Luke 7:18-28
This is one of my favorite stories in the entire Bible! I know I say that all the time! I guess I just love the Bible! I struggled with doubt for many, many years and still struggle with unbelief at times. Anytime that I am praying about an issue that I have chosen to believe the voice of the accuser over the voice of God, God reminds me of this passage. How does God feel about doubt?
For years, I literally saw doubt as the unforgivable sin. If I doubted my salvation, I was not saved and I could never be saved because I doubted. Sounds crazy now, but the feelings were so real then. I'm not sure how I missed this passage of scripture for so many years. Let's review a little about John's life before we answer the question about how God feels about doubt.
John's birth was announced by an angel. John was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. John was the "voice calling out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord". John recognized and baptized Jesus - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. John's life was all about serving God and preparing the way for Jesus. He had one purpose and he fulfilled it.
But, toward the end of his life we see that he had a bout with doubt. He just wanted to make sure that Jesus was the Christ. Instead of hiding in fear, he took his questions and concerns to Jesus via his disciples. Now, I would expect Jesus to be upset about this question. Maybe even a little hurt. However, scripture shows us the exact opposite. Jesus tells them to go back to John and tell him what is going on. He offers assurance for his friend.
What is even more amazing is what Jesus says next. The King of the Universe then talks about how greatness of John's life. Jesus did not condemn John's questioning and doubting. He answered his questions and even offered encouragement.
God is big enough to handle our questions, our fears, and even our doubts. He is not offended by them. Let us not be afraid to voice to Him what is in our hearts. Bring your doubts, fears, and areas of unbelief to Him. That He can work with.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
"Many people in this City..."
Genesis 18:16-33
Acts 18:10
These are crazy times we have been living in the last few weeks. Every time it seems like things are turning around, they seem to fall apart again. I know there is a lot of fear driving most of the decisions on Wall Street and on Capitol Hill. This is very distrubing to me because God has not given us a "spirit of fear". But, I have asked myself during this time, is this the judgment of God? I cannot answer that question because I do not know the mind of God and His ways are so much higher than my ways, but I can know His character and His heart from the scriptures.
I had a conversation with a very wise pastor last week. He asked me, "Elaine, why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?" And I gave the Sunday School answer, "because of their wickedness". He said, "has not the wickedness of America far surpassed the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah?". I had to think about it and say "yes". Then he gave the most thought provoking answer for a time like today. He said, "God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because He could not find 10 righteous men".
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is always seen as a story about the wrath of God, but now I look at it differently. How merciful is the God we serve that He would have spared the city if He had been able to find 10 righteous men. God brought Acts 18:10 to my mind every day last week:
"For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." Acts 18:10
I am convinced that when God looks down and America, He still says "I have many people in that city". He has not forgotten us. He is not asleep. None of this has taken Him by surprise. We can trust in His Sovereignty and in His plan. He is in control of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Be comforted by that. It is in times like these that we truly realize that we have no other hope except in the name of Jesus. He is the only hope we have or will ever have. Trust Him today and ask Him to calm your fears in these anxious times.
Acts 18:10
These are crazy times we have been living in the last few weeks. Every time it seems like things are turning around, they seem to fall apart again. I know there is a lot of fear driving most of the decisions on Wall Street and on Capitol Hill. This is very distrubing to me because God has not given us a "spirit of fear". But, I have asked myself during this time, is this the judgment of God? I cannot answer that question because I do not know the mind of God and His ways are so much higher than my ways, but I can know His character and His heart from the scriptures.
I had a conversation with a very wise pastor last week. He asked me, "Elaine, why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?" And I gave the Sunday School answer, "because of their wickedness". He said, "has not the wickedness of America far surpassed the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah?". I had to think about it and say "yes". Then he gave the most thought provoking answer for a time like today. He said, "God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because He could not find 10 righteous men".
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is always seen as a story about the wrath of God, but now I look at it differently. How merciful is the God we serve that He would have spared the city if He had been able to find 10 righteous men. God brought Acts 18:10 to my mind every day last week:
"For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." Acts 18:10
I am convinced that when God looks down and America, He still says "I have many people in that city". He has not forgotten us. He is not asleep. None of this has taken Him by surprise. We can trust in His Sovereignty and in His plan. He is in control of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Be comforted by that. It is in times like these that we truly realize that we have no other hope except in the name of Jesus. He is the only hope we have or will ever have. Trust Him today and ask Him to calm your fears in these anxious times.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Looking for God
Matthew 2:1-12
I know it is not Christmas yet, but I am already getting excited!! We were reading the Christmas story the other day to the boys and they were especially intrigued with the wise men. They have always intrigued me as well. Where were they from? Who were they? How far did they travel? How did they know that this star was the "Star" that had been prophesied about in Numbers 24:17? These are questions that I have always wanted to know.
However, the other day, God whispered something else into my spirit other than my unquenchable thirst for knowledge. The question whispered to my soul was why did everyone else not see the star? I believe it was obvious to the entire world so why didn't they see it? Actually many people lots smarter than me have spent their lives researching and studying this very topic. (There is a wonderful article from the Institute of Creation Research that you can read by clicking here.)
Even if others saw it, scripture only tells us of one group of people that recognized the star as the sign that the Savior had been born. Literally, God in the flesh. The question my heart keeps asking is how many times have I missed God? How many times have the signs been as clear as that star was in the sky and I have walked right by? How many miracles has He done right under my nose and I did not even recognize them?
Today, let us not miss God. Ask Him for an opportunity to see Him at work. Ask Him for an opportunity to be involved in what He is doing. Ask Him to remove the veil from our eyes that we might truly see His Glory today. Let us not miss out on Him!
I know it is not Christmas yet, but I am already getting excited!! We were reading the Christmas story the other day to the boys and they were especially intrigued with the wise men. They have always intrigued me as well. Where were they from? Who were they? How far did they travel? How did they know that this star was the "Star" that had been prophesied about in Numbers 24:17? These are questions that I have always wanted to know.
However, the other day, God whispered something else into my spirit other than my unquenchable thirst for knowledge. The question whispered to my soul was why did everyone else not see the star? I believe it was obvious to the entire world so why didn't they see it? Actually many people lots smarter than me have spent their lives researching and studying this very topic. (There is a wonderful article from the Institute of Creation Research that you can read by clicking here.)
Even if others saw it, scripture only tells us of one group of people that recognized the star as the sign that the Savior had been born. Literally, God in the flesh. The question my heart keeps asking is how many times have I missed God? How many times have the signs been as clear as that star was in the sky and I have walked right by? How many miracles has He done right under my nose and I did not even recognize them?
Today, let us not miss God. Ask Him for an opportunity to see Him at work. Ask Him for an opportunity to be involved in what He is doing. Ask Him to remove the veil from our eyes that we might truly see His Glory today. Let us not miss out on Him!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Desperate for God
Luke 23:32-43
Although the story of the cross is familiar, I hope it never becomes commonplace for us. The fact that Jesus died on the cross, taking the punishment for my sin and your sin, and then rose again is the basis for all of our hope. Aside from that, we have nothing.
We have all heard the story of the two thieves that were crucified with Christ. But, as I was thinking about them today I realized that they truly epitomize the two conditions of the human soul: prideful or desperate.
Both criminals were in a desperate situation. They had no hope whatsoever of being rescued out of their plight. They knew they were going to die and that it was going to be painful and terrible. The first criminal to speak in the scriptures mocked Jesus. I still find this amazing. He had lost everything. He had nothing. He was hanging there naked before everyone and he still held on to pride. He still did not humble himself to the One who had the ability to save his very soul. Although his desperation was visible to everyone, he failed to recognize it.
The other criminal is a different story. He realized his desperation for what it was and recognized that Jesus was the only one who could help him. With absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain, he cried out to Jesus and Jesus answered him according to his Word. "Anyone who trusts in Him will not be put to shame" Romans 10:11.
This truth applies to us as well. Whether we see it or not, we are all desperate for Christ. He tells us we can do nothing without Him. Will we believe that truth and call out to Him in our desperate state or will we hang on to our pride thinking we can get through this one alone?
Right now, one of those criminals is still in paradise with Jesus while the other one is going over and over all the opportunities he had to turn to God. He has probably relived his last moments a trillion times by now. Now he sees his desperation, but it is too late. I hope it will not be too late for you and I.
"...apart from me, you can do nothing." John 15:5
Although the story of the cross is familiar, I hope it never becomes commonplace for us. The fact that Jesus died on the cross, taking the punishment for my sin and your sin, and then rose again is the basis for all of our hope. Aside from that, we have nothing.
We have all heard the story of the two thieves that were crucified with Christ. But, as I was thinking about them today I realized that they truly epitomize the two conditions of the human soul: prideful or desperate.
Both criminals were in a desperate situation. They had no hope whatsoever of being rescued out of their plight. They knew they were going to die and that it was going to be painful and terrible. The first criminal to speak in the scriptures mocked Jesus. I still find this amazing. He had lost everything. He had nothing. He was hanging there naked before everyone and he still held on to pride. He still did not humble himself to the One who had the ability to save his very soul. Although his desperation was visible to everyone, he failed to recognize it.
The other criminal is a different story. He realized his desperation for what it was and recognized that Jesus was the only one who could help him. With absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain, he cried out to Jesus and Jesus answered him according to his Word. "Anyone who trusts in Him will not be put to shame" Romans 10:11.
This truth applies to us as well. Whether we see it or not, we are all desperate for Christ. He tells us we can do nothing without Him. Will we believe that truth and call out to Him in our desperate state or will we hang on to our pride thinking we can get through this one alone?
Right now, one of those criminals is still in paradise with Jesus while the other one is going over and over all the opportunities he had to turn to God. He has probably relived his last moments a trillion times by now. Now he sees his desperation, but it is too late. I hope it will not be too late for you and I.
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." Hebrews 4:7
Monday, October 6, 2008
Given Over to a Depraved Mind
Romans 1:18-32
One of the things that I absolutely love about scripture is that if you are struggling for an answer on an issue, you can find it in scripture. Recently, I have really been having a hard time understanding how someone that is a Christian can "give themselves over" to a lifestyle of sin. Not only live in that sin, but believe that what they are doing is not a sin. The times in my life that I have lived in habitual sin, I still knew it was sin. I do not remember trying to convince myself that it was not. I have realized through this passage that God is so merciful and that if I had continued on that road, I would have been given over to a "depraved mind".
This passage deals with many tough issues. Homosexuality being one of them. Homosexuality is always described as a "shameful lust" and "sexual immorality", therefore we can know from scripture that those type of acts are wrong in the eyes of God. However, let us not think that we are off the hook from this passage if we are not a practicing homosexual. Idolatry is the first and foremost sin that is pointed out. When we allow the created to take the place of the Creator in our lives we are committing idolatry. When the place of God is taken by something or someone else, a downward spiral begins in our lives that ends with a "depraved mind".
What exactly does it mean to have a "depraved mind"? I looked up the word "depraved" and it means "corrupt, wicked, or perverted". When a person is given over to a depraved mind, many other characteristics show up in their lives. Slander, malice, envy, gossip - just to name a few. And finally, they end up as faithless, heartless, senseless human beings. The last verse actually portrays the most extreme form of sin. Verse 32 says "...they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." This literally means that they are applauding, rather than regretting, the sin of others.
This is hard stuff! Where do we find "tolerance" in these verses? We do not, but that does not mean that we do not continue to show the absolute unconditional love of God to every human being on the planet.
My prayer for us today is that we would ask God to show us any sin in our lives that He has convicted us of and we have ignored. What do we need to get out of our lives so that we ourselves will not be given over to depravity in that area. I also want us to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ that have chosen a life of sin to the point that they have been given over to a "depraved mind". Let us pray that they will see the truth and that the truth will truly set them free from sin today.
One of the things that I absolutely love about scripture is that if you are struggling for an answer on an issue, you can find it in scripture. Recently, I have really been having a hard time understanding how someone that is a Christian can "give themselves over" to a lifestyle of sin. Not only live in that sin, but believe that what they are doing is not a sin. The times in my life that I have lived in habitual sin, I still knew it was sin. I do not remember trying to convince myself that it was not. I have realized through this passage that God is so merciful and that if I had continued on that road, I would have been given over to a "depraved mind".
This passage deals with many tough issues. Homosexuality being one of them. Homosexuality is always described as a "shameful lust" and "sexual immorality", therefore we can know from scripture that those type of acts are wrong in the eyes of God. However, let us not think that we are off the hook from this passage if we are not a practicing homosexual. Idolatry is the first and foremost sin that is pointed out. When we allow the created to take the place of the Creator in our lives we are committing idolatry. When the place of God is taken by something or someone else, a downward spiral begins in our lives that ends with a "depraved mind".
What exactly does it mean to have a "depraved mind"? I looked up the word "depraved" and it means "corrupt, wicked, or perverted". When a person is given over to a depraved mind, many other characteristics show up in their lives. Slander, malice, envy, gossip - just to name a few. And finally, they end up as faithless, heartless, senseless human beings. The last verse actually portrays the most extreme form of sin. Verse 32 says "...they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." This literally means that they are applauding, rather than regretting, the sin of others.
This is hard stuff! Where do we find "tolerance" in these verses? We do not, but that does not mean that we do not continue to show the absolute unconditional love of God to every human being on the planet.
My prayer for us today is that we would ask God to show us any sin in our lives that He has convicted us of and we have ignored. What do we need to get out of our lives so that we ourselves will not be given over to depravity in that area. I also want us to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ that have chosen a life of sin to the point that they have been given over to a "depraved mind". Let us pray that they will see the truth and that the truth will truly set them free from sin today.
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." Hebrews 3:15
Friday, October 3, 2008
The Weak-Willed Woman
2 Timothy 3:1-7
At first glance this passage of scripture could sound like what you might have just read in the newspaper or saw on the news. Or you could probably turn on any television show and see most of these characteristics as well. We are in the last days. I am not saying that because I think Jesus is coming back next Thursday at 2:14 pm or anything! However, according to biblical theology, we are living in the Messianic era which is the time beginning with the first coming of Christ. Paul tells Timothy to have nothing to do with the unbelieving and unfaithfulness that will characterize this period of time. Timothy was living in it. We are living in it.
More importantly for me, are to truly study verses 6-7 because they mention a phrase that I never want to be characterized with: weak-willed woman. Now before you close this site thinking "well, that's not me honey!", let's look a little closer at whot the weak-willed woman is and some of her characteristics.
First of all, the weak-willed woman is someone who has allowed all or part of the godlessness mentioned in verses 1-5 to come into her home and set up residence. How and why did she do this? Scripture tells us that the godlessness "wormed" its way in, meaning it came in very subtly. The weak-willed woman probably did not even know that it was happening or that she had a choice to shut the door. The following list of characteristics was written by Angela Thomas. It may not be a complete list of characteristics, but I think it covers a lot ground in our lives.
When I look at this list, I have to admit to myself that I have "weak-willed woman potential". The one that is the hardest to look at is the last one. The weak-willed woman is always learning. She know her Bible. But, she is guilt ridden because of her sins. She is torn by lust and has probably been subject to many false teachers. I never want to be her and I know that you do not either. So how do we not become her?
At first glance this passage of scripture could sound like what you might have just read in the newspaper or saw on the news. Or you could probably turn on any television show and see most of these characteristics as well. We are in the last days. I am not saying that because I think Jesus is coming back next Thursday at 2:14 pm or anything! However, according to biblical theology, we are living in the Messianic era which is the time beginning with the first coming of Christ. Paul tells Timothy to have nothing to do with the unbelieving and unfaithfulness that will characterize this period of time. Timothy was living in it. We are living in it.
More importantly for me, are to truly study verses 6-7 because they mention a phrase that I never want to be characterized with: weak-willed woman. Now before you close this site thinking "well, that's not me honey!", let's look a little closer at whot the weak-willed woman is and some of her characteristics.
First of all, the weak-willed woman is someone who has allowed all or part of the godlessness mentioned in verses 1-5 to come into her home and set up residence. How and why did she do this? Scripture tells us that the godlessness "wormed" its way in, meaning it came in very subtly. The weak-willed woman probably did not even know that it was happening or that she had a choice to shut the door. The following list of characteristics was written by Angela Thomas. It may not be a complete list of characteristics, but I think it covers a lot ground in our lives.
Characteristics of a Weak-Willed WomanAngela Thomas Do You Think I'm Beautiful
- Consumed with her fears, eaten up with fear
- Self-absorbed
- Beaten Down - you may even be able to tell by her countenance that she is having a hard time
- Loud and Brash - she may cover up her pain by being this way
- Tells everybody what they should do but does not allow God to show her what she should do
- Is not sure God loves her or that He calls her beautiful
- Has an empty soul - no one has ever come through for her to fill her soul and she is not relying of Jesus to bring satisfaction
- Allows disappointment to become self-pity which can eventually lead to depression
- Harbors a grudge
- Plays with gossip, but is usually an expert at disguising it as something else
- Discretely indulges her obsessions - such as staying on budget while shopping with friends, but buying way too much on the internet. Or having a glass of wine with dinner and then drinking the whole bottle when everyone is gone. Or keeping a filter on the TV or computer for the children but looking at anything she wants to when the children are in bed.
- Very easily hurt or offended
- Critical Spirit
- Spiritually knowledgeable but essentially lost
When I look at this list, I have to admit to myself that I have "weak-willed woman potential". The one that is the hardest to look at is the last one. The weak-willed woman is always learning. She know her Bible. But, she is guilt ridden because of her sins. She is torn by lust and has probably been subject to many false teachers. I never want to be her and I know that you do not either. So how do we not become her?
When godlessness knocks at your door through the form of television or the computer, shut it off. When godlessness knocks at you door through what you hear on the radio, turn it off. When godlessness knocks at your door through the books you read, put them down and get rid of them. When godlessness knocks at your door in your mind, immediately take that thought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Satan comes in many forms. Let us pray that God will make us acutely aware of his schemes and that He will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).
There is something else that God says we can become... a display of His splendor. Let us allow Christ to make that a reality.
There is something else that God says we can become... a display of His splendor. Let us allow Christ to make that a reality.
"...and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61:3
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
What does God say about giving up
1 Kings 19
In case this is an unfamiliar story to anyone, let me give a brief background. (HA! Like anything I say is brief!) The people of Israel were worshipping other gods, specifically Baal and Asherah. Elijah was truly the only prophet of God left. He had the king assemble all the people of Israel along with all the prophets of Baal and Asherah which numbered 850. They decided that they would each pray to their gods and Elijah would pray to God. Whoever showed up with fire to consume the sacrifice would be the true God. Well, of course, God won and Elijah slaughtered the prophets of Baal and Asherah. Boy, did that make Jezebel mad! That is where our story picks up today.
Elijah was afraid and ready to give up. I have asked myself so many times when reading this story why Elijah was afraid. He had just seen the God of Heaven reign down in fire when Elijah asked Him to. Why didn't he just call down some fire on Jezebel? That answer I may never know, but I am sure from what we do see in scripture that Elijah felt very alone. He says to God twice that he is the only prophet left and that the people are now trying to kill him. He felt discouraged, isolated, and ultimately defeated.
What really struck me this morning as we were reading this story as a family is not what God said, but what He did not say. He did not say, "Oh, get up! What's wrong with you? You have me! Now get back to work!" He had no condemnation or judgement at all for his servant. Instead he told him that he was not alone and even instructed him who was going to succeed him as a prophet of God. God did not want him to feel isolated or discouraged, and I believe He understood Elijah's real need for companionship and fellowship with another believer.
Have you ever felt like giving up? I sure have. One of the things that has kept me from giving up is that for some reason God has blessed me beyond measure with people that love me and lift me up in prayer. At the darkest time in my life, actually one of the darkest days of my life, God woke up a friend of mine in the night to pray for me. How amazing this God is that we serve. I hope you know that He has not given up on you and even when we feel like giving up, He stands ready to see us through.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Satan's Game
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
Sin. It is a universal problem. All of us have sin in our lives. The only thing that separates my sin from the sin of a lost person is the blood of Jesus. Does a Christian have as much sin as they would if they did not know Christ? Hopefully not, but we all still struggle with sin. Attitudes, actions, pride, selfishness, our thought lives, unforgiveness, etc. Can you identify? I certainly can. Have you ever asked yourself 'will I ever be free from this completely'? If you have then I have good news for you. Yes! We will be completely free from all sin in heaven and we can live in consistent victory on Earth if we are dependent on Jesus Christ daily to help us in our weaknesses. But, I want to take it one step further.
We are not meant to live in isolation. We, as Christians, are meant to be a fellowship of believers that lift each other up and carry each others burdens. But, so many times in my life I try to do it alone. Even in the areas where I am depending on Jesus to help me daily, many times I have never told another breathing soul. Why? I do not think it is because I am too prideful to ask for help or prayer. I do believe it is because I have believed one of Satan's many lies. "No one will understand", "you are the only person that struggles with this", "you are definitely the only person at your church that struggles with this", "you will embarrass yourself because they will not be able to identify". Sound familiar?
Although I have believed this in the past, I am drawing a line in the sand. Based on scripture, which is truth, these are all lies. There is nothing you or I will ever struggle with that is not "common to man". So we are not alone. We are not isolated. We can trust someone to help us carry our burdens and lift us up in prayer. But who? This is a hard question, but we must not allow Satan to lie to us again that "no one can be trusted". That is a lie, but it can be difficult to find someone who you can trust completely. However, we can ask God to show us which person in our life He wants to use to help us. We can ask Him to be perfectly clear on who He would have us be able to confide in, walk with, trust. This person is not to take His place. No one can bring the victory other than Christ, but another person can walk with us.
Is there an area you are struggling with that you need to seek counsel of a friend or counselor? I pray that if there is, that today you will stop believing Satan's lies. You are not alone. There are people that will understand. There are people that care. Let's trust God to show us one person we can turn to for prayer and support.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Parenting Prodigals Part 2
Luke 15:11-20
If you missed yesterday's devotion, stop now and read it or today will make no sense! Let's continue on with the last three principles for reaching your prodigal and removing any barriers that would keep them from being able to come back home.
4. Allow sin to run its course.
Everyone must be allowed to live with the consequences of the choices they have made. I remember when I was a young adult and living away from God, a very close friend of mine that was significantly older told me to look in the mirror. When I did she said "that is the face you are going to have to answer to for every decision you make". I remember thinking that she was so right. My decisions were mine and I could not blame the consequences on anyone else. Prodigals must be allowed to face their consequences as difficult as that may be. How can unconditional love and consequences happen at the same time? By telling your prodigal that you love them no matter what, but that "this" is the consequence for their actions.
5. Be willing to guard you words.
This one is so important. We must guard what we say about God, other Christians, and the Church. We must be uplifting about the church and other Christians. Many prodigals have left the church because they or someone they loved and trusted was hurt by the church. When we put down other Christians it only feeds their belief that the Church is all a "bunch of hypocrites".
6. Pray specifically for your prodigal.
There are two specific prayers to pray for the prodigals in our lives. The first one is to ask God to bring people into the lives of our prodigals that have a heart for Him. Now this is where it gets touchy. If God answers our prayer, but the people He brings are not the type of people we would have chosen, we have to go back to number 5 and guard our words. If our prodigal comes back to God and goes to a different church or even a different denomination, we must rejoice that they have come home and not complain that they did not come back to "our church".
The second prayer is even a little more difficult. Many prodigals come home when someone they love gets very sick or dies such as a grandparent, parent, brother, or sister. This lose makes them look at their lives and evaluate their lifestyles. Are we willing to be the one to get sick and possibly even die so that they will come home? Can we truly ask God to do whatever it takes to bring our prodigal home?
I hope this has helped you in some way. It so impacted me I wanted to share it with all of you. If you have no prodigals in your life, first of all, PRAISE GOD! But secondly, when a friend shares with you about their child or grandchild, I pray God will remind you of these truths so that you can have some encouragement to share. To learn more about Parenting Prodigals and Phil Waldrep you can visit his website at www.philwaldrep.org
Have a great weekend!
If you missed yesterday's devotion, stop now and read it or today will make no sense! Let's continue on with the last three principles for reaching your prodigal and removing any barriers that would keep them from being able to come back home.
4. Allow sin to run its course.
Everyone must be allowed to live with the consequences of the choices they have made. I remember when I was a young adult and living away from God, a very close friend of mine that was significantly older told me to look in the mirror. When I did she said "that is the face you are going to have to answer to for every decision you make". I remember thinking that she was so right. My decisions were mine and I could not blame the consequences on anyone else. Prodigals must be allowed to face their consequences as difficult as that may be. How can unconditional love and consequences happen at the same time? By telling your prodigal that you love them no matter what, but that "this" is the consequence for their actions.
5. Be willing to guard you words.
This one is so important. We must guard what we say about God, other Christians, and the Church. We must be uplifting about the church and other Christians. Many prodigals have left the church because they or someone they loved and trusted was hurt by the church. When we put down other Christians it only feeds their belief that the Church is all a "bunch of hypocrites".
6. Pray specifically for your prodigal.
There are two specific prayers to pray for the prodigals in our lives. The first one is to ask God to bring people into the lives of our prodigals that have a heart for Him. Now this is where it gets touchy. If God answers our prayer, but the people He brings are not the type of people we would have chosen, we have to go back to number 5 and guard our words. If our prodigal comes back to God and goes to a different church or even a different denomination, we must rejoice that they have come home and not complain that they did not come back to "our church".
The second prayer is even a little more difficult. Many prodigals come home when someone they love gets very sick or dies such as a grandparent, parent, brother, or sister. This lose makes them look at their lives and evaluate their lifestyles. Are we willing to be the one to get sick and possibly even die so that they will come home? Can we truly ask God to do whatever it takes to bring our prodigal home?
I hope this has helped you in some way. It so impacted me I wanted to share it with all of you. If you have no prodigals in your life, first of all, PRAISE GOD! But secondly, when a friend shares with you about their child or grandchild, I pray God will remind you of these truths so that you can have some encouragement to share. To learn more about Parenting Prodigals and Phil Waldrep you can visit his website at www.philwaldrep.org
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Parenting Prodigals Part 1
Luke 15:11-20
This past Sunday at my church we had a guest speaker/writer named Phil Waldrep. He has written an amazing book that I truly believe was ordained by God. The book is called Parenting Prodigals. Phil's teaching in this book is truly phenomenal and I wanted to share my notes with you. If you were there, please feel free to add what you learned in the comment section and if you were not I hope this will bless your life and help you deal with a prodigal in your life. We all have prodigals in our lives. They may not be our children, but most of these principles can still apply. You may also have a friend that is struggling with their child. Please pass this on to as many people as you may believe would benefit. The remainder of my blog today will be my notes from Phil Waldrep.
Two questions that parents ask when they have a prodigal child are:
1. What did we do wrong?
2. What can we do now?
Six Principles for reaching your prodigal and answers to the two questions:
1. Learn to live guilt free in your own Christian life.
There are two reasons for guilt: 1. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23). We are all bent toward sin. If we do what is natural, we will all become prodigals. A prodigal child is just doing the natural, human thing - being a sinner. 2. Many parents feel guilty because of Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child..." Since their child is not living for God, they automatically feel that they did not raise their in the ways of the Lord. The meaning of this verse is very complex and there are many different views. However, the Hebrew actually means that whatever you teach your child, they will never forget it. Based on Phil's research, he says that this is true in all prodigals lives. They all told him they knew what they were doing was wrong. When asked who told them their lifestyle was wrong, the answer was always my parents and that their parents taught them what was right.
2. Ask for forgiveness for past mistakes
Many parents know that they made mistakes in their child's life. None of us are perfect parents. If the Holy Spirit has revealed something to you that you need to ask forgiveness for, go to your child and confess your sin and ask their forgiveness. They may not forgive you, but you will have taken down part of the barrier when they decide to come back home.
3. Love your prodigal unconditionally
At first glance this sounds like the easiest principle, but Phil asked some very pointed questions like: Do you ever hope that others do not know that is your child? Are you too prideful to request prayer for your own child that is struggling? Do you ever wish, in the quietness of your own heart, that your child had never been born? Unconditional love is divine love and can only be given to you by God. People in general do not know what to do with this kind of love, especially prodigals. They are used to everyone being mad at them and they can handle that. Unconditional love will be very difficult for them to deal with, but is essential to removing the barrier for them to come back home.
I will post the last three tomorrow. I pray that this has blessed someone who is reading the way it did me. Let us never give up on our family and friends that have walked away from God. They are still breathing so God has not given up on them.
This past Sunday at my church we had a guest speaker/writer named Phil Waldrep. He has written an amazing book that I truly believe was ordained by God. The book is called Parenting Prodigals. Phil's teaching in this book is truly phenomenal and I wanted to share my notes with you. If you were there, please feel free to add what you learned in the comment section and if you were not I hope this will bless your life and help you deal with a prodigal in your life. We all have prodigals in our lives. They may not be our children, but most of these principles can still apply. You may also have a friend that is struggling with their child. Please pass this on to as many people as you may believe would benefit. The remainder of my blog today will be my notes from Phil Waldrep.
Two questions that parents ask when they have a prodigal child are:
1. What did we do wrong?
2. What can we do now?
Six Principles for reaching your prodigal and answers to the two questions:
1. Learn to live guilt free in your own Christian life.
There are two reasons for guilt: 1. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23). We are all bent toward sin. If we do what is natural, we will all become prodigals. A prodigal child is just doing the natural, human thing - being a sinner. 2. Many parents feel guilty because of Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child..." Since their child is not living for God, they automatically feel that they did not raise their in the ways of the Lord. The meaning of this verse is very complex and there are many different views. However, the Hebrew actually means that whatever you teach your child, they will never forget it. Based on Phil's research, he says that this is true in all prodigals lives. They all told him they knew what they were doing was wrong. When asked who told them their lifestyle was wrong, the answer was always my parents and that their parents taught them what was right.
2. Ask for forgiveness for past mistakes
Many parents know that they made mistakes in their child's life. None of us are perfect parents. If the Holy Spirit has revealed something to you that you need to ask forgiveness for, go to your child and confess your sin and ask their forgiveness. They may not forgive you, but you will have taken down part of the barrier when they decide to come back home.
3. Love your prodigal unconditionally
At first glance this sounds like the easiest principle, but Phil asked some very pointed questions like: Do you ever hope that others do not know that is your child? Are you too prideful to request prayer for your own child that is struggling? Do you ever wish, in the quietness of your own heart, that your child had never been born? Unconditional love is divine love and can only be given to you by God. People in general do not know what to do with this kind of love, especially prodigals. They are used to everyone being mad at them and they can handle that. Unconditional love will be very difficult for them to deal with, but is essential to removing the barrier for them to come back home.
I will post the last three tomorrow. I pray that this has blessed someone who is reading the way it did me. Let us never give up on our family and friends that have walked away from God. They are still breathing so God has not given up on them.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Most Dangerous Sin
Revelation 20:1-10
I know that most of us do not do a lot of studying from the book of Revelation, but this passage holds a particular piece on interest for me. Pride. It is truly the downfall of man, the root of all sin, and extremely dangerous. It is pride that makes us think we do not need a Savior. It is pride that makes us think we have gone too far and that God cannot forgive us as well. Anytime we think we have found a better way or know more than God, it is pride.
Many times we put everything off on Satan. "The devil made me do it" we have all claimed. Many times that is very, very true. Satan is the father of all lies and if he's talking he is lying (John 8:44). But, this passage digs deep into human nature and shows us that Satan is not always the cause of our failures. Let's look deep into this passage.
In verse 3 we see that after the tribulation, Satan will be thrown into the Abyss for 1000 years to "keep him from deceiving the nations anymore". So Satan is banished for 1000 years and Christ is ruling on Earth. Chist, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is literally ruling on the Earth and everyone knows He is God. According to theologians this will be a time of peace, but it is not heaven. Babies will be born, people will go to work, etc. However, after the 1000 years are up Satan is unleashed and goes out to deceive the nations once more to have one final assault against God. We would think that after mankind had reigned with Christ for 1000 years that Satan's army would be a one man show. But the scripture says that the number that come to fight against God "are like the sand on the seashore" (Rev. 20:8).
Amazing. They have seen the Living God with their own eyes, Satan has been bound, and yet their pride says, "why serve God when you can be your own god". Their own flesh deceives them. How is our flesh deceiving us today? Is there an area of pride that is telling us that we have it all figured out? My prayer is that we will ask God daily to strip us of all pride that we might be of use to His kingdom. Let's not allow Satan or our own flesh and blood to deceive us. Our only hope is in the Lord.
I know that most of us do not do a lot of studying from the book of Revelation, but this passage holds a particular piece on interest for me. Pride. It is truly the downfall of man, the root of all sin, and extremely dangerous. It is pride that makes us think we do not need a Savior. It is pride that makes us think we have gone too far and that God cannot forgive us as well. Anytime we think we have found a better way or know more than God, it is pride.
Many times we put everything off on Satan. "The devil made me do it" we have all claimed. Many times that is very, very true. Satan is the father of all lies and if he's talking he is lying (John 8:44). But, this passage digs deep into human nature and shows us that Satan is not always the cause of our failures. Let's look deep into this passage.
In verse 3 we see that after the tribulation, Satan will be thrown into the Abyss for 1000 years to "keep him from deceiving the nations anymore". So Satan is banished for 1000 years and Christ is ruling on Earth. Chist, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is literally ruling on the Earth and everyone knows He is God. According to theologians this will be a time of peace, but it is not heaven. Babies will be born, people will go to work, etc. However, after the 1000 years are up Satan is unleashed and goes out to deceive the nations once more to have one final assault against God. We would think that after mankind had reigned with Christ for 1000 years that Satan's army would be a one man show. But the scripture says that the number that come to fight against God "are like the sand on the seashore" (Rev. 20:8).
Amazing. They have seen the Living God with their own eyes, Satan has been bound, and yet their pride says, "why serve God when you can be your own god". Their own flesh deceives them. How is our flesh deceiving us today? Is there an area of pride that is telling us that we have it all figured out? My prayer is that we will ask God daily to strip us of all pride that we might be of use to His kingdom. Let's not allow Satan or our own flesh and blood to deceive us. Our only hope is in the Lord.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Who Can Satisfy My Soul?
Isaiah 41:21-24, Ephesians 5:18
Satisfaction of the soul. This is a running theme in my life. It comes up in the Bible studies that I teach. It comes up in my daily reading. It comes up when I talk to other women. Obviously, God is still teaching me this lesson. Maybe because this is a lesson that we will have to use everyday. Everyday we have the choice to allow Christ to fill our lives or to allow something or someone else to fill us. The problem is that no one else can.
Although the scripture readings for today may seem abstract, they actually do have the same theme. Over and over we see that the Israelites turned to foreign gods. As a young believer I always thought, "why?". Now when I say that, I hear a Voice from within say, "why do you?".
For some reason or another, we try to fill the empty places within us that is meant to be filled by God with other things or people. In short, these can easily become our idols. One of the best things I have ever heard my pastor, Buddy Champion, say was in reference to Ephesians 5:18 and it had nothing to do with alcohol. He said that so many times we read this verse and get all hung up on drinking when what this verse means is to not be filled or controlled by anything other than God. So, take out wine and put in "work" or "material possessions", or "your children" or "your grandchildren" or "your husband" or "your girlfriends" or anything else that takes precedence over Christ in your life.
Isaiah's wording is a little harsh when we put it in the context of our children or husband, but it is still true. These people can not save us. We are just meant to enjoy life with them and to enjoy their lives. They cannot fill us up not matter how hard we try to make them. Anything other than Christ will still leave us empty.
So, why am I saying all of this again? Because we can see that throughout the history of God's people they fell over and over again into idol worship and God records it over and over again. There must be a reason. We are no different than them. This is a daily or possibly even a moment to moment decision to be filled with Christ instead of with something else. So I ask you today, is there anything you are trying to fill your empty places with other than Christ? If so, can you put it down until lunch? And then can you turn to Christ and ask Him to help you put it down until dinner? And then can you ask Him to help you put it down until bedtime? And then in the morning you might have to do it all over again, but eventually, through His grace, you will be satisfied by the only One who was meant to fill our empty places. I have walked this road (that way in fact) and I promise you, He is faithful and He can satisfy our souls.
Satisfaction of the soul. This is a running theme in my life. It comes up in the Bible studies that I teach. It comes up in my daily reading. It comes up when I talk to other women. Obviously, God is still teaching me this lesson. Maybe because this is a lesson that we will have to use everyday. Everyday we have the choice to allow Christ to fill our lives or to allow something or someone else to fill us. The problem is that no one else can.
Although the scripture readings for today may seem abstract, they actually do have the same theme. Over and over we see that the Israelites turned to foreign gods. As a young believer I always thought, "why?". Now when I say that, I hear a Voice from within say, "why do you?".
For some reason or another, we try to fill the empty places within us that is meant to be filled by God with other things or people. In short, these can easily become our idols. One of the best things I have ever heard my pastor, Buddy Champion, say was in reference to Ephesians 5:18 and it had nothing to do with alcohol. He said that so many times we read this verse and get all hung up on drinking when what this verse means is to not be filled or controlled by anything other than God. So, take out wine and put in "work" or "material possessions", or "your children" or "your grandchildren" or "your husband" or "your girlfriends" or anything else that takes precedence over Christ in your life.
Isaiah's wording is a little harsh when we put it in the context of our children or husband, but it is still true. These people can not save us. We are just meant to enjoy life with them and to enjoy their lives. They cannot fill us up not matter how hard we try to make them. Anything other than Christ will still leave us empty.
So, why am I saying all of this again? Because we can see that throughout the history of God's people they fell over and over again into idol worship and God records it over and over again. There must be a reason. We are no different than them. This is a daily or possibly even a moment to moment decision to be filled with Christ instead of with something else. So I ask you today, is there anything you are trying to fill your empty places with other than Christ? If so, can you put it down until lunch? And then can you turn to Christ and ask Him to help you put it down until dinner? And then can you ask Him to help you put it down until bedtime? And then in the morning you might have to do it all over again, but eventually, through His grace, you will be satisfied by the only One who was meant to fill our empty places. I have walked this road (that way in fact) and I promise you, He is faithful and He can satisfy our souls.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Grace and Love in Action
"...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48
I had one of the most awesome experiences of my life this weekend. B. J. and I took our boys camping for the first time Thursday - Saturday. It was very exciting for them to get to sleep outside and have a campfire, etc. But, God was up to something even bigger.
We truly wanted to get away and have kind of a "spiritual retreat" for just our family. No TV, no computer, no cell phones. Just our family and the Lord. We had no idea what God had in store through some people that we met on the mountain. When we arrived on Thursday it was already getting late so we had to hurry to get our tent up and get our fire going before it got dark. Our "neighbors" came over and introduced themselves and offered to help us in any way they could.
Their names were Gary and Miriam. As we were talking about where we were from, Miriam said that her "sponsor" was from where we lived. We were a little puzzled, so I just asked her, "sponsor in what?". She proceeded to tell me that she was a member of NA or narcotics anonymous and that this weekend was an annual spiritual retreat for NA. She laughed and said, "Oh no! I can't believe you didn't know! You will be surrounded all weekend by a bunch of recovering addicts!" We just laughed and said, "that's fine with us!". We finished setting up and went on to bed.
Over the course of the weekend, we did meet some more people, but spent a good bit of time with Gary and Miriam. What they had in their lives was truly amazing. All day cars pulled up to their site. We could see them hugging, praying, and encouraging everyone that came into their presence. They brought us ice cream and invited us to breakfast one day. During that meal, I asked Miriam if she would tell me her story. She did and it was an amazing story of redemption and restoration through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I learned something from her. She has so much grace for others because she has been given so much grace and she is so thankful. She has so much love for others because Christ has so much love for her. She said that drugs had taken her to the "very gates of hell" and now she knows what it's like to be rescued from the fire. Thankfulness, grace, and love radiated from her very being. It was truly amazing.
Today, can we ask God to help us be a graceful person? When you get right down to it, we are all recovering addicts. We were all once "sin addicts" and Jesus rescued us and put us into a right relationship with God. May we remember the verse for today and remember how much we have been given and how much it cost Christ. Ask God to fill you with the fullness of His grace and love that it might spill over to everyone around you today.
"...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Lord's Call
1 Samuel 3:2-10
This passage of scripture has particualarly touched me this week. I know it is a well known story, but verse 7 really stood out to me this week. You see, Samuel, had known about God his entire life. His parents were Godly people. Then Samuel came to live in the temple and ministered before the Lord under Eli. Surely this was a young boy who knew all about God, but according to the scripture Samuel "did not yet know the LORD: the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him."
But, then God does an amazing thing. He calls on Samuel! Not only calls him, but according to verse 10 the "LORD came and stood there, calling...". I am amazed by that! How precious Samuel was to God that He came and stood in His room and called to him.
What is even more amazing, is that if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God has done the same thing for us. If you trusted in Him at a young age, you may have a hard time remembering exactly when it happened, but if you know that you have asked Him to save you and forgive you of your sins, it is because He was calling to you. I truly believe He came and stood in our rooms and called to us.
Let us never think that we are without worth. We are obviously God's most precious possession. He sent His Son to die and He reveals Himself to us so that we can be saved. Thank God today for that amazing fact. Ask Him to help you see yourself for who He says you are and not what the world says you are. We are precious to Him, please do not believe anything else.
This passage of scripture has particualarly touched me this week. I know it is a well known story, but verse 7 really stood out to me this week. You see, Samuel, had known about God his entire life. His parents were Godly people. Then Samuel came to live in the temple and ministered before the Lord under Eli. Surely this was a young boy who knew all about God, but according to the scripture Samuel "did not yet know the LORD: the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him."
But, then God does an amazing thing. He calls on Samuel! Not only calls him, but according to verse 10 the "LORD came and stood there, calling...". I am amazed by that! How precious Samuel was to God that He came and stood in His room and called to him.
What is even more amazing, is that if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God has done the same thing for us. If you trusted in Him at a young age, you may have a hard time remembering exactly when it happened, but if you know that you have asked Him to save you and forgive you of your sins, it is because He was calling to you. I truly believe He came and stood in our rooms and called to us.
Let us never think that we are without worth. We are obviously God's most precious possession. He sent His Son to die and He reveals Himself to us so that we can be saved. Thank God today for that amazing fact. Ask Him to help you see yourself for who He says you are and not what the world says you are. We are precious to Him, please do not believe anything else.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Going to God First
Daniel 6:10:11, Philippians 4:6-7
Most of us know the story of Daniel and the Lions Den. (In case you need a little refresher on it, click here.) The decree was issued that no one was to pray to anyone but the king for the next 30 days. This decree was meant especially for Daniel because the men wanting Daniel out of the way but, could not find any fault in him. They knew they had no charges to bring against him unless it had to do with his God. So they tricked the king and went in for the kill.
What is amazing to me about these verses is that Daniel was in good with the king. He could have gone to him and argued the decree that was just issued. He could have talked to him about it, but first he went home and turned to his Source of peace and comfort for all the years he had been in exile. Oh, that someone would find me praying over an issue before discussing it with someone else!
Unfortunately, sometimes we tend to talk to everyone except God about an issue in our lives. Sometimes He might even be our last resort! Philippians 4:6-7 has been one of my favorite passages since high school. However, it really became alive to me a few years ago when I was doing a Beth Moore Bible study. She asked us to turn the verses into the negative and read them aloud to our class. Mine went something like this...
Sounds pretty terrible doesn't it? But how many times have I done just that? Too many. May we today make a commitment to seek God first in our problems and situations and in just the everyday decisions of life.
Most of us know the story of Daniel and the Lions Den. (In case you need a little refresher on it, click here.) The decree was issued that no one was to pray to anyone but the king for the next 30 days. This decree was meant especially for Daniel because the men wanting Daniel out of the way but, could not find any fault in him. They knew they had no charges to bring against him unless it had to do with his God. So they tricked the king and went in for the kill.
What is amazing to me about these verses is that Daniel was in good with the king. He could have gone to him and argued the decree that was just issued. He could have talked to him about it, but first he went home and turned to his Source of peace and comfort for all the years he had been in exile. Oh, that someone would find me praying over an issue before discussing it with someone else!
Unfortunately, sometimes we tend to talk to everyone except God about an issue in our lives. Sometimes He might even be our last resort! Philippians 4:6-7 has been one of my favorite passages since high school. However, it really became alive to me a few years ago when I was doing a Beth Moore Bible study. She asked us to turn the verses into the negative and read them aloud to our class. Mine went something like this...
Be anxious about anything and everything. Do not pray about anything or petition God, but do talk to all of your friends and anyone else who will listen. Do not give thanks for anything and do not present your requests to God. This way you will have no peace, just more anxiety and your hearts and minds will not be guarded in Christ Jesus.
Sounds pretty terrible doesn't it? But how many times have I done just that? Too many. May we today make a commitment to seek God first in our problems and situations and in just the everyday decisions of life.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Integrity Issues
Psalm 51:6
Other scriptures: Proverbs 10:9, Zechariah 8:16, Proverbs 20:7, Proverbs 28:18
B. J. and I just finished taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace course. One of the things that he said, I had a hard time believing. He said that he had interviewed many of the richest, most successful people in the world and that they all had one thing in common. He interviewed their employees, friends, and neighbors as well and still came up with the same quality. Integrity - crazy amounts of integrity. I know that might not seem right. Sometimes all we see in the media are the Richard Scrushy's of society and think that is the norm. Apparently it is not.
I am not saying that if we will use integrity we will be rich, but what I am saying is that God desires for us to use integrity in all areas of our life. God has convicted me of this and as embarrassing as this is to tell I am going to because it has really opened my eyes to how serious God is about truth and integrity.
I am a coupon fanatic. If I do not have a coupon to eat out, we usually do not eat out. I use coupons everywhere and if I do not have one, I ask for one! Expiration dates on coupons annoy me. I have never understood them. Many stores will take their own coupons even if they are expired. They can do that because they own the coupon, but if an expired coupon is used at just any grocery store, the store is not reimbursed by the manufacturer. The store eats the cost. Well, I used to use expired coupons knowing they were expired. If the clerk checked them it was no big deal, but hopefully she would not and I would get my 50 cents off and move on. One day while leaving the grocery store, I knew I had used some coupons that were expired. I was justifying it to myself and God that we were trying to feed a family of four on essentially one income. I needed to use those coupons. Finally, I sensed the presence of God so clearly in my car say to me, "Is your integrity worth 50 cents?". I finally got it. I cried out in repentance, "No, it is worth more than all the money in the world!".
That experience, while it may sound legalistic to you really taught me that God expects us to be completely truthful and use integrity in all issues. I ask Him regularly to show me anywhere I am not being truthful - even truthful with him and with myself. He has shown me many areas where I needed to change. Praise God He is that concerned about me! He "desires truth in the inner parts" - the parts no one but you and God see.
2 Chronicles 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." May He find us today fully committed to Him.
Other scriptures: Proverbs 10:9, Zechariah 8:16, Proverbs 20:7, Proverbs 28:18
B. J. and I just finished taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace course. One of the things that he said, I had a hard time believing. He said that he had interviewed many of the richest, most successful people in the world and that they all had one thing in common. He interviewed their employees, friends, and neighbors as well and still came up with the same quality. Integrity - crazy amounts of integrity. I know that might not seem right. Sometimes all we see in the media are the Richard Scrushy's of society and think that is the norm. Apparently it is not.
I am not saying that if we will use integrity we will be rich, but what I am saying is that God desires for us to use integrity in all areas of our life. God has convicted me of this and as embarrassing as this is to tell I am going to because it has really opened my eyes to how serious God is about truth and integrity.
I am a coupon fanatic. If I do not have a coupon to eat out, we usually do not eat out. I use coupons everywhere and if I do not have one, I ask for one! Expiration dates on coupons annoy me. I have never understood them. Many stores will take their own coupons even if they are expired. They can do that because they own the coupon, but if an expired coupon is used at just any grocery store, the store is not reimbursed by the manufacturer. The store eats the cost. Well, I used to use expired coupons knowing they were expired. If the clerk checked them it was no big deal, but hopefully she would not and I would get my 50 cents off and move on. One day while leaving the grocery store, I knew I had used some coupons that were expired. I was justifying it to myself and God that we were trying to feed a family of four on essentially one income. I needed to use those coupons. Finally, I sensed the presence of God so clearly in my car say to me, "Is your integrity worth 50 cents?". I finally got it. I cried out in repentance, "No, it is worth more than all the money in the world!".
That experience, while it may sound legalistic to you really taught me that God expects us to be completely truthful and use integrity in all issues. I ask Him regularly to show me anywhere I am not being truthful - even truthful with him and with myself. He has shown me many areas where I needed to change. Praise God He is that concerned about me! He "desires truth in the inner parts" - the parts no one but you and God see.
2 Chronicles 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." May He find us today fully committed to Him.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Spacious Place
Psalm 18:16-19
As I was preparing for my Bible study class this week I came across this passage of scripture and it literally jumped off the page to me. I realize that this is a Psalm of David and therefore applies to a circumstance that David was in when he wrote it, but I believe it can still apply to each of our lives today.
If you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior, then God has literally "reached down from on high and [taken] hold of [you]." Whether we knew it or not, we were drowning in our own sin and he "drew [us] out of the deep waters". He has rescued us from powerful enemies, mainly Satan. And when we are confronted with disaster, He is our support. All of this is absolutely wonderful, but the best part for me is the next verse.
The picture here is of a place where we are free to roam "unconfined by threats and dangers". No fear of anyone or anything. A place where we are not held captive by any sin or our own minds. The picture is of freedom. Why does God offer this to us? The answer is simply because He delights in us. Not because of what we did or did not do. Not because of what we look like or how much money we have. He offers us freedom in Christ because He wants to. Oh, how I love Him! I have spent my life trying to earn the approval of others, especially God. His word teaches me that I have had it all along. The only thing that stands in the way of us and freedom is ourselves. We must choose to believe Him over our own thoughts and feelings.
It is a fight to stay free. Satan will always try to weigh us down with the things of the world. My mind has been so bombarded lately with the world I feel as if I am digging my way out again. But, we can come to the "spacious place". He offers His hand to you today to bring you there. Will you take it?
As I was preparing for my Bible study class this week I came across this passage of scripture and it literally jumped off the page to me. I realize that this is a Psalm of David and therefore applies to a circumstance that David was in when he wrote it, but I believe it can still apply to each of our lives today.
If you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior, then God has literally "reached down from on high and [taken] hold of [you]." Whether we knew it or not, we were drowning in our own sin and he "drew [us] out of the deep waters". He has rescued us from powerful enemies, mainly Satan. And when we are confronted with disaster, He is our support. All of this is absolutely wonderful, but the best part for me is the next verse.
"He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in
me."
The picture here is of a place where we are free to roam "unconfined by threats and dangers". No fear of anyone or anything. A place where we are not held captive by any sin or our own minds. The picture is of freedom. Why does God offer this to us? The answer is simply because He delights in us. Not because of what we did or did not do. Not because of what we look like or how much money we have. He offers us freedom in Christ because He wants to. Oh, how I love Him! I have spent my life trying to earn the approval of others, especially God. His word teaches me that I have had it all along. The only thing that stands in the way of us and freedom is ourselves. We must choose to believe Him over our own thoughts and feelings.
It is a fight to stay free. Satan will always try to weigh us down with the things of the world. My mind has been so bombarded lately with the world I feel as if I am digging my way out again. But, we can come to the "spacious place". He offers His hand to you today to bring you there. Will you take it?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Glory versus Suffering
Romans 8:18, Romans 5:5
I would not be telling you anything new to say that the book of Romans is so awesome. If you have not read it in it's entirety ever or lately, please do so. It is so good!
Today, I want us to look closely at suffering and hope. Never before in the history of the Earth have there been so many self-help books. Books on "positive thinking" are bound to hit the New York Times Best Seller list every time. These books have even crossed into the Christian realm. There is nothing wrong with thinking positive, but we must not believe things like "it's all small stuff" or that "life is easy, it's just how you look at it". The fact is, it is not all small stuff and life is hard - period! There is suffering involved in life for all people, but this is not all there is.
Romans 5:5 tells us that "hope does not disappoint us". This "hope" that Paul is speaking of is not unfounded optimism. "Hope" in this verse is the Greek word "elpis" which means "joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation"(Studylight.org). This is eternal hope. It is the hope we receive when we trust Christ as our Savior and "it does not disappoint". I say all of this about hope because we have to have hope to get through our sufferings. And sufferings are part of this life and definitely part of the Christian life.
Jesus talked about suffering, Paul talked about suffering - we are going to go through things that are not fun in this life. I have heard people say that the Christian life is not hard. I guess there is nothing wrong with that statement except that it is just wrong! However, we do not have to suffer as the world suffers - as those without hope. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13).
This life is going to be our only suffering. This is it. For those in Christ, eternity holds eternal peace and joy with no suffering involved. Paul did not even think that the suffering of this life was worth comparing with the glory that will be in the next. In light of that, can we do this suffering thing with some faithfulness? I'm not saying its not hard and even as I write this I am reminded of how I act when things in my life are difficult. But, let's pray for each other. Let's pray that whatever we or our brothers or sisters are going through (or will go through), that we will go through it with faithfulness. Lets ask that God not only walk with us through the fire, but that He will receive glory from how we walked through it.
I would not be telling you anything new to say that the book of Romans is so awesome. If you have not read it in it's entirety ever or lately, please do so. It is so good!
Today, I want us to look closely at suffering and hope. Never before in the history of the Earth have there been so many self-help books. Books on "positive thinking" are bound to hit the New York Times Best Seller list every time. These books have even crossed into the Christian realm. There is nothing wrong with thinking positive, but we must not believe things like "it's all small stuff" or that "life is easy, it's just how you look at it". The fact is, it is not all small stuff and life is hard - period! There is suffering involved in life for all people, but this is not all there is.
Romans 5:5 tells us that "hope does not disappoint us". This "hope" that Paul is speaking of is not unfounded optimism. "Hope" in this verse is the Greek word "elpis" which means "joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation"(Studylight.org). This is eternal hope. It is the hope we receive when we trust Christ as our Savior and "it does not disappoint". I say all of this about hope because we have to have hope to get through our sufferings. And sufferings are part of this life and definitely part of the Christian life.
Jesus talked about suffering, Paul talked about suffering - we are going to go through things that are not fun in this life. I have heard people say that the Christian life is not hard. I guess there is nothing wrong with that statement except that it is just wrong! However, we do not have to suffer as the world suffers - as those without hope. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13).
This life is going to be our only suffering. This is it. For those in Christ, eternity holds eternal peace and joy with no suffering involved. Paul did not even think that the suffering of this life was worth comparing with the glory that will be in the next. In light of that, can we do this suffering thing with some faithfulness? I'm not saying its not hard and even as I write this I am reminded of how I act when things in my life are difficult. But, let's pray for each other. Let's pray that whatever we or our brothers or sisters are going through (or will go through), that we will go through it with faithfulness. Lets ask that God not only walk with us through the fire, but that He will receive glory from how we walked through it.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Second Part of Forgiveness
Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 5:22-24
I do not know about you, but these are not my favorite verses in the Bible. They cause me to have to change. They cause me to have to do something. They cause me to have to be uncomfortable and sometimes even confrontational. Because I talk so much, I always say something wrong. I have started just apologizing after almost all my conversations with people and after all of the Bible studies I teach! I think I'll just start with an apology to save time!
Seriously, the Church has an issue with forgiveness. I have struggled with it and I venture to say if you are breathing today, you have as well. But, God is really serious about this forgiveness thing. In case we have forgotten, He allowed His only Son to be rejected, ridiculed, and murdered so we could be forgiven. That fact tells me He's serious about forgiveness.
What I find so amazing in my own life sometimes and in the people around me is that we will forgive people for "big" things, but struggle to forgive people that hurt our feelings. Words that cut to the heart seem to continue to bleed for a long time. What I want to offer you today about the issue of forgiveness is that it cannot be done alone. Regardless of the offense - large or small - we find it impossible to forgive within ourselves. But, we must. So what are we to do?
Again, let me offer some wisdom from my friend, Corrie ten Boom. Corrie spent much time in prison and concentration camps for helping the Jews during the Holocaust. After the war, she was speaking and saw in the crowd a guard that had been at Ravensbruck, one of the most cruel concentration camps. She recognized this man and realized he had been the one the women had had to strip in front of and walk to the showers. He had been very cruel. Ironically, Corrie had just spoken on forgiveness. The former guard walked up to her and told her he had been a guard at Ravensbruck, but since the war had become a Christian. He told her he knew God had forgiven him, but he wanted to hear it from her. He asked her forgiveness and offered her his hand. Corrie stood there frozen knowing that she must forgive him, but the pain was so deep. Her sister had died in the camp. So here's what she did...
What a miracle! That miracle can take place in your life as well. If there is someone you haven't fully forgiven, allow God to do it through you. Surely if He can do it through this woman who had been through so much, He can do it through you and I. Also, if there is someone you have offended or hurt and you know about it, ask their forgiveness. This is a vital issue in our lives. I do not want you or I to miss out on what God has for us because we refused to forgive someone. Let's make it right today.
I do not know about you, but these are not my favorite verses in the Bible. They cause me to have to change. They cause me to have to do something. They cause me to have to be uncomfortable and sometimes even confrontational. Because I talk so much, I always say something wrong. I have started just apologizing after almost all my conversations with people and after all of the Bible studies I teach! I think I'll just start with an apology to save time!
Seriously, the Church has an issue with forgiveness. I have struggled with it and I venture to say if you are breathing today, you have as well. But, God is really serious about this forgiveness thing. In case we have forgotten, He allowed His only Son to be rejected, ridiculed, and murdered so we could be forgiven. That fact tells me He's serious about forgiveness.
What I find so amazing in my own life sometimes and in the people around me is that we will forgive people for "big" things, but struggle to forgive people that hurt our feelings. Words that cut to the heart seem to continue to bleed for a long time. What I want to offer you today about the issue of forgiveness is that it cannot be done alone. Regardless of the offense - large or small - we find it impossible to forgive within ourselves. But, we must. So what are we to do?
Again, let me offer some wisdom from my friend, Corrie ten Boom. Corrie spent much time in prison and concentration camps for helping the Jews during the Holocaust. After the war, she was speaking and saw in the crowd a guard that had been at Ravensbruck, one of the most cruel concentration camps. She recognized this man and realized he had been the one the women had had to strip in front of and walk to the showers. He had been very cruel. Ironically, Corrie had just spoken on forgiveness. The former guard walked up to her and told her he had been a guard at Ravensbruck, but since the war had become a Christian. He told her he knew God had forgiven him, but he wanted to hear it from her. He asked her forgiveness and offered her his hand. Corrie stood there frozen knowing that she must forgive him, but the pain was so deep. Her sister had died in the camp. So here's what she did...
"And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion - I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. "Jesus, help me!" I prayed silently. "I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling." And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. "I forgive you, brother!" I cried. "With all my heart." - A Tramp for the Lord, Corrie ten Boom
What a miracle! That miracle can take place in your life as well. If there is someone you haven't fully forgiven, allow God to do it through you. Surely if He can do it through this woman who had been through so much, He can do it through you and I. Also, if there is someone you have offended or hurt and you know about it, ask their forgiveness. This is a vital issue in our lives. I do not want you or I to miss out on what God has for us because we refused to forgive someone. Let's make it right today.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Forgiveness of God
Hebrews 8:12, Micah 7:19
There is so much written on the issue of forgiveness I doubt that I have very little to say that you have not heard before. However, I have recently learned some new things about forgiveness and definitely felt some new things about forgiveness.
When someone wrongs us we do not have the ability to forget. The phrase "if you haven't forgotten you haven't forgiven" is just untrue. We just do not have the ability to forget. But, we can commit to forgive, give those feelings to the Lord, ask Him to let His forgiveness flow through us to the other person, and move on. We are not to hold the offense over the other person.
Although I knew God's forgiveness was pure and complete, because I still have memories of my own sin, I guess I thought He did too. I thought that even though the Bible says He does not remember them, that He really just did not hold them against me. It is amazing to me how I still take my "truth" and make it into God's truth when it is not. We as humans are so prone to take our experiences and make them into "truth". We must always, always, always measure our experiences and our feelings against God's Word to find the real truth.
I have recently been reading the second autobiography of Corrie ten Boom. In a chapter that she titles "The Blacks and Whites of Forgiveness" she writes the most profound statement:
As I read this the other day it was as if the Holy Spirit erupted from within me and filled my entire room. I found myself weeping and just praising God for the truth of His forgiveness. Do you realize what that means? Just let it sink in for a little while and then praise Him for the ultimate gift and the freedom it brings. He has canceled all of our debts and made them as if they had never been.
If you ever find yourself in the depths of despair, this fact alone is enough to bring rejoicing. Share it with someone else today. He is an amazing God.
There is so much written on the issue of forgiveness I doubt that I have very little to say that you have not heard before. However, I have recently learned some new things about forgiveness and definitely felt some new things about forgiveness.
When someone wrongs us we do not have the ability to forget. The phrase "if you haven't forgotten you haven't forgiven" is just untrue. We just do not have the ability to forget. But, we can commit to forgive, give those feelings to the Lord, ask Him to let His forgiveness flow through us to the other person, and move on. We are not to hold the offense over the other person.
Although I knew God's forgiveness was pure and complete, because I still have memories of my own sin, I guess I thought He did too. I thought that even though the Bible says He does not remember them, that He really just did not hold them against me. It is amazing to me how I still take my "truth" and make it into God's truth when it is not. We as humans are so prone to take our experiences and make them into "truth". We must always, always, always measure our experiences and our feelings against God's Word to find the real truth.
I have recently been reading the second autobiography of Corrie ten Boom. In a chapter that she titles "The Blacks and Whites of Forgiveness" she writes the most profound statement:
The forgiveness of Jesus not only takes away our sins, it makes them as if they had never been.
As I read this the other day it was as if the Holy Spirit erupted from within me and filled my entire room. I found myself weeping and just praising God for the truth of His forgiveness. Do you realize what that means? Just let it sink in for a little while and then praise Him for the ultimate gift and the freedom it brings. He has canceled all of our debts and made them as if they had never been.
If you ever find yourself in the depths of despair, this fact alone is enough to bring rejoicing. Share it with someone else today. He is an amazing God.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Making a Way
Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-41
God will always make a way for us to do what He has commanded us to do. Recently, I was reminded of the miracle of Pentacost during our family devotion time. Joel and Caleb have already learned that when their Bibles show the wind blowing (as if you can really see it!) that is the Holy Spirit. Pentacost truly was a miracle, yet sometimes we get so caught up in the "tongues" issue that we miss it. Let me explain...
In Acts 1 Luke is giving us an account of the last words of Jesus before He ascends to the Father. Acts 1:8 sounds like an almost impossible task. They were to take the Gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth. Okay, Jerusalem they could do. Judea and Samaria would take a little time, but still this was do-able. But the ends of the Earth? How could they do this? Well, they were told to not even start until the Holy Spirit came, but I'm sure they wondered how they would complete such a task. But, God had already made a way.
Pentacost was the beginning to the Feast of Weeks and was celebrated on the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week. So there were many pilgrims in the city to celebrate. Jews had come from Judea, Samaria, and all over the Jewish world. When the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and they proclaimed the Gospel, "the ends of the Earth" were present to hear the message. This wasn't just an everyday occurance. The fact that the Holy Spirit came in wind and fire should not have been missed by any Jew. They knew that this was how God had presented Himself in the past. Everyone that witnessed what happened that day went home telling their friends and neighbors what happened at Pentacost.
3000 accepted the message the first day. You can know they went home to their country and told everyone they knew and the gospel was spread. God told them to be His witnesses and they were. He did it through them. The next time you feel as if God is asking you to do something that you feel is near impossible, remember this miracle and that "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37)
God will always make a way for us to do what He has commanded us to do. Recently, I was reminded of the miracle of Pentacost during our family devotion time. Joel and Caleb have already learned that when their Bibles show the wind blowing (as if you can really see it!) that is the Holy Spirit. Pentacost truly was a miracle, yet sometimes we get so caught up in the "tongues" issue that we miss it. Let me explain...
In Acts 1 Luke is giving us an account of the last words of Jesus before He ascends to the Father. Acts 1:8 sounds like an almost impossible task. They were to take the Gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth. Okay, Jerusalem they could do. Judea and Samaria would take a little time, but still this was do-able. But the ends of the Earth? How could they do this? Well, they were told to not even start until the Holy Spirit came, but I'm sure they wondered how they would complete such a task. But, God had already made a way.
Pentacost was the beginning to the Feast of Weeks and was celebrated on the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week. So there were many pilgrims in the city to celebrate. Jews had come from Judea, Samaria, and all over the Jewish world. When the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and they proclaimed the Gospel, "the ends of the Earth" were present to hear the message. This wasn't just an everyday occurance. The fact that the Holy Spirit came in wind and fire should not have been missed by any Jew. They knew that this was how God had presented Himself in the past. Everyone that witnessed what happened that day went home telling their friends and neighbors what happened at Pentacost.
3000 accepted the message the first day. You can know they went home to their country and told everyone they knew and the gospel was spread. God told them to be His witnesses and they were. He did it through them. The next time you feel as if God is asking you to do something that you feel is near impossible, remember this miracle and that "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
When God Doesn't Behave - Part 2
1 Chronicles 15:1-3, 12-14, 2 Samuel 6:13-19
Through these passages we can see what King David did with his anger and his terror of God. These are the steps that we must take as Christians when God does not act the way we want Him too.
I have heard Beth Moore say that the first step is that we have to get over our "personal devastation" with God. We must remember that He is God. He is not like us. His ways and His thoughts are higher than our ways and our thoughts. We must accept the things in our life as part of God's sovereign plan for our lives. If the circumstances we find ourselves in were partially caused by our own sin, we must take responsibility, but also know that God has allowed this to happen for a reason and if we will allow Him, He will never waste an experience.
I recently read a story about a Christian woman who lived in Russia during the Communist regime. She has MS and the disease had progressed to the point of her only being able to move one index finger. However, she was fluent in several different languages. Everyday and until late into the night she used a typewriter and that one index finger to translate the Bible and books by Billy Grahm and Corrie ten Boom into the languages of her Christian brothers and sisters. We might think, "why would God allow her to have MS?" But, the answer is that during that time many of her neighbors and friends were imprisoned or killed due to their faith in Christ, but the police left her alone because they felt she was harmless. She could have been devastated and bitter, but she chose to continue to follow after Christ. Amazing.
The second thing we must to is to return to complete obedience. We see that vividly in scripture. David was angry and afraid. Instead of staying that way the rest of his life, he searched the scriptures to see what he should have done to bring the ark of the LORD back to Jerusalem. God blessed his total obedience.
David is called a "man after God's own heart". How amazing that our God chose to associate Himself with someone that among all his other sins, was angry and terrified of Him at one point. That sounds a little like me. I wonder, will God call me a woman after His own heart if I continue to follow hard after him the way David did? If we refuse to allow Satan to sneak in and fill our minds with hatred and bitterness over situations that did not turn out the way we wanted them to and continue to seek and glorify God, I believe He will.
Today, if this has spoken to you personally, repent, move past your personal devastation with God, and return to total obedience. If this does not apply to you, pray for someone that it does and ask God for an opportunity to share it with them. We can be set free today. The cell door is open. Will we choose to close it back or walk through it?
Through these passages we can see what King David did with his anger and his terror of God. These are the steps that we must take as Christians when God does not act the way we want Him too.
I have heard Beth Moore say that the first step is that we have to get over our "personal devastation" with God. We must remember that He is God. He is not like us. His ways and His thoughts are higher than our ways and our thoughts. We must accept the things in our life as part of God's sovereign plan for our lives. If the circumstances we find ourselves in were partially caused by our own sin, we must take responsibility, but also know that God has allowed this to happen for a reason and if we will allow Him, He will never waste an experience.
I recently read a story about a Christian woman who lived in Russia during the Communist regime. She has MS and the disease had progressed to the point of her only being able to move one index finger. However, she was fluent in several different languages. Everyday and until late into the night she used a typewriter and that one index finger to translate the Bible and books by Billy Grahm and Corrie ten Boom into the languages of her Christian brothers and sisters. We might think, "why would God allow her to have MS?" But, the answer is that during that time many of her neighbors and friends were imprisoned or killed due to their faith in Christ, but the police left her alone because they felt she was harmless. She could have been devastated and bitter, but she chose to continue to follow after Christ. Amazing.
The second thing we must to is to return to complete obedience. We see that vividly in scripture. David was angry and afraid. Instead of staying that way the rest of his life, he searched the scriptures to see what he should have done to bring the ark of the LORD back to Jerusalem. God blessed his total obedience.
David is called a "man after God's own heart". How amazing that our God chose to associate Himself with someone that among all his other sins, was angry and terrified of Him at one point. That sounds a little like me. I wonder, will God call me a woman after His own heart if I continue to follow hard after him the way David did? If we refuse to allow Satan to sneak in and fill our minds with hatred and bitterness over situations that did not turn out the way we wanted them to and continue to seek and glorify God, I believe He will.
Today, if this has spoken to you personally, repent, move past your personal devastation with God, and return to total obedience. If this does not apply to you, pray for someone that it does and ask God for an opportunity to share it with them. We can be set free today. The cell door is open. Will we choose to close it back or walk through it?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
When God Doesn't Behave - Part 1
1 Chronicles 13
Here we have a story that so far has a terrible ending. The Israelites were trying to do something for God and all of a sudden He ruined their party! Not only ruined it, but struck down Uzzah. Did you catch the next 2 verses? Let's read them again:
So David was angry at God because of what the LORD had done and he was terrified because he knew the power of the God he was angry with. How unspiritual for David to feel that way! I just cannot believe that they put that in the Bible! Isn't that how we feel sometimes too? Yet another reason why I love the Bible! The people were real - just like you and me.
If we are honest with ourselves, we can probably all say that there has been a time when we felt like this about God. There are times we may not understand why He chose to do things or why He chose not to do them. Maybe our lives did not turn out the way we wanted them to. Maybe we feel as if God took someone or something away from us or our children. On the outside we appear to be moving on. But, on the inside the darkness and bitterness is growing.
I believe I have met people like this and we could all definitely turn out like this if we are not careful. Sometimes we will find these people deeply embedded into the church serving themselves to death. I have done this personally. By being involved in everything I hoped to fill a void that only Jesus Himself could satisfy.
Never forget that Satan hates you and wants to destroy your life. If he cannot bring you to hell, his next best option is to turn you against God in an effort to ruin your life and hurt God. We cannot allow our temporary circumstances to become our "truth" when it comes to the character of God. Someone might say, "well, you don't know what happened to me!" "I have the right to be angry!" "God took my child or my child's future". You know what? We do have the right. God stands with His arms open, but we have the right to turn away. We have the right to deny Him access to our hearts. However, what that translates to is that we have the right to be miserable all the days of our life.
So what do we do when we find ourselves angry and terrified of the Lord? We will look at what David did tomorrow, but for today will you pray Psalm 139:23-24?
Allow God to search you today to see if there have ever been any of these feelings that you have not dealt with. If He reveals any, confess them today, ask for His forgiveness and allow the blood of Jesus to wash them away. The first step is repentance. We will see the rest of the story tomorrow. There is hope.
Here we have a story that so far has a terrible ending. The Israelites were trying to do something for God and all of a sudden He ruined their party! Not only ruined it, but struck down Uzzah. Did you catch the next 2 verses? Let's read them again:
Then David was angry because the LORD's wrath had broken out against Uzzah... David was afraid of God that day...
So David was angry at God because of what the LORD had done and he was terrified because he knew the power of the God he was angry with. How unspiritual for David to feel that way! I just cannot believe that they put that in the Bible! Isn't that how we feel sometimes too? Yet another reason why I love the Bible! The people were real - just like you and me.
If we are honest with ourselves, we can probably all say that there has been a time when we felt like this about God. There are times we may not understand why He chose to do things or why He chose not to do them. Maybe our lives did not turn out the way we wanted them to. Maybe we feel as if God took someone or something away from us or our children. On the outside we appear to be moving on. But, on the inside the darkness and bitterness is growing.
I believe I have met people like this and we could all definitely turn out like this if we are not careful. Sometimes we will find these people deeply embedded into the church serving themselves to death. I have done this personally. By being involved in everything I hoped to fill a void that only Jesus Himself could satisfy.
Never forget that Satan hates you and wants to destroy your life. If he cannot bring you to hell, his next best option is to turn you against God in an effort to ruin your life and hurt God. We cannot allow our temporary circumstances to become our "truth" when it comes to the character of God. Someone might say, "well, you don't know what happened to me!" "I have the right to be angry!" "God took my child or my child's future". You know what? We do have the right. God stands with His arms open, but we have the right to turn away. We have the right to deny Him access to our hearts. However, what that translates to is that we have the right to be miserable all the days of our life.
So what do we do when we find ourselves angry and terrified of the Lord? We will look at what David did tomorrow, but for today will you pray Psalm 139:23-24?
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Allow God to search you today to see if there have ever been any of these feelings that you have not dealt with. If He reveals any, confess them today, ask for His forgiveness and allow the blood of Jesus to wash them away. The first step is repentance. We will see the rest of the story tomorrow. There is hope.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
"Do What it Says"
James 1:22-25
John 14:15
Obedience is an issue that we can probably never talk about enough. I have obedience issues come up into my walk with Christ daily. In this world we live in, we are almost bombarded with issues and images that we have to decide what to do with. Are we going to truly follow Christ or just partially? This has been so vividly seen in the current presidential election. We have two primary candidates that both profess to be Christ followers yet they both seem to separate their professional lives from their personal lives. However, since my life is certainly not "inconsistent-proof", I must judge myself first.
Obedience is really important to God. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command". Wow! I think all of us would say that we love Jesus, but He measures our love for Him by our level of obedience. I pray almost daily that He would give me and my family a heart to love Him and now I have added "an obedient spirit" because that is something that is so foreign for me. In my flesh, I am so disobedient, even to the point of rebellious. But, when I allow Christ to live through me, a willing, obedient spirit emerges. It has to be from Him.
The biggest obstacle to peace in our lives is a lack of obedience, but in my reading this week I also came across a quote that has had me thinking. See below...
I believe this is overwhelmingly true. We can only be filled with the Spirit to the point that we are yielded to Christ. Have you turned everything over to Jesus yet today? We must confess all known sin and ask Him to reveal to us anything else we need to get out of the way before He can fill us with His Spirit today or any day. The Kingdom of Heaven has come to Earth. Is He living through you today?
John 14:15
Obedience is an issue that we can probably never talk about enough. I have obedience issues come up into my walk with Christ daily. In this world we live in, we are almost bombarded with issues and images that we have to decide what to do with. Are we going to truly follow Christ or just partially? This has been so vividly seen in the current presidential election. We have two primary candidates that both profess to be Christ followers yet they both seem to separate their professional lives from their personal lives. However, since my life is certainly not "inconsistent-proof", I must judge myself first.
Obedience is really important to God. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command". Wow! I think all of us would say that we love Jesus, but He measures our love for Him by our level of obedience. I pray almost daily that He would give me and my family a heart to love Him and now I have added "an obedient spirit" because that is something that is so foreign for me. In my flesh, I am so disobedient, even to the point of rebellious. But, when I allow Christ to live through me, a willing, obedient spirit emerges. It has to be from Him.
The biggest obstacle to peace in our lives is a lack of obedience, but in my reading this week I also came across a quote that has had me thinking. See below...
God does not fill with His Holy Spirit those who believe in the fullness of the Spirit, or those who desire Him, but those who obey Him. - F. B. Meyer
I believe this is overwhelmingly true. We can only be filled with the Spirit to the point that we are yielded to Christ. Have you turned everything over to Jesus yet today? We must confess all known sin and ask Him to reveal to us anything else we need to get out of the way before He can fill us with His Spirit today or any day. The Kingdom of Heaven has come to Earth. Is He living through you today?
Monday, August 18, 2008
Treasure the Word
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Yesterday, the pastor at my church, Buddy Champion, preached about the importance of the Word of God in our lives. Of course, as most of you know, nothing excites me more than the Bible so I absolutely loved his message. Here are list of some facts about the Bible:
It is amazing to me that God brought all of Bible together into one book that works so perfectly together. There is no greater work of literature than the Bible, but is it more than that. Is it just a book? The Bible is the very words of God spoken into our lives. What if you were in a remote country and had never heard the "old redemption story" and one day someone walked up to you and handed you the very words of your creator in your language? How do you think you would feel? Even though it is hard to comprehend, I think that Bible might become my most treasured possession.
But, treasuring our Bibles is really not enough. They are meant to be used, to be consumed so to speak. Let me give you an example. I like pretzels okay, but my children love pretzels. I can see them eating them and not really want any. However, the way they eat them makes them look like the greatest food on the planet! After a few minutes of watching them eat them, I will want some too! I fear that sometimes I do this with the word of God. Sometimes, I do not spend enough time in His Word daily, but then I hear Beth Moore or David Platt or John Piper and I think "yeah, I want some of that". So what do I want? Do I want the Bible or do I want the hear a great speaker?
I am by no means saying that God does not use preachers and teachers. He uses them in great and mighty ways to bring about change in our lives. What I am saying is that the really exciting, supernatural things really happen when we are alone with God and that Book. The words are sharp and they are literally alive.
A few years ago when I really got serious about learning God's Word and praying God's Word I realized that one of the reasons I wanted to do so was so when I see Him face to face, I will not go babbling on and on like I am prone to do! I want to be able to pour out my love for Him from His own Word. I have a long way to go, but I'm glad I have some great company!
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Yesterday, the pastor at my church, Buddy Champion, preached about the importance of the Word of God in our lives. Of course, as most of you know, nothing excites me more than the Bible so I absolutely loved his message. Here are list of some facts about the Bible:
- 66 Books
- 39 Old Testament
- 27 New Testament
- 40 Authors
- 1600 years to complete
- 13 Countries
- 3 Continents
- One Theme - Redemption
- One Hero - Jesus
- One Villain - Satan
- One Purpose - Glory to God
It is amazing to me that God brought all of Bible together into one book that works so perfectly together. There is no greater work of literature than the Bible, but is it more than that. Is it just a book? The Bible is the very words of God spoken into our lives. What if you were in a remote country and had never heard the "old redemption story" and one day someone walked up to you and handed you the very words of your creator in your language? How do you think you would feel? Even though it is hard to comprehend, I think that Bible might become my most treasured possession.
But, treasuring our Bibles is really not enough. They are meant to be used, to be consumed so to speak. Let me give you an example. I like pretzels okay, but my children love pretzels. I can see them eating them and not really want any. However, the way they eat them makes them look like the greatest food on the planet! After a few minutes of watching them eat them, I will want some too! I fear that sometimes I do this with the word of God. Sometimes, I do not spend enough time in His Word daily, but then I hear Beth Moore or David Platt or John Piper and I think "yeah, I want some of that". So what do I want? Do I want the Bible or do I want the hear a great speaker?
I am by no means saying that God does not use preachers and teachers. He uses them in great and mighty ways to bring about change in our lives. What I am saying is that the really exciting, supernatural things really happen when we are alone with God and that Book. The words are sharp and they are literally alive.
A few years ago when I really got serious about learning God's Word and praying God's Word I realized that one of the reasons I wanted to do so was so when I see Him face to face, I will not go babbling on and on like I am prone to do! I want to be able to pour out my love for Him from His own Word. I have a long way to go, but I'm glad I have some great company!
We must allow the Bible to penetrate every aspect of us so we can experience God's best. - Buddy Champion
Friday, August 15, 2008
There's a Judge in Heaven
Daniel 7:9-10
A few days ago my two boys, Joel and Caleb, were playing with Lego's in Joel's room. Suddenly, I heard Joel scream "stop it!" to his brother. I went and asked what was going on and Joel said that Caleb hit him with a block. I looked and Caleb was sitting there like a little angel just putting blocks together. I asked Joel if he was sure that Caleb was hitting him and basically told him I did not believe he was telling the truth. Joel just looked at me and said, "well, that's okay because God saw him and He knows that Caleb did do it!".
Do you ever get frustrated when it seems like someone has gotten away with something? Does it ever upset you when someone is wronged, stolen from, or even murdered and the case goes unsolved? These things do bother me. A few years ago, I watched the news every waking moment when my particular community was hit by the Natalie Holloway tragedy. I prayed everyday that they would find her or that her parents could at least find out what happened to their daughter. And yet, this case and many others still go unsolved.
The truth of the matter is: these cases are not unsolved. God is the supreme judge. He is the Ancient of Days, reigning in wisdom and power. He is so holy, His throne is own wheels so it can follow Him wherever He goes! The King is never without His throne. This is the God we serve. He sees and knows and will judge the unjust acts that happen on this Earth. No kidnapping, no murder, no rape, nothing has escaped His supreme knowledge and judgment.
Even though I thought what Joel said was funny, Joel was satisfied in knowing that God knew what had happened even when I did not. What a reminder it was to me to know that God can be trusted to bring about righteous judgment in His time.
A few days ago my two boys, Joel and Caleb, were playing with Lego's in Joel's room. Suddenly, I heard Joel scream "stop it!" to his brother. I went and asked what was going on and Joel said that Caleb hit him with a block. I looked and Caleb was sitting there like a little angel just putting blocks together. I asked Joel if he was sure that Caleb was hitting him and basically told him I did not believe he was telling the truth. Joel just looked at me and said, "well, that's okay because God saw him and He knows that Caleb did do it!".
Do you ever get frustrated when it seems like someone has gotten away with something? Does it ever upset you when someone is wronged, stolen from, or even murdered and the case goes unsolved? These things do bother me. A few years ago, I watched the news every waking moment when my particular community was hit by the Natalie Holloway tragedy. I prayed everyday that they would find her or that her parents could at least find out what happened to their daughter. And yet, this case and many others still go unsolved.
The truth of the matter is: these cases are not unsolved. God is the supreme judge. He is the Ancient of Days, reigning in wisdom and power. He is so holy, His throne is own wheels so it can follow Him wherever He goes! The King is never without His throne. This is the God we serve. He sees and knows and will judge the unjust acts that happen on this Earth. No kidnapping, no murder, no rape, nothing has escaped His supreme knowledge and judgment.
Even though I thought what Joel said was funny, Joel was satisfied in knowing that God knew what had happened even when I did not. What a reminder it was to me to know that God can be trusted to bring about righteous judgment in His time.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Searching for the Truth
I have said and I have heard others say things like, "well, I don't know about all that, I just believe". We almost boast at times about our ignorance of the Bible. Yes, a simple faith in Christ is enough, but once we have that simple faith we have a responsibility to study and sort out the deep truths. Will we ever understand fully? No, but we can ask God for supernatural wisdom and understanding into His Word.
"...but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries." Daniel 2:28
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Grace Beyond Measure...
Psalm 130
This is one of my favorite Psalms! I love it because it reads so beautifully and is a wonderful prayer to pray back to the Lord. However, its truth runs so much deeper than just its beautiful language. This Psalm is written from a place of total trust in God. The Psalmist knows he is a sinner, but he also knows that God is merciful and hears his prayer. He has a complete trust in the mercy of God.
My favorite verses are 3-4:
There is forgiveness with the Lord! If there wasn't we would flee from His presence in terror. The word "feared" means "honored, worshiped, trusted and served as the one true God". Verses 5-8 are then expressed as a cry of total trust in the Lord. He is waiting on the Lord, longing for Him. This psalm ends with a plea and invitation for Israel to trust in the Lord as well.
Have you put your trust in the Lord today? First and foremost, have you come to Him for forgiveness of your sin? If you have, then leave that sin behind today. So many times we ask and ask and ask for forgiveness over a sin or sinful period of time in our lives. He is faithful to forgive the first time we ask. Many times I have demonstrated to God that I do not believe Him on this issue. I have confessed and confessed particular sins many times. Finally God spoke to me through someone else to ask why did I think I was more faithful than Him? If I could do my part, did I not think He was faithful enough to do His?
Finally today, I want us to think about the open invitation that the Psalmist gave. He was inviting his entire nation to join him in trusting in the Lord. We can invite our entire "nation" or our circle of influence to trust in the Lord by the way we choose to live our lives today. I have been reminded lately that He is still seeking to save the lost. We are still here, He still has a job for us to do and it always involves more people coming to repentance.
As we go about our daily lives, may we always be ready to share why we have hope for tomorrow. There are those who have no hope, but we can show them where true hope comes from. People still need forgiveness. Let's point them to the one that can redeem them "from all their sins."
This is one of my favorite Psalms! I love it because it reads so beautifully and is a wonderful prayer to pray back to the Lord. However, its truth runs so much deeper than just its beautiful language. This Psalm is written from a place of total trust in God. The Psalmist knows he is a sinner, but he also knows that God is merciful and hears his prayer. He has a complete trust in the mercy of God.
My favorite verses are 3-4:
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, therefore you are feared.
There is forgiveness with the Lord! If there wasn't we would flee from His presence in terror. The word "feared" means "honored, worshiped, trusted and served as the one true God". Verses 5-8 are then expressed as a cry of total trust in the Lord. He is waiting on the Lord, longing for Him. This psalm ends with a plea and invitation for Israel to trust in the Lord as well.
Have you put your trust in the Lord today? First and foremost, have you come to Him for forgiveness of your sin? If you have, then leave that sin behind today. So many times we ask and ask and ask for forgiveness over a sin or sinful period of time in our lives. He is faithful to forgive the first time we ask. Many times I have demonstrated to God that I do not believe Him on this issue. I have confessed and confessed particular sins many times. Finally God spoke to me through someone else to ask why did I think I was more faithful than Him? If I could do my part, did I not think He was faithful enough to do His?
Finally today, I want us to think about the open invitation that the Psalmist gave. He was inviting his entire nation to join him in trusting in the Lord. We can invite our entire "nation" or our circle of influence to trust in the Lord by the way we choose to live our lives today. I have been reminded lately that He is still seeking to save the lost. We are still here, He still has a job for us to do and it always involves more people coming to repentance.
As we go about our daily lives, may we always be ready to share why we have hope for tomorrow. There are those who have no hope, but we can show them where true hope comes from. People still need forgiveness. Let's point them to the one that can redeem them "from all their sins."
Monday, August 11, 2008
What Does Jesus Look Like?
Revelation 1:9-20
I think we all have a picture in our mind of what Jesus looked like when He was on Earth. But, what will He look like when we see Him face to face? The account that John gives us in Revelation gives us a pretty good idea of what the glorified Jesus looks like. Whether He looks like this all the time in heaven or not, I do not know. What I do know about these verses is that they give us a lot of insight into the character of Jesus. Let's break them down and see what we can learn today.
The "Son of Man" was "dressed in a robe... with a golden sash..." symbolizes the reality of Christ's royalty. When He was on Earth, He did not take His rightful throne. When He returns, He will. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords whether or not humanity believes Him to be or not. "His head and hair were white like wool" symbolizes Christ's supreme wisdom in all circumstances. He is all knowing and He even has wisdom to share about our everyday circumstances. "Eyes like blazing fire" symbolizes Christ's penetrating insight, His all-knowing-ness so to speak. He sees all including what is in the heart of all men. Bronze feet symbolize His mighty power and the power to stomp out the enemy. The double-edged sword in His mouth symbolizes His divine judgment. The words of His mouth are what will stand. His word can cut through us completely to reveal the truth. His brilliant face is a reflection of the glory of God the Father.
You may be thinking, "how interesting...Thank you for sharing, but what does that mean for me today?" What God has taught me through these verses is that Jesus is not like me. So many times I put Him down on my level. He did choose to be human for a time and I do believe that He understands our struggles because He has lived through them, but He is so much bigger than me. He is God and I do not need to forget that. Secondly, He has shown me that we can be completely confident in this God that we serve. He has supreme wisdom, He sees all, knows all, is all-powerful, and is supreme judge over all circumstances and people. He knows me better than I know myself and when I come to Him over and over with the same issue, He not only sees that I am struggling, He even knows why. And, He does not just keep it a secret. Over time He reveals to me the wisdom I need.
The last thing I want us to look at in the verses is the significance of the lampstands and stars. Christ reveals the mystery of these in verse 20. The lampstands are the churches and the stars are the angels of the churches. There are two schools of thought on the "angels". Some theologians believe they are truly guardian angels for the churches while others believe this speaks to the "messengers" or pastors themselves. Either way, Christ holds them in His hand. He is in control of all things including what goes on in the body of Christ. Even when bad things happen in the Church and to the Church, we can trust that Jesus is still in control.
It is so important for us to know who this Jesus is that we worship. He is supreme and supernatural. Let us not forget who we are dealing with and "fall face down, as His glory shines around".
I think we all have a picture in our mind of what Jesus looked like when He was on Earth. But, what will He look like when we see Him face to face? The account that John gives us in Revelation gives us a pretty good idea of what the glorified Jesus looks like. Whether He looks like this all the time in heaven or not, I do not know. What I do know about these verses is that they give us a lot of insight into the character of Jesus. Let's break them down and see what we can learn today.
The "Son of Man" was "dressed in a robe... with a golden sash..." symbolizes the reality of Christ's royalty. When He was on Earth, He did not take His rightful throne. When He returns, He will. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords whether or not humanity believes Him to be or not. "His head and hair were white like wool" symbolizes Christ's supreme wisdom in all circumstances. He is all knowing and He even has wisdom to share about our everyday circumstances. "Eyes like blazing fire" symbolizes Christ's penetrating insight, His all-knowing-ness so to speak. He sees all including what is in the heart of all men. Bronze feet symbolize His mighty power and the power to stomp out the enemy. The double-edged sword in His mouth symbolizes His divine judgment. The words of His mouth are what will stand. His word can cut through us completely to reveal the truth. His brilliant face is a reflection of the glory of God the Father.
You may be thinking, "how interesting...Thank you for sharing, but what does that mean for me today?" What God has taught me through these verses is that Jesus is not like me. So many times I put Him down on my level. He did choose to be human for a time and I do believe that He understands our struggles because He has lived through them, but He is so much bigger than me. He is God and I do not need to forget that. Secondly, He has shown me that we can be completely confident in this God that we serve. He has supreme wisdom, He sees all, knows all, is all-powerful, and is supreme judge over all circumstances and people. He knows me better than I know myself and when I come to Him over and over with the same issue, He not only sees that I am struggling, He even knows why. And, He does not just keep it a secret. Over time He reveals to me the wisdom I need.
The last thing I want us to look at in the verses is the significance of the lampstands and stars. Christ reveals the mystery of these in verse 20. The lampstands are the churches and the stars are the angels of the churches. There are two schools of thought on the "angels". Some theologians believe they are truly guardian angels for the churches while others believe this speaks to the "messengers" or pastors themselves. Either way, Christ holds them in His hand. He is in control of all things including what goes on in the body of Christ. Even when bad things happen in the Church and to the Church, we can trust that Jesus is still in control.
It is so important for us to know who this Jesus is that we worship. He is supreme and supernatural. Let us not forget who we are dealing with and "fall face down, as His glory shines around".
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Let the Veil Down
I realize that I wrote on these verses a few weeks ago, but last night God revealed them to me in an entirely new context and I am so excited about it. I have been talking with many of my friends and spiritual counselors recently and we have all come to the same conclusion: There has to be something more when it comes to corporate worship. I have been wanting to write on worship for quite some time, but the Lord just has not brought all of my thoughts together yet. However, last night I truly feel like I got an answer to prayer.
Sometimes during corporate worship I feel like we are just missing it. If what we are doing in our worship services is supposed to be practice for when we get around the throne, I fear we are going to be very surprised. For a long time, I have prayed that the Holy Spirit would rain down during our worship services. I’ve prayed that He would come in wind and fire and change hearts and lives. But, I have never prayed that He would open our eyes.
I realized last night through these verses that until the “veil is taken away” we cannot experience freedom in Christ. The two go together. We cannot truly experience the freedom of God until He removes the veil and we see that He is truly more important than anything else.
Many times I have prayed that God would draw His people to worship Him in freedom. He knew exactly what I meant, but I should be asking Him to remove the veil from our eyes. When that happens and we see the Lord, there will be freedom. It is coming. Will you join me in this prayer?
“Greater things have yet to come,
Greater things are still to be done
In this city.
Greater things have yet to come,
And greater things are still to be done here…”God of this City - BlueTree
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