Journey of a Conqueror

What's Your Egypt?

2012-02-27T07:57:00.001-08:00

If you have had an opportunity to study Old Testament, you understand the trials Moses encountered in trying to lead God's Chosen People out of Egypt and through the wilderness. Consistently Moses faced a rebellious people who failed to remember with clarity what their bondage in Egypt was truly like. Rebellion would be answered by the Lord with visible consequences. Multiple times Moses interceded with pleading for the Lord to restrain from destroying the rebellious and the Lord answered Moses' prayers. Recognizing that there is purpose in every word that is recorded in Scripture, we need to grasp why the Lord gave us such a detailed record of rebellion in the face of His favor and blessing. We all encounter seasons of our life when we look back to our Egypts instead of ahead to what the Lord has waiting for us.

Numbers 16:12-14 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, "We refuse to come! Isn't it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your subjects? What's more, you haven't brought us into the land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Are you trying to fool us? We will not come." These three verses are packed with truth that we need to understand. First we need to remember that at this stage, the Lord is not speaking directly to the tribes of Israel. He is using Moses as His representative. He has demonstrated multiple times that Moses hears Him and He is faithful to fulfill that which He communicates to Moses. But the people refuse to obey the instructions given to them through Moses. Rebellion.

Second they describe Egypt as a land flowing with milk and honey. Really? We do not have to go back very far in scripture to read about the horrendous treatment they received as slaves to the Egyptians. Exodus 1:13-14 The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites, and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them. Exodus 2:23 After a long time the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God. Something does not connect here. If they were so happy, so fulfilled in this land of milk and honey, why did they groan and cry out? Forget the additional fact that their sons were all being murdered upon birth. Why would they even consider going back to that, nevertheless cry out to return to slavery when they had received freedom?

Let me pause here for a moment before moving on. There is so much here for us to learn. Most of us have been held in spiritual captivity before accepting the freedom offered to us through the blood of Jesus. However many of us continue to battle with captivity issues even after accepting Jesus' offer of salvation. Battling the bondage is a daily part of our walk because we live in an atmosphere of spiritual warfare in which our enemy has one goal - to stop us from operating in the freedom which is ours. The master of liars speaks lies into our lives convincing us that we need to go back to our Egypts. The distortion of what that was really like is a strategic weapon that he utilizes.

So why in the world would anyone consider returning to slavery once they have experienced freedom? Fear of the unknown. Fear growing from being unable to see the future that God has prepared for us. Fear rooted in the wounds of our past and the lies with which we have lived all of our lives. Why would we experience this fear? Verse 14 What's more, you haven't brought us into the land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. While we are in this transition or this journey to our God given land of milk and honey, we are required to operate in faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. The promises of the Lord are true and steadfast, yet we often have to walk in faith for a season before we begin to see the manifestation of those promises. Just because we have yet to see them, does that mean that they are not going to happen? Absolutely not. We just have to KEEP WALKING in order to walk into them.

To return to our Egypts, we must turn away from the direction God has destined for us. We must turn away from God Himself and His promises. What was that I heard you say? "But you don't understand. Egypt is what I know and there I know how to operate. I know what is expected of me. No matter how bad it may have been, at least I know it. I am comfortable there." Comfortable in slavery? Comfortable in turning your back on God and all that He has offered to you? God has His arms outstretched in front of you, urging you to walk forward. Urging you to trust Him and believe the future and hope for you. Jeremiah 29:11-14 11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes.

My brothers and sisters, life is a journey for all of us. Many of us have taken detours that were not God's best for us, but He is faithful to continue to pursue us, to guide us, to urge us to come to Him. He delights when we persevere and move towards the milk and honey that He has set aside for us. We must be patient and wait on Him and His timing. The one thing that we must not do is turn away and return to Egypt. We have free will and He will not stop us from making that decision. But rest assured that He will never give up on us even when we give up on ourselves. Hang in there, please, and don't delay in running to Him and embracing whatever He has for you.

Brokenness to Beauty

2012-02-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

When reading the Bible many of us reach the various genealogies and decide to skip over them. After all we cannot pronounce most of the names (talk about embarrassment when you have to read aloud in a group!) and we really don't have a clue who these various folks are. Yet when we study the genealogies there is much to learn. God is intentional about every word that is in the Word, so surely He has something for us in that long list. Recently I was reading Matthew and as most of you know, it begins with the genealogy of Jesus our Savior. What little nuggets does God have for us in this line? Actually, there are multiple nuggets, but today I want to focus on only one aspect. How God used broken people, especially women, to advance His plan and His purpose.

I will save you reading through the text here, but if you want a refresher, click on this link Matthew 1.   In the fourth generation from Abraham, we have our first departure from the ordinary. This is Tamar. If you are unfamiliar with Tamar's story it can be found in Genesis 38. Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law and had been deceived by Judah, when following Levitical law, she should have been given in marriage to Judah's third son upon the death of her first husband, his eldest son and then her second husband, Judah's middle son, but she was not. Understanding the importance of her role in advancing the line of Judah, she ended up presenting herself to Judah as a prostitute. She conceived and then when facts came to light, Judah himself proclaimed that Tamar "is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." And he did not sleep with her again. Verse 26.

Tamar was rejected by her second husband who spilled his seed on the ground preventing her from becoming pregnant. She was rejected by her father-in-law and his third son when a marriage was not arranged according to law. As a widow she was rejected by society in general, a characteristic of society at that time. She had been sent back to live with her family in disgrace. But God..... God knew the plans and purpose He had for Tamar and that she was a critical link in the chain that would lead to Jesus' birth. She may not have felt significant at that moment in time when she gave birth to the twins Perez and Zerah. There is another story there with Perez pushing ahead of his twin, but that is for another time. We continue the genealogy through Perez the fifth generation.

With the tenth generation we come upon Salmon, son of Nashon, who was both a prince and captain of the tribe. Salmon married Rahab, the prostitute turned proselyte who aided Joshua by hiding his spies from the king's men. As a reward, Rahab and her family were given protection as well as a secured future within the nation of Israel. The Lord once again used the brokenness of a women's life to insure the future line of the Messiah. When Rahab turned to the Lord and offered protection to His men, the Lord honored her by promoting her to a position of acceptability with a future. Rahab gave birth to Boaz, a name with which most of us are very familiar.

Imagine the upbringing of Boaz. We know from our study of Ruth that Boaz was a tremendously respected man of honor in Bethlehem. Just imagine the passion with which his mother shared with him the magnificent majesty of Jehovah the Lord who had delivered her from bondage.   It is no surprise that Boaz would through his own life respect and honor the passion for the Lord of Ruth, another proselyte.

Ruth, another very broken individual, was from Moab. Disgraced in the eyes of society because she was not only a widow but a childless one as well. She was not an Israelite. Her deceased husband had married outside of the tribes of Israel. She abandoned her own culture and family to follow Naomi and care for her, loving her as her own mother. She arrived in Bethlehem as a true outsider, yet God rescued her and once again used a broken vessel to continue to the line of the Messiah.

Speaking of brokenness ponder the case of Bathsheba. Essentially King David kidnapped her and raped her. When the king's men come to your home and command you to appear before the king and he then has intimate relations with you, I believe it is fair to say you would not be a willing partner. How do you say no to a king? Then you find yourself pregnant and you have not been with your husband. To top it all off, the king has your husband killed so that you can be his and he won't have to deal with a righteous husband (which clearly Uriah was). Broken life? Most definitely. Yet in spite of David's sin, and the subsequent death of that child, Solomon was born who had the ultimate opportunity to project the epitome of God's extravagance. The line to the Messiah continues.

The generations continue until we reach Joseph, fiance of Mary. Once gain, God used a situation that society rejected completely as unacceptable. Mary (who was also from the line of King David through his son Nathan) was chosen by the Lord to conceive through Holy Spirit. However from the perspective of those living in the villages surrounding Mary's and Joseph's, she was a harlot who had been unfaithful to Joseph her contractual fiance. Have you ever wondered why God did not wait until they were married or almost about to consummate the marriage? Mary could have still been a technical virgin and society would have been none the wiser. Jesus could have grown up without the stigma that He did. Yet that was not the path that God chose. Consider Philippians 2:6-8 Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. Is there anything more humbling than being born an illegitimate child?    Consider at the same time Mary's emotional and social status. Wouldn't you have felt broken in spite of knowing what had been revealed to you about the child in your womb? Agony and ecstasy perhaps?

So often when we encounter the difficult times of our lives, when we come face to face with our brokenness, we feel dejected and depressed and question how can God possibly use someone as messed up and broken as me. The answer lies in part in the stories of these wonderful women who in spite of how society looked at them and how they felt inside, submitted themselves in trust to the Lord. We must with trusting eyes gaze upon our loving Lord and say, "Use me, Lord, however You can and however You desire that I may advance Your kingdom. Use me, Lord, just as I am."

Captivity to Betrothal

2012-02-15T07:53:00.000-08:00

Our comprehension of the life of a captive is limited to what we have read, not what we have experienced. We live in a society that has many forms of captivity or slavery but none that compare to the true existence experienced by multitudes throughout history into our present time. From our own American history, we have learned much about the generations that were trapped in this way of life. From that understanding it is hard to comprehend that someone could be lifted from the status of slavery to the betrothed of the plantation owner. Yet that is exactly how the Word describes our transformation once we accept the blood of Jesus as our justification.

Biblically we can study the plights of the Hebrew people as they moved in and out of slavery at various times of history. Scripture tells us that God redeemed His chosen people from Egypt as well as later from other nations, rescuing them and giving them another chance to honor Him with their lives and pursue relationship with Him. Exodus 6:5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. Leviticus 26:13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high. Deuteronomy 15:15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

However the Hebrew people did not have the ultimate redemption: the blood of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Hebrews 9:12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. That ultimate redemption broke the bonds of slavery for us - once for all. Jesus' death on the cross was a one time act that had eternal consequences. The justification - us being made right in the sight of God - happened at a single moment in history and then became available to all of mankind to choose to receive it, accept it.

Throughout the Word, God's chosen are called His bride. When we accept His act of justification, we are accepting His proposal to be His bride. We are betrothed to Him. Our engagement ring is Holy Spirit. Sound weird to you? Consider these scriptures. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 5:5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. When a woman becomes engaged, she wears an engagement ring to tell the world that she is now committed to a relationship with one man, at least in our culture. There are various other means of communicating this commitment in other nations. The point is the same however. "I am now taken. I have made a decision to set myself apart from everyone else and am committed to one relationship with one person."

God is calling for us to do the very same thing. We are His betrothed. There is some confusion in the body of Christ about our status. We are not married yet. We must walk out our "engagement" until the time of redemption. We are not redeemed yet. That is an event that will take place at one time for all of mankind and all of creation. The verses quoted above talk about what is to come - the inheritance. The Word uses future tense when it describes our salvation and redemption. 1 Peter 1:9 The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

Therefore what is our obligation? We are to behave as a fiance should. Our behavior should reflect our commitment to our Bridegroom. We do not engage in "adultery" which means that we do not engage other "lovers". What might some of those other lovers be for you? There are multitudes of them. Anything that preoccupies our mind, behavior, time and money becomes another lover. The list is endless with possibilities from concrete like materialism, jobs, hobbies to the not so concrete like addictions, relationships, status to the spiritual like fear, anxiety, anger, bitterness. Anything like these mentioned distracts our focus from our Lover God, our Betrothed, our Husband to be.

2 Timothy 1:14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Lord's expectations for us are very clear. Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. We must guard this incredible promise we have been given for an eternal marriage to the Bridegroom. Until we face Him at the Wedding Supper, we are not married. We must at all costs protect this engagement. We are the ones that make the choice to either stay faithful to Him or walk away from that promise through our decisions. Visualize an engagement ring on your finger that is representative of Holy Spirit living within you. Visualize the world seeing that commitment through your words and your actions. Return His passionate love for you with your own passionate commitment to stay with Him no matter what the cost. It is so worth it!! Eternally so!!

Half-Minded Thinking

2012-02-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

Most of us do not like doing anything halfway. The American motto is to give 110% (of course we all know that there cannot be anything more than 100% - where did that myth come from???). "If you are going to do something, do it right!" Sound familiar? "That was a half-hearted attempt!" We are so critical of those who are operating in less than excellence, those who choose to just get it done versus accomplishing the true goal that was set before them. We condemn, judge and analyze other people's efforts. Yet are we asking ourselves whether there is an area of our lives in which we are operating halfway?

The Greek word merimnao is a compound of two words: merizo and nous. Merizo means to divide. Nous means the mind. The simple translation for merimnao is worry. Worry is essentially dividing the mind. No question that our mind is a powerful entity that is capable of handling many thoughts at once. Those of us who have mastered multi-tasking know all about that. However, research is now proving that this mastery of multi-tasking is actually harming us in many ways.

"Take a moment and think about all of the things you are doing right now - obviously you are reading this article, but chances are good that you are also doing several things at once. Perhaps you're also listening to music, texting a friend, checking your email in another browser tab or playing a computer game." About.com Psychology Guilty!!! As I am researching to write this blog, I am guilty of almost all of the above. My inbox is open in another window and while I was reading and copying to paste, an email came I that I chose to answer immediately (actually several). Plus I am listening to Pandora Radio and oh by the way, I have a little photo window on my desktop that is scrolling through my albums that catches my attention. Oh and the phone just rang so I took a call. Yikes!

The same article quoted above goes on to say, "productivity can be reduced by as much as 40 percent by the mental blocks created when people switch tasks. Now that you understand the potential detrimental impact of multitasking, you can put this knowledge to work to increase your productivity and efficiency." if this is what science is telling us about the detrimental aspects of dividing our mind, think about the significance of what the Word tells us.

Worrying is indeed dividing our energy between that which is in front of us that is to be handled today and that which is yet unknown - tomorrow. Matthew 6:25-27 "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life -- whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not." That last verse is the most powerful - all of our worrying will not add a single moment to our lives. Yet as the research is clearly discovering, it can truly subtract moments from our lives.

"Chronic worrying affects your daily life so much that it interferes with your appetite, lifestyle habits, relationships, sleep, and job performance. Many people who worry excessively are so anxiety-ridden that they seek relief in harmful lifestyle habits such as overeating, cigarette smoking, or using alcohol and drugs." Web MD Is that God's best for us? Is that His heart for us? No. Absolutely not. In a concordance search on the word worry, I found 36 instances in which the word worry appeared. Out of those 36, 28 contained the command, "Don't worry" and an additional 4 stated, "Why worry". That is 89%. Sounds to me like the Lord is really serious about this.

I'm sorry, what did I hear you say? I don't understand what you are going through? How can you not possibly worry about your finances, your family, your job, your relationships, your life? Let me ask you a simple question, does all of your worrying change any of these circumstances? The answer is no. The act of worrying does nothing to change the circumstances but it does severely impact your attitude, your mental and physical state. Action changes our circumstances, particularly action that is Spirit-led. God does not call us to sit in the middle of our junk and not do anything about it. He does instruct us though to trust Him in the midst of these circumstances and obediently follow His counsel to move through these situations.

Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Worry is often accompanied by fear - fear of the unknown, fear of what is going to happen tomorrow, fear of failure, fear of - you name it. However if we are trusting God to carry us through these circumstances, to be with us in the midst of them, then there is no room for worry or for fear. When we worry, we are telling God that He is not big enough to handle our situation. Really?? The Creator of all that exists including us is not big enough? Sounds pretty silly doesn't it? Yet that is exactly what we are saying when we worry.

I challenge each of you for the next several days to visualize yourself under the care of the Good Shepherd. Think about how protective and caring He is no matter what we have done, where we have wondered off, or how we have impacted the rest of the flock. When a worry comes into your mind, see yourself looking up to your Shepherd and saying to Him, "I sure am glad that you have got this handled." Then give it to Him. If you want keep a record of all of these instances and then in a week or so look back at this list and see if keeping it as a worry would have changed the outcome. Perhaps some of your worries are more long term. Then ask yourself this question, "5 years from now will this worrying change the outcome?" Remember I am not saying anything about taking action. I am simply talking about the act of worrying.

My prayer for each of you is that you will experience a new level of shalom in your life as you trust the Good Shepherd with your total life and all that comprises it.

Whose Perspective?

2012-01-16T10:27:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine recently posted the following comment on her Facebook page: REMEMBER You can only be what people have allowed you to be in their lives no matter what you wanted or have tried to be. So no condemnation for trying and being rejected. Just be who they have allowed you to be. That really got me thinking. I know what my friend meant, however far too many of us have lived our lives based on what others' perceptions of us were. Or even more accurately, what we thought their perceptions of us were. We live life out of a place of misinformation and second guessing other people's thoughts.

Have you ever thought through an entire conversation before opening your mouth and then changed what you were going to say based on how you thought someone else would respond to you? I have. For years. The sad aspect of this is the majority of time we were way off base. In most cases, the other person is not nearly as focused on us as we suppose. And here is the embarrassing truth about this: ultimately we are trying to control our "environment" and those people in our lives. We are not allowing them the freedom to respond and react individually. Rather through our assumptions (i.e. our perceptions) we predict how things are going to go and then adapt accordingly.

I am not saying that there are not times you can predict what someone is going to do or say. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether what we are going to say or do is in alignment with the Word of God. Romans 14:16-19 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. While we recognize that Paul is speaking specifically about the way members of the church were condemning fellow believers, we must look deeper in to how this applies to us today.

I admit guilty to not always restricting the words of my mouth to building up or edifying another person. The Lord fortunately is doing a work in me teaching me how to not only recognize that but to grow past it. My perspective has been limited by the wounds of life. These wounds began to build a cage around me. A very perceptive servant of the Lord revealed to me that this cage (or suit of armor) was comprised of barbed wire. Not only did I inflict pain on myself but it also inflicted pain on those trying to get too close to me. I have come to realize the truth in this as well as to realize how many of us are living our daily lives in some type of restrictive armor out of these wounds. Suddenly I am able to not only see myself more clearly, but see how I have impacted those around me.

Looking at specifics, if I make a comment that is in fact critical and judgmental, no matter how accurate I believe the statement is, I am not in reality edifying that person - whether they are the recipient of my remarks or simply the object of my remarks. Do my remarks build up or tear down? I realize that I need a new standard on which to base my conversations. That standard is not the world's standard. It is the Lord's. Romans 15:1-3 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." This does not say that we condone the failings of those around us, but rather to strive for their good, their edification. That may be a stretch for some of us, but I believe that Holy Spirit will indeed instruct and guide us in offering hope and change without tearing down.

Psalm 69:5-7 O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. Don't let those who trust in you stumble because of me, O Sovereign LORD Almighty. Don't let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel. Perhaps this scripture really nails it. King David understood the power of influence we have as believers. Our behavior through words and actions can either lead others to our Lord, or drive them away. If we claim to love the Lord, yet our actions cry out anger, hate, judgment, etc, how will that invite someone to want what we have? If we live our lives in fear of condemnation, how does that demonstrate the peace Christ died for us to have? John 14:27 "I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid."

Returning to the opening comments. When I lived my life in fear of judgment, condemnation and repercussions, I was not only trying to control my environment, but I was living within the cage of what I believed others were thinking about me. I was allowing those perceptions to shape who I was. Not only was that exhausting, but I was limiting what God was trying to do in my life. His beliefs about who I am and what is ahead of me are far greater than anything my mere brain can comprehend. Once I made the deliberate decision to shed my armor of barbed wire, I was able to step into a new level of peace and joy. There is now freedom for me to allow those around me to be who they are, without my filters and my slants. I have learned a priceless lesson. People need to live their lives as freely as I want to live mine. It is amazing how much less stressful living can be. Thank you, Lord, for your unconditional love that has brought me to this new place. Shalom, Everyone!

Seasons of Extremes

2012-01-11T07:13:00.000-08:00

In the past few years we have experienced many significant periods of extremes in our weather patterns both here at home and around the world. Just here in Georgia, we have gone through severe droughts for a period of several years followed by a 500 year flood in nearby towns that decimated homes and livelihoods. As I have been contemplating the personal seasons of my life, the Lord has illustrated for me the similarities between those earthly seasons and our spiritual ones. Perhaps there is someone out there to whom this analogy will speak and it will bring you comfort if you are in the midst of an extreme season.

Consider the impact of drought. Several years ago, we were in the midst of a multi-year drought in the southeast. Here in Georgia that translated to water usage restrictions, the end of recreation on the waters of our once plentiful lakes and tremendous economic impact suffered by many businesses . People complained about the inconveniences, politicians argued about the obligations of citizens to do their part, and pastors preached to their flocks about civic responsibility as well as the power of prayer for rain. Ultimately we all survived, but there were some incredibly positive outcomes that we could not have foreseen while going through the season.

Once the rains returned to our area, the lakes slowly refilled. My husband and i were blessed to have the opportunity to camp on one of them in September of 2010. We experienced crystal clear water. Imagine swimming at night under a full moon and being able to see your own feet in over 40 feet of water! This was a direct result of the drought. During the drought when the lakes had dried up completely, several events occurred. First all of the garbage that people had dumped into the lake became embarrassingly obvious. Teams formed to remove all of this debris from the lake. Second as the lake bed dried out, so did all of the various lifeforms that had been destroying the ecological balance of the lake. Over time natural grass grew over the bottom of the bed and a meadow evolved. As the waters returned, the "vessel" to contain them was prepared to beautifully receive them. As fish returned, they had a wonderfully refreshed habitat in which to live. The color was exquisite. Beauty returned to the entire area.

Now compare this to our spiritual lives. We often encounter droughts. Frequently we bemoan, where are you, God?? Yet if we were to honestly examine our lives, we may find similarities to this natural phenomenon. We have allowed debris to collect in our "vessel" and this chokes the life out of us. Perhaps God needs us to get "dried out" so that He can refill us with fresh water. Perhaps in the midst of this drought, He wants us to plant fresh grass to line our vessels. In other words, we may need the seed of The Word to once again line our vessels. Have we become too busy to truly meditate daily on His Word? Have we become so preoccupied with the distractions of life that we fail to continually clean out the worldly debris? Are you ready for fresh living water to attract others to your life and your witness? If you are in a drought right now, examine your circumstances and ask Him to reveal the actions He wants you to take to prepare your vessel for refilling.

Now consider the impact of the floods. The 500 year flood that hit much of the Atlanta area in 2009 took everyone by surprise. It was not just the homes on the rivers' and streams' banks that were impacted. Beautifully manicured neighborhoods of large homes were equally impacted in this event. Waters flooded schools, churches, businesses. They destroyed roads and bridges. The massive influx of rain in less than 24 hours was record breaking. We have seen the same thing happen throughout the country. Flood waters bring about so much shifting. Ground is swept up in the torrent of the waters and is redeposited elsewhere. Foundations shift and many things are simply swept away - totally.

In the aftermath both good and bad result. Some areas are deemed beyond repair and abandoned. This often leaves an eyesore for those living in the area or simply passing through it. However, in other cases, buildings were demolished and rebuilt. Others were restored. Roads were repaired and in the process improved. Businesses flourished that focused on restoration and building. In addition, the deposit of rich topsoil onto the fields provides for a refreshment of the land. Farmers in the delta regions of rivers have benefited over the centuries on these rich deposits to provide the much needed nutrients for crop growth. I once heard a sermon that proclaimed, without the muck and mire, the reeds cannot grow. So out of the extremes of too much water, good can come.

Once again, compare this to our spiritual lives. Have you ever been overwhelmed by all that is happening to you. Ever felt as if you could barely keep your head above water to gasp for breath? I have. It is important when we are in these seasons to first trust that God is there supporting us even if we do feel like we are drowning. Even Jonah had to go under in order to come out back in balance in His relationship with the Lord. Once the flood of life begins to recede, it is critical that we take time to evaluate what has happened and what He wants us to do with it. What needs to be abandoned as not of Him? What needs to be restored to its original beauty or better yet, updated to fit with out current life circumstances? Where has He deposited fresh silt to promote new growth for you and for the kingdom?

We will always experience seasons of extremes in our lives as long as we live in this fallen world. However, those seasons are never meant to destroy us. Our wonderful Lord's desire is to always draw us closer to Him and bring us in closer alignment with His purposes for our lives. Whether you are in the midst of an extreme season or in between seasons, be mindful of His purposes in all that happens in our lives. He is there for us, with us and leading us. Trust Him. Always. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

The Difference of One Letter

2011-11-10T18:54:00.001-08:00

Reflecting on the powerful transformation that God has done in me over the past eight years since I moved to Georgia, I realized that it could be summed up in one simple expression. By changing one letter in one word, the drastic shift is described: God changed my "n" to a "v" and I went from lonely to lovely. However the life alteration is so much deeper.

I have been blessed to minister to many women over these past years, especially since coming to Georgia. I have heard so many desperate cries to somehow escape the loneliness that they are experiencing. I understand that feeling, but I also know that there is an answer and it does not lie in human companionship. I know firsthand. I remember vividly what it was like to arrive in a brand new city, in a new state and not know a single person. I know what it feels like to walk into a church and not feel connected or as if anyone really cares about you. I know how deeply depressing it is to be stuck in a black hole and realize that no one has even paid attention that you have "been missing in action."

Yet I also know the other side. I know how it feels to be pursued by my lover God. I know how exciting it can be to finally walk out of an office and eagerly anticipate quiet time at home with my Lord. I know what His touch is like when I needed it. I know what His comfort is like when that too was needed. I learned how to rest in His Shalom. I learned over time that lovely is how He sees me. What happened between these two stages?

It is a process. It does not happen magically overnight. So often we have been caught in a vortex of negative emotions and the centrifugal force of those emotions is so strong that we do not believe for one moment that we will ever pull out of it. But God knows differently. He knew us from the foundation of time and watched sadly as we became mired in those things that seek to destroy us.

One of the most powerful forces that we experience is human love or more often the lack or the distortion of human love. Ever heard the expression, "Oh the things we do for love"? My personal experience is co-dependency that masked itself as love. My brokenness, my lack of self esteem, my desperate need for approval and acceptance distorted how I viewed and how I felt about love. My internal struggle often made me feel as if it was me against the world. What can I do to finally fit in? What can I do to make sure that I am not alone in this world? What can I do to make someone else want to spend their life with me? Notice all of the I's in those sentences? One of the first things that I learned in overcoming my co-dependency was that I cannot make anyone do anything particularly love me. So in the isolation of co-dependency, one feels totally alone even in the midst of a crowd, or in the middle of family.

In loneliness one feels desperate for love. Sad, isn't it? The one thing that we want most seems to move further away the more we grasp for it. But this is when transformation can begin. When we realize that we can't do this for ourselves and in desperation turn to God, He is standing there saying, "I have been waiting for you to come to me. I am the source of perfect love for you. You no longer have to strive because you cannot earn my love. It is freely given to you. Just reach out to me and accept it." After a lifetime of trying to earn people's love, it does take some adjustment to comprehend that God loves us because He is love. But His love is a gift and we must choose to receive it. We must choose Him over everything and everybody else in our lives.

When I opened my heart fully to the healing power of His love I began to see the subtle changes in my peace and my joy. This is different than the salvation power of repentance. The visual I use is that when we accept the Lord's gift of salvation it is like walking through a threshold. Sadly many believers stop there, in the doorway and never venture into the "house" of God's love. Can you imagine going to a party, walking in the front door and then standing there for the rest of the night with your coat on? Ridiculous you say? Why bother going in the first place? Well that is exactly the question that I pose to you and all believers. Why express repentance and take Jesus into your heart if you not going to develop a full relationship with Him?

Our incredible lover God is so excited about changing us from lonely to lovely, but we have to give Him access. We have to walk fully into the room and engage in conversation with Him. Isn't that what you do when someone has invited you into their home (and their hearts)? You have to want to let Him transform you. He is a gentleman and respects that wild thing called free will that He gave to us. He will never force Himself upon us. He wants us to choose freely to love Him and be loved by Him. Once you make that choice and embark on engaging Him as you would any good host, you will be amazed with how He responds.

Please do not let another day go by in which you or someone you care about chooses lonely over lovely. Turn to Him with an eager expectant spirit and get ready to be amazed. Exchange the fear of being alone for the joy of being loved. John 4:16-17 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him.God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.

Deceptive Fruit

2011-11-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

Have you ever walked into a restaurant where they displayed all of the decadent desserts right at the entrance? Cakes twice or even three times higher than "normal"; cheesecakes that rivaled whole cheese wheels; chocolate tortes that literally were dripping chocolate? Your mouth begins watering for dessert even before you look at the dinner menu. Throughout the dinner, you cannot help but think about the dessert that is awaiting you. Finally the waiter asks if you want dessert and no matter what your stomach is saying, your mind has been made up and you order. A few bites into the mammoth slice of cake, an argument has begun inside your body. "Really????? You had to put more inside me??? Really???? Are you nuts????"

Sometimes the temptation is so sweet that we fail to think through the circumstances fully. Have you ever heard (or said yourself), "I know I'll pay for this tomorrow but I just cannot help myself!" Think about this description of the temptation in the Garden of Eden from Max Lucado's book, Six Hours One Friday: It came camouflaged. It came in a golden goblet with a long stem. It was in the flavor of fruit. It came, not in the hands of a king, but the hands of a prince - the prince of the shadows........"Taste it", he whispered, holding the goblet before her. "It's sweet with wisdom." We all know the consequences of Eve's choice. But do we realize that each and every day, the prince of the shadows is looking for ways to tempt us as well?

Recently our pastor presented us with a visual that was very powerful. In discussing the lost intimacy with the Lord that pervades our world today, he presented each of us with an apple. This normal piece of fruit was symbolic of what was lost in the kingdom by the choice of taking a single bite. We were challenged to take the apple home and allow it to be symbolic of that which we would choose over God ~ and not eat this particular apple. Immediately the Lord gave me a further visual. If we allow the apple to sit untouched, over time it would become dry and shriveled and would lose its appeal. The very same is true of those things which would draw us away from our Lord.

It is a truth from the Word of God that we will face trials and temptations. Jesus Himself warned us in Luke 17:1 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "There will always be temptations to sin, but how terrible it will be for the person who does the tempting. Temptations are not only part of our walk, but part of our training ground. 1 Corinthians 10:13 But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. Note that in this verse there are two "you's". This means that we have a role in this process. God's role is twofold: first he will monitor the intensity of the temptation and second he will provide a way out for us. Now look at our responsibility. We have to "stand up against it" and then we have to hold out and not give in. This is where our free will comes in and our understanding that we have consequences to the choices we make.

Let's go back to the dessert analogy for a moment. There sits a simply delectable piece of cake. You know that once it enters your body the internal battle will begin against the sugars, fats, indigestible white flour, etc. Yet you also just know how incredibly awesome that will taste in your mouth before it hits the rest of your body. Now imagine that you stand against that temptation for today and just leave it sitting on your counter (uncovered of course! :-) ). Tomorrow you check it out again and are tempted. You know it has dried out some, but it still looks pretty good. You withstand again. You battle daily as you gaze at this slice of cake and slowly it begins to lose its outward attractiveness. Within a few weeks, the decay becomes real and now it is not only unappealing, but slowly it is becoming repulsive. Eventually you throw it out because the smell and the sight of it are actually making you nauseous.

So it should be with the temptations of our lives. If we will just rely on the strength that God is providing us and if we will actively seek the way out that He is providing for us, we will be able to stand against the temptations. The key is to know where to focus our attention in the midst of the temptation. Psalm 25:15 My eyes are always looking to the LORD for help, for he alone can rescue me from the traps of my enemies. No matter what is happening in the circumstances of our lives, the Lord wants us to keep our eyes ever turned to Him. He alone is our help and our direction. His promises are real and steadfast. However, He expects us to do our part in turning away from the temptations of life whether they are physical, emotional or mental temptations. We must believe that His Word will not return void. If He said it, He'll do it, or in another more commonly quoted expression, "If He brought you to it, He'll bring you through it." No matter how tempting that "fruit" is, I choose my God. How about you? Selah.

Coloring Inside the Lines

2011-10-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

You may not remember learning to color as a child, but if you have children or grandchildren, you can easily identify with the slow progression from scribbling to blobs of color to finally being able to color a picture outlined in the coloring book. Recently I have come to understand the parallel between coloring and living life. I do vividly recall how good it felt to finally produce a colored picture that was worthy of being viewed. I had learned how to color the outlines very boldly before filling in the spaces with lightened strokes. I had finally mastered the art of coloring inside the lines. How little I realized that this was a pattern I would call my own in living life.

The expectations that we perceive others having about us become the lines of our life pictures. As long as I know what those expectations are, I can live within the lines, not cause a disruption by venturing past those heavily outlined edges of my life/picture. The unfortunate aspect about living life that way is that we seldom know the reality of those expectations. Everything is distorted by our own perspectives. What I think I know about what is inside someone else's head is seldom what is really there. Yet I have set up the boundaries of my life based on those perceived lines.
I truly believed I had let go of all of those "performance" issues that have driven me all of my life. However, a little conversation, a really little conversation, awakened me to the reality that there are still some roots there that I have not pulled up. My guess is that for some of you, the same is true. No matter how hard we try to let go and learn to go with the flow, there are often times aspects of our history that still linger.

What I now realize is that I am moving through daily life trying to stay one step ahead of what I think the people in my life are expecting me to do for them. Notice the language there - the emphasis is on do. It is very important to understand that these are not spoken "requests". Rather, it is the underlying unspoken that I sense is driving me. I have been an overachiever all of my life. Perfection reigned supreme because that was how I grew up. My life now should not be ruled by that principle because I am living in a different time and a different season, but there are little prickles that pop up and I now realize that deep in my subconscious I am thinking, "The lines just changed. How am I supposed to stay in them now?"

I want you to think about this for a moment. You have planned your day and are halfway through it when you get a phone call that indicates there has been a change that now impacts the second half of your day. The mature thing is to adapt and move forward. After all this is life and nothing is guaranteed to stay the same. Instead there is that little sigh that escapes and you think, oh great. Now what?

The key that I am searching for is the one that unlocks my ability to be flexible and not be caught off guard by changes in my life. I remember back in the days when I used to do seminars on time management. I would tell people to plan for interruptions, put time in your schedule for the unexpected. How quickly we forget our own advice. But this is not about time management. This is about not experiencing a loss of control and a depreciation in your self esteem just because an outside event or person has changed your day, or even your life. And that my friends is really what is happening in this scenario. It is the belief that my inability to stay inside my predetermined lines of life with my crayon is a direct reflection on who I am and my self worth.

Ultimately what we all need to understand and to believe is that God loves us for who we are and not what we do. I have to continually remind myself of this simple yet profoundly important fact. In addition, the people that really matter in my life also love me for who I am and not what I do for them. The sad thing for many of us is that we have bought into the lie that the opposite is true. If we were to really look at our life and our relationships through God's eyes of transparency, we would realize that there are many many people in our lives who do indeed love us just because. Let us embrace that and return the favor - love the people in your life for who they are and not what they do or do not do. We would all be so much better off and so much more relaxed if we did.

Slinky Living

2011-10-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

So, did I catch your attention with that title?? It really is not what you think at first reaction. The kind of slinky I am referring to is the toy that you may have played with as a kid (or an adult - after all they really are fun!) Recently I was honored to speak to a women's group and the Lord gave me such a powerful visualization for them that I just have to share it with you. Everyone that has heard it so far has identified with it. I pray the same is true today.

Life is tough sometimes - well in reality, a lot of times. Lately it seems that everyone who is dear to me is struggling with some circumstance in their lives. All of us must handle life's transitions at different points. Usually we cannot prevent these circumstances from coming . Sometimes we do bring them on by our choices, but even then once the momentum has started we must walk things out. The choice we have is how we walk it out. The Lord showed me three simple options. Which one are you using?

First we have the turtle. When a turtle is threatened, he pulls everything exposed in and shuts out the world. How like us sometimes. Life is too painful and instead of confronting it, we just withdraw. Close up. Paralysis sets in. Do you think that this is God's choice for us? Hebrews 10:32-36 remind us of what we should expect. Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Doesn't sound like turtle mode does it?

Second option - the yo-yo. Remember playing with these toys? Excitedly you looped that string around your finger and tossed it out knowing that it would come right back to you...well maybe...well maybe not. Then it just hangs there swinging back and forth, back and forth like a pendulum. Relate that to life. We want to be in action, we know we need to make some decisions. So we do, but the ones we make don't move us forward. We just go from high to low to high and back again. We get caught in the rut of same old same old. We talk to the same people, we do the same things, we fail to step out of the comfort zone to move forward in the direction God is calling us. The movement feels good but it is a false sense of security. We have been deceived into thinking that we are following the will of God just because we are moving. James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Hmm God's choice for us ~ the yo-yo?

So that leaves option three - the slinky. When God begins to move us from one stage of our life to the next, it is very much like a slinky. We are on one level and God says it is time to stretch and move to the next level. For a brief time we are between the two levels with part of us leaving the old and part of us arriving at the new. However there are several powerful aspects of being in slinky mode that we must grasp.

#1 While stretched in between the old and the new, we are exposed for many to see our witness. When we have it "all together" our impact is much smaller - we are less visible. But stretched out many can see what is going on and witness the power of God in our lives.

#2 While stretched, the glory of God can shine through us whereas when we are all together we can be rather opaque and we are visible versus His glory being visible. It may appear to those observing that it is through our strength that we have it all together whereas when we are stretched, it is clearly His strength that is keeping us from breaking. By the way, He knows exactly what our capacity to stretch is and He will not allow us to break. Isaiah 41:9-10 I have called you back from the ends of the earth so you can serve me. For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

#3 Until we release the old level to embrace the new level, we will stay stretched. God requires us in trusting Him to let go of our present circumstances and move into our new circumstances. Only then can we rest in our new place and be prepared to move to the next. Living out God's will requires movement. We cannot stay in one place, one level and still grow with Him and follow His will for our lives. Only in releasing will we truly embrace this journey that He has planned for us from the foundations of time.

So the questions for you to ponder are which one of these describes you and are you operating as God desires. Remember the circumstances are what they are. Our choice is how are we going to respond to them. My prayer is that we all will desire to be sanctified slinkies. Shalom.

What If.....

2011-09-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a miscommunication with someone that dramatically altered the flow of energy between you and another person? A miscommunication that was very simply a misunderstanding of what you thought you heard versus what that person had actually said? It happens every day all around us and frequently to us. I know because I have experienced the intense results of the misinterpretation. Have you considered that this could happen between you and God? What if you thought you knew what you were supposed to do and why you were to do it but in reality, you missed what God was saying to you? What if.....

As I studied my bible this morning and began studying the prophets, Isaiah in particular, I began thinking about the nations of Israel and Judah which were at that time separate kingdoms. Many times throughout their histories, these nations did not hear the heart of God and what they thought they heard, they misinterpreted in a manner that was comprehensible to them and to their way of life. Sadly they got way off track and paid a very dear price for their carnal thinking. But what about us? Are we capable of making similar mistakes?

Holy Spirit got my attention this morning as He posed a thought to me. What if everything that I have lived through thus far in my life was not meant to shape me and prepare me for ministry, but rather to draw me closer to our Lord, shedding in the process all of those beliefs, feelings and "things" that blocked His access to me and vice-versa? What if the ultimate goal for my life is agape love? His for me and mine for Him? Sound selfish and egotistical to you? Well let's think this through.

What is the greatest commandment? Matthew 22:36-38 "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?" Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. Sometimes we skip too lightly over this scripture. We know it by heart, yet do we really embrace what it means with our lives? It is a commandment. Love God with everything that is you and do this before anything else. Jesus did not say that the first commandment was to build a fantastic ministry. He did not say to wear yourself out serving the kingdom. He did not say to win a thousand souls to Him. He said, Love Him.

So where does all of that serving stuff fit in? The second greatest commandment: Matthew 22:39-40 A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." If we love God first and foremost than being filled with that love, we will be naturally inclined to share it with the world. You cannot contain it. God could not contain His love - He had to do something with it - like create a world and create man and woman to have fellowship with Him - to share His love.

Personally I think that I got caught in one of those miscommunications. I became so focused on doing for Him because I love Him that I lost sight of the primary objective - love Him and make myself accessible to Him. Gradually I have begun to see that the things I am not doing, or perceive as failure on my part because I am not making a "significant" contribution are fading into the background. What is becoming crystal clear is that He is drawing me to Him and my passionate desire is to draw close to Him.

Recently my Ladies Tuesday Bible Study group studied Hagar as one of the Lost Women of the Bible (a book by Carolyn Custis James). One of the aha moments for us came as we discussed what happened in the wilderness the first time Hagar ran away, when she was just pregnant with her son. She encountered God face to face, close enough that she gave Him a name "El Roi" - the God who sees me. He instructed her to return and she did so with no argument, even though she was going back to a very abusive situation. We do not hear again of Hagar behaving badly towards her mistress. When Hagar and Ishmael are forced to leave the second time, it is Ishmael's fault, not Hagar's. What could have possibly happened to create such a transformation in Hagar? Perhaps the answer is as simple as God's love.

When we have an encounter with our God and experience His love unhindered and unconditional, it should have as strong an influence on us as it did on Hagar. Can we be bold enough to let go of the "stuff" of our lives and focus on Him? Can we learn to languish in His love and then out of the abundance of that love, flood the lives of those around us? What if that is truly His heart? What if He did indeed create us for relationship with Him, to love Him, dwell in Him and enjoy His presence? What if... would it change how you live your life today? Think about it. Selah!

The Bittersweet - Saying Goodbye

2011-08-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

On July 31st my Dad passed away. Four years ago Mom unexpectedly passed with no warning. In less than 2 weeks, my sisters, our families and I will gather to pay tribute to them both and lay their ashes to rest together. There is an indescribable finality to this that is indeed bittersweet. No matter when death occurs, it has an impact on us. Whether the death is sudden or after a long illness, losing someone you love simply stated is difficult. Yet there is a celebration when you know that the one you love is now standing in the presence of our Lord and experiencing a joy that we can only imagine. Indeed we try to imagine them in glorified bodies worshipping and loving in heavenly ways.

For me, I imagine the anguish and pain that often haunts us in our earthly bodies vanishing and the instant vaporization of the cares of this world freeing those that I love. No longer bound by the hurts inflicted throughout lifetimes; no longer limited in joy because of the past; no longer frustrated by the lack of understanding. I know unquestionably that both of my parents are in fact experiencing a divine love that they could not know on this earth. I try to imagine them worshipping together in heaven and can only comprehend the merest glimpse of that. However they are there and we are here. What does this parting mean for us?

The death of a loved one, particularly a parent, is multifaceted in its impact. Yesterday I drafted the eulogy for my dad and in the process was able to view his entire life as the passage of seasons. I recognized his humanity and the reality of the struggles of it. I could see him as a man, a person, outside of his role as my dad. There were many events that occurred that shaped who he was and how he handled life. In the language of John Eldredge's Sacred Romance, his life interpretations shaped his responses and those interpretations were passed down to his daughters. While the consequences were not always the most desirable, they were the result of all that had occurred in his life up to that moment. As long as a person is still present in our midst, we continue to feel those influences even if subtly. How does the passing of that person now impact us and our lives?

First I believe we must choose life. Embracing the reality of eternity and understanding that as long as we are still here on this earth, we have an opportunity to "store up our treasures" in heaven, we can make a conscious decision to retain that which is good, that which is beneficial and release the rest of the stuff that is not. Philippians 4:8-9 And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you. Each of us has been left a legacy - not only from our parents but from Christ Himself. We can make the choice to dwell on the positive legacy and not the negative.

For many individuals, the passing of a parent provides just that opportunity. No longer are you reminded by words spoken or behaviors that everything was not perfect when you were growing up. The past can be left there and we can move forward into the future each day bringing with us the best of our past and leave the rest behind. One thing that has become abundantly clear to me is that every family has had its issues. Very few families were perfect and praise the Lord for those of you who believe yours were. The more I work with people and pray with people I gain a clearer perspective on the goodness that was in my life throughout my life. Yes, there were difficulties and certainly my personal response to them was my responsibility. I made many mistakes and will continue to do so - unfortunately! I also recognize that the life interpretations of my parents shaped the person I was in making those decisions. Yet each of us has the choice to start fresh and with the passing of a parent we can make that decision in a most positive and loving light. Thank you, Mom and Dad for all that you did on my behalf. I choose to receive that with love and gratitude.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. Not only are we new creations because of Christ, we are to be ministers of reconciliation. On a very personal level that begins in our families. Reconciliation is grounded in forgiveness. God forgave us and we must forgive others. He has mandated that in multiple places in scripture (check them out). When we make reconciliation our priority it frees us from the shackles of hurt, resentment, bitterness, etc. Forgiveness however is a two way street; sometimes we must ask forgiveness of those we have hurt. I know how important that is because I have experienced what unspoken unforgiveness can do to destroy relationships.

Being a minister of reconciliation requires action on our part. Taking the best of our past and releasing the other takes action on our part. Walking as a new creation takes action on our part. Honoring our parents as our parents without hanging a noose of guilt around their necks takes action on our part. In other words, it comes back to that whole choice concept again. We must choose the path that we will walk, especially in saying goodbye. The finality of both parents now being gone has many implications. No more quick phone calls. No more checking in to see how one is doing. No more celebration of birthdays and gathering of the clan for that purpose. Gathering as a family will now become very intentional and will require commitment and planning on everyone's part. When my mother passed, we all felt as if the glue that held us together was gone. However we shifted and the uniting factor was assisting one of my sisters with the care of our dad, gathering for his birthdays, etc. Now he is gone too. What will hold us together?

Yes the impact of death is multifaceted yet we can choose to allow that impact to weigh on the side of good and not bad. It is a choice. Saying goodbye is never easy, but it is necessary. My prayer is that we will allow this event to move us to the next level of each of our lives, unconditionally loving each other and those around us. Shalom.

Belief and Unbelief

2011-07-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

Many people have the understanding that belief and unbelief are like oil and water; they just don't blend together very well. Think about the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and how that black oil just sat on top of the Gulf waters. In our faith walk individuals, especially newer believers, often feel as if there is something wrong with them if they experience unbelief. The reality however is very different. As believers - as human believers - we do experience unbelief and Jesus even addresses that for us in Mark 9:21-24 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief !" Not only did Jesus acknowledge the co-existence of the unbelief with belief but He moved into that situation with power, freeing the young boy from the demonic spirit. He wants to do the same for us.

Instead of thinking of oil and water, I want you to think about flour and water. If you have ever made gravy or a sauce (or watched someone make it) you most likely took a container, putting water in and then scooping flour on top. Did you pour it immediately into the meat drippings for your gravy? No. You closed the container and shook it vigorously until the two ingredients were now blended and in this new state you added it to the pan and transformed the drippings into ... tada!... gravy! Now convert this analogy into our spiritual life.

The water represents our human state, our unbelief, before we accepted Christ. The flour represents our spirit that is a new creation through our acceptance of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for us. Initially the flour is sitting there on top of the water, our belief is sitting on top of our unbelief, until we take action to begin walking out our new faith - that is the shaking action. The more intentional and consistently you "shake things up" the smoother this blend becomes. But here is the powerful part - once blended you begin to add it to something (the drippings!) to transform that into something new. As believers we become a catalyst for change and transformation in the matters of our lives, those of our families and friends, our workplaces, our social circles - anywhere God chooses to pour us out and we choose to obey Him.

The analogy continues. Imagine that you confess believing but you continue to embrace old ways of thinking and living. No shaking. The flour is sitting on top of the water - the belief is sitting on top of the belief. Now you decide to "pour out" into a situation. Visualize pouring unmixed flour and water into those drippings. Very lumpy gravy! Eventually you may be able to get most of those flour lumps out, but it will take a great deal more work than it would have if you had first blended the flour and water. So it is with our belief and unbelief. Our power to transform is hindered by the co-existence of unbelief with our belief. So what does that really look like?

We pray seeking God's intervention in the circumstances of our lives, but in the deep recesses of our souls (mind, will and emotions) we feel that He probably won't really move mountains for us. In fact in the midst of our prayer we limit the outcomes of the prayer itself by speaking in very general terms. After all if we aren't specific then we can't be disappointed when God doesn't manifest Himself. Right? This is where our unbelief has failed to blend with our belief to transform us into catalytic agents. We are to be agents of change in this world - that is why we were given the power and authority of Holy Spirit.

One more aspect I want you to consider. When I am making gravy there are times that the consistency is not right yet. So I have to add more of my "catalyst" - the thickening agent. Throughout our lives, we will need to add "more" of this "belief substance" into situations. This is where our humanity is ever present in our lives. When we accepted Christ it was not a once and done event concerning our spiritual growth. It is a continual process. Our confession was only the first step which took us through the doorway. We have to continue to blend our belief with our unbelief. Different situations will arise that will challenge our belief and uncover a little unbelief. Our responsibility is to continually shake up these two so that they stay blended and will continue to have a transformational impact on those around us.

I challenge each of you to recognize those areas of your life in which unbelief may still linger and "vigorously shake"! Embrace your walk in all of its aspects recognizing that we not only have a mandate to change, we have the privilege of ushering in change into the lives of those around us. Go forth, my brothers and sisters, and make wonderful gravy!!!

Memories, Forgiveness and Healing

2011-07-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in my last blog (yes, I realize that it was a few weeks ago, but I am really trying to embrace this new lifestyle of not being driven every minute of every day) that I have been reading some fiction books this summer. I am learning how to take each day as a unique opportunity to live fully yet in a relaxed manner. Being still and quiet really does enable one to hear more clearly. It is amazing how much noise life makes. In the process of reading books by a variety of authors, I have discovered a recurring theme. As the title of today's blog indicates, a weaving of these three strands runs through most of our lives. It certainly has in the characters about whom I have been reading for the past couple of months.

All of us have memories and for many of us, those memories are tinted by the color of hurt - either hurt we have experienced or hurt we have caused. When hurt has occurred, offense will often result. Offense will give root to bitterness and thus we have a damaged heart (i.e. soul) that is in need of healing. Sometimes we are so wrapped up in our personal hurt that we fail to see the ramifications on those around us. We believe that we live in a silo in which everything goes vertically within us and never travels horizontally to impact others. But it does, whether we want it to or not.

Last night during our Ladies' Bible Study we had occasion to discuss this and talked about the difference between God's memory of our sin and our own. Hebrews 8:12 "And I will forgive their wrongdoings, and I will never again remember their sins." Many of us have a vivid recollection of our wrongdoings and they often haunt us. Think about a white board - the kind that you use special markers with which to write on it. If you only erase it with the felt eraser, there are shadows left on the board of the image you had placed there. When you use the spray cleaner however and wipe it clean, the board looks as good as new. That is us. If we just try to erase the wrongdoing without going to God in repentance, then the shadows will remain, but if the blood of Jesus is sprayed on the wrongdoing, it is a new thing. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

For many of us, we have gone to the Lord with a repentant spirit, yet the memories still linger. Sometimes, we have more work to do then simply spraying the blood of Jesus over that past. Sometimes we have forgiveness and healing that needs to be applied to this area of our lives. I know for myself that this is indeed the process through which I must travel in order to render powerless those memories. Memories are often etched into our brain cells - literally. God can miraculously erase memories from our brains and He has done that multiple times for individuals who experienced trauma. For most of us though, the memories hang around. Our focus need not be trying to erase them completely from our brain, but rather rendering them powerless in reactivating the pain originally caused. We need to walk through the forgiveness and healing process in order to no longer react and allow those reactions to drive decisions.

When I discuss forgiveness with someone I describe it as a 2 way highway. Forgiveness must both go out to others but also must flow back to oneself. Sometimes it is easier to forgive someone who has hurt you than to forgive yourself for causing a painful situation. I personally get this one knowing how long it took me to forgive myself for an abortion that God forgave 30 years earlier. My lack of self-forgiveness created a power source for that memory to still drive me in many areas of my life. I continued to "power up" that energy source instead of shutting it down and rendering it ineffective. Please do not misunderstand - there is a difference between allowing memories and their pain to drive you and using memories and past experiences to enhance your calling from God on your life.

I firmly believe Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. I know without a shadow of doubt that God will use EVERYTHING in my life to move me forward into my calling. But if I don't surrender those memories to Him for Him to use according to His purposes, then I chance allowing the power of those memories to take me off course, like a car that hits a patch of ice and suddenly is propelled in its own power without direction. By surrendering myself to Him through repentance and forgiveness, then I can move into the healing that will "power down" that energy source and use it as generic fuel for God's fire.

Take a little time to explore your own memory bank and ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you which memories may still be running under their own power; which memories still cause a reaction either internally or externally. When you over-react to something ask Holy Spirit to show you why. Where is the root that caused the response from you? Once revealed, then ask Holy Spirit to show you if there is forgiveness and healing needed. He is faithful to walk you through this process. His desire which is in fact the desire of the complete Trinity is to see you walking in freedom and operating under the power of the life-giving Spirit. Romans 8:1-2 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. Choose forgiveness, choose healing, choose freedom!

Achieving Balance

2011-06-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

In a few months I will celebrate my 59th birthday. One would think that in the span of that many years, I would have gained wisdom about living. The challenge is that the internal battle that rages within can create barriers to the impartation of wisdom, or more specifically to the implementation of what the wisdom is telling us. Although I have recognized for several years the imbalance that my inner battle has caused, dis-empowering it and releasing it has been another story. Perhaps you can relate to my struggle. If not personally then chances are that there is someone in your life that can.

First I recognize that the roots of this battle go way back to my childhood - the need to please, the need to be perfect, the need to excel at whatever I do. Simply being "good" was not enough. I had to be great. That message was being received by me from a very influential source in my life, my dad. I understand more than I ever have before that this was done through his own understanding of his role as my dad - to propel me into the maximum of my abilities, to achieve all of which I was capable. With fair certainty I assume that this was how he was raised and what he understood. There is forgiveness and compassion in that comprehension on my part. However, even with that understanding, it is still difficult to release a way of life that has been mine for over half a century. (Goodness, that is a long time!)

Recently I have written a few posts that deal with several of these issues. I am working through my life-long roots that have resulted in my living a driven life. The complication is that so many well-known Christian writers have made being driven for the Lord an essential component to living a kingdom-focused life. When someone like myself hears those messages, it becomes justification to continue to drive oneself unrelentingly. I must be Driven by Eternity (John Bevere) or live a Purpose Driven Life (Rick Warren). I must live with audacious faith (Sun Stand Still Steven Furtick) accomplishing the impossible. All of these messages feed the imbalance that has ruled me all of my life. I am not saying that these messages are not powerful and important; I am saying that they must be received with balance and discernment. That is difficult for someone who lives life with achievement as the measuring stick.

The crucial question is what does the Lord say about these things in the Word? Consider Psalm 127:1-2 A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. This is only one reference but for me it is so powerful. Unless the Lord is directing me to do what I am doing, then my efforts are in vain. Catch that third sentence? It is USELESS to work so hard. Ouch! You mean, Lord, not by my efforts? How about confirmation from Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, "This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty. Then of course there is that concluding phrase in the psalm quoted above about rest. Oh, You mean I am supposed to rest, Lord?

If I were not to search anywhere else in the Word, these few verses give me a powerful insight into how the Lord wishes me to live life, and I have to be honest, I have not been the most obedient of followers. I have the mantra that if you try harder, surely it will pay off. Yet the Lord has been telling me for over 5 years now, that He doesn't give grades. I have lived with the self- inflicted expectation that A+ performance is all that is acceptable. I judged myself even when there was no one else around to judge me. I was (and still am at times) highly self-critical. Unfortunately there is an underlying influence of that level of self-judgment: one comes to expect others to live up to that same level of excellence. Guess what? That is not how mankind operates. Really, God? Yes, Janice.

So here I am in the summer of my 59th year, evaluating my attitudes about life and the imbalance that I have created. Yes, I know that others have contributed to my deep roots, but ultimately the responsibility is mine to walk in a way that honors my Lord. That means that I really need to understand what honors Him and what does not. My trying to accomplish everything that is barely within my reach is not honoring Him. That attitude essentially demonstrates that I am trying to maintain an image predicated upon what others think about me. I know in my deepest know-er that all that matters is what my Lord thinks about me. Walking in that knowledge though is going to take some changing.

Where does one start? For me, it is allowing myself the time to do something that I enjoy that does not benefit anyone else or even for that matter the kingdom. I hope that doesn't sound selfish to you. It has to me for decades. I am coming to understand though that if I am stressed to the max and subsequently very "empty" then I am of limited use to anyone, especially to my Lord. This may sound trivial to you, but I have allowed myself to read some fiction books this summer. I am selective, but I have come to understand that this allows me to come to the work that I do for the kingdom with a more relaxed attitude which actually enables me to hear His voice more clearly. I don't feel that I have to make every minute of the day productive. That has been a struggle for a variety of reasons, but one is guilt that my husband works very hard every day at a very stressful job. I get to sit at my computer taking care of business (home, church, my own ministry) without anyone making demands on me.

In addition, I recognize that God has blessed me with a most extraordinary partner in life. How ungrateful of me to not take time to enjoy this gift that I have been given. So now we are taking time to get away and are kayaking and camping. The time in my kayak has been so refreshing. I am excited about getting in it more. There is no "purpose" other than enjoying God's most marvelous creation and the company of my precious husband, alone time to nurture our gift. Yet I can see His purpose in all of this. He is drawing me into more intimacy with Him and a growing dependence on His strength and not mine. These may seem like small changes to you, insignificant at best, but to me they are huge.
Whether this message is for you or someone that you know, I pray that you will receive His calling to go deeper and release all of the worldly affairs that pull you away from Him. He does promise rest; He does promise direction. I will close with my life verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Shalom

The Impossible Kind of Faith

2011-06-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

We are in a season in which we are continuously being presented with opportunities to step out in that kind of faith that believes for the impossible. I am heartsick, yet simultaneously encouraged, by the number of people in my life who are facing monumental situations. That may seem like a contradiction to you, but I believe that when we are being stretched, God is pursuing us with more intensity than before. He is the one stretching us, allowing whatever circumstances in our lives, so that we will draw closer to Him. We must die to ourselves if we truly desire to have more of Him. What does this look like in our daily lives?

Have you ever been caught off guard by something that came out of left field, catching you totally unprepared? Or perhaps you have been caught in a continuous onslaught of one event after another, prohibiting you from even catching your "breath". Lately, I am witnessing this happening to many people about whom I care deeply. Interestingly though at this same time, I am hearing confirming words from multiple directions about faith in impossible situations. There are no coincidences in this world - only God-incidences. He wants me as well as others to grasp just what faith is all about - especially the God size faith that is required if we are going to truly follow Him.

Today I read in the final chapter of John about one of Jesus' last appearances to His disciples after the resurrection. It takes place on the beach while some of them have gone fishing. Have you ever thought about this scenario? They have lost their best friend, their mentor, their Messiah and they go fishing. In the midst of crisis, what brings you comfort? For many of us it is returning to routine, finding the normal in the midst of the chaos of life. These fellows went back to the water, back to the routine of fishing during which they would be busy with routine tasks and not have to think about all that had just transpired. They could barely grasp it anyway. Fishing they could understand. Then Jesus shows up unrecognizable and suggests a shift in where they throw their net. The result? John 21:6 Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get plenty of fish! " So they did, and they couldn't draw in the net because there were so many fish in it...... 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn't torn.

I love studying the detail in the Word, yet when I researched the 153, it is simply stated that there is no symbolism to the 153. Of course we can always try to create something out of nothing, but then we are usually working out of our flesh and not revelation. However, I believe that every word of the Bible is Holy Spirit inspired, so why the number 153? I believe there are several possible explanations. One could be that an exact number gives credibility to the eye witness account. How would anyone know the exact number of fish in the net unless they were there? But in alignment with our discussion today, I think that the number demonstrates just how big God is when we act on faith. If you have ever gone fishing, then you can appreciate 153 large fish is an incredible catch, especially when you have had empty nets for hours. The clincher though comes a little later in the chapter when Jesus says in John 21:18-19 The truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will direct you and take you where you don't want to go." 19 Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me."

Follow Me. No matter what the cost. No matter what you want to do. No matter what your thoughts on the matter are. Just follow Me. Matthew 10:38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. That is pretty cut and dried. Truly following Him however requires that impossible kind of faith. It requires us to believe that no matter what we see happening in the natural, we know He is in control and He will ultimately win. His will will be done. If we believe that then we also believe all of His promises in the Word about what His heart desires for us. Again, I ask the question: what does this look like in our daily walk?

I recently read a wonderful depiction of what this kind of faith looks like. Steven Furtick in his book Sun Stand Still talks about helping his young son jump waves in the ocean. Do you remember doing this either a as kid or with your kids? Holding their arms high in the sky and lifting them over the crashing wave just as it hits them. He likens this to what we must do as follows of Christ. First we must understand that it is not through our own power that we are "jumping the waves" but rather through the strength and power of the One holding our hands (which we have lifted high to Him). Secondly we must TRUST that He is going to lift us above the wave and not allow us to drown. Are we going to get wet? Of course! Will we feel the punch of the wave on our lower body? Of course! Will we be keenly aware that a massive wave went below us and not over us? How could we not? The key is that we should be focusing on the One Who is lifting us instead of the wave that went beneath us. Too many of us are focusing on the waves and not the "Lifter". Just a reminder, that on which we think the most is actually the lord of our lives. Which is it going to be? Our circumstances or our rescuer?

You may be in the midst of overwhelming circumstances right now. You may not be able to see how in the world this is ever going to be resolved in a way that is acceptable in your mind. This is when God wants us to demonstrate impossible faith. This is when He is saying, Do you trust Me with everything? We must let go and let God handle the situation. Isaiah 55:9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. As my pastor continually reminds us, God is God and we are not. Although the wave is frightening as it is coming at you, the exhilaration of its passing beneath you is so much greater. You may feel as if it is all in slow motion and the experience will never be over, but I promise you, it will and He is faithful to not let His children drown. Trust Him.

Sand through His Fingers

2011-05-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Do you remember playing in the sand as a kid - especially at the beach? I spent many summers in the sand of the beaches of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. My grandparents lived only 30 minutes from Ocean City and Assateague. One of my favorite activities was scooping up handfuls of sand, hoping to find a sand crab in my palm after the sand sifted away. Recently the Lord gave me a vision that involved that very activity, only it was His rather large hand outstretched over the sand with me standing beneath it. Before you think I am going weird on you, read on.

Most of us have by now embraced the belief that God does not cause all things to happen, but rather often allows them to happen in our lives. Imagine your life. Imagine that the sand represents the myriad of things that are coming your way. God has Romans 8:28 in mind: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. He is considering how each event, interaction or word spoken will benefit you in the plans He has for your life. Selectively He allows some of the sand to sift through His fingers and "fall" on you. Remember that sand is an abrasive substance. Seashells continually rubbed by sand become smooth and lose their rough edges. Similarly those "sandy" occurrences in your life are meant to soften those rough protrusions in your spirit. After enough encounters with the sands of life, your image begins to alter and surprise, you can become more Christ-like. But there is more.

Just like the sand crab I was trying to capture as a child, there are events, interactions and words in our life that God chooses to capture because they will not contribute to His plan for you. After God gave me this vision, I began to vividly recall specific instances in my life when it was clear He hung onto a "sand crab". I do not know about you, but there have been times in my life when I placed myself at the wrong place and at the wrong time. The disaster that could have - no, let's say, should have - befallen me did not occur. I escaped unscathed, relatively speaking. Now in the wisdom of my later years, I can look back and say, "Good grief! How stupid was that move!!!" Yet by a clearly miraculous intervention, I was protected. Folks, I did not even have a personal relationship with the Lord then.

All of this begins with the basic premise, the critical belief, that God loves us. He loves us so much that:

Luke 12:7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.
Psalm 139:2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Get the idea? First and foremost we must believe the truth that He loves us. Otherwise we will start listening to the lies of the great deceiver who would have us believe otherwise, who would have us believe that our Lord is intentionally harming us, that He is a control freak who simply likes to wield His power. Sounds like a self description of the enemy, the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy.

Believing that God loves us more than we can imagine means that we must trust Him with our lives and our hearts. We must trust that even while we cannot see the light in the midst of the storms, the Son is indeed shining behind the storm clouds. The storm will pass and when it finally does, there will be sun, fresh air and sometimes even a surprise rainbow. We have to trust that even when we feel as if He is not there, He is. We have to trust that ultimately He works this out not only to our own benefit, but to that of the kingdom as well. We also need to trust that earthly rewards are not the preeminent thought in His mind, rather eternal rewards are.

So let's go back to the sand and the hand. Consider the weight with which God considers each moment of your life (reread the scriptures above if necessary). Ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you the sand crabs that God held onto and did not let travel through His fingers. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you how the "sand" that was allowed to fall upon you actually shaped your current image. More importantly ask Him to reveal to you His heart for what you look like in His eyes and His desire for the "completed work". Too many of us focus on the sand instead of the process. Personally, I am so grateful for the process and I am also grateful for each grain of sand, as painful as many of them were. I am excited about how far I have come in this refining process, but I am even more excited about the future and what He is going to yet accomplish with me. My prayer is that you will embrace a new attitude for the events of your life and embrace the process anew. Shalom!

Inadequacy

2011-05-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

Oh the power of words in our lives! Recently I have come to recognize that there is a deep root in my life that like ivy keeps springing up when I thought I had ripped it out. Have you ever tried to get rid of English ivy in your yard? It is a constant battle against the deep roots that resist death. I vividly recall such a battle in my first home here in Atlanta. My tiny backyard was literally covered - ground and fence - with this green stuff. Thankfully it wasn't kudzu, but definitely a huge challenge. I tore vine after vine off the fence, pulled them up from the ground, then went behind the fence to clear a barrier of about 2 feet. However, if I did not continually monitor that space, the vines came creeping back.

Realistically this is exactly how some of us are in our spiritual walks. We believe that we have eradicated something from our lives only to discover that the root is still there and consequently new growth starts erupting when we least expect it. We are currently walking through a powerful teaching at church authored by Mark and Patti Virkler titled Prayers that Heal the Heart. I highly recommend this for everyone because most of us have yet to fully grasp and obtain the total freedom that Jesus promises us. There are so many visuals for this scenario to depict our struggle. In ministering to others, the Lord gave me two that I will share in case it will trigger recognition for some of you.

First picture a cage - like a jail cell if you will. You are inside that cell holding your heart in your hands. The bars are the various lies the enemy has used to keep you ensnared. God beckons to you from outside the cell and tells you to come forward. Your response, "I can't the cell is locked." God's response, "No, it isn't. Go to the door and push." With trepidation, you move forward and gently push against the cell door. With great surprise you realize it is moving. Encouraged you push a little harder and it swings wide open. Amazed you slowly walk out of the cell, heart still in your hands. God says, "Come to me, my chosen one, and give me your heart, and by the way, slam that door shut. You will not be walking back into that again."

Second picture a yard with a stake in the ground and a worn circle around it. Picture a chain that appears to be attached to the stake and the other end attached to a collar around your neck. The rut in the circle is deep because of the constant circling around the stake. There is no grass inside the circle because of the constant dragging of the chain on the ground. God calls to you to come away from the stake. Your response, "I can't. My collar is attached to the stake by this chain." God's response, "No, it isn't. Walk away, out of the ruts that you have been traveling all of your life." You feel the weight of the chain attached to your collar. Logically you believe that it will yank you back when you try to walk away. You hesitate. God speaks again, "Do you trust me? Do you believe in me? Do you not know that I love you? What is holding you back?" Good question. What do you have to lose? Very tentatively you begin to move, anticipating that yank on your neck and the accompanying jolt that will come through your body. But the love of God is pulling you like a magnet. So you take a step, then a second. You climb out of the rut, almost in disbelief. Just beyond the worn circle is soft, fresh green grass. The dust and dirt are behind you and you resist the urge to look back. The glory of God is so strong in front of you that its warmth draws you closer and closer.

Do either of these word pictures resonate with you? Each of us most likely has some form of imprisonment created by the lies of the enemy. Whatever it is, God has opened the door to freedom to give each of us the opportunity to walk in complete freedom if we will just seize it. The challenge for many of us though is that we have begun to walk in freedom and then that master of deception begins his seductive weaving of lies to once again limit us. John 8:32 "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Freedom is rooted in truth. Therefore the opposite is true: lies will hold us captive.

One of the roots with which I am dealing is a lie of inadequacy. The roots are deep born out of generational curses and sins, ungodly soul ties, negative expectations, and more. This is what I am learning through this study with Mark Virkler. The powerful truth is that these sources of deception are now being uncovered and I am walking away from them. How can I truly operate in the full power of Holy Spirit if I allow the enemy access to my soul? I know that I have come a long way from the beginning point of this journey, but I am not finished yet. Wisdom tells me that I must guard my heart. Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. Because I am a child of God, I am chosen, I am therefore a target of darkness to attempt to thwart all that God has for me. However, I know and he knows that I know that he is defeated and all power through Holy Spirit through the authority given to me by Christ is mine to use for the achievement of God's purposes for his kingdom.

I fully recognize that inadequacy is just one area of which I want to be totally free. I am going to be very deliberate about moving through each area that Holy Spirit reveals to me. I want my heart to be free of darkness. All of the "rooms of my heart" will be open with light and fresh "air" (remember what Holy Spirit's Hebrew name means? In the Tanakh, the word ruach generally means wind, breath, mind, spirit. In a living creature (nephesh chayah), the ruach is the breath, whether of animals (Gen 7:15; Psa 104:25, 29) or mankind (Isa 42:5; Ezek 37:5). God is the creator of ruach: "The ruach of God (from God) is in my nostrils" (Job 27:3) From the website: www.hebrew4christians.com)

It is a beautiful spring day in Atlanta. It has been all week long with mild temperatures. I have opened the windows of our home and allowed wonderful fresh air to flow through the whole house day and night. How wonderfully symbolic for what God wants to do in my life. I encourage each of you to discover what rooms of your heart house have been locked and shut. Fling them open now and enjoy the fullness of all that God has for you!

Lucky Charms

2011-05-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

No, I am not talking about the cereal. I am thinking about those things in our lives in which we place a belief that their presence makes a difference in the outcomes of circumstances. When you were little, did you ever have a rabbit's foot on a key chain because someone had said it was lucky? How about hunting in the grass for a four leaf clover? What about famous sports players who declare that they have to wear the same shirt or the same color to insure their win? Examples abound all around us. As true believers we know that these become false idols in our lives, even if trivial ones. Then again, can you use the word "trivial" in the same sentence as fasle idols?

Recently I was studying 1 Samuel and reliving the battle of the Israelites against the Philistines. The battle was not going well (chapter 4). An unidentified individual came up with the bright idea to get the Ark of the Covenant and bring it into the center of the battle. From verse 3, "Let's bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies." Did you catch the subtle shift of emphasis there? Notice they say "it" not Yahweh or the Lord. Their faith was in the physical Ark not in the Lord whom the Ark represented. If you are familiar with the story, then you know that their plans failed - miserably. The Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines and God began to wreck havoc on the Philistines. Fascinating story and worth the re-read.

What is the message for us? Far too often we put our faith in ritual or in the manifestations of the Lord and His love for us instead of in Him alone. The shift in our own lives is so subtle that just like the verse quoted above, we can miss it. God's adamant commands about idol worship are clear and unequivocal. There are to be no other gods before us. He is the only one that deserves our allegiance, our love, our attention, our faith. Yet too easily we succumb to lowering our eyes onto other gods and allow them presence in our lives. This particular sin is as old as man. Think about Adam and Eve's initial sin, or even go back further and think about the fall of Lucifer. He was putting faith in his own abilities to compete with God Almighty. He made himself equal to God able to do whatever the Creator could do. He used a piece of fruit to lure the original first couple away from God. Perhaps the first idol worship - this fruit would give what we desired.

Let's take this down to a very miniscule level. Have you ever gotten into a routine with devotional time with the Lord, a daily routine? Then in the midst of the chaos that sometimes descends on us, you miss a day, or two or three and then are convicted with guilt. What is the source of the guilt? Is is fear that because you have failed to maintain this commitment that God will descend on you with discipline as He did with the Israelites for abusing the Ark of the Covenant? Or is it more appropriately sadness that you have allowed life to interfere with your passionate pursuit of intimacy with the Lord and setting aside time for Him to speak into your life? There is a significant difference between these two reactions to the same circumstance. One is born out of creating an idol out of our routines and the second is born out of agape love for Yahweh that takes second place to no one or no thing.

Superstition is a tool of the enemy, a weapon of the dark side to distract us. However it is usually accompanied by idol worship of some form. Do you know anyone that reads horoscopes? Is this not putting credence in knowledge that is not God delivered? Divination is spoken of frequently throughout scripture - Old and New Testament. Tarot cards, mediums, Ouija boards and the like are all forms of this and they are a form of idol worship because more credence is given to them to tell the future than developing an intimate communion with the only source of life, our Creator, our Lord, our Abba. However most of you already know this and have turned from any such activity long ago. Therefore my question for all of us is this: What could be a distracting idol in our lives?

As I ponder this question for myself, I am evaluating those things that pre-occupy my mind. A very wise person once said to me, what you think about the most is the Lord of your life. There are unquestionably aspects of my life that trouble me and cause me to stop and dwell on them. However, I am blessed because Holy Spirit quickly asks me a simple question, "Do you trust God to handle this or not?" My answer is an absolute yes! So then Holy Spirit asks, "Then why are you dwelling on it? Release it to His tender care and mercy and trust that He will do the best thing in this situation." By the way, God's best thing may not be Janice's idea of the best thing. But Abba has the big picture and I can only see my corner of it. So I had better trust the master artist; trust Him, keep my faith centered in Him and not let anything else interfere with a laser beam signal from God's heart to mine. Sweep away those false idols, burn them at their source, clear the way for God to move freely without my interference. Yes, it is time for spiritual spring cleaning and to make way for an incredible sowing and reaping. Will you join me?

The Spirit of Giving

2011-05-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

Giving is not as simple as it seems on the surface. Most of us understand the concept of taking something in your possession and handing it to another. This includes gifts, resources, time, talents, etc. First we identify a need and then decide that we can meet that need. Whether this is buying a gift to celebrate an occasion, or assessing what we have to provide for someone or a cause. Recently I realized that often times our giving is complicated by our own expectations of how the recipient is going to utilize our gift. Sadly comments are frequently heard that stipulate how a gift should be appreciated and utilized. Is it truly a gift then?

If I have pre-determined expectations of what someone should do with my gift, then I have attached invisible strings to it. In my mind, it is as if I am saying, if you will do such and such with my gift, then I will give you this gift. And if they fail to appropriately utilize my gift, then I can fall into criticism of their choices and values. It goes downhill from there. Becoming acutely observant of their choices, voices begin to play out in my head: "Well that was not what I intended them to do with my gift." This is especially true in situations where money is involved. Sadly I have witnessed too many times when money changed hands and hearts were changed. Have you ever heard someone comment to you, "Well when I gave so and so the money they should have used it for......" with great indignation.

Ironically, the reason for my writing this blog had nothing to do with a negative experience on my part with giving a gift. Rather I began thinking about the gift(s) that the Lord gives to us and what we do with His gift(s). Without question, our God has great desires for what we will do with His gifts especially the gift of Jesus Himself. God knew what the vast majority of the population of the world - past, present and future - was going to do with His gift. We have only to look around our current world to shudder at the incredible rejection of this extraordinary gift of love. However, this knowledge did not stop Him from giving us this gift. Did it?

Agape Love means unconditional, without motivation, without expectation of return. Not only does our Lord love us this way, but His heart is that we will love one another with the same love. In talking with different couples in our marriage ministry, we have discussed the difference between the emotion love (a noun) and the action love (a verb). Love as a verb is behaving in love, acting in love, giving and receiving in love. There are no strings of expectation. There is no manipulation. It is a freely given gift of ourselves and our heart. It is proactive. The emotion of love is a feeling that is precipitated by someone's actions or words to us. It is reactive.

Please do not misunderstand and misinterpret that I am condoning being abused or neglected by people with whom you are in a love relationship. We must be cognizant of placing our heart in harm's way. Withdrawing from harm is not a bad thing. However turning that withdrawal into hate and anger against the harmer is a bad thing. Studying how Jesus operated when He walked this earth provides an excellent example of walking in truth and love without condoning evil. We all have choices to make in our relationships. Hurt is inevitable; it is what we do with that hurt that separates us from others.

Reactive versus proactive action is a key to walking in freedom and shalom. I have a choice to make about 2 aspects of giving. First I can choose to give the gift (my love, my time, my talents, my resources) with an agape heart and hope that this gift will somehow make a positive difference. Second I can choose how I will act no matter what the recipient does with my gift. There are so many factors about which we know nothing when it comes to the recipient. Timing, life circumstances, previous patterns of behavior, etc. If we want to control what happens with our gift then not only has it not been freely given, but we are trying to control the impact our gift has. Are we releasing this gift to the hands of God for Him to use it as He sees appropriate for that individual's life? Are we trusting Him to accomplish His plan (and not ours)?

As I continue to grow in His love with the ongoing counsel of Holy Spirit I continue to recognize my shortcomings. What I hear come out of my mouth (which remember is the wellspring of my heart - Proverbs 4:23) sometimes makes me shudder the same as if I had drunk a big gulp of vinegar. Good grief! Did I really say that? Fortunately Holy Spirit is usually very quick to convict me that I must have an issue with my wellspring. Some pollution has snuck in there without my filtering it out. This recent revelation is a good check for me. Proactive love and giving versus reactive is a great place to start my wellspring cleaning. Perhaps there are a few of you out there who need a little wellspring cleaning too. I pray that this message has been helpful in a bit of introspection. Let's all walk in the freedom that the Lord has for us through living in agape love.

Resurrection Reverence

2011-04-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

I may well date myself with this statement, but then again, if that were important to me there is a lot I would not admit. I can remember a time when I was young when Good Friday was held with such reverence that everything stopped at 3 PM. Stores closed their doors, church bells rang and everyone stopped to meditate on what happened at that hour on the day of the crucifixion. In contemporary society, few people stop to think about what Good Friday is all about. However, far more compelling to me is the larger statement that this behavior makes about the priorities of our culture. The telltale signs are everywhere.

This past Sunday during our worship service we celebrated the resurrection and the fact that He is Risen, Risen Indeed! Yet while a very important message was being shared with us, individuals were carrying on conversations about a variety of topics, phones were ringing and yes, people answered them. Parents allowed children to play with electronic games with the sound on. Not only was this distracting for those wanting to focus on the message, but it demonstrated how far we as a society have departed from demonstrating honor and reverence for the House of the Lord.

Call me old fashioned, but my roots were developed deeply that when we entered the House of the Lord, we did so with great respect and honor for Who "owned" the house. Even though I was raised Catholic and learned quickly the importance of reverence through simple things like bowing my head when we said the name of Jesus, and genuflecting before sitting at church, I observed the same reverence at my grandparents' very small Methodist church in their little town. Although I did not truly understand reverential fear of God until I was born again, I certainly was in awe of the power and authority of God from the time I was old enough to reason. When I listen to people talk about life and God, I sometimes wonder, do they not understand who God is?

I must ask your indulgence for my soap box mentality today. As the contrasts in our society become more pronounced between those whose passion is Christ and those whose passion is the world, I find my vision become sharper. As I read my devotions each day, Old Testament as well as New, I find myself digging deeper into the Word and seeking greater revelation from the Source. What is He calling us to do in these volatile times?

The first thing that I hear is, "Daughter, examine thyself!" Are my words consistent with my beliefs? Are my actions Christ-like? What am I doing to advance the Gospel message? Sadly I come up short in response to each of those questions. I think about those individuals whom I admire and who I believe emulate the lifestyle that seems to fit the Gospel and then I look at myself. While I believe that Jesus Christ Himself is the one that we need to emulate, I must admit that I do look at those individuals who appear to be meeting the mark better than myself and use that as a starting place to ask myself a series of questions.

We each have our own way of examining ourselves. One thing that I combat regularly is the performance mentality. I strive to refine who I am not to earn His love but because I love Him. Yet performance is an ingrained aspect of who I am. Always has been. So I must daily combat the behavioral tendencies that are part of me. Nothing I do will cause Him to love me more or love me less. So if that is what I believe than why does the disrespectful behavior of others upset me so? He loves them exactly as He loves me - no different.

I believe that at issue is the fact that we have become seeker friendly. As a whole, we are more concerned that someone entering our churches (or our homes) is not upset or made uncomfortable by anything that we say or do. So we modify our level of our tolerance, even the message that is being spoken so that it will not offend. Yet do we stop and think about how we are offending God Himself? No, I am afraid not, and that is where we are no different than the Israelite people of the Old Testament who assimilated themselves into the pagan cultures so that they would not be different and would be accepted. Where did that get them? When the German radicals in WW II were attacking the Jewish people the vast majority of the population who professed to be Christian ignored what was going on in their front yards. We all know the result of that inaction. Where is our behavior getting us?

You may have observed in many churches, individuals come dressed as if they are going to a nightclub. People walk in half way through the service as if there is no need to come on time and not be disruptive as they find seats. People are up and down, in and out of their seats as if this was an informal gathering in their living room. Think about it. If you paid to attend a show at Fox Theater, you are ushered quickly and quietly into your seats and often are not allowed to be seated once the show has begun. Why is there more respect in a theater than in God's house?

Maybe it is time that we speak up and require respect from all people who come into the House of the Lord. Maybe just maybe if we require reverence, reverence will happen. Maybe just maybe, we need to defend our God and our beliefs and stand up for them. Maybe just maybe it is time to stop being seeker friendly with words that tickle ears and begin speaking truth that pierces into the depths of the soul. Maybe just maybe, time is getting short and we need to decide Who it is that we do not want to offend. Maybe just maybe.......

How's Your Wattage?

2011-04-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

Remember the last time you had a three way light bulb reduce itself to one way? Usually the lower or middle wattage. You turn the light on and no matter how often you turn that switch, it stays dim. Can't get that brightness to kick in. Oh well, off to your supply closet (or the store) to replace the bulb. Sometimes we replace a 100 watt bulb with a 60 because that is all we have on hand, but oh how much we miss the brightness! Recently while in a gathering of believers, the Lord showed me everyone in a "different light". Suddenly all of the earth suits of folks were gone and replaced with white spiritual coverings. However there was a unique characteristic: each one had a light within that was visible through the translucent covering. What caught my attention was the variance of the lights. Some were very bright, creating an aura around them. Others however were so dim that they were difficult to distinguish among the more vibrant ones. Some were even flickering, reminiscent of when a light bulb is about to blow.

Needless to say, I immediately began seeking revelation from the Lord for what I had just seen. Much like in the gospels when Jesus explained to the disciples the meaning of His parables, He began explaining to me what He had shown me. The light is His light in us. This is how He sees us; not in our earth suits which cause many of us such consternation. The varying degrees of brightness are directly related to how connected we are to the power source - Him. The stronger our connection, the brighter the light. The weaker the connection, the dimmer the light. The flickering is caused by short circuits - when our spirit man's connection with the source is being interrupted. Think about that power cord in your garage that got in the way of your hedge trimmer.... protective coating has been cut away and now the wires are exposed and vulnerable to being cut themselves.

Let's explore this analogy a little further. First begin with the source: Hebrews 1:3 The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven. Christ is the reflection of God's glory. God's glory is so bright that man was cautioned to not look upon it, Moses being the exception. The book of Exodus tells us that once Moses looked upon the glory of God, his own face was so bright that he had to cover it. (Exodus 34:29-35) His intimate relationship with God was reflected in his countenance.

When we accepted Christ, we entered into the beginning stages of that intimacy. It has been our choice since that moment how deeply we go. Romans 8:29-10 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. This is an unqualified promise - He glorifies those that He has called and justified.

I had a wonderful opportunity to share with a group of passionate women about my own personal walk and what real repentance means to me. In the process of that conversation I likened my walk with the Lord to coming out of darkness into shadows then into increasingly brighter light. When I first accepted Christ as my Savior and accepted His forgiveness, it was as if I had come out of the darkest of nights and stepped into the shadows created by moonlight. I could see the source of the light but I was not directly in it, at least not enough to really see well. As my walk has progressed over the last 20+ years, I have stepped further away from the shadows and into the light. I have gone from moonlight to sunlight and can see much more clearly that which I need to change - that for which I need to repent. Brilliant light is very revealing! So is His glory.

I truly believe that the distance that we keep from our Lover God, our Creator, our Abba, actually correlates to the level at which we can reflect His glory, His light. Personally I want to be in such direct line with His glory that I can be like the magnifying glass that once the sunlight is focused through it can ignite a fire! But for a moment let's consider those flickering lights. All of us, myself included have had those seasons where the distractions have been tantamount to chaos in our lives. The causes for "short circuiting" are as numerous as the stars in the heavens. Whatever the cause, I believe we know when we are in danger of disconnecting. God never gives up on us and He will not let the enemy have access without His purposes being fulfilled. When we begin to get those electrical jolts from a forthcoming "blow-out" there are signs. We simply have to be in tune enough with Holy Spirit to pick up on the cues. We can avoid that blow-out and get back to full power through the strength of the Lord. We will not get it back on our own. We have no power unless we are connected and plugged in. The light bulb will not glow unless it is both screwed in and plugged in!

How tightly are you "screwed in" to the lamp through which the power flows? More importantly, is the lamp plugged in to the power source? Finally check on the wattage you are exhibiting. Does your life give light to the lives around you? My prayer is that each of us is glowing with the maximum glory possible for this moment in our lives and that we will always seek to move to a higher wattage!

Relationships

2011-03-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

Throughout the last few weeks as I have been juggling my schedule to write the next posting I kept hearing the word relationships. This seemed logical since my husband and I had just finished facilitating a weekend long conference on marriage called the DNA of Relationships. However in light of the events that have taken place across the globe in Japan, the persistence of that word in my spirit is more meaningful. What is the significance of relationships in our lives and why in these tumultuous times is that important?

Relationships are the glue of life. They are what drives us, what comforts us, what nurtures our souls when times are difficult. As a parent, the relationship we have with our children motivates us to go above and beyond what we think we are capable of accomplishing. Ask any mom who has gone nights on end without sleep due to a sick child. Ask a parent of a child with disabilities. As a spouse we will put the well being of our mate above our own well being, sacrificing in order to make things better. A father committed to his family will go for weeks without seeing them in order to provide for them. Those of us with aging parents will put their well being above ours in order to insure their care and comfort. This is just a sampling but it provides a glimpse as to how relationships do motivate and move us.

The glue of life has been irrevocably altered for thousands upon thousands in Japan in the past few days. Untold thousands have lost the relationships that sustained them. Each morning and night as I lay in my bed I contemplate how extraordinarily blessed I am. In more ways than I can count, I have an unbelievably blessed life. But my blessing is far deeper than the relationships I have with my husband, my family and my friends. I have a single fundamental relationship that truly is my life link. It is the one that keeps me both grounded and simultaneously floating above flood waters. This is my relationship with my lover God. He is the one who is my glue and who sustains me despite the chaos that is reigning around me, and chaos is reigning.

I had one individual sardonically say he does not believe the world is going to end and he is not going to run around scared. I pondered that statement in light of my knowledge of the Word and my relationship with my Lord. I do know that at some point in time, the world as we know it is going to end. The Word is clear that we are to see the signs and need to pay attention. The birth pains have increased in frequency, of that there is not doubt. Just Google recent earthquakes and track the acceleration that has occurred in just the last few months of earthquakes that are 7.0 or greater. Do I experience any trepidation about this evidence? Not in the least. Great sadness for those who are experiencing the traumatic impact of these events, but no fear. How can that be? My relationship with the Lord is my foundation and that cannot be shaken no matter what happens in the natural.

One of the definitions for relationship states "a state of affairs existing between those having relations or dealings". What is the state of affairs with those with whom you have a relationship? During the marriage conference that we facilitated, my husband and I witnessed a wide range of "the state of affairs". This state of affairs was driving the dynamics of those couples' lives, their interactions, their conversations. In some cases, the glue that had held them together was drying out, allowing them to pull away from each other. Does that happen in our relationship with God? Have we allowed our state of affairs with God to deteriorate to the point that He is no longer that which sustains us?

I learned today that only .5 percent of the nation of Japan are believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. That is only one half of one percent. I think about the devastation that has occurred and cannot in my wildest imagination understand how I would feel having watched a powerful Tsunami wave wipe away everything that was familiar to me, my home, my neighborhood, my workplace and in many cases, the people with whom I interacted each day. If those are the relationships that have sustained me, how do I move forward from there? Unquestionably, the nation of Japan is moving forward. Newscasters report with amazement how calm and orderly everything is in Japan. No looting, no riots in the streets, no rudeness in the massive lines for food, water and gas. The culture in Japan is diametrically opposed to most of the world. Look at Madison, Wisconsin, Cairo, Egypt, Libya, Iran, etc. I do not claim to understand why this is, perhaps it is as simple as survival. When a people survive what Japan did in World War II, one may just become numb to massive catastrophe. So in what does one place hope?

I began to look for a quote from Scripture to place in here, and was overwhelmed by my choices. There are 130 references to hope according to my Strong's concordance. We know that we know that our hope is in Jesus Christ. Our hope is in the belief that we have an eternal future with Him that will totally dwarf this present existence. Our hope is in the truth that we know and study in the Word itself. No matter how insane this world in which we live appears, we know that it is but a vapor and will pass away as quickly as it emerged. The prophetic was established long before I took my first breath of earthly air, and it will stand long after I take my last breath. God's Word is abiding and infallible. My hope is that God will continue to be Who He is and will fulfill every aspect of His promises. My relationship with Him is the glue of my life and through it He provides me with unquenchable hope.

Take time to meditate on the glue of your life. Contemplate what is happening in Japan (and what has happened in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand). Search your own soul and seek what is your foundational relationship. In whom or what are you placing your hope? Imagine that life as you know it today is suddenly irrevocably changed due to circumstances totally beyond your control. To whom would you turn? Examine the level of Shalom that you currently have in your life today. From where does that emanate? Are you looking expectantly heavenward or are you fearful of all the events that are unfolding around us every day? Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. I do not want anything interfering with the most important relationship that I have. How about you?

P.O.A.

2011-02-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

Many of you are in the position of managing aging parents' affairs. P.O.A. is a critical component of accomplishing that task. The Power of Attorney enables a person to act as if he/she is actually the person being represented. If you have ever drafted one for yourself, then you have been advised to handle that document with extreme caution because of the power that it gives to the holder. It is recognized anywhere as giving the holder ultimate control over the affairs of the designated person. Right about now you are probably asking what has this got to do with me? Everything as a believer.

How often have you ended your prayers with "In the name of Jesus"? Sometimes we do it out of habit because our prayer does not sound complete if we don't. Sometimes we actually say it with passion because we believe it makes a difference. After all, Jesus told us to pray in His name, right? John 14:13-14 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it! Have we ever really grasped what that means? This week I suddenly began to compare the P.O.A. to what Jesus said and the realization of the true power that is mine to be had was overwhelming.

When Jesus told us to ask in His name, He was literally saying, "I am giving you my power of attorney. For all intents and purposes, anyone with whom you do business, you are acting for Me and as if it is indeed Me. When someone looks at you, they will really be looking at Me. When they have dealings with you they are in fact having dealings with me." Understanding this concept means that we truly have P.O.A. which in the spiritual realm means that we now have Power of Authority.

Think about the last prayer that you uttered and ended with "In Jesus' Name". How did you feel? What happened in the spiritual realm as you closed your prayer with the traditional ending? Did the dark side tremble because they were now in Jesus' presence? I wonder. Let's go back to the legal example again. You had been given power of attorney by your dad to handle his affairs a few years ago and life had settled into a routine. You have become accustomed to solving problems when needed and intervening as circumstances dictated. Suddenly a new situation has arisen and you proceed to act as usual speaking to the pertinent parties. However you have never dealt with them before and they refuse to cooperate. You are puzzled because you have not run into this wall before. What in the world? Then it dawns on you. You have to produce the P.O.A. before they will recognize that you have the authority required to transact this business. You produce the document; they give you the respect and the authority. The business is completed. Wow. The difference the P.O.A. makes.

We must never underestimate what Christ has done for us. He has given us so much authority on this earth in this earthly realm in His stead. We have only to step into it. It is happening all around us if we will just open our eyes to see it. It began while He still walked on this earth and it continues to this very moment. Sadly it dominates in persecuted third world countries. Why would that be? Why would the power of God be stronger in countries where He is suppressed? Think about it. Faith grew fastest right after His death when it was suppressed as well. Have you ever been in a tug of war as a kid? The harder the other side was pulling against you, you were pulling to keep from getting pulled into the mud pit. But if there was no contest coming from the other side, then you did not have to exert any energy either.

What is happening in America today? There is no contest for the enemy. We have became passive and consequently he does not have to exert any effort here. But in the rest of the world? Souls are being won for Christ at an ever increasing rate, so persecutions are on the rise and so are miracles! Folks, we had better start exercising our P.O.A. here in America. We have the same authority as any other believer but if we don't pull out that "piece of paper" and start exercising it, we will be ignored by the enemy who will be pushing his deception everywhere he can get way with it.

Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! I believe we all have the power to accomplish this today wherever we walk. This is not the limited power of just a few individuals. We have a choice to either walk in the power Christ gave us or not. Will this happen every time we ask God to move? No. Is it always within God's will to move as we pray? No. Will we understand why? No. Should that stop us from praying and asking? NO! Does the enemy want us to stop because it does not happen? YES!!! There is an increasing move of God in the body of Christ in America. Search it out. Be a part of it. Don't run from it. Don't be afraid of it. Ask Him to show you His power. Ask Him for revelation knowledge. Open yourself to it. Ask Him to make you a conduit - be a power conduit - be the key for the lightning bolt from heaven!

Healing - A Corporate Matter

2011-02-17T13:13:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about yourself as a corporation? Sound ridiculous? Consider this. We are composed of three parts - Spirit, Soul and Body. Each of these interacts with the others resulting in our actions, thoughts, words. Sometimes one facet overrules the other two. Sometimes they work in unison. Sometimes it is two against one. Are you smiling yet? Here are a few scenarios for you:

You have been faithfully dieting, watching every little morsel that goes into your mouth. Your spirit knows that you are taking care of the temple of Holy Spirit and not giving in to self indulgence. Your soul (mind, will, emotions) knows that this healthier lifestyle will have many positive benefits. Your body experiences an increase in energy, better sleep and a feeling of well-being. You are invited to a friend's farewell party and suddenly temptations are overwhelming you. The battle begins! Whether your physical desire for the taste of those sweets and snacks wins over your spirit and soul is the big question.
You have been experiencing a really tough season both in ministry and in your profession. You know you are tapped out, stretched to the max, but recognize this is a season. Your spirit as been checking in with Holy Spirit and so far you have had a green light on your choices. Your soul has been consistently evaluating those choices and mentally you are OK with them. Your body is hanging in there in spite of the demands on it. Unexpectedly a new opportunity is placed in front of you. Your soul is excited about what this will be like. Your body is quietly saying, "Enough is enough" while your spirit is silent waiting for you to check in with Holy Spirit. The battle is on....

These are only meant to give you an idea of the conflict with the corporate body of you. There is also the corporate body of Christ - just a much larger entity of individual parts united for a single purpose. However, this week the focus is on ourselves as small corporate bodies made up of our three major components.

Consider what happens in any organization when its major factions are in disagreement. Work is not completed, at least not efficiently and effectively. Discord is rampant and there is usually peripheral damage. If we are truly trying to walk in the divine will of our Lord, then we are ready to surrender all three parts of us to His direction and His purposes. That is easier said than done for many of us. It becomes more difficult as the enemy seeks to "divide and conquer" when it comes to us as individuals.

Healing is a major activity for believers. No I am not talking just about physical healing. I am referencing emotional, mental, relational among others. As soon as we accept Christ as our savior, we begin the process of giving Him access to our broken selves for repair. Usually He starts with our broken hearts, and works from there. It is a step by step process that is never completed - at least not until we join Him in eternity. It is a continual process of re-adjustment. Once one aspect of us changes, it throws the rest into a new alignment. Sometimes that shift is really great and sometimes it is very painful. Responding quickly and making the necessary adjustments is critical to our overall health and well-being, physical, spiritual and emotional/mental.

If you have ever had an adjustment by a chiropractor then you understand this principle clearly. It is not uncommon when a chiropractor first starts working with a patient that multiple visits are needed because the body is shifting into a new alignment from how it has been functioning for years. As the muscles become acclimated to this new posture, less external adjustments are required. Our triune corporate being is no different. When we are first saved, our spirit is reborn as a new creation. It has blossomed into life now influencing the other two parts. Whoa! Talk about a shift! Just imagine being able to hear the voices of the body and soul as the spirit begins exerting influence over them.

Things start to settle down but then our walk gets deeper and more intense as each of these three facets attempts to "run the show". We know which one is supposed to be in charge. Paul describes very plainly the struggle that ensues. Romans 7:15 I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. It is a never ending internal battle. However there is victory in Christ. The more seasoned we become in our walk, the more we understand how to handle this battle which ultimately is the Lord's anyway. The longer we walk the more clearly we understand our own battlefields. Mine are different than yours, and yours are different than your friend's. We each must daily, work out our own salvation. Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Reflect back on the concept of alignment. Continually the body and soul will be working to be in proper alignment with the spirit because being out of alignment causes internal discord. However, it is up to us which direction the changes take. Will body and soul try to influence spirit and result in decisions creating more distance between them and the regenerated spirit or more unity? True healing of any type whether physical, emotional or mental will not manifest until alignment has occurred. When we witness someone struggling with a physical illness or emotional distress, do not make an assumption. Rather intercede for them for the battle that is waging. There are external forces that will constantly seek to push a "believer" out of alignment in the hope that they will fall away out of despair. However, if you are feeling a sense of misalignment then immediately submit yourself to the great Physician and ask for revelation knowledge as to what your next steps are in bringing accord back into your corporate being. Pray His Word, pray His promises and continue pushing forward. Pray according to His will and He will answer you. His heart is to have your corporate being in perfect alignment too.

Submission or Cooperation?

2011-02-04T05:51:00.000-08:00

For all of us that are parents (or who have had responsibility for children) we know all too well what the expressions "kicking and screaming the whole way" or "with heels dug in" or "dragging their feet" mean. Ultimately the task or objective is accomplished but with incredible reluctance on the part of the second party. The experience is difficult, frustrating and exhausting for the parent that is desperately trying to get "just a little cooperation please!" Contrast that with a situation in which the child is eager to do whatever is being asked because they are excited about the outcome. Their excitement is contagious and infects everyone around them. It is as if the moment of achievement cannot arrive quickly enough. Joy abounds and everyone is engaged in a positive way. How similar is this to our daily walk with our Lord?

Submission/surrender are frequently spoken words when we are discussing our walk and how we live out our faith. Yet I wonder how often we really consider our heart condition in that act. Are we like the recalcitrant child who understands that the adult is in control and no matter what the child wants, ultimately the adult wins? Oh and by the way, "adult person", child will make sure that you know they are not happy about what you are doing. Think about the conversations that you hear when eavesdropping on believers' discussions of how life is going. Begrudging cooperation is very distant from willing surrender. We have all heard the difference and sadly we have most likely all voiced it at one time or another.

Examples: "I know God is in control, but I also know what reality is and right now my reality stinks!" "The facts are the facts and right now, the facts are telling me that I don't know how I will make it through this chaotic crisis." "I just don't understand why everybody else has it made and I have to struggle so." "I am just going to have to settle for where I am and this is as good as it gets." Any of these sound familiar?

God never promised us a rose garden. In fact we are actually promised the opposite. We know that trials and tribulations are part of our life when we accept Christ as our Savior and are born again. Yet there are hundreds of other promises in the Word of God that we can and should stand on. The key to how well we walk this life out though is our fundamental belief and attitude. The key is simple: do we willingly and lovingly submit or do we begrudgingly cooperate?

Jesus gave us a parable about 2 sons whose father asked them to work for him in his vineyard. Matthew 21:28-31 "But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. Which of the two was obeying his father?" They replied, "The first, of course." Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I assure you, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. The first son thought about what his father was asking and realized he was wrong. He willingly went and did the work asked of him. The second son said what he knew his father wanted to hear, but then went about doing what he wanted. He exhibited an attitude of cooperation but his heart was not in alignment with his words.

When we fully surrender to the will of God it is usually with the conviction born of repentance and the knowledge that it is the love of God Himself that has rescued us. We fully comprehend that there is nothing that we can do or have done that makes us righteous in the sight of God except the blood of Jesus. Through our total surrender and acceptance of the love of God we are able to move past where we are and into another world entirely - for all of eternity. Yes, we will live out our lives here on earth but that is so transitory we dare not focus on it. Yet there are far too many people in our lives whose entire attention is on the here and now - what can be seen, felt and logically understood. They will acknowledge the power of God but it is as if they have a chip on their shoulders, anger just simmering below the surface, reminiscent of that child who is already plotting how to get what they want in spite of their parents' best efforts to "deny them".

Which heart honors the Lord? Again reflect upon the willful strong-headed child who cooperates with mom and dad but does so kicking and screaming versus the child who lovingly looks into the eyes of the parents, takes their hands and goes where asked. Which heart delights the parents? It is a question of the perspective of intent. Is our intent to do what is in our self interest or to do what delights the One who loves us most? If we view everything that happens through the lenses of self interest, we will undoubtedly be unhappy when God takes us someplace that makes no sense in our narrow, tunnel visioned world. However when we view everything through the heart of our Lord, with joy we will take His hand, saying, "I trust You. Let's go!" Does this mean we will always be happy? No, happiness is correlated to our circumstances. Joy however is directly related to our relationship with the Lord and our trusting Him in all circumstances.

As I conclude this posting, a song by Selah has come on (not selected by me but by Him!). The song is titled "All of Me" and it is about surrender. "Take my life and make it yours, Lord. Fill me with your love. You are all I need. I surrender all of me." My Lord, my Lover God, I surrender all of me with a joyful and willing heart. My life is yours and I give it to you with celebration and abandonment. I love you more than anyone or anything in my life!

Controlled Burn

2011-01-29T18:41:00.000-08:00

Back around 1998 wild fires were raging in Central Florida. I remember because my sons were on a mission trip there from North Carolina and there was great concern back home for their safety. Highways were closed, smoke was debilitating and the fires were running rampant. More than one person from Florida expressed the opinion that if the state had been maintaining controlled burns this would have never happened. The costs were well in excess of $100 million, far greater than the annual costs of controlled burns. Consistent clearing away of the undergrowth and debris maintains a healthy forest. Unchecked growth creates a climate that chokes life out of the forest while making it vulnerable to the rampages of fire. Now take this scenario and impose it over our spiritual lives.

We begin our spiritual lives as a young sapling. Often at these early stages we are surrounded and encouraged by more mature believers guiding us in our growth. As we progress and live life, weeds creep in and begin growing around us. Sometimes we recognize them and pull them out (roots and all) but sometimes we ignore them thinking they will just go away. Sadly they may die off in a season but the roots remain for them to pop back up next season stronger and larger than previously. Additionally things come into our lives that are just debris and they clutter the space around us. Over the years, the debris and the undergrowth build up. We are trying to grow tall and healthy in this forest of life, but must struggle against the things that inhibit our health, our spiritual wellness.

We have the availability of a controlled burn in our lives. Holy Spirit is the cleansing fire that can burn away the debris and hold in check the growth of those weeds that would love to choke the life out of us. Acts 15:8-9 God, who knows people's hearts, confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he gave him to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he also cleansed their hearts through faith. God knows our hearts and knows what is going to prevent us from stepping into the fullness He has destined for us. Hence He provided Holy Spirit to walk with us through this life because we cannot do life on our own - not and live it according to God's will. Matthew 3:11 "I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am -- so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Have you ever experienced the controlled burn that comes when you allow Holy Spirit access and give Him permission to do what is necessary? Romans 8:12-13 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Death by fire - Holy Spirit fire - of our flesh and all in which it would entangle us. It is far too easy to allow the factors of life to manipulate us and distract us. However we are called to listen to the voice of Holy Spirit, our counselor, teacher, comforter. If we allow the controlled burn to happen daily in our lives, we are in a much stronger position to avoid the ravages of wild fires that will destroy our lives.

We have all witnessed the destruction of people that we thought were well grounded and spiritually sound. Yet in a moment, their lives were in shatters, ravaged by the relentless flames of wrong choices, poor influences and lack of discipline (to name only a few). There is not a single believer on the face of this planet who is not vulnerable to the wiles of the adversary as he seeks to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:9-10 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. We must always guard our hearts and keep our focus on our Lord. Our daily repentance as well as bearing the fruit of our faith is the best controlled burn we can have. Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Each day that passes, I see more clearly the debris that is in my life. I know that I cannot conquer this without surrendering and submitting to the Lord. As I explained in last week's blog, we need to be walking under the control of Holy Spirit so that He can produce His fruit in us. If our lives are cluttered with debris, it just isn't going to happen. So this week, the message is simple: clean me up Holy Spirit with Your fire!

Fruit - Deformed or Ripe and Beautiful

2011-01-21T13:43:00.000-08:00

In my quiet time with the Lord the word "fruit" keeps popping up. I have been hearing this message loud and clear and know that it is a timely word from Him. Without a doubt all of us at some point in time have picked up a piece of fruit and either bit into or peeled it only to discover that something happened in growing process and it was just not right. Perhaps it was an orange and some of the sections were simply cut short in their growth cycle. Or perhaps you grab an apple only to discover that it did not grow symmetrically but one side is significantly smaller than the other - it is lopsided! The Lord has shown me that there are times that is exactly how I look in the spiritual realm. Ouch!

The scripture that has really caught my attention is Galatians 5:22-23 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. When I first read this verse I did so quickly and unconsciously made fruit plural in my mind. However over the next few days, I heard the Lord explaining to me that it was not plural. This is one fruit of which there are different attributes. He went on to explain to me that until I exhibited the mature fruit in my life, it would be difficult for me to manifest the gifts that He has placed within me. Hmmmm... so without the fruit, can there be a kingdom harvest? Good question.

First let us understand who is in control. Holy Spirit, not me. Who produces the fruit? Holy Spirit not me. So where do I fit into this picture? I must release the control to Him if He is going to accomplish my destiny. If I continue in trying to "manage" my life and accomplish things "my way" I am not releasing the control to Holy Spirit to direct and produce from my life. What happens then? Deformed fruit. Whole fruit contains all of the attributes listed in the scripture. There are not 9 fruits of Holy Spirit; there are 9 attributes that collectively reflect a wholeness of the single fruit that only comes through the power of Holy Spirit. Are you shaking your head at me, and saying, "Duh, Janice! I got that a long time ago."? Well, if you are then you are way ahead of me and this is one posting you can file away for someone else. :-) But if there is a chance that you are not exhibiting wholeness and completeness in your fruit. Come along!

When we look at all 9 attributes they encompass the full range of circumstances in which we can find ourselves. Looking at each attribute individually, consider the following and then look in the mirror and ask yourself what your status is.

Love: The greatest Christian virtue encompasses all the others. Only the Spirit of God can produce in us love for those who hate us.Joy produced by the Spirit does not depend on our circumstances.Peace with God creates internal well-being that spills into our relationships with others so that we become peacemakers (note - not peace keepers - there is a huge difference!). Patience (or tolerance, or long-suffering) gives us forbearance toward other people and endurance under unfavorable circumstances. God is patient with us and promises his presence with those who are patient with others. Kindness connotes generosity, a giving spirit that reflects how God treats us.Goodness is indicative of a favorable tendency or character that is consistent in how we live. Faithfulness (or faith) means exercising good faith and fidelity in our relationships, just as God does with us.Gentleness is exhibited through mildness of manner and disposition. Self Control is a reminder that Holy Spirit does not give moral license but rather empowers us to avoid sin. So my question to myself is, do these descriptors fit me? Does the way I live my life daily reflect these characteristics? Sadly I know the answer and it does not please me, and if it doesn't please me, I can't imagine how it makes my lover God feel. But the good news is that the opportunity for me to change is available - every day. I have the ability through Christ who strengthens me, to not stay the same and to begin to walk out the fruit of Holy Spirit, to begin to grow the fruit that Holy Spirit is trying to produce in my life. If I will let Him control my life.... There is the crux of the situation. Am I going to release control of my life to Holy Spirit. The answer to that question is an unequivocal yes. That is indeed my "resolution" for 2011 and the future. I have been walking with the Lord for 21 years. I have learned a lot about Him and about myself. I am still learning and pray that I never stop. However a huge lesson that He is teaching me now is that it is a mistake to take back control once I have given it to Him. I gave Him control October 10, 1989. Slowly I have been pulling it back. Fortunately, God had revealed this to me and is now enabling me to relinquish it back to Him. I can already feel a different level of Shalom in my life. I eagerly await this year as it unfolds and I watch Him work in my life.

Discipline, Focus and Commitment

2011-01-14T06:52:00.000-08:00

When my sons were in high school, music was a significant aspect of their lives and consequently of their parents' lives. Marching Band, Chamber Choir, Concert Orchestra, Show Choir were all integrated into our daily lives. However the most enjoyable activity was the competitions. We witnessed the results of hours upon hours of practice, discipline and focus. Without a doubt the events that the crowds enjoyed the most were the marching band competitions. These required early wake-ups, hours of travel and much labor in loading and unloading equipment, but once the kids hit the field, the magic began.

Recently I received a link to an incredible drum corps. Of all the competitions that we attended with our boys, I believe that drum and bugle corps were the most impressive. The video I watched this week was an adult drum corps from Switzerland that was unbelievable. Take a minute and watch, then come back to reading what the Lord showed me through this performance. Top Secret Drum Corps

The individuals performing in this event exhibited phenomenal discipline and focus. More importantly however was the obvious commitment that each one had made to be an integral component of this corps. It took untold hours of practice time and then the sacrifice of personal vacation time to demonstrate to the world what they had accomplished. Yet as individualistic as that commitment, discipline and focus were, the impact upon those outside this corps was from the integration of the individual into the whole. As we watched this performance we weren't watching a single person. Rather we watched the synchronized movement of hands, drumsticks, matching feet, bending feathers on hats. We listened to faultless timing in the percussion of all of these drums. Yes, it was not the individual member, it was the body as a whole that impressed us.

Thus it is with the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12: 12,18-21 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. ....But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." Imagine what the drum corps would look like if each person did their own thing. Chaos! They understand the importance of each person completing their assignment with excellence. Do we understand the importance of completing our assignment within the Body of Christ?

Sadly as one observes the Body of Christ functioning throughout the world today, there are many mixed messages. We are fractured, isolated, broken and often confused. No wonder we are having such a challenge in America bringing the gospel to life. We have gotten so caught up in the mentality of individualism which now dominates our culture, that we have forgotten how to function as a unified body. Certainly there are portions of the body which are operating effectively, but we have only to look at amputees and realize that anyone determined will learn how to live in spite of losing body parts. Do we really believe that God designed His body here on earth to function as an amputee? I don't.

What I do realize is that I must take personal responsibility for being fully functional within the body. This week I came to the realization that I must fertilize and cultivate the fruits of the spirit that are to be the outward product of a life controlled by Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. I was ashamed to contemplate how easy it is for me to exhibit something other than these 9 fruits. Life, my flesh, the words and actions of others are triggers that bring about the antithesis of these fruits. So if I am guilty of stepping outside these parameters, how can I possibly be contributing to a unified, synchronized life that impacts the world for Christ?

Go back to the drum corps and imagine if one of the members decided that He would step off on the opposite foot of everyone else, just because it felt right to him. Everybody is thrown off. What if suddenly someone decides to throw in a drum solo because he wanted to exhibit his individual talent? Not only would the sound be distorted, but the tempo is altered. Now the corps' ears are confused about which beat to follow in marching. Perhaps this analogy has you asking so? May I suggest that we each have a responsibility to get in step with the body of Christ to which we have been accepted and embraced. This is not about us - not about me - in spite of what our culture teaches us. We are an integral part of the greater body and it is our mandate to discern how God wants to use us. This is not about our personal agenda. It is about God's agenda. He is the master choreographer of our lives and only He knows what this will look like from the stands. Let us all surrender our egos and fleshly desires to His purposes.

Connecting Stillness with Shalom

2011-01-07T15:19:00.000-08:00

Since the Christmas season came to a close, I have been hearing consistently from the Lord that He wants me to be still and listen. In talking with friends, I find that they are hearing the same message. Yet simultaneously, I am seeing activity and purpose taking form in both my spirit and my life. Accompanying these things has been the sweetest Shalom that I have felt in quite a while. Does that seem contradictory? A recurring message through which I have received confirmation is another "contradiction". Resting in the Lord does not mean not moving forward. Seriously.

The Hebrew word shalom is most commonly understood around the world to mean "peace." However, "peace" is only one small part of the meaning of shalom. "Shalom" is also used to both greet people and to bid them farewell; yet it means much more than "peace, hello or goodbye". According to Strong's Concordance 7965 Shalom also means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means to pay for, and Shulam means to be fully paid. Shalom is not the absence of war; rather it is a condition that is only obtained through the presence of the "Sar Shalom" the Prince of Peace, Yeshua HaMaschiach, Jesus the Messiah.

If I am listening to the Lord for His direction in my life, if I have truly surrendered my life to Him, if I am not living for me, but living for Him, then and only then can I function in true Shalom. I have realized that I am guilty (as I imagine maybe a few of you are as well) of trying to manage my life so that it appears to fit within everything that I feel emotionally, understand intellectually and can handle physically. The challenge is that frequently this juggling act does not invite Shalom into my life. Instead it often hinders it. I can reflect on so many times in my life, and I am not talking ancient history here, that I have not operated in the Shalom of the Lord, but on the periphery of that Shalom. I can see it, I can sense it, but I am not immersed in it.

How do we stop "managing" our lives and begin living them in Shalom? I promise you I don't have the answers but I might have a few suggestions that are beginning to impact me. It has been frustrating for me to know the Word, know the heart of my Lord and still drift away instead of making a beeline to His center, His love and heart for me. Far too often I let little things distract me and affect my attitude. Sadly I am guilty of letting things exit out of my mouth (which is too often the gusher from the wellspring of my heart!) that do not edify God. The last time I checked, criticism and complaining were not edifying. I reflect now on those moments (which I cannot retrieve sadly) and am chagrined that I did not stop my lips from opening. Did those words exhibit Shalom in my life? Not a bit. So step one: clean up my heart. Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Step two: Carefully choose how I am spending my time. Proverbs 31:27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Ecclesiastes 10:18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. Anyone who really knows me, knows that I stay busy. However, that is not to what I am referring. I am talking about the choices that I make in how I spend my time. I have heard the Lord ask for more intimate time with me. I would be really foolish to tell Him no. I am guilty of letting time filling activities grow in my life, activities which do nothing to enhance my life for Him or with Him. Please understand that I am not criticizing leisure time. In fact Glen and I have made a commitment to each other to have a "date night" twice a month. What I am talking about is the times that I have just sat at my computer and before I knew it, 20 minutes have passed by. I want to become more deliberate in how I approach each day and the hours in the day.

We are entering a period of 40 days of prayer and fasting. This is a wonderful opportunity to begin to re-order my life. Step three: make Him the priority in my daily life. Proverbs 8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. Am I waiting and watching for Him throughout each day? Am I consumed with this lover God of mine who I know is consumed with love for me? I know I can improve here. It isn't that I don't think about Him each day, but I know I have fallen slack in making Him the prioritizing factor of my life.

So returning to my title: what does stillness have to do with Shalom? I believe, deeply believe, that if I begin to follow these three simple steps that I will be able to function - to live - in the completeness, the wholeness of the Shalom of my Lord. This will require me to be still - not inactive - and reside totally in Him allowing Him access and full liberty to direct my life and more importantly to draw me near to Him as I draw Him to me. I don't want 2011 or in fact the rest of my life to be like the past has been. I am ready - no, I m hungry - for His changes to overwhelm. I am ready, Lord! I give you my life (again), holding nothing back!

Doing Life Together

2010-12-29T17:34:00.000-08:00

Recently when visiting with a friend, he used the expression "doing life together". We were discussing the difference in being connected with the Body of Christ versus floating on the periphery of it. I know many believers who float from church to church never making the commitment to invest their time and talents into one specific group of believers. I am not questioning when we are in a season of waiting on the Lord for specific instructions, but rather referencing the continuation of that limbo status when the time has long passed to make that commitment. Once I was asked where I found the scriptural truths that indicate we need to be planted in a "church" of believers in order to see our gifts flourish and grow fostering a greater contribution to the kingdom and the harvest. When I heard the expression in the title from our friend, it became crystal clear to me why we are to be committed to a single body of believers.

Have you ever been in that place in life in which you feel disconnected from everyone around you? Can you identify with the feeling that you are not part of any group, just an outsider that "visits"? I sent my life feeling as if I was not "part" of anything. I can remember in my early childhood years yearning to be part of "that" group. Even as a young adult in high school, it was an ongoing effort to be in as many organizations as I could manage hoping that in one of them, I would feel as if I belonged. Later in life as a young married, I would see groups around me living life together, yet I never felt as if I was living life with anyone outside my immediate family. It seemed as if everyone around me had someplace to go and someone with whom to do things except me.

When I accepted Christ and surrendered my life to Him, those things seemed much less important than they once did, yet the sense of still being an outsider lingered. I chalked that up to being "in this world and not of this world". It was OK with me that I was different because I understood why I was different. However God had something more to teach me about this and that was the most precious gift that He gave me this Christmas.

This Christmas was different in several aspects and those differences wove together to create a tapestry for me that illustrated what God wants from me in "doing life" with fellow believers. Life is a process and if we are surrendered to the Lord, we are constantly moving forward in that process. Since I surrendered my life to Him in 1989, I have belonged to several churches. Each move brought me closer in my understanding of who He is and who I am in Him. I know that each move was orchestrated by my Lord as I sought His desire each time. I can now see that if I had not walked through the process I would not be matured to the place in which I function now. Yet to not acknowledge that each place had its rocky paths would be lying to myself and everyone else. I was growing and I was learning, but I had yet to feel truly connected to the Body. I was not being fed through the body, but rather intravenously from the Source of Life Himself.

What is different about where I am today is simply that I am "doing life" with others in an intimate and complete way that I have never done before. "Doing Life" together means more than ministering to the world together or worshipping together twice a week. "Doing Life" means that we are covering one another, helping one another, encouraging one another, supporting one another. This specifically is in reference to fellow believers; they are adopted as we are into God's family and hence are our brothers (and sisters). Begin your study with the word brother in your concordance and focus on the New Testament readings that discuss how we treat our brothers. For example, Romans 14:15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Question: If you are not walking connected to others (doing life together) how will anyone know what your lifestyle is? If you are living in isolation then you are at a distance from other believers and your life and choices will not have any impact - positive or negative.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. The reverse of this statement is that we are to be industrious and encourage each other to do the same. Once again, I pose the same question: If we are not doing life together, how will anyone know whether we are idle or not? They won't. The chosen isolation of being disconnected protects the exposure of our true nature. However let's consider the very positive aspect of being connected. We are the body of Christ which has many individual parts, all of which are required for a fully functional body. Once we are connected, we understand what "part" we are and how we contribute to the whole. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. Only when we are connected to the rest of the body can we understand what our gifts are, what our role is and indeed how we impact the rest of the body in its quest for the advancement of the Kingdom.

So back to my Christmas tapestry of 2010. In my participation in the Christmas Outreach at our church, I realized that while I was not indispensable (after all amputees function without all of their parts), I was needed and useful. I also experienced the individual connection between fellow members outside of the church building as our brothers and sisters surprised us with spontaneous visits and touches of love. I realized that these surprises had nothing to do with my performance or with their sense of obligation, but rather were simply acts of love. God's love was shining through them and does so not just during this Christmas season, but throughout the whole year. I am learning to receive as well as give. As brothers (and sisters) in the body of Christ we are called to treat each other differently than the rest of the world. This Body we belong to is the most inclusive, exclusive "club" in the world. How cool is that??? Do you want to experience belonging? Get connected with a local, real, grounded body of Christ and start doing life together. You must connect in order to feel the powerful flow of the life giving blood and water of Life to flow through you. Once the nourishment has started flowing, just watch your gifts grow and the fruit that will result will amaze you and delight God. Happy New Year! Make it the best one ever. Get connected!

Competing in the Race

2010-12-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

How many times have you heard Paul quoted from Philippians regarding the race that we are to run? Philippians 3:13-14 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. If you are like me you have heard it more than you can count. It is certainly a scripture on which we ourselves will often reflect when life gets difficult. But there are aspects to racing that we inadvertently include in our thought processes that are not necessarily correct in this instance. Paul was speaking to an audience that "got" athleticism. It had grown exponentially under Roman rule and the athletic games were all consuming especially in the pagan society. People understood and even embraced the importance of image and being able to compete in the games that convened frequently. Just as Jesus did when He was speaking to the crowds, Paul chose analogies with which they could easily identify. Being a winner in Roman games brought accolades and fame. However was this what Paul was trying to convey?

A recurrent theme throughout the writings of Paul is the importance of how we live our lives. Take his advice to Timothy in 1Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Paul was advocating individual responsibility for our lives. We are to be examples in all that we do and say. How about the advice to the church at Ephesus, Ephesians 5:15-17 So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. So how does this relate back to the race?

What do you visualize when you think of a race? Competition is the first thing that comes to my mind. Who has to be overcome in order to win the prize? How good are they? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What are mine as a competitor? What happens if I lose? (Big issue for me which is exactly why I hate to compete in anything!) Another thing that comes to mind is an all out effort. You put everything on the line - all of your energy, all of your strength. Whether it is a team race or an individual race, there is this attitude of pulling out all of the stops. Sometimes this very perspective leads to disaster. NASCAR racing comes to mind. My sweet husband introduced me to this sport and laughs when I exclaim at the end, "They are just like a bunch of little boys waiting until the last minute to go to the bathroom and disaster strikes!" There is inevitably a mass multiple car pile up at the end that does not include the winner. There is a sense of desperation at the very end of the race. Are any of these aspects what Paul was conveying to us?

Perhaps some aspects of a true athletic race are relevant. One we must endure to the end of the race. Quitting mid stream will not cut it. Quitting leaves us vulnerable to the wiles of the adversary. Enduring leaves him trying to catch up to us and eventually failing altogether. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. Think of the first time marathoner. The only goal he/she has in mind is to complete the race. Endurance is critical and the accomplishment in completing every mile of the race is the thought that enables perseverance.

We are first time marathoners in this race called Christian life. We have one life to live and one race to run to the glory of Christ. There will be countless distractions as we run this race but there is a huge crowd of witnesses watching us run. Some will encourage us, provide refreshment along the way and aid us if we fall. Others will be rooting for the adversary to succeed in tripping us up, in slowing us down, in getting us to quit the race. These "hecklers in the crowd" do not want us to complete this race. The last thing they want is for us to receive the prize of eternal life with our glorious Jehovah.

There is another aspect to the marathon that is very relevant to our personal race. Marathoners have a tendency to encourage each other along the way. For the vast majority of them running the race and completing it is the goal, perhaps bettering their own personal time. If being the first one to cross the finish line was the motivation there would not be thousands running in the major marathons every season. Being a marathoner is an exclusive "club" to which many aspire to belong. Once in the club, there is a mutual admiration from others who have succeeded because each individual knows the cost to belong. Isn't this a lot like being a Believer?

My brothers and sisters, we are in an exclusive club, but one whose membership is open to the world. However, if the invitation is accepted then endurance is expected. This is a tough race we are running. The race course belongs to the adversary (remember we are not of this world, just in it). He knows all of the turns in the road and especially the ones to which we are most vulnerable. He watches and sees when our energy is depleted and when our vision is hindered; then he strikes. We have the responsibility of encouraging each other, holding each other up when the going gets really tough and even picking each other up when one of us falls. Falling in the race is not cause for terminating the race. Failing to get up and push on however will make it very difficult to finish the race we have started. You have to be up and moving forward to finish the race. Let each of us examine our own lives and determine how to run it better, run it stronger and endure to the end!

Distraction or Accessory

2010-11-30T10:20:00.000-08:00

If you have children - of any age - you will recall the times you were knee deep in a project or crisis and your little one was constantly underfoot, asking the infinite number of questions. Better to the point have you worked with adults who constantly question what you are doing and how you are doing it? Frequently we encounter distractions that hinder what we are trying to accomplish, sometimes well intentioned, sometimes maliciously intentioned. In either case, we see an objective in front of us and instead of moving forward in the direction of completion, we are forced to side-step, back up or stop altogether. How like working for the kingdom of God this is.

Matthew 9:23-25 When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he noticed the noisy crowds and heard the funeral music. He said, "Get out! The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him. When the crowd was finally outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! Jarius, the leader of a local synagogue, had come to Jesus beseeching Him to heal His daughter who had just died. One would think that this leader held the respect of the local people. Yet when he arrived with Jesus at his home, there was no respect. There was noise and funeral music playing. Noise. The prime distraction in our lives. Why do you think that Jesus told all the people to get out? Hadn't Jesus performed miracles in the past in the midst of crowds? Have you ever thought about that?

Imagine the atmosphere at that moment. Clearly there was a crowd in the home because the last verse describes them as such when they were finally outside. The "noise" that they were making was in Greek defined as: 1) to make a noise or uproar, be turbulent; 2) to disturb, throw into confusion. Sounds to me as if there were some demonic spirits present in that home. Turbulence and confusion are tools of the enemy, not of the Lord. Perhaps He was more interested in saving a young girl's life than providing entertainment for an unruly crowd. Perhaps their disbelief would have hindered the belief of the parents. After all, Jesus acknowledged that miracles were hard to come by in His own hometown because of the disbelief and lack of respect due the Son of God.

A desperate father had come seeking the impossible - perhaps this prophet, this man Jesus about whom everyone was talking could really pull off this miracle. Anything was worth a try. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain...or did he? Imagine his thoughts as he brought Jesus into his home filled with unruly relatives and townspeople. Clearly they were non-believers because they laughed at Jesus. This leader is also being laughed at because he is the one that brought Jesus, believing that a miracle would happen. Would this ridicule continue if Jesus did not raise his daughter from the dead? What would happen to his position in the synagogue and in the town? Imagine his wife's state of mind. Confusion is easy to visualize in the midst of the noise of the crowd.

Jesus understood everything about the situation including the parents' state of mind. He desired an atmosphere of faith not disbelief. Hence the question for us today. What type of atmosphere do we create in which we are seeking to have the Lord move? Are we hindering the move of God at times by our "noise"? Are we part of an unruly crowd that actually keeps the Lord from performing the impossible as happened in His hometown? Think about the various ways that we could be undermining the move of God. Multiple scenarios pop into my mind. Am I talking instead of listening? Am I voicing my own opinions instead of allowing God access to the situation to speak His heart? Could it be that I am misinterpreting "signs" and thus communicating distortion to those around me? The more I ponder this, the easier I see that it is to become a hindrance to God rather than an accessory to His work.

My heart's desire is for God to look at my life and say, "Send her. She is a willing vessel." However in order for that to happen, I truly have to be a willing vessel. My belief in the power of God must supersede the unbelief that surrounds me. The doubters, the naysayers, the critics abound in our lives. Do we become part of the "noise" of life, or do we become those that clear out the room so that God can work. What happens in our churches? Are we part of the group that says, this is not the time nor the place for God to do "that kind" of work, or do we bring Jesus into the house to work His miracles? The first century Christians fought every kind of persecution that we could imagine. Life did not suddenly become easy and wonderful because they accepted Christ. On the contrary, life became very difficult. Yet they persevered and because they did, we have our faith today.

It is time, my friends, time for us to step into our responsibilities and our callings as Believers, as followers of The Way. Sitting on the bench of the team of the Body of Christ will not work in these times. Our very way of life is being threatened by the ominous shadow of those that would have Christianity wiped out of America and in fact the rest of the world. Will we be the Jarius's of today and boldly go get our Savior to bring restoration to this world, or will we be the noisy crowd who just laughs with the rest? My choice and yours. Walk in the power and authority of Jesus Christ and don't look back!

Instructions for Life

2010-11-22T12:25:00.000-08:00

How many times have you either said or heard, "If only someone had told me!!!" We lament because disaster could have been averted if only we knew.....if only we had that hindsight as foresight when we needed it most. Life seems full of surprises and we react to a situation because we are caught off guard. In the circumstances that matter the most, we should be proactive and not reactive, yet are we? Think about your relationships, your life circumstances, your faith. Have you ever made that exclamation I stated above? If only.....

I have good news for you! Contained within scripture are instructions for life that will aid us in avoiding disaster and guide us through difficult situations. Actually, the entire Bible will serve that purpose. However recently I came upon a single verse that in its simplicity is often overlooked. Please allow me to share it with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Paul is closing his last letter to the Corinthian church. The preceding verses as well as the first letter were filled with instructions as to how to live a Godly life and witness to the world who Christ is. When you are saying goodbye to someone and you are not sure you will see them again, you want to be sure that your last words summarize your most important thoughts. Paul tries to capture the essence of walking out our faith in these few words. Not only did they apply to the Corinthian church, they apply to us today.

First, Be Joyful. We have so much to rejoice over. As Christians, our salvation has been bought by the blood of Jesus, but even greater than that, the veil is torn and we now have access to the Throne of God Himself. We get to commune with Him, dialogue continually, celebrate as He dances and sings over us. We get to call him Abba, Poppa, Daddy, whatever nickname you use in intimacy with Him. We exchanged our yoke for His, a lighter, easier one. Our future is with Him. We have surrendered control of our lives to Him and get to serve Him out of love and not mandated performance. Our joy is what should attract others to a relationship with Him. No matter what our circumstances we should be joyful. James 1:2 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. The apostles had significant troubles as they faced increasing persecution from all angles. Yet because of their joyfulness in spite of those circumstances, the number of believers grew exponentially.

Second, Grow to Maturity. We are not to be content with standing in the threshold of salvation. Once we accept Christ into our hearts, we have walked through an open door. However if we are content to stay there, we will never know the bounty that the Lord has waiting for us in the kingdom. First please acknowledge that the Kingdom of Heaven is here now within each of us. Study out the words of Jesus and you will know that this is truth. However, if a believer is not growing daily in maturity through the Word and through time listening to the Counselor, Holy Spirit, then that person is stuck in the doorway of faith. We are called to transformation and that only happens through growth. Romans 12:2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. As I wrote 2 weeks ago, once we become believers we are no longer of this world and we are expected by the Lord to change and not just changed once, but changed daily as we grow in the maturity of our faith.

Third, Encourage each other. We are the body of Christ together. Not a single one of us is complete without being connected to the rest of the body. We must look to our brothers and sisters within the body and lift one another up. If we allow one part of the body to collapse, then it impacts all of the body. We are not self-sufficient. Have you ever been encouraged during a rough time by a brother or sister in faith when your own "blood" family would not support you? I know that it happens all of the time. God has created us for relationship and once we become part of the body, we are responsible for maintaining healthy relationships within the body. There is only one way you can survive being set apart (which we are all called to be once we accept Christ). Survival is achieved when you are connected to a life-giving, life-affirming body. Isolation is not an answer that comes from the Lord. Isolation is a strategy of the enemy - isolate then destroy. It is a predator strategy that you see carried out in the animal kingdom daily. Instead we are called to help and be with each other. Hebrews 10:24-25 Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. 1Thessalonians 5:11, 14 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy.....Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

Finally, Live in harmony and peace. Don't cause strife and division in the body. Be mindful of how you live and invite the Shalom of the Lord to inhabit your circumstances, prevail over your life. When we work to be of one mind in Christ, harmony is inevitably the result. Does that mean that everything in your life is perfect? Not hardly. Jesus Himself warned us that many trials and tribulations would come our way once we picked up our cross to follow Him. However it is amazing how peace will prevail in the midst of trouble when we choose to focus on Him instead of our circumstances. I vividly recall in some of my most difficult moments in the past that people would ask how I could be so peaceful in the midst of the circumstances. My answer was always the same: He gives me that peace and the assurance that this too will pass but His love for me never will. Be a testimony to the world that His peace is what they too want.

Paul concludes with this promise: The God of love and peace will be with you. Wow, that is powerful. Follow these simple instructions for life and this is the promise of the Lord. He will be with you and He is the God of love and peace not war and strife. That is what I want in my life - today, tomorrow, forever. Simple instructions ~ Incredible outcome. Life - pure, simple, His way. Embrace it!

Praise and Worship - Really?

2010-11-15T17:14:00.000-08:00

Recently I have become profoundly cognizant of my deep inner need to come before my Lord in true worship. Consequently I have simultaneously begun paying close attention to my thoughts, actions and heart when I am coming before Him to either praise Him or worship Him. I question my motives and my posture. I am now asking myself the W questions: where am I worshipping Him, why am I worshipping Him, when am I worshipping Him. Then I pose the same questions for praise. In order to answer these questions accurately, I must first define what these two words are: praise and worship. What do they really mean?

What are the first things that come into your mind when you hear the word, "worship"? Do you think about church and your weekly service? Do you by chance think, "oh yeah, that is the leader's responsibility. I am here to join in." I hope not. I pray that you have already embraced the real meaning of worship. One of the easiest ways to describe worship is to utilize the illustration of pagan gods. Seriously. Pagans were well known to "worship" multiple gods. Their many temples and complex rituals illustrated how extensive their worship was. They had household gods and altars within their homes that permitted them to worship these gods frequently, privately and as the need arose. The worship of their gods dominated their lives. Was their worship relegated to occurring inside the temple on a routine basis? I think not. They were obsessed with their gods and their worship was continual.

Now think about the early Hebrew people as they were leaving Egypt. Pharaoh tells Moses and Aaron "Go and worship the Lord as you have requested. Take the flocks and the herds, as you said, and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave." Exodus 12:31-32 What did Pharaoh picture when he gave that command? Remember that the Hebrew people had been enslaved by a pagan nation for 400 years. Did the Hebrew people themselves even know how to worship their Lord? I wonder. Once in the wilderness, though they quickly fell back into the patterns with which they had lived for centuries. They had yet to grasp what the Lord was seeking from them. Once they had escaped the Egyptian army via the Red Sea, they sang a song of deliverance. Their worship at that moment was a combination of praise, testimony and worship of the greatness of God. (Exodus 15). They weren't in a church, or a synagogue or a temple. They were standing out in the middle of the wilderness and God had just established that HE was there. Worship erupted! Praise of His glory erupted!

Has God ever moved in your life? Does that initiate worship and praise? I don't mean the put out the fire at the last possible minute - although He has certainly done that for me as well as many folks I know. I mean has He ever moved in your life? Do you only praise Him at that moment or does it become another component of your ongoing worship? Do you continually add to His countless attributes of magnificence and worship Him? Worship is a lifestyle. It is not a weekly act of offering up music and songs. Our very words spoken daily, our acts in daily life, are our sacrifices of worship. Do we indeed lay our lives on the altar of worship and sacrifice ourselves to Him? Ephesians 5:18-20 Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder if we truly grasp that last verse - How do we not grasp "always" and "everything"?

Finally, consider praise as a weapon. Psalm 149:6-9 Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands -- to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glory of his faithful ones. Praise the LORD! Do you see praise as a powerful weapon in your spiritual tool belt? God has declared it so. Are we using it that way, or do we simply see praise as saying "Thanks,God." Look at all the attributes that God used in this psalm to describe praise. We cannot use these attributes if all we are doing is coming to Him with a grateful heart. We need to be declaring His power, His authority and using the testimony of His word as the fuel for these praises. Not our words - His words! We must be warriors in our praise and our worship. Please don't be passive and don't enable performance oriented worship. This is about Him and not about us or someone's musical talents. They are only background vehicles to ushering in His presence, but our hearts and our openness to His power being exhibited through us is critical!!!!

I don't think I will allow myself to approach my relationship with Him the same from this point forward. The times when I come together with my brothers and sisters in Christ for corporate praise should pale by comparison to that which I share daily with my Lord and the Lover of my soul. Everything I do up to that moment should be building to a wonderful crescendo. All of us coming together would hopefully be building to the same crescendo like a wonderful orchestra in which each instrument has been played daily, individually, so that when we come together it is an orchestrated sound that pleases God's ears and His heart. Is this what your worship experience is like? Is this how you praise the Lord? If not then let us all come into agreement that the Lord will never hear anything less than that from us again. Hallelujah!!!!

Shalom not Chaos

2010-11-10T18:34:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the first time you became aware that you were being wooed by the Lord to walk with Him? Even if you had accepted Jesus as a child, there most likely was some point as a teenager or an adult that you began to understand the significance of your decision relevant to being set apart. We visited that very topic last week, but there are so many aspects to this crossroads. Deciding to pick up your cross and follow Him should have resulted in changes in both your thinking as well as your life. This is especially true the older we are when we make that change. What happened to your relationships when you made that decision?

This morning I was studying the writings of Paul in Corinthians and began to ponder the circumstances that prodded Paul to write what he did. First consider this scripture - 1 Corinthians 7:22-24 And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, the Lord has now set you free from the awful power of sin. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. God purchased you at a high price. Don't be enslaved by the world. So, dear brothers and sisters, whatever situation you were in when you became a believer, stay there in your new relationship with God. Rampant slavery as well as sexual immorality and pagan worship was an intricate part of society. Imagine yourself as a brand new believer in Corinth and trying to figure out how you function in the midst of this environment. Notice that Paul does not say, "evacuate, evacuate!". Paul admonishes them to begin to see themselves as slaves to Christ and not to the world, but to stay where they are ~ in the marriages that they are committed to as well as the current "life position" (slave or free man). He is not advocating rebellion and chaos, rather an influential lifestyle that reflects God's love throughout.

Tremendous chaos was resulting from this new movement of people following The Way. Those that were outside this movement were alarmed at the rapidity with which it was growing and the spirits of fear and Jezebel were manifesting at every turn. Yet the apostles did not advocate a violent revolution but instead a revolution of love and caring. The early followers of Christ changed the world as it existed not because they forced their beliefs on others, but because they were able to walk out their beliefs of love. The power of love is the most influential force on the face of our earth. Yet how many of us have walked this out from day one?

Let's consider the typical situation of a marriage that is unequally yoked because of the spouses came to know and accept Jesus after the marriage took place. Far too often the believer becomes a zealot and tries to force this new recognition of the power of God onto their spouse. The spouse resists because they have yet to hear this call in their own hearts and simultaneously they have seen the person they had married change before their eyes. Without time to acclimate to this new persona with whom they are now living, the changed person begins "preaching" day and night in disbelief that their spouse is not getting it. Chaos, disharmony, tension, anger all begin to mount and their is no Shalom in the home. There is no agape love which is the core value of what Jesus taught us. The same scenario begins to play itself out in the work place, in social circles, in extended family circles. How could we have missed the mark so badly?

1 Corinthians 7:17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. The more significant aspect of this discussion is the understanding that God knew exactly where you were in life when He began wooing you. Clearly there is a purpose we are to serve in our given circumstances or else He would have waited until our circumstances changed before He called out to us. The Lord has assigned us a place. This is not to say that when we are caught in bad circumstances because of decisions made in this fallen world that He chose those circumstances for us. I personally believe that He allows us to walk out the consequences of human decisions made out of free will, whether ours or others. The "walking out" becomes how we honor and worship Him or how we defer to the world. Simply put, God knows where we are at all times and He is loving us through those circumstances if we will allow Him.

Believers are meant to change the world through love, not violent revolution. We are meant to disrupt, but to disrupt through love and the introduction of Shalom to the atmosphere around us. People should see that we are different, that we are set apart. Ultimately however that is meant to draw them to Christ, not send them running in the other direction. So each of us must ask ourselves, does the way I live my life draw people to Him because they want what I have, or does it send them away saying, "I sure am glad I don't follow her God."? We must eagerly pursue Shalom in every aspect of our life and seek His strength to walk in love no matter what the circumstances. We are not to resign ourselves to living a quiet unnoticed life that allows us to blend in with the environment around us. Instead I urge you to live a life that proclaims you are loved and you are the physical embodiment of His love on this earth. If we will all walk in love, we will change the world.

Impact of Being Set Apart

2010-11-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

One of the consequences of deepening my relationship with the Lord is an increased awareness of how different I am from those around me and indeed from whom I used to be. Whether it is wisdom, maturity or a heightened sense of how God sees me, I am seeing life and my past through clearer eyes than previously. Fortunately I am not alone in this. There are other folks with whom I speak that are experiencing the same discomfort with the rest of the world. Little things, like walking through a department store, shock me into a fresh appreciation of just how far away from God our society has gone. I am appalled at the garments that I know people are going to buy to wear or worse yet, put on their children. I was walking through the mall with a mission to get a cable my husband needed for worship and in front of me was a young couple with twin girls not more than 3 years old. These little girls were dressed as if they were ready to go "clubbing". I was in shock. Where was their innocence? Would they ever get to just be little girls?

This sharpened vision has also had me look behind me at my own past and I was humbled and ashamed at some of the things of which I was guilty. Even though this is embarrassing, I am sharing because there may be someone reading this who is walking the path I walked and God so wants to free you from this bondage. All of my life, my appearance was very important to me. Can you imagine that as a college student in the early 70's I did not own a pair of jeans??? I "dressed to the 9's" every day. It was imperative to me that I stood out. Please understand, this is not "set apart"; I was not saved until my late 30's. My self esteem was so poor that I did whatever I needed to make myself feel noticed. Since I knew my legs were my asset, I wore short skirts and if you can imagine this ~ hot pants suits. I made my clothes and would make suits but instead of skirts, there were hot pants, or a split skirt over the hot pants. I turned heads alright, but I also gained a reputation that I did not earn. My attire created an impression that was not favorable. At the time I was incredulous that anybody would believe those lies. But why wouldn't they? Actions speak louder than words.

Fast forward. I am now a mom with teenage sons. I still have a cute figure and still have good legs. What am I doing? The same thing I always did, dress to turn heads. What I never realized until very recently was what I was doing to the young men that were surrounding me because I had three sons. Men are very visual and are from a very early age. Simply look at how pornography has seized our youth. I never stopped to think about what was happening in these impressionable minds because this older woman was "hot". I shudder now as I take responsibility for what I may have caused these young men to think. Here I was the mother of one of their friends who talks about loving the Lord and walking with Him, even giving them advice about how to live their lives for Him, while all that time I am sitting there in inappropriate attire.

We are responsible for the ripples that our behavior creates. We are responsible for the impact of our actions and our words. There is a reason that parents who live a life of "Do as I say and not as I do" have recurring dissonance in their lives. I look back on my behavior after my divorce and realized that I was guilty of wanting my sons to not reject me the way that I felt rejected because of my failed marriage. I loved the Lord and was walking out trust with Him by moving and starting over. Yet my attire and my behavior of partying with my sons and their friends spoke a very different message. How could I expect them to honor me and respect me when I did not honor or respect myself? I should not be surprised that my relationships with my sons took a downhill turn at this time. I could not understand it then, but I do now. Sadly, I do now.

If we are going to love the Lord and follow Him with all of our heart, body and spirit, then we need to do so unconditionally and expect to be rejected in the process. Mark 3:21, 31 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him home with them. "He's out of his mind," they said. 31 Jesus' mother and brothers arrived at the house where he was teaching. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. Jesus was totally engaged in ministry and He and His disciples were not taking time to eat. The fervor with which He was ministering disturbed His family. Their summation? He was out of His mind! I can just hear the conversation amongst His family members: "We need to do an intervention. Let's get him outside and then we will take him away and try and bring him to his senses." Sound vaguely familiar to anything you experienced? I can vividly recall my sons being told to not bother me when I was out on our deck. "Your mother is "talking" to God." Then being criticized when I came back inside. Rejection by those that should know us the best because we choose to make God first is difficult to accept.

We must study ourselves and our behavior. Are we trying to be accepted by this world and its standards or are we choosing a higher road, one that requires us to make decisions that are not conventional? What does our behavior, our dress, the choices we make for entertainment tell the world about us? What is foremost in our lives? I battle with being judgmental about the choices others are making. I look at them and realize that the agony I am feeling is because I have walked that road and know that it is indeed "vanity fair". This road is the one most often chosen by the world, and yet the Lord has told us in no uncertain terms that the road to heaven is narrow and the road to hell is broad. Why should we expect that we would not struggle to stay on this narrow road? We live in a fallen world and we still must battle the dark forces that are in this world. One of the most effective ways is to reckon our flesh dead so that we can resist the enemy. In other words, we have been freed into the battle not from the battle to live as overcomers.

This has been an exposing word to share with all of you. I am not proud of what I did. There are many aspects of my life for which I am eternally grateful that God provides grace to restore me after my repentance. I wish I could turn the clock back and relive certain aspects of my life. I have no idea what kind of bad seeds I have sown yet I believe that my God is a restorer of life and I pray that He nullifies those bad seeds and replaces them with good seed in each person's life that I impacted. I continually examine my life now and ask God to show me how He is seeing me. If I need to be convicted of a change, I pray that He shows me loudly and clearly. I do not know if this word was for you, my precious friend, or perhaps for someone you know. In either case, please seize this opportunity to cleanse your life and yourself. Draw closer to Him in all that you do. The further we separate ourselves from the world, the closer we come to Him.

The Repercussions of the Arrows

2010-10-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

Vulnerability and transparency are two gifts that you all have given to me by reading this blog. Through your presence in my life, you have permitted me the luxury, albeit sometimes painful, to pay attention to the more subtle messages from Holy Spirit in my life. Today, I venture forth into murky waters. This is a bit of a detour from my usual postings, but I truly believe that this will be revelation for some of you and perhaps confirmation for others.

I am currently leading a passionate group of ladies in a study of John Eldredge's and Brent Curtis' book Sacred Romance. In the course of this study we are exploring those things in our lives which have kept us from the ultimate romance with our lover, God. Whether male or female it is critical that you perceive yourself as the Beloved of God. We are the Bride of Christ after all. However, the adversary (a polite title for Satan) works very hard to break up this romance by shooting arrows into our hearts from the time we are children. These arrows all have messages, lies, wrapped around them that become embedded into our hearts. This is the third time that I am working through this study and the accompanying workbook. Each time, the revelation into my life has been deeper and more transforming. This past Friday was no exception. The revelation was so powerful that I am lead to share it with all of you and pray that you will also receive some insight into your own lives.

From the Sacred Romance Workbook, page 44: The things we do to protect and preserve our hearts usually end up hurting us more. To choose to shut your heart to love - so that you won't be hurt - is to deny the very thing you are made for. This is really larger than simply "love". If we simply consider the love aspect from our limited understanding than we will miss the significance of what we do. As I read this statement and began to meditate on it, the Lord revealed something astounding to me. Permit me to share a bit of the past with you so that you can understand better. I recalled an incident in my life when I was in elementary school - maybe 3rd - 4th grade. It was my birthday and traditionally my parents took my sisters and me to our local clubhouse for a birthday dinner. One of my sisters' birthday had been the month before and they had surprised her with a cake after dinner at the club. I was excited about that for me, but I wanted it to be a surprise like it was for her. So in trying to manufacture a true "surprise" I kept saying to my family that I did not want a cake at the dinner. Guess what happened. My parents were torn by my words and did not know what to do, so the cake stayed in the trunk of the car until we got home and I was incredibly disappointed.

A pattern developed for life - avoid disappointment by shutting down expectations. Sadly I see that I still do that today. Even with God. I live life saying "God, do whatever you want to with my life" when in reality what I am saying is "God, I don't want to be disappointed when life turns out differently than I expected. So I therefore don't expect you to do anything miraculously wonderful in my life. I certainly am not going to ask you for anything....." God basically said to me, "You don't trust Me to not disappoint you like others have. Yet the love I have for you is like no one else's." I was stunned to realize that what He was saying was true. I DO trust God with my life and I do totally submit and surrender to Him, but what I was lacking was the belief that if I asked Him for the desires of my heart, He would give them to me. It is so much easier to live a life of total complacency in which I simply say, "God do whatever You want with my life. I am totally cool with that." But what if God is waiting for me to take an initiative and ask Him?

One of the exercises in the workbook is to write down something that you would secretly love to do if there were no restraints whatsoever to your request. For 2 years I have been unable to answer that question. Then this time for the first time, I was able to actually put something down that was extraordinary and wonderful. What had stopped me from being able to do that before? Perhaps it was this core belief that if I created an expectation in my life, it would not happen and I would be disappointed - again. I came to the conclusion that I am living a life that is filled with conflicting beliefs. I love the surprises God brings into my life - like my precious husband Glen (I had not asked God for Him. :-)). Yet I was living a life that only allowed room for God to surprise me, not for me to step out in faith and ask Him to be extraordinary in my life.

Sadly, I also came to realize that this belief had surfaced in other areas of my life. I was willing to settle for whatever came my way and was not willing to venture out there and expect my relationships to be extraordinary as well. I was shortchanging the people in my life to be able to bless me and travel with me in this extraordinary adventure called living. The message I had embraced and let direct my life was this: don't expect and therefore avoid disappointment and hurt. Does that sound like a message that came from the Lord? I realized suddenly that this was a message from the other side that was designed to limit my relationship with the Lord and with everyone else in my life.

This may or may not resonate with you. But this is what is being revealed to me about the impact of early arrows in my life. Each arrow landed in about the same place which ultimately led me to the conclusion that life is just going to happen no matter what I try to do about it. If I try to help it out, it will simply be more screwed up than ever. Through the grace of our incredible Lord, who does not want me to settle in this life, I am venturing forth. Baby steps at first, but I know that He is with me and leading me. I was able to spend a few hours sharing with Glen this breakthrough revelation and that is already shifting our marriage from beautiful and wonderful into the phenomenal, extraordinary range. Trusting God and trusting others in our lives is an ongoing process, but it is one that I now intend to passionately pursue ~ with GREAT EXPECTATIONS! I hope that you are as well.

The Power in Each Believer

2010-10-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever bought into the myth that certain "Christians" have more power than others? In other words, pastors have more power than their members; the bigger the congregation the more the power; the more letters after their name (as in degrees) the more power they have, etc. The same myth goes on to convince "simple members" that there are limitations to what they are "allowed" to do in the body of Christ. I am not advocating chaos and a spiritual free-for-all; however I am greatly concerned that the body of Christ today is not walking in the full power and authority to which it has been called.

God is orderly and wants us to operate in the same manner. In any given service, there is indeed an order, but that order should not limit the body of Christ to do what it is commanded to do in the Word of God. Each of us has been given the same mandate: Mark 16:15-18 And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them." There are no limitations in that statement. In fact it is pretty inclusive ~ "those who believe". That is cut and dried; sums it up neatly. Those who believe. There are no qualifiers there, nothing for someone to opt out over. Do you believe? Then miraculous signs will accompany you.

Acts 6:7-8 God's message was preached in ever-widening circles. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too. Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. Stephen was working in the food ministry of the new church. He was busy taking care of the physical needs of the growing church. Yet notice what was happening as he was busy caring out his assignment - he performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. He wasn't an apostle, in fact he wasn't one of the disciples who was following Jesus when Jesus was moving on the earth. He was just one of the new believers who was full of God's grace and power. Do you believe? Then you are filled with God's grace and power.

I think I heard an objection out there.... you are not sure you are filled with His grace and power because you don't see amazing signs and wonders accompanying you? Guess what, there aren't me either, at least none of which I am aware. Yes, there have been healings - but not to the degree that limbs were reformed and blindness restored. I am not exactly "feeling" the miraculous surround me, but I am not discouraged. Someday when I least expect it, those miraculous events will explode all around me. I will be ready too. But there is more to it than just expecting and anticipating. Receipt of miracles is a two way street.

Faith on the part of the recipient is a necessary component, and as reluctant as we are to admit it, faith is not in abundance in America. We have life too easy and do not require the miraculous in order to survive. I know that for many of us, life has not been a cake walk lately by normal standards. Then again, America's standards are not the norms of this world. You know the statistics. I don't have to repeat them for you. Where miracles are happening in astounding frequency is in the underdeveloped nations of this world. Do you understand why? Faith is the only thing that stands in between life and death for many of those populations. Their faith is what is sustaining them everyday and keeping them from giving up ~ and the miracles abound. America however is not going to be left out in God's miracle business. They are happening here in America, the media just is not talking about them. The conspiracy against Christianity is huge in our country and we have got to tackle it on an individual level wherever we live and work.

I want to walk in the total fullness of God's power and grace. I expect to see the miraculous happen around me and through my being Jesus with skin on. When I pray for someone I expect their healing. It may not happen in front of me and it may not happen tomorrow, but I believe that God is going to answer prayer and He is going to move in each situation. I know the miracles He has worked in my own life - they are huge. They may not be of the "astounding" variety but I know healings have occurred within my body and in my soul. I know financially our survival everyday is His miracle in spite of what the "natural" looks like. I give Him the glory and I expect to see the miraculous continue to happen. I am not a preacher, of the ordained variety, but I am a preacher of His Word as He commanded me and I fully intend to continue to operate as a member of His royal priesthood. Join me as you fully activate the power that He has already deposited in you!

Believing versus Assuming

2010-10-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this most likely you are a believer. You have proclaimed Jesus Christ as your Savior. That is probably the most common factor amongst all of us. Yet somewhere after that point, we all begin to travel different roads. One of the most challenging aspects of our journeys is our level of faith. Please note I did not say measure of faith..... there is a difference. Our level of faith truly directs our actions and our thought patterns. Too often we operate in assumption versus belief however.

Assumption: we have committed ourselves to the Lord and therefore the rest of it is handled. I don't need to ask, He is going to handle it. He will tell me whatever He wants and all I have to do is willingly walk into it. True or false? Before we pursue the answer, consider this scripture. Ezra 8:22-23 For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, "Our God protects all those who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him." So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. In this case, Ezra who was high priest understood that as much as he believed in the power of God, he was still compelled to ask God for His protection. Was he in error? Did he not believe enough that God was their protector and would watch out for them?

Pray (or some form of that word) appears in the Word 545 times. Who is praying? Those that know He is listening. What are the prayers for? Everything! The more that we pray (and by prayer I mean dialogue with God) the more we hear His voice. But not everyone is praying. Hard to believe? I know. Me too. The fact is that there is an entire contingent of people that have adopted an attitude of assumption. Once they accepted Christ as their savior, it was a done deal. They can continue to live life on their terms and God will cover them - no matter what. That is what I call assumptive living. We must not buy into the lie of the adversary that we can continue to live life as we used to and still expect to have a relationship with our Lord. Let's get real.

Ezra was a high priest - privileged to enter the Holy of Holies when at that time no one had access to our Lord. Yet he clearly understood reverential fear of the Lord. One must never assume anything (except that He loves us unconditionally). He wants to hear from us. He wants to know that we depend on Him and not on our own resources. Evaluate your own life. How often have you adopted the attitude, "I can handle this, God. I don't need to bother you with that." Hmmm, on the surface that sounds humble doesn't it? Yet in reality it is arrogance. What makes us think that our Lord is not concerned about the tiny things of our life? Matthew 10:29-31 Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. Thus when we adopt the attitude that we do not need to speak to God about the various aspects of our life, we are dismissing His concern for us and His value for us.

God is calling us into deeper and more intimate relationships with Him. Just look around you at our world today. Never has society been darker - at least in our recent generations, and yet never has God's glory been brighter! I was listening to our praise music this morning (Glen has 24 hours worth of praise music on our computer!) and recognized how different Christian music has become in the last few decades - vertical praise versus the horizontal praise of previous generations. There is nothing wrong with the old hymns and southern gospel except that the majority of it was about Him versus to Him. How I love our new direction! I love getting on my face on the floor of our sanctuary at church and being intimate with Him. That never happened 20 years ago. Thank you, Lord for inviting us in further into the Throne Room with You to have that intimate experience that is just between you and me.

Getting back to Ezra, he believed that God would protect them which is why with trepidation he did not ask for soldiers to accompany them on their journey back to Jerusalem. Yet he was not arrogant enough to assume that they could just move forward without first praying and seeking God's favor for them. Throughout the Old Testament we see this action repeated. Those walking in God's favor sought His council and His protection in the dangerous situations they faced. It was only when they ventured forth on their own without consulting Him that difficulties surfaced. What about your own life? Do you pattern your behavior after Ezra?

Operating within a reverential fear of the Lord is a great foundation for life. Constantly dialoguing with Him is equally as important. Even in the little things, this dialogue plays an important role. I remember over three years ago Glen and I were remodeling the house we were to occupy with his mom. Before any of the new carpet was laid, I prayed and asked God how He would like each room of the house dedicated. He gave me specific scriptures for each room and I wrote them on the flooring before the carpet pad was laid. In a corner of each room is a specific scripture for the purpose of that room. One of my favorites is that in our guest room. I call it our Psalm 23 room because the first few verses of that Psalm are written in that room. It is humbling for me to hear our guests share what an incredible night's sleep they had in there. God has His hand on them.

I want to encourage you to ratchet up your prayer life with Him. Be intentional in your daily prayer and be specific in your dialogue with Him. Honestly, I struggle still with being specific. I want to lean back on my stand by attitude of "Whatever You want, God, is cool with me!" But I hear Him asking me, "Janice, what do you want?" It is very tough for me to be specific and I know that it is because historically when I have tried to run my life, I have failed miserably and been disappointed time after time. But I am learning that He will guide me in my dreams and hopes, if I will open my heart and let those things in. I am trying to trust even more than I have in the past. I think that it is time I let God out of my "safe" box and dare to explore all that He has for me. How about you?

Mephibosheth's Son

2010-10-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is only 13 verses long. It is the story of Mephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul. His father was Jonathan, son of King Saul and best friend to King David, long before he became king. The story actually begins decades earlier when Jonathan and David made a covenant promise to each other. 1 Samuel 18:1-4 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. If one studies out covenant, it is understood that it is a pact to which one commits his/her life. There are wonderfully complex aspects to covenant making that are illustrated in these few verses, but that may be a topic for another time. The reason for stating it now is that it is the foundation on which Mephibosheth's future was established.

In spite of the errors in judgment that King David made, he exemplified what covenant keeping meant. On multiple occasions he could have taken King Saul's life and would have been justified given the fact that King Saul was determined to murder him. Yet David would not harm God's appointed one. Unfortunately, David did not consistently make wise choices, as we learn in later years with his adultery and then murderous behavior towards the husband of Bathsheba. Prior to this incident however, David was doing what was just and right for his people and operating in the favor of God. It was during this time of Shalom in the land that David sought to rectify an imbalance in his sight. Three of Saul's sons, including Jonathan, had been killed in the final battle with the Philistines and then Saul killed himself. Everything that King Saul had accumulated eventually came to King David. Yet there was a nagging in King David's spirit. There was a covenant promise he had made with Jonathan, Saul's son. Covenant promises extend past the individuals that made them to the succeeding generations.

2 Samuel 9 is Mephibosheth's story. King David seeks out anyone left of the House of Saul and discovers through an old servant of Saul's that Jonathan has a son still alive. That son is living with another family in a different town and this son has crippled feet. King David brings him to the royal palace. One can only imagine what was going through Mephibosheth's mind. Here is the dialogue: 2 Samuel 9:7-8 "Don't be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table." Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?" From this point, Mephibosheth is given the land that was his grandfather's and gets to eat at the palace table with King David. King David instructs the servant that identified him to work his land and harvest the crops and treat him well.

There is a little oh by the way to this story. Verses 12-13 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. And from then on, all the members of Ziba's household were Mephibosheth's servants. And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, moved to Jerusalem to live at the palace. Did you catch that? Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. Nothing else is ever said about him. We know that nothing in the Word is accidental. God had a purpose for every word that was recorded. Here we have just one piece of knowledge about Mephibosheth's family - he had a young son. We don't even know why Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet, but we know that he had a son. Why is this important to us?

It is all about covenant promises and the importance of keeping them. The original covenant is between David and Jonathan, long before David becomes King. That covenant is lasting throughout the generations. Mephibosheth had no idea that his father and King David were close or that they were connected through a covenant. He was most likely a young child when his father was killed and much water had figuratively gone under the bridge by then. With most of his significant relatives dead as a result of the war with the Philistines, he most likely lost connections that would have kept his family history in tact for him. He was trying to survive is my best guess. Then out of the blue King David calls for him. We know what a surprise that was through the brief dialogue that occurred between King David and Mephibosheth. He can't imagine what the King would want with him. Then in a flash his entire life is reversed and brought into order again.

Who benefits the most from the honoring of the covenant? I think it is young Mica. What kind of future did this young man have before King David appeared on the scene? His father is crippled. We know how cruelly the society in those days treated anyone with a disability. Since all of Saul's wealth had been transferred to David as King, most likely Mephibosheth and his son were barely making it. We could make an assumption that he was being cared for by loyal servants of King Saul. But we don't really know. We can conclude with certainty though that young Mica was now enjoying a very different life than before due to his grandfather's covenant promise. He was redeemed and restored.

Why is this important to us? God has made a covenant promise with us, one that He intends to honor through the generations. It began with Abraham and has extended through the centuries to us. We have been chosen and all of the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven are ours. Jesus made a new covenant with us and has promised us even more. We are heirs to the Kingdom of heaven and recipients of the full power of Holy Spirit. His promises are true and He is trustworthy to keep His word. However, just as David acted to keep the covenant alive and working, we too must keep our covenant alive with the Lord. We can break the personal covenant promise with him. The people of Israel did and Their lives were much more difficult as a result. God wants us to honor our covenant with Him just as David did, and the outcome is the opportunity for generations to come to be blessed by our obedience. Redeemed and restored - that is who we are and that is the potential for our children's children.

Position in the Crowd

2010-09-29T05:32:00.000-07:00

We have all been in crowds at different times of our lives. Huge crowds that pushed in from all sides, small crowds that flowed easily, happy crowds, angry crowds, even sad crowds. In each circumstance where we were positioned in the crowd impacted how we were engaged and what our emotional reaction was to the circumstances surrounding us. Similarly, thanks to the wonders of technology we have witnessed the extreme spectrum of crowds lately. The violent riots in Greece that resulted in death and destruction everywhere are contrasted against the peaceful, joyful gathering on August 28th of this year in Washington DC at the Restoring Honor Rally. Remember back to a time when you were in the midst of a significant crowd and reflect on what you were feeling and doing at the time. Where were you standing physically and where were you standing emotionally?

Recently as I studied scripture, I was struck with the different words used to describe those that were following Jesus during His ministry on earth. Several different descriptors are used when crowds are mentioned. As I reflected on each of these I could see the parallel to our church today and our society. Luke 6: 12-13 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles. Then verse 17 When they came down the slopes of the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon.There are four different types of people in this gathering. First we have the twelve apostles which were a result of Jesus praying all night and hearing the voice of the Lord guiding Him in that selection. (Can you just imagine that conversation with the Trinity?) On the mountain top were disciples from which Jesus chose the twelve. There is no indication how many there were. We must assume that the number was at least greater than twelve. Once chosen, the apostles and disciples led by Jesus went down the mountain to greet those that were waiting for them. Now we see two distinct groups. There are Jesus' followers and then there are the crowds (Note this is plural).

In this circumstance there are four distinctions between the people that were surrounding Jesus that day. His newly appointed Apostles, His disciples, His followers and then the crowds. The intensity with which individuals were pursuing Jesus and His teachings were characterized by how close they were to the man Himself. Picture concentric circles. The more distant one was from the center of the circle, the more distant from the core beliefs that Jesus was teaching. When Jesus chose the apostles, He knew what they would experience for the rest of their lives. Simultaneously He knew what their commitment would be to the Great Commission once He had departed from the scene. He knew that it would be through their leadership that the multiplication effort of Christianity would be implemented. Similar to farming, Jesus also knew that seed requires fertile soil and consistent cultivation. Thus as He taught, he developed both through His disciples and through His followers. But then you have the crowds, that great sea of onlookers who are very curious but short on commitment and understanding. Out of the crowds some followers would develop, but also in those crowds were those whose intent was to destroy Jesus and His ministry.

In the church today (speaking of the entire Body of Christ) we still have these distinctions. It will vary from region to region from denomination to denomination, but the essential characteristics exist. Consider those believers that surround you in your life. Which ones would be identified as "apostles" and I am not referring to the anointed position of apostle, simply one that has surrendered totally to Christ and to pursuing the Great Commission at all costs? Which ones would be classified as disciples? How about followers? Finally which are part of the crowds? Each of these groups of individuals has a different impact on the nature of the "larger crowd" that is surrounding Jesus today. In visiting different churches, I have witnessed what the proportion of these inner groupings has on the general gathering itself. This is in essence a small segment of the greater Body itself. When the influence or size of one segment is more dominant than another, it sways the overall population in that direction. Again think of the mob mentality that pervaded the riots in Greece compared to the unity and peace that surrounded the Restoring Honor Rally. Whatever the core beliefs of the influential mass is the direction in which the crowd will be swayed.

Once again, let's consider the Body of Christ, but reflect on those early years of the new church after Jesus was resurrected. Without the aid of mass media, the gospels were spread throughout the land, to such an extent that by the fourth century, Constantinople was declaring it the official religion of the empire. The willingness of people to move from the outer ring of the "crowd" into the inner circles of followers, disciples and apostles directly impacted the growth of the church. The influence grew in an incredibly positive light in spite of persecution and direct attempts to sabotage this move of God.

We are living in similar circumstances today. The move to snuff out the Word of God and the positive influence that it will project on society is tangible. There has not been such a vehement objection and assault on God Himself in many centuries. Yet this is the age in which God has intentionally placed each of us. We have an assignment and we have a place in this "crowd". We have a uniquely empowered ability to move the gospel out from the inner circles to the outermost circle of the curious crowd even to the antagonistic crowd. First however we need to determine whether we have moved far enough into the center of the crowd to be fully empowered through Holy Spirit in order to move back through the crowd to make a difference.

So my challenge to each of us today is to truly seek where you are today in this crowd. From one end of the spectrum in which one is simply a passive observer to all that is taking place to the other end in which one is actively committed and engaged in advancing the gospel, each of us has a place. If we are in the fringes of the crowd, then it is time to make a decision to start working our way in. If we are in the center then it is time to start working our way out to the fringes to impact the spirit of this crowd for Christ. Today is not the time to stand still. The crowd is going to change ~ in one direction or another. The season for straddling the fence of belief is gone. There will be no more "gray" when it comes to our beliefs in the very near future. You will stand for Christ against all that will come at you, or you will fall to the wiles of this world ineffective in making a difference for the good of this world while we still have time. Your choice; your life; but someone else's eternity.......