you to use! www.eastonsbibledictionary.com This link is for an online Bible dictionary. Are you confused by a word used in a text? Look it up! Even if you know what it means in general, look it up. It will broaden your understanding. Words like sanctification, justification, propitiation, atonement can be really intimidating. Breaking them down will make reading your Bible a whole lot easier. Even if you know what they mean, the definition can speak to your heart and your mind.

MAKE TIME
It’s the hardest part in our busy schedules. If you have to get up early, do it. If you have to give up something, do it. If you have to sit in your car in the garage to get a quiet place, then go to your car (just don’t leave the motor running). Making time for God is important and rewarding. Once you do it, you will find yourself getting lost in His precious Word and growing in your relationship with Him. You will long for that quiet time with Him.

START AT YOUR OWN LEVEL AND YOUR OWN PACE
Reading the Bible through in a year is a wonderful thing to do. But not everyone is at that level. Don’t go from not studying at all to trying to study for two hours every day. You will probably not be successful. When you begin an exercise program, you don’t start by running a marathon. You would kill yourself. Similarly, you don’t begin reading, without first learning the sounds that each letter makes. You have to start at your own pace and your own level. If you are a babe in Christ, don’t start in the book of Revelation, start with Matthew. Don’t try something completely unrealistic. Start with ten minutes. If you find yourself longing for more, add ten more minutes. You don’t have to read a certain amount of scriptures during your study time. Take your time and let the Spirit speak to you about each scripture. Even if you only get through one Scripture during your ten minute session, you have grown in Christ. Don’t get caught up in how much you read. It’s not a race!

I really hope that these tips helped you in some way. They may have been a “no-brainer” to you or maybe they were completely new concepts to you. Either way, I hope you found them practical and realistic. You don’t have to have fancy commentaries or special books (I am not opposed to these). You need only the living Word and His Spirit speaking to you to grow through the study of the Word. Let the Author tell you what He meant through His Spirit.

If you need help in the area of how to study to the Word, find someone who can help you. Talk to one of your Women’s Ministries Leaders, talk to your class teacher, or to a trusted Christian friend. Finding out how others approach their study may be helpful to you. May you come to truly know God in your study of His Word.

www.biblegateway.com is also a great online resource. It allows you to read different versions of the Bible or search by keyword. I find this site very useful.

Holy or Happy?

2009-01-27T21:09:00.000-08:00

“God is more concerned with our holiness than our happiness and with our character than our comfort.” This is what I heard as I sat in Bible study last week. We are currently in the book of Leviticus which outlines God’s instructions for sacrifices, cleansing and offerings. God was very specific about the way things were to be done. When things weren’t done God’s way, it was death to the individual.

If it seems merciless and unnecessary, you are looking at it though the human perspective. You have to understand that God is a holy God and He demands holiness from His people. Holiness, when applied to the Christian, is being set apart for God. Holiness is living according to God’s word and plan for our lives. God’s punishment in the book of Leviticus is evidence that God demands holiness from His people. “Holiness is not a luxury.”

God’s ways are not to be compromised for our own happiness or comfort. God’s ways are not easy. We are human. We are sinful by nature and we are in a constant battle with our flesh. The Spirit of God inside of us leads us to be holy, to be more like God. But our flesh longs for happiness and comfort. This is evident in my own life every day. I wake up. I pray and worship as I prepare myself for the day ahead. I start with great intentions of being the best person that there ever was. I begin my day longing to be the woman, mother and wife that God has called me to be. Then, I have to come out of my room and bathroom, where I have been preparing for the day and I am greeted by cranky kids that don’t want to go to school and the chaos that is my day. Suddenly, those intentions go flying out the window and I am just looking for the quickest exit out of the “day to day life trials.”

As my day continues, I make choices. As I examine the choices that I make, I find that I often choose the easy route, and I realize that my first concern is often happiness and comfort rather than holiness and character. When I examine the choices I make every day, I have a better understanding of the battle that we all fight from day to day. I see clearly the ways that I have sought happiness over holiness in my own life, a habit that is dangerous and hard to break.

We are faced with choices every moment of every day. Will you choose God’s way, or will you choose your way? There is no “easy button” on God’s path. God’s ways are hard for the flesh because they are contrary to the flesh. But every time we choose God’s way, we become more like Him and that sacrifice of ourselves rises before Him as a sweet smelling offering. Romans chapter 12 verse 1 says that we are to be a living sacrifice, a holy sacrifice. Sacrifices are costly and painful. Jesus offered His own life and blood to cleanse us in God’s eyes and we are asked to freely give our lives as an offering back to God. It’s hard, but God offers us the strength that we need and promises us that He won’t give us anything that we cannot handle (through His strength, not our own).

I encourage you, as I rely on God’s strength to do the same, to choose holiness, not happiness today. Sacrifice your life to God today. It won’t be easy, but true joy and blessings await for those who choose holiness over their own happiness and comfort.

Just As I Am

2009-01-10T11:59:00.000-08:00

I woke up in the middle of the night Thursday Night and couldn’t go back to sleep. I’ve done this a lot more lately than ever before. This particular night I decided I was not just going to lay there with my mind running, I was going to get up and read and pray. I grabbed a blanket, my bible, my journal and a pen. If I was going to be awake, I was going to make good use of it.

As I began to read through the book of Romans, my mind really began to race over the things that God has done for me. Just the pure knowledge of His sacrifice alone was enough to get this girl in a mood of worship. I really began to thank Him for loving me so much. He loved me while I was still a sinner! Imagine that! Loving someone in spite of their faults, failures and rebellion. This is a love that I can not even comprehend.

I lifted my voice to Him asking for more. I want more of Him. I want His presence in my life always. It is there I find peace, joy and contentment. I no longer want to seek success on the road of this world, I want success on the road to Him. I no longer want to be a people pleaser, I want to be a God pleaser. I began to feel like Paul did in Romans 7 (a must read). I am always at war, who will rescue me from this body of death?

As I continued meditating on the Lord, while writing in my journal, the words, “Just As I Am” were spoken in my mind. God wants me just as I am. I don’t have to change anything to come to Him. He already won the battle for me. The song that was written almost 200 years ago began to stir my heart. I quickly began searching for the words on the computer. I had to see the words. I had to hear the song.

Just as I am, without one plea,

but that thy blood was shed for me,

and that thou bidst me come to thee,