God knows what I need and when I need it. I am so easily overwhelmed when I'm tired. My thoughts get cloudy and my mood meloncholy. I need quiet. I need life to slow down a bit and not be so demanding. But we know that's not always possible. Sometimes we must push through relying on the grace of God and His joy which is our strength. And His grace is even more precious when we are at the end of ourselves and know it His grace sustaining us.
But then there are those moments...and yes they are often just moments...that He allows us to have some sought out solitude, a tiny respite from the craziness. Like today, right now. Even though life is pressing, I pause to enjoy the scene outside my window. A soft, steady snow is falling. From a full, gray sky it blankets the earth and calls me to stop and take notice of the beauty and simplicity of this season.
Maybe for you it is the laughter of a child, the warm glow of a candle, a soft breeze on your face, the peaceful breathing of a sleeping baby, a favorite song on the radio that draws you to sing along. Whatever it is, don't let the moment slip by unnoticed. These are just a few of the many ways the Lord expresses His love for us, assures us of His presence with us. We can't afford to pass this by.
I have learned to treasure the beauty and simplicity of these moments as a gift from my Father who knows where I am and what I need.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Hope Now
If there was one thing stirred in the hearts of many this year concerning the 2008 election, it was hope, hope for change. I don’t doubt the hope was real, just perhaps misplaced.
Proverbs 23:18 says, “For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” The KJV renders it this way: “For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.” Hope is the expectation of a desired end. But for hope to be more than just wishful thinking, it has to be grounded in something more than just our expectations or we will be sorely disappointed when hopes are not realized.
Hope cannot rest in a man or in an ideal. Even for the believer, hope standing alone is diminished. “And now abides faith, hope, love, these three” (I Cor. 13: 13). The believer has hope and can rest assured our hopes will be realized because it rests in the Eternal God. This hope is grounded in faith, our faith in Christ and His faithfulness to His Word. His promises are sure because His Word is authoritative and eternal Truth. His promises are a testimony to His character, who He is and what He has done, and they do not change.
Our hope is grounded in faith, and it is fueled and energized by love. We love Him, we wait for Him, because He first loved us (I John 4:19). When we grasp the great reality of God’s love for us and know that it will not let us go there is every reason to have faith, to keep believing; thus hope is flamed.
Hope is an amazing thing, but hopes dashed are devastating. And what does this have to do with the recent election? This election brought out a great passion in people on both ends of the political spectrum. Issues, philosophies, even our very system of government in this country were brought into question. Hatred reared its ugly head in the form of feminism, racism, extremism, and yes, even socialism in its rudimentary ideology.
Being involved in choosing our country’s leadership wouldn’t be an issue if we lived in one of those countries or cultures where the system of government doesn’t allow for that. It would be decided for us. Being involved, and the degree to which we become involved is an area we must rely on the wisdom and leadership of the spirit of God to help us decide. There is no debating our responsibility to pray “for kings, and for all that are in authority" (I Tim. 2: 1-3). We also have the admonition to “render to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s" (Matt. 22:21). We must also use discernment in determining when the authorities God has ordained (Rom. 13) would cause us to deny or dishonor God as our ultimate authority, leaving us no choice but to “obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).
Paul encouraged those that struggled with eating meat offered to idols, believing that to do so brought them into the pagan idolatry, to consider not only what was “lawful”, but what was “expedient”; some things are not necessary, but are allowed. We know “that there is none other God but one” (I Cor. 8: 4), and we serve Him. His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). But God has instituted and ordained government for our good (Rom 13: 1-7) and uses even pagan leadership to His purposes (consider Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Artaxerxes for instance). Also, we are stewards of that which is committed to us (the country and culture in which we live) and we are to be responsible and faithful in that stewardship (I Cor. 4:2). And we must live before God with a pure conscience, trusting Him to teach us. Therefore, “let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” because “whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14: 5, 23).
We involve ourselves everyday in systems and services that are not necessarily biblical. In other words, there are a lot of areas out there that aren’t clear cut as to whether or not being involved would associate us with something that would dishonor God in some way. I was taught as a young Christian that to go to movies was to associate myself with and support, an “evil” industry set on destroying values and morality; I was taught that to buy groceries from a grocery store that sold alcohol or cigarettes was again, putting my dollars in support of those things. I could list other examples. I grappled with these issues, not wanting to disappoint my Savior and be anything other than a faithful witness for Him. But I soon realized that first and foremost, I could not live a victorious Christian life with guilt over one issue or another. I also understood that I am responsible for the impression of Christ I leave with others. I had to study the Scripture for myself where these issues were concerned, come to a conclusion before God on these issues, and then live these beliefs out. This also meant respecting those that viewed things differently, often becoming the “weaker brother’ (I Cor 8: 9) rather than being offended by another’s liberty, and on the other hand never using my liberty “as an occasion of offense or stumbling” if I could help it.
I have chosen to be involved in the political process, the privilege to vote and support one candidate or the other, the opportunity to let my voice be heard on important issues facing our nation today. But I do so with a keen awareness of my ultimate allegiance to the Eternal God, to “the Lord Jesus Christ…who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (I Tim. 6:15); confidently assured that “the kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turns it whatever way He determines” (Prov 21:1); He “is the judge; He putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Ps. 75:7). I am careful to search the Scripture to avoid forming opinions and making decisions based solely on how I feel, what I prefer, or how my economic situation will be affected (as my mom used to say, “it all comes down to the almighty dollar”.) And I do so not with a misplaced hope for a bright future in a man, an ideal, or a system of government, but with a hope “both sure and steadfast” (Heb. 6: 17-19) in the God of the future, Jesus Christ “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Rev. 1: 8).
My thoughts were jarred sitting in our Wednesday night Bible study as my pastor/husband directed us to the verse from Proverbs about hope and “an expected end”. I had muddled through these thoughts over the past months as I grew weary of the political battle, bias, and bunk. I struggled initially with putting all my thoughts into words and with the need to even do so. I felt compelled to examine once again why I do what I do. I have over the years had a tendency to be both patriotic and passionate about issues of conscience, and about my country. Is it a nation of great spiritual barrenness? I believe it is as barren as it has ever been. But I have enjoyed so much of its beauty, its freedoms, its traditional historical ideals. Then, on a daily basis I am surrounded by those with dashed hopes and misplaced trust and have no faith in anyone or anything, God or country. They own no heritage, know no greater culture outside the small world that is their reality whatever that may be. It is a generation bereft of values, morals, and ideals that has dismissed God and His Sovereignty and sacrificed a common good for a selfish individualism. Yet, they clamor for a genuine love, a faith in something or someone bigger than themselves, and just a glimmer of hope for a decent future. So when someone promising change and promoting hope comes on the scene, well, this is where we are.
I then questioned my passion and the urgency with which I share the message of hope I have in Christ. Was I doing all I could do? Was the church? Have we failed in many respects? Yes, but then righteous Noah preached faithfully for 120 years to see only his family respond because “the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5), and thank God he at least saw his family saved, which should be an example to all of us. It was the reassurance from the Word on that Wednesday evening as the verse sailed off the page about my “expectation not being cut off” that I was encouraged and settled, and my thoughts about hope and this election started to make sense at least to me. Then, just this evening as I drove across town a new release on the radio caught my attention. It solidified in my mind that a message of “faith, hope, and love, these three” was a reminder from the Lord for these tumultuous times. I leave you with this:
When my life is like a storm
Rising waters
all I want is the shore
You say I’ll be okay and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
refrain & chorus from Hope Now; Addison Road
Proverbs 23:18 says, “For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” The KJV renders it this way: “For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.” Hope is the expectation of a desired end. But for hope to be more than just wishful thinking, it has to be grounded in something more than just our expectations or we will be sorely disappointed when hopes are not realized.
Hope cannot rest in a man or in an ideal. Even for the believer, hope standing alone is diminished. “And now abides faith, hope, love, these three” (I Cor. 13: 13). The believer has hope and can rest assured our hopes will be realized because it rests in the Eternal God. This hope is grounded in faith, our faith in Christ and His faithfulness to His Word. His promises are sure because His Word is authoritative and eternal Truth. His promises are a testimony to His character, who He is and what He has done, and they do not change.
Our hope is grounded in faith, and it is fueled and energized by love. We love Him, we wait for Him, because He first loved us (I John 4:19). When we grasp the great reality of God’s love for us and know that it will not let us go there is every reason to have faith, to keep believing; thus hope is flamed.
Hope is an amazing thing, but hopes dashed are devastating. And what does this have to do with the recent election? This election brought out a great passion in people on both ends of the political spectrum. Issues, philosophies, even our very system of government in this country were brought into question. Hatred reared its ugly head in the form of feminism, racism, extremism, and yes, even socialism in its rudimentary ideology.
Being involved in choosing our country’s leadership wouldn’t be an issue if we lived in one of those countries or cultures where the system of government doesn’t allow for that. It would be decided for us. Being involved, and the degree to which we become involved is an area we must rely on the wisdom and leadership of the spirit of God to help us decide. There is no debating our responsibility to pray “for kings, and for all that are in authority" (I Tim. 2: 1-3). We also have the admonition to “render to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s" (Matt. 22:21). We must also use discernment in determining when the authorities God has ordained (Rom. 13) would cause us to deny or dishonor God as our ultimate authority, leaving us no choice but to “obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).
Paul encouraged those that struggled with eating meat offered to idols, believing that to do so brought them into the pagan idolatry, to consider not only what was “lawful”, but what was “expedient”; some things are not necessary, but are allowed. We know “that there is none other God but one” (I Cor. 8: 4), and we serve Him. His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). But God has instituted and ordained government for our good (Rom 13: 1-7) and uses even pagan leadership to His purposes (consider Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Artaxerxes for instance). Also, we are stewards of that which is committed to us (the country and culture in which we live) and we are to be responsible and faithful in that stewardship (I Cor. 4:2). And we must live before God with a pure conscience, trusting Him to teach us. Therefore, “let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” because “whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14: 5, 23).
We involve ourselves everyday in systems and services that are not necessarily biblical. In other words, there are a lot of areas out there that aren’t clear cut as to whether or not being involved would associate us with something that would dishonor God in some way. I was taught as a young Christian that to go to movies was to associate myself with and support, an “evil” industry set on destroying values and morality; I was taught that to buy groceries from a grocery store that sold alcohol or cigarettes was again, putting my dollars in support of those things. I could list other examples. I grappled with these issues, not wanting to disappoint my Savior and be anything other than a faithful witness for Him. But I soon realized that first and foremost, I could not live a victorious Christian life with guilt over one issue or another. I also understood that I am responsible for the impression of Christ I leave with others. I had to study the Scripture for myself where these issues were concerned, come to a conclusion before God on these issues, and then live these beliefs out. This also meant respecting those that viewed things differently, often becoming the “weaker brother’ (I Cor 8: 9) rather than being offended by another’s liberty, and on the other hand never using my liberty “as an occasion of offense or stumbling” if I could help it.
I have chosen to be involved in the political process, the privilege to vote and support one candidate or the other, the opportunity to let my voice be heard on important issues facing our nation today. But I do so with a keen awareness of my ultimate allegiance to the Eternal God, to “the Lord Jesus Christ…who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (I Tim. 6:15); confidently assured that “the kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turns it whatever way He determines” (Prov 21:1); He “is the judge; He putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Ps. 75:7). I am careful to search the Scripture to avoid forming opinions and making decisions based solely on how I feel, what I prefer, or how my economic situation will be affected (as my mom used to say, “it all comes down to the almighty dollar”.) And I do so not with a misplaced hope for a bright future in a man, an ideal, or a system of government, but with a hope “both sure and steadfast” (Heb. 6: 17-19) in the God of the future, Jesus Christ “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Rev. 1: 8).
My thoughts were jarred sitting in our Wednesday night Bible study as my pastor/husband directed us to the verse from Proverbs about hope and “an expected end”. I had muddled through these thoughts over the past months as I grew weary of the political battle, bias, and bunk. I struggled initially with putting all my thoughts into words and with the need to even do so. I felt compelled to examine once again why I do what I do. I have over the years had a tendency to be both patriotic and passionate about issues of conscience, and about my country. Is it a nation of great spiritual barrenness? I believe it is as barren as it has ever been. But I have enjoyed so much of its beauty, its freedoms, its traditional historical ideals. Then, on a daily basis I am surrounded by those with dashed hopes and misplaced trust and have no faith in anyone or anything, God or country. They own no heritage, know no greater culture outside the small world that is their reality whatever that may be. It is a generation bereft of values, morals, and ideals that has dismissed God and His Sovereignty and sacrificed a common good for a selfish individualism. Yet, they clamor for a genuine love, a faith in something or someone bigger than themselves, and just a glimmer of hope for a decent future. So when someone promising change and promoting hope comes on the scene, well, this is where we are.
I then questioned my passion and the urgency with which I share the message of hope I have in Christ. Was I doing all I could do? Was the church? Have we failed in many respects? Yes, but then righteous Noah preached faithfully for 120 years to see only his family respond because “the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5), and thank God he at least saw his family saved, which should be an example to all of us. It was the reassurance from the Word on that Wednesday evening as the verse sailed off the page about my “expectation not being cut off” that I was encouraged and settled, and my thoughts about hope and this election started to make sense at least to me. Then, just this evening as I drove across town a new release on the radio caught my attention. It solidified in my mind that a message of “faith, hope, and love, these three” was a reminder from the Lord for these tumultuous times. I leave you with this:
When my life is like a storm
Rising waters
all I want is the shore
You say I’ll be okay and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
refrain & chorus from Hope Now; Addison Road
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Faith and Forgiveness
"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God... Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any, that your Father which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Mark 11: 22, 24-25.
Unforgiveness weakens and often destroys the opportunity to pray and believe God for what we ask. Earlier in this chapter we see Jesus curse a fig tree because it was not bearing fruit. Then later that same day when walking again past the same tree, Peter is amazed to see that the tree Jesus cursed had withered. What did Peter expect?
Jesus goes on to explain to Peter that faith in God can be mountain-moving! Jesus says "if you ask not doubting in your heart, but believing that those things you pray for will come to pass, you'll have them." But then He says, " when you stand praying, forgive...". Jesus makes a direct connection between unanswered prayer and unforgiveness.
If God can move mountains because we pray exercising faith in Him, certainly He can enable us to forgive. But it's not usually about our ability to forgive, it's about our willingness to do so.
Forgiveness for many seems to be too much to ask. I've often had young people and adults alike respond to the encouragement to forgive; "you don't understand, you don't know what they've done to me! You don't know what they've put me through!" And my heart aches, because I see their pain and know their hurt is real and deep. Forgiveness seems impossible, and just too hard.
But when is the last time you saw a mountain moved into the sea? Yes forgiveness is hard, very hard. But it is possible, and it is very necessary.
1. It's possible because we have the power of God through mountain-moving faith, the promise of His Word, and the Spirit of God to enable and strengthen us. In other words, we don't go it alone!
2. It's necessary, for our own forgiveness. "What do I need to be forgiven for?" you may ask. "I'm the one that has been wronged here." Perhaps the unwillingness to forgive.
Even if the power of forgiveness never reaches the one you are forgiving (which it will often do), when you forgive you are freed from the weight that unforgiveness becomes. You are freed to receive the blessings God has for those who obey Him. You are freed to grow in your relationship with Christ, not having your fellowship broken because of disobedience and an unwillingness to take Him at His word. You may not be able to see at the onset how you could possibly do as He asks. This is where faith takes hold as you simply obey.
Remember the fig tree? When Jesus said that no one would eat its fruit from that point on, it withered. Don't allow unforgiveness to cause your faith in God to wither and die. As difficult as it may be, forgive, and keep your faith growing and thriving. After all, there may be a mountain or two you may need to see God move for you later on down the road.
Unforgiveness weakens and often destroys the opportunity to pray and believe God for what we ask. Earlier in this chapter we see Jesus curse a fig tree because it was not bearing fruit. Then later that same day when walking again past the same tree, Peter is amazed to see that the tree Jesus cursed had withered. What did Peter expect?
Jesus goes on to explain to Peter that faith in God can be mountain-moving! Jesus says "if you ask not doubting in your heart, but believing that those things you pray for will come to pass, you'll have them." But then He says, " when you stand praying, forgive...". Jesus makes a direct connection between unanswered prayer and unforgiveness.
If God can move mountains because we pray exercising faith in Him, certainly He can enable us to forgive. But it's not usually about our ability to forgive, it's about our willingness to do so.
Forgiveness for many seems to be too much to ask. I've often had young people and adults alike respond to the encouragement to forgive; "you don't understand, you don't know what they've done to me! You don't know what they've put me through!" And my heart aches, because I see their pain and know their hurt is real and deep. Forgiveness seems impossible, and just too hard.
But when is the last time you saw a mountain moved into the sea? Yes forgiveness is hard, very hard. But it is possible, and it is very necessary.
1. It's possible because we have the power of God through mountain-moving faith, the promise of His Word, and the Spirit of God to enable and strengthen us. In other words, we don't go it alone!
2. It's necessary, for our own forgiveness. "What do I need to be forgiven for?" you may ask. "I'm the one that has been wronged here." Perhaps the unwillingness to forgive.
Even if the power of forgiveness never reaches the one you are forgiving (which it will often do), when you forgive you are freed from the weight that unforgiveness becomes. You are freed to receive the blessings God has for those who obey Him. You are freed to grow in your relationship with Christ, not having your fellowship broken because of disobedience and an unwillingness to take Him at His word. You may not be able to see at the onset how you could possibly do as He asks. This is where faith takes hold as you simply obey.
Remember the fig tree? When Jesus said that no one would eat its fruit from that point on, it withered. Don't allow unforgiveness to cause your faith in God to wither and die. As difficult as it may be, forgive, and keep your faith growing and thriving. After all, there may be a mountain or two you may need to see God move for you later on down the road.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
"Since God is a patient God, when we abandon patience we miss the opportunity to show our world the glory of God through our lives. Bursts of impatience only demonstrate that we are more concerned with our own agendas than the needs and struggles of others. So let’s take a deep breath and turn our focus away from ourselves by patiently loving others in the midst of stress. Be patient. Show your world what God is really like.” (Our Daily Bread, 9-25-08)
Waiting. On first thought, I considered myself a pretty patient person. I seldom become exasperated waiting in the Walmart line…I always pick the wrong one anyway; I seldom fall victim to road rage…I know there are very few perfect drivers like myself; long waits in lobbies for a doctor’s appointment…no problem, I usually get engrossed in a magazine article I rarely get to finish as it is.
But as I contemplated further, I realized that most of my waiting had been done in seasons, some of them quite long. And patience did not always have its perfect work while trusting God to work.
I prayed, and fretted, and saw God do a lot of changing in my own heart and life while waiting for nearly ten years to seemy parents turn fully to God. By the time my own children were old enough to really get to know and love their grandparents, they were different people than they had been as my parents. But that took time, and God’s great grace.
I prayed, and fretted, and saw God do a lot of changing in my own heart while waiting for years to see God heal a bitter relationship between my mother and my grandmother. They were both finally able to see the Lord help them set aside a lifetime of pain and hurt, and experience love and acceptance and forgiveness before the Lord took my grandmother home. But that took time, and God’s great grace.
I prayed, and fretted, and saw God do a lot of changing in my own heart while waiting several years to see change and healing come to a church, and us ultimately directed to another ministry in another part of the country. I could not see it at the time, but would we have been open to relocating under other circumstances? That took time, and God’s great grace.
Once again, I prayed, I fretted, I pleaded with God for nearly three years to open a door of escape when I was in a situation I thought I could not endure much longer. The hurt, the disappointment, the spiritual abuse that I saw taking place, the oppression, the anger, all the self-examination and near despondency when God was silent. All that, to see God in one swift move, take me higher and give me what I did not think possible. All the tears, all the grieving, then joy and contentment. But that took time, and God’s great grace.
My son Aaron recently called and left a quote on my voicemail: “God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him, even in suffering.” Isn’t that the very core of patience, being satisfied in Him?
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience, but let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting [lacking] nothing”, James 1: 3-4.
Waiting. On first thought, I considered myself a pretty patient person. I seldom become exasperated waiting in the Walmart line…I always pick the wrong one anyway; I seldom fall victim to road rage…I know there are very few perfect drivers like myself; long waits in lobbies for a doctor’s appointment…no problem, I usually get engrossed in a magazine article I rarely get to finish as it is.
But as I contemplated further, I realized that most of my waiting had been done in seasons, some of them quite long. And patience did not always have its perfect work while trusting God to work.
I prayed, and fretted, and saw God do a lot of changing in my own heart and life while waiting for nearly ten years to seemy parents turn fully to God. By the time my own children were old enough to really get to know and love their grandparents, they were different people than they had been as my parents. But that took time, and God’s great grace.
I prayed, and fretted, and saw God do a lot of changing in my own heart while waiting for years to see God heal a bitter relationship between my mother and my grandmother. They were both finally able to see the Lord help them set aside a lifetime of pain and hurt, and experience love and acceptance and forgiveness before the Lord took my grandmother home. But that took time, and God’s great grace.
I prayed, and fretted, and saw God do a lot of changing in my own heart while waiting several years to see change and healing come to a church, and us ultimately directed to another ministry in another part of the country. I could not see it at the time, but would we have been open to relocating under other circumstances? That took time, and God’s great grace.
Once again, I prayed, I fretted, I pleaded with God for nearly three years to open a door of escape when I was in a situation I thought I could not endure much longer. The hurt, the disappointment, the spiritual abuse that I saw taking place, the oppression, the anger, all the self-examination and near despondency when God was silent. All that, to see God in one swift move, take me higher and give me what I did not think possible. All the tears, all the grieving, then joy and contentment. But that took time, and God’s great grace.
My son Aaron recently called and left a quote on my voicemail: “God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him, even in suffering.” Isn’t that the very core of patience, being satisfied in Him?
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience, but let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting [lacking] nothing”, James 1: 3-4.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
A Leap of Faith
“Ye also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house…to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” I Peter 2:5
Some days I don’t feel like I’m being built up. Some days I feel more like life is beating me down. When life gets complicated, when burdens get heavy, when I get tired, disappointed, it’s so easy for my focus to shift from joy in Jesus to unruly unrest.
Faith needs to be continually exercised and spiritual stamina bolstered because life is demanding. Just when I think my faith has been challenged, and stretched, and tested to the limit, God begins to change the limit and move me forward! The goal? To build me up.
This is more often than not, uncomfortable, even painful. But this is both the mystery and strength of faith. We don’t set the limits! God does. And if our faith is resting in Him, it will be enough. I can always count on Him, and on His Word to provide the stability I need amidst all the unrest.
I am experiencing God’s perfect timing in the work of faith He is doing in me again. As if to remind me of what’s happening, when I am in need of “being built up”, Rog gets to the book of Hebrews in his chronological study of the Scripture that he has been taking us through at church. It’s one thing to read of the victories and triumphs, all accomplished by faith, but the turn that triumph takes in Hebrews 11: 35 is a heart-stopper; “Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance….and others….they were stoned, they were torn asunder….”. Not exactly what we might first consider triumphant faith.
Sounds like they were a little beaten down themselves.
God says they all obtained a good report through faith (v. 39).
As a “living stone”, I do not want my faith to stagnate. I want my faith to be strong, and vibrant, and active. But I must trust a loving Father to determine the path my faith will take in its triumph, and determine to trust Him. A painful triumph is still a triumph. A vibrant, built-up faith will be a sacrifice God will be pleased to accept and honor.
It’s time to take another leap of faith.
Some days I don’t feel like I’m being built up. Some days I feel more like life is beating me down. When life gets complicated, when burdens get heavy, when I get tired, disappointed, it’s so easy for my focus to shift from joy in Jesus to unruly unrest.
Faith needs to be continually exercised and spiritual stamina bolstered because life is demanding. Just when I think my faith has been challenged, and stretched, and tested to the limit, God begins to change the limit and move me forward! The goal? To build me up.
This is more often than not, uncomfortable, even painful. But this is both the mystery and strength of faith. We don’t set the limits! God does. And if our faith is resting in Him, it will be enough. I can always count on Him, and on His Word to provide the stability I need amidst all the unrest.
I am experiencing God’s perfect timing in the work of faith He is doing in me again. As if to remind me of what’s happening, when I am in need of “being built up”, Rog gets to the book of Hebrews in his chronological study of the Scripture that he has been taking us through at church. It’s one thing to read of the victories and triumphs, all accomplished by faith, but the turn that triumph takes in Hebrews 11: 35 is a heart-stopper; “Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance….and others….they were stoned, they were torn asunder….”. Not exactly what we might first consider triumphant faith.
Sounds like they were a little beaten down themselves.
God says they all obtained a good report through faith (v. 39).
As a “living stone”, I do not want my faith to stagnate. I want my faith to be strong, and vibrant, and active. But I must trust a loving Father to determine the path my faith will take in its triumph, and determine to trust Him. A painful triumph is still a triumph. A vibrant, built-up faith will be a sacrifice God will be pleased to accept and honor.
It’s time to take another leap of faith.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Do you love me?
I had begun to question my love for the children that God has entrusted to Rog and me to care for. I can't help but get attached, personally involved; I can't help but love them. And when they make poor choices, I hurt for them, but don't tire of them. It only serves to increase my awareness of their great need, and I love them even more. But when they leave, often with no notice, no closure, it's very difficult.
Most don't understand the tears. And because they come often, some might be tempted to see me as an emotional mess. It was the same when I was teaching. In fact, another teacher once told me I'd be much better off to distance myself from the children (whatever that means), and just enjoy teaching the material. But I wasn't there to simply teach material. I was there to teach children.
Still, I understand the need to keep a balance and let the Spirit of God rule rather than my emotions. I felt in my heart this was true for me, but needed the reassurance from the Word to quiet my heart and keep me from discouragement. I needed to know that my feelings had not been able to overshadow my judgment, as strong as they sometimes could be.
So, I opened my Bible for my morning devotions, and there was the answer I had been asking the Lord for. "Do you love me? ...Feed my sheep" John 21:15-17. After reading the passage, a pointed question in Our Daily Bread for the day got my attention; "Jesus didn't ask Peter if he loved His sheep, but if he loved Him." Once Peter affirmed his love for Christ, he was told to feed His sheep.
Loving Jesus with all my heart, and allowing Him to love them through me, deepens my love from simply an emotion to a purposeful action of Christ Himself. It provides the balance and the motivation to continue loving, in spite of the hurt, in spite of the misunderstanding.
All at once I knew that if I ever lost this passion, it would be my love for Christ that would first be in question, not my love for others. And that's not what I ever want to happen. So, to keep it all in perspective I will return to this question often..."Do you love me?"
Most don't understand the tears. And because they come often, some might be tempted to see me as an emotional mess. It was the same when I was teaching. In fact, another teacher once told me I'd be much better off to distance myself from the children (whatever that means), and just enjoy teaching the material. But I wasn't there to simply teach material. I was there to teach children.
Still, I understand the need to keep a balance and let the Spirit of God rule rather than my emotions. I felt in my heart this was true for me, but needed the reassurance from the Word to quiet my heart and keep me from discouragement. I needed to know that my feelings had not been able to overshadow my judgment, as strong as they sometimes could be.
So, I opened my Bible for my morning devotions, and there was the answer I had been asking the Lord for. "Do you love me? ...Feed my sheep" John 21:15-17. After reading the passage, a pointed question in Our Daily Bread for the day got my attention; "Jesus didn't ask Peter if he loved His sheep, but if he loved Him." Once Peter affirmed his love for Christ, he was told to feed His sheep.
Loving Jesus with all my heart, and allowing Him to love them through me, deepens my love from simply an emotion to a purposeful action of Christ Himself. It provides the balance and the motivation to continue loving, in spite of the hurt, in spite of the misunderstanding.
All at once I knew that if I ever lost this passion, it would be my love for Christ that would first be in question, not my love for others. And that's not what I ever want to happen. So, to keep it all in perspective I will return to this question often..."Do you love me?"
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Camping by the Waters
What a flurry of activity we have had this summer! School will be starting in just a couple of weeks. We started the summer with Seth and Rebecca's wedding over Memorial weekend, and a precious time with all the family. We've experienced the excitement of the news that two new grandbabies are on the way - Aaron and Martha in October, and Josh and Christina in February. The month of June was just a blur as we spent extended time "on cottage" at the ranch so that all other staff could rotate their vacation times as well. Then, 4th of July festivities, Ashley and Adam's wedding and Bible school which included time with our twin nephews. July was also the beginning of Operation De-clutter I started calling it...a time of cleaning house, complete with an ordered dumpster that we filled!
August began with another wedding (Tara and Jamie's), time with Brent and Tonia and a trip to River Valley Ranch in Md to see Aaron. He flew in from Maui for a week of teen camp as the speaker. How awesome to see him "in action" with the teens and their tremendous response to the messages and to him personally. They just love him. We would see him during the day with his Bible sitting on the bridge or a picnic table with a flock of teens around him, and just thank the Lord. It was also great to be back at RVR after a couple of summers, seeing the Lord working, and then visiting with some special people there. Because we were in Bible school over our
29th anniversary, Rog and I took an extra day for ourselves on the way back, making a stop at Harper's Ferry (visiting historical sights is one of our favorite things!)for the afternoon. We came home and returned to our projects here at home. After somewhat of a color dilemna, we went for a bold change in the living room and painted, chocolate and sage! Rog wondered why the shade of green, but we both love it! Now just the kitchen and downstairs to go!
On the ride home, we looked back over our summer and considered how wonderfully blessed we are. We also considered the news we received of a tragic death of a young man. Although we know God has a huge plan we don't often see, and some storms He simply allows for a greater purpose, we also thought about how powerful and impacting choices are. We made choices early on in our marriage to follow hard after the heart of God, and to make a determined effort to have our children come to know him and have a desire to serve Him. Those choices however, required follow through. They required a daily conscious decision to know God's Word and live by it as He enabled us by His grace. In other words, a life of blessing didn't just happen.
Exodus 15:26 says "If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the God that healeth thee."
Have their been difficulties, wilderness times, hurt and heartbreak? Yes, but not because of God's judgment. We have missed out on the heartbreak of living outside His will, and the loss of peace and joy and provision and wisdom and all the other benefits He daily loads us with (Ps 68:19). This is all to the praise of His glory, because He is faithful to His Word. It is His great desire for all His children. The children of Israel were reminded of what the Egyptians had experienced at the hand of God. As one writer explains, "...the same hand that turned water into blood could turn bitter water into sweet. The same power that brought curses on Egypt could bring health to Israel" (Marvin Williams, ODB). In this passage of Scripture the children of Israel went from a place of "no water" (15:22) to "camping [there] by the waters."
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live; that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him; for He is thy life, and the length of thy days..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).
I'm so grateful to be able to look back and praise God for a life of blessing (and even the hard times were His blessing), and the privilege to camp by the waters!
August began with another wedding (Tara and Jamie's), time with Brent and Tonia and a trip to River Valley Ranch in Md to see Aaron. He flew in from Maui for a week of teen camp as the speaker. How awesome to see him "in action" with the teens and their tremendous response to the messages and to him personally. They just love him. We would see him during the day with his Bible sitting on the bridge or a picnic table with a flock of teens around him, and just thank the Lord. It was also great to be back at RVR after a couple of summers, seeing the Lord working, and then visiting with some special people there. Because we were in Bible school over our
29th anniversary, Rog and I took an extra day for ourselves on the way back, making a stop at Harper's Ferry (visiting historical sights is one of our favorite things!)for the afternoon. We came home and returned to our projects here at home. After somewhat of a color dilemna, we went for a bold change in the living room and painted, chocolate and sage! Rog wondered why the shade of green, but we both love it! Now just the kitchen and downstairs to go!
On the ride home, we looked back over our summer and considered how wonderfully blessed we are. We also considered the news we received of a tragic death of a young man. Although we know God has a huge plan we don't often see, and some storms He simply allows for a greater purpose, we also thought about how powerful and impacting choices are. We made choices early on in our marriage to follow hard after the heart of God, and to make a determined effort to have our children come to know him and have a desire to serve Him. Those choices however, required follow through. They required a daily conscious decision to know God's Word and live by it as He enabled us by His grace. In other words, a life of blessing didn't just happen.
Exodus 15:26 says "If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the God that healeth thee."
Have their been difficulties, wilderness times, hurt and heartbreak? Yes, but not because of God's judgment. We have missed out on the heartbreak of living outside His will, and the loss of peace and joy and provision and wisdom and all the other benefits He daily loads us with (Ps 68:19). This is all to the praise of His glory, because He is faithful to His Word. It is His great desire for all His children. The children of Israel were reminded of what the Egyptians had experienced at the hand of God. As one writer explains, "...the same hand that turned water into blood could turn bitter water into sweet. The same power that brought curses on Egypt could bring health to Israel" (Marvin Williams, ODB). In this passage of Scripture the children of Israel went from a place of "no water" (15:22) to "camping [there] by the waters."
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live; that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him; for He is thy life, and the length of thy days..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).
I'm so grateful to be able to look back and praise God for a life of blessing (and even the hard times were His blessing), and the privilege to camp by the waters!
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