March 24, 2009
I haven’t written for a while because we were on a journey this last weekend. We went to visit close family and we had a wonderful time. While we were there we had many late night and early morning talks about the Lord.
How wonderful it is to have fellowship with other believers. We also watched a movie and went to a church. The movie was a race against time type where the main character was protected by a group of very large individuals and it made me think of how God protects us. We have nothing to fear!
Psalms chapter 23 (CJBV) says… “Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing. He has me lie down in grassy pastures, he leads me by quiet water, he restores my inner person.”
Have you ever taken time to actually read this psalm slowly? I know I haven’t …until today. This says I lack NOTHING! And HE is the one who brings me to restful places…HE takes care of me. God’s thoughts towards me as my shepherd is to restore me and give me peace.
“He guides me in right paths for the sake of his own name. Even if I pass though death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; for you are with me; you rod and staff reassure me.”
HE is the one responsible for guiding me even if all around me there is disaster AND he reassures me during those times. What a wonderful God we serve. He takes care of us! He wants to take care of us! We don't need to fear.
“You prepare a table for me, even as my enemies watch; you anoint my head with oil from an overflowing cup.”
Wow, we are given favor while our enemies watch; we are blessed out of the overflow of God’s abundant cup, anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit…take time and think about that!
“Goodness and grace will pursue me every day of my life; and I will live in the house of Adonai for years and years to come.”
These things follow after us; they pursue us every day of our lives. God pursues us with his goodness and unearned favor every day. What if we would just take time to stop what we are doing and turn around? Would God’s goodness and grace continually wash over us?
Most likely God would visit us with his presence for as long as we were quiet and stood still, pouring his cup of anointing oil over us refreshing us, renewing us, feeding us, protecting and leading us.
I think if we would do this we would have inner peace and restoration and we would thankfully realize that we truly lack nothing.
I don’t know about you but I think I’ll stop and turn around now; I could use a good visit with the Lord.
Stop and Let the Lord Catch Up to Ya!
Time to Turn the Page!
March 18, 2009
It must be time for a new chapter in the life of our family. I feel the page beginning to turn and I greet it with cautious expectation and excitement. What does God hold for us in the future?
I was reading Joshua chapter 3 today and I realized that God brought this scripture to encourage me about this time last year when we were crossing the Jordan into waters and things unknown to us.
How marvelous to watch the faithfulness of God at that time. God went out ahead of us and provided firm dry ground for crossing just like he did the Israelites. He carefully guided us through the flood waters to deliver Danni safely to the other side. For that my heart sings songs of thanksgiving and praise.
But now there are other floodwaters not only for us but for every community across the world. People are experiencing the wrath of God on so many levels and fear has become a constant companion to many. I’m so thankful that we have a God who is in control.
Does this mean we won’t have to suffer? Hardly not. God didn’t spare his own son suffering and he won’t spare us either but we have faith and trust in a loving God who has our best at heart always! We know that the potter is shaping us and molding us with his capable hands.
I think of how in awe I would have been if I were an Israelite at that time crossing the Jordan on dry ground and seeing a wall of water with the knowledge that the hand of my Father God was holding it back. How humbling that must have been!
I was also reading in Habakkuk 3 today and it speaks very plainly about praising God through the hard times. Habakkuk was in awe of the power and might of God coming to the aid of his people. We serve a God who can deliver us mightily but even if he doesn’t do it in our way or timing he is still to be praised no matter what chaos is going on around us.
Hard times reveal what you are made of and how genuine is your faith. It is the point where you must decide to push through the circumstances and man, does that make your faith and trust in God go through the roof!
Habakkuk says in chapter 3 verses 17-19… “For even if the fig tree doesn’t blossom and no fruit is on the vines, even if the olive tree fails to produce, and the fields yield no food at all, even if the sheep vanish from the sheep pen, and there are no cows in the stalls; still I will rejoice in Adonai,
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
Elohim Adonai (Sovereign Lord) is my strength! He makes me swift and sure-footed as a deer and enables me to stride over my high places.” ( CJBV)
I love this because it is God, the Sovereign Lord, who is our strength! He is in control and it is he who makes us able to do things that we in ourselves are not able to do! Praise Adonai!
In 1Corinthians 1:8-9 it says this… “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, IS FAITHFUL!” (Emphasis mine)(NIV).
Guess what?! God is in control and he will keep us strong until the end; that is enough to keep us praising him all day long for the rest of our lives mortal and immortal! Praise God!
The Heart of the Matter.
March 15, 2009
Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (NIV)
I was in the post office the other day when I ran into a person I have known for a long time. This person expressed to me their sadness over the Danni’s passing and as we conversed the subject of God came up.
They stated to me that all you have to do is believe in God (to go to heaven) and then added, “Right?” I agreed but since that time I wondered if I shouldn’t have said more. But what is it that I should have said? Belief in Christ and his sacrificial death and resurrection is the heart of the matter.
Maybe I should have made them be more specific by saying…believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing that Jesus is Lord are the requirements for salvation. We’ve all encountered these moments where we have afterthoughts about what was said.
The bible says in 2 Timothy 4:2 that we should… "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction…”(NIV)
I like what Romans 10:10 says…For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified….so believing comes from the heart not from the intellect or the mind and then out of your heart it causes you to confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord”.
But that also brings a change to your heart causing you to repent from your sins and live by another way. If we confess that “Jesus is Lord” then he must truly be Lord! We allow him to rule and reign over every life situation.
As the process continues fruit begins to be evident such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) and Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:20 that we will know what is inside a person by the fruit that is there.
So, is believing in God the only requirement? The demons believe in God but that won’t help them in the end (James 2:19). Believing that Jesus came and died and was raised to life with the heart and confessing Jesus is Lord with the mouth is the way to salvation but it is a process that doesn’t end there.
We must believe and continue to believe with our hearts and that brings change to our lives. Believing sets the wheels in motion bringing us from the wide road to the narrow. (Matthew 7:13-14)
Hopefully, with the help of the God I will be better prepared next time...
Love One Another
March 12, 2009
I’m thinking today about family and how it is so important every day to communicate your love for each other because you never know when that will be the last time you ever speak with them.
This morning I was in a deep sleep and for some reason while I could hear people milling about the house getting ready to go to school and work it didn’t occur to me to get up until I heard the bus in front of the house.
Then it was too late…the kids were out the door and away they went. My heart sank and I was so sad that I didn’t get up to give them goodbye hugs and kisses. I know they are older (15 and 11) but I think it is so important. I was confused as to why I didn’t get up, this is not like me, and I concluded that God wanted to teach me something. (No, I’m not depressed) :}
I began to thank God for my family and friends. As I sat and took in the morning I saw a robin outside my window and it reminded me of things my grandpa would say and do when he saw one. All this made me so aware of the wonderful people God has surrounded me with during my life.
Like a warm coat on a chilly spring day. Family means so much and yet it seems they are the ones we always take for granted. They are the ones we always hurt.
I am so saddened by the things I hear about on the news…people are killing their family members right and left! What is happening to our world? Hard times used to make families cling to one another and now… just shoot them! These are signs to us of the urgency of or time. (Mark 13:12)
There are so many hurting people out there, so many in need of him. (John 4:35)
I think what God was reminding me about today was that my children and family members and friends are all to be cherished. They are gifts from him and they can be taken away without a moment’s notice. They are to be loved and cared for and respected. (Mark 12:31, Ephesians 5:15-16, 19-33)
Every day I want to be in right relationship with God, my family and those around me. God, help me have no regrets. Help me to live every day as if it was my last or my family’s last. Make me aware; wake me up so that I don’t miss a moment you’ve given me. I receive your life, your abundant life and I believe with all my heart that in you it is mine!
Not that I am worthy but you make me worthy. Thank you so much for that Jesus. I want all that you have for me. I trust in your goodness in all situations. Your love endures forever…amen!
But When Will I Know When I Know Him?
March 7, 2009
Ok…so…here’s what happened yesterday, I was on my way home from running errands and there was a sharp “s” curve in the road with an intersection in the middle of it. They had to stop and I did not and there were several cars lined up there to cross the road I was on.
As I slowed for the curve, the man in front of the waiting line of cars decided to cross in front of me and I had to come almost to a complete stop to let him cross. I honked the horn and threw my hands in the air as if to say to him…what are you doing! Don’t you see me coming!?
Oh pride is an ugly thing. “I repent God,” I said and after a few miles of dealing with my heart condemning me, I forgave myself and thanked God for the discipline.
I have recently been on this quest to know him deeper and more fully but how will I know when I know him? Last night Matt and I were reading 1 John 2:1-11 and it answered my question very specifically.
· 1 John 2:1-11 (NIV)
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.
4. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6.Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
7. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
10. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
Ah-ha! There it is in plain English! Verse 3 says I know him if I obey his commands! Obedience is a part of knowing him and what is it he has commanded? Verses 9-11 Love your brother…that is one command. I love how God makes things simple for us. The other command is to… “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt 22:37)NIV.
I must also “walk as Jesus did” (1John 2:6). And who is my brother? Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 12:50 (NIV)“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
The problem is that approaching a car at an intersection you can’t possible know if the driver is a believer who does the will of the Father so I would have to act in love towards everyone.
The Lord also instructs us in Matthew 5:44 (KJV) “…But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you…”
These are tall orders… simple in concept but tall by human standards. Good thing that we have the Holy Spirit with us to teach us and guide us through this because I am confident that I could not do this on my own.
All this makes me wonder…God, how well do I know you?
Father, help me walk in your love towards everyone. I want to know you more. Help me to hear you and follow your commands. I love your Lord…thank you for your patience with me. Amen.
What Are We Waiting For?
March 4, 2009
This morning I have been reading in Acts 22. Paul is speaking to a crowd under Roman guard. He has been arrested or rescued is more like it from the people who were beating him for supposedly teaching that the Jews shouldn’t obey the law.
Paul is giving his testimony bloodied and bruised before a crowd of people who have just tried to kill him. This is such an amazing scene. He’s speaking about an encounter with God that has turned his life upside down or should we say right side up. This experience has so transformed his life that it didn’t matter to him that the people were trying to kill him, he had to share what the Lord had done for him.
So many times I want to tell people about what I’ve been through with Danni. I want to tell people that I meet about God and his faithfulness but it’s such a heavy thing; people don’t know how to respond. God has given me a testimony and he wants me to share it. God has given you a testimony and he wants you to share it.
Paul didn’t care what response he got he just had to share. I love what Ananias says to Paul in Acts 22:16 “…And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”(NIV) What am I waiting for? Why do I hesitate? Because I don’t want to take the time or maybe I’m afraid of the response I might get. I’ve never been comfortable in awkward situations.
I love the zeal that is in Paul he really puts it all out there. He is the most least likely person to go and speak about Jesus because he was responsible for causing many followers of Christ to be imprisoned and even killed before he saw the light of Jesus.
Maybe you think… I am the least likely person to share Jesus with anyone because of my past but it’s part of your testimony…you have to have a past to build a testimony. If I didn’t go through Danni’s situation I would have no basis for speaking to anyone about cancer's effect or taking care of someone with cancer.
Ananias says… “wash your sins away, calling on his name.” Sins are no problem for God they can be washed away and forever forgotten by him in an instant if we call upon the name of Jesus. We make things too hard. God has made a way and we should access it! It cost Jesus his life to give us this privilege! Our debt of sin is paid in full! Thank you Jesus!
Paul didn’t let his past control his future, he had a mandate from the Lord as we all do. Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
If Jesus came to them, he surely comes to us!
I think I will experiment…the next time my testimony comes to my lips from my heart I will share it and not worry about the circumstances. Who knows maybe this will become a habit! God has done a marvelous thing in my life, I’ve seen his faithfulness, goodness, loving-kindness, mercy and grace in operation in a tangible way…people must know! People must hear! Time is short!
My testimony is the only reason I am on this earth today. I’m saved so what else is there for me to be here but to help others find the way. I believe it is the same for you too if you are saved. God wants to lead others to himself through me and you otherwise we’d be in heaven like Danni.
Her life’s purpose had come to completion and she is with God now but her testimony lives on in me and everyone who shared in her journey. There is one more thing that I want to proclaim and that is the words of Jesus at the end of Matthew 28:20 “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What a comfort to know he’s right there with us in the thick of things and he will be there until the end and beyond! What a wonderful Savior we have, we can trust him!
Danni's Room
March 2, 2009
Danni’s room is changing. After the funeral, her room was filled with flowers and the fragrance filled the house. It seemed that she had left us a gift and the smells were sweet to us. Then as time passed the flowers died and I removed them from her room.
Her colored pictures in frames and other memorabilia were placed here and there about the room and her closet was still full of her belongings and clothes…we had lovingly placed them there when she became ill.
For a while she saw this as a temporary solution to the problem but as time passed her thoughts changed and she realized that her dreams were not to be fulfilled. God had another path for her.
Then came the time for me to go through her clothes; I came to the realization that there was someone out there who needed them and that was Danni’s wishes. Her only thoughts about her things were that they should go to someone in need. I honored her wishes. Her closet is bare now.
I’m still finding things around the house, things that were hers…I had asked her one day how she wanted me to find the people in need and she said, “Have a garage sale and give the things away or sell the things and give the money to someone who needs it.” She had no attachment to material things anymore, she didn’t care about money.
Her life had come into focus and she could see eternity nearing…things didn’t matter anymore.
Danni’s room is currently a safe haven, a place to relax and reflect and a place for Jessi and Atlee to watch TV and spend time with her. Anytime I miss her and I want to be near her I go to her room and look at her pictures and touch her things that I haven’t been able to part with yet. I know she’s not here but somehow God brings comfort to me.
Jesus lovingly, gently, caringly takes our family from day to day faithfully bearing our burdens and moving us beyond our sorrows into peace and joy. He reminds me that life is short and soon we’ll be with her again only this time things will be so much better.
It’s time for her room to change again. We are changing the carpet. I want the reminder of sickness and death removed from the room and I feel like it is time to cleanse. I don’t know how to describe my feelings about this and it seems insignificant unless you’ve been through it. It’s just time.
Little by little I let go of her and look forward to our meeting in a different place, time and atmosphere. It is amazing to me to see how things change and time goes on. I’m so aware that I am but a vapor, a mist even to the point where spending money on carpet seems silly but in some strange way I think it will help move us ahead.
There are days when I forget that time is short and life crowds in on me but I have only to see her room and God brings perspective. I’m grateful for that…it is a gift from him. He so patient with me, he’s so loving and kind. I wish those who reject him could but taste of his love and kindness. I wish they would allow themselves just one vulnerable moment standing before him.
I know how the weight of this world melts away in his presence. We carry so many things that are unnecessary. Proverbs 23:26 says, “My son, give me your heart; let your eyes observe my ways.”
God is calling to you today and every day…time is short just ask Danni.
I’m not sure what the future holds for Danni’s room except that more of her wishes will be fulfilled. Her red chair that was given as a gift to her will be given to her dad to grace the room where her sister and stepsister spend their time “chilling out”.
Life is moving on and I’m learning to live every day as if it were my last. I want to make a difference; I want to be all God has for me to be. I want to fulfill my purpose in the earth as Danni did…I don’t want to waste this life or wake up some day and find that life has passed me by because I was unwilling to yield to God’s ways.
I want to learn everything I can and fulfill whatever destiny God has for me. I am determined not to kick and scream when God wants to bring change into my life. God help me.
God help me trust in your good nature, there is no bad in you; you are good all the time. Let the rooms of my heart be filled with your love and kindness. Clear out the unnecessary things I’ve been holding onto…
…cleanse the rooms of my heart of sickness and death and heal me. Make me to be all you have for me. I trust in your unchanging character for you are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. You are my strength and my song. Amen.
Be Free!
February 27, 2009
Recently, I had been convicted when I spoke something out of frustration about someone that I should go to the person I spoke about and ask forgiveness. The person I spoke about wasn’t even there when I made the rash statement however, God was there and he was determined to hold me accountable.
I love that about God. Some years ago I had asked him and have continued to ask him to not let me get away with anything. I so want to be transparent and free from sin in right relationship with God but I can identify with Paul who writes in Romans 7:15 (cjbv) “I don’t understand my own behavior—I don’t do what I want to do; instead, I do the very thing I hate!”
And in Romans 7:19 & 24-25 (cjbv), “For I don’t do the good I want; instead, the evil that I don’t want is what I do!” “What a miserable creature I am!—who will rescue me from this body bound for death? Thanks be to God, he will!—through Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, our Lord!”
Thank God for God! What would I do without him? So, after a long battle within myself rolling this over and over…after turning up the radio so that maybe that would fix it (ya know ya can’t hear God so well with the radio up) and after saying to God, “God, maybe this isn’t your voice…” to which he replied, “You know my voice.” I gave in and made the call to ask for forgiveness.
All the games I play but he is patient with me. Sometimes I beg him…God please don’t give up on me! To which he reminds me of Philippians 1:6 (NIV) “….being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I’m so grateful for his wonderful grace when I sin.
I love that God has made a way for us through confession but that requires courage. James 5:16 (cjbv) says, “Therefore, openly acknowledge your sins to one another, and pray for each other, so that you may be healed,” and then it goes on to encourage in the light of what’s been previously written “…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Wow how redeeming!
We are to confess our sins openly before one another and in the very same verse is the power of a righteous man’s prayer! It is the righteous that act according to this manner and it doesn’t hinder their prayers a bit in fact the word indicates that it makes their prayers powerful and effective.
There is no shame in this! This is the way out! This is the door!
John 3:19-21 (cjbv) “Now this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness rather than the light. Why? Because their actions were wicked. For everyone who does evil things hates the light and avoids it, so that his actions won’t be exposed. But everyone who does what is true comes to the light, so that all may see that his actions are accomplished through God.”
Coming into the light is painful to our spirit. It means that our sins will be exposed and burned by the rays of God. But just like we go to the doctor when we have an infected wound, we go to Jesus our Healer…we come into his “office” of light and he cleanses the sores that sin inflicts on us. He burns them to stop the spread of infection and bring healing.
Is it painful? Yes. Does it take courage? Yes. But God will help you and he has already paid the price for you to be free. Come into the light today. Don’t be afraid. God is there to cleanse your sinful wounds and bring healing to you. He is the door and he can stop the cycle you are in…you can trust him.
He stands waiting……come to him and be free.
Warning...Unstable Conditions!
February 23, 2009
This weekend my loving husband and I decided that we would purchase a new bed we had been saving for to try to relieve our morning aches. I had found a place in Michigan online that seemed to have pretty good deals and they were also having a sale which was even better.
Long story short we were blessed with a good salesman that got us a great bed at a reasonable price within our budget…thank you Jesus…anyway the salesman insisted that it would not fit in our van and encouraged us to buy ratchet straps from the nearest store.
Okay, so we loaded the mattress set on our luggage rack and proceeded down the road. It had snowed that day and the wind had picked up to what felt like 30 or 40 miles per hour at times! Oh and did I mention that the snow had turned to a sheet of ice on the road?
We were trucking along at about 40 miles per hour with everyone staring at the crazy Indiana people’s van with the mattress set strapped onto the top when all the sudden a gust of wind came and we began to lose control of the van!
Prior to this time we did not realize how slick the road was so after many prayers and tense moments the van was back on track and we took those events as our wake up call to slow down.
Later on in the journey we experienced other icy patches and the oncoming traffic was going too fast for what we knew the road conditions to be. We saw many accidents and I praise God that we finally made it home safely mattress set intact…woo hoo thank you Jesus that you keep us even in our moments of insanity!
All this got me to thinking about how many of us go about our lives going too fast for the conditions with baggage strapped to us and we think things are fine but we don’t see the danger often times until it is too late. How many times does God spare us with his grace and mercy? How many times does God use those things in our lives to discipline us and proclaim his holiness to us?
This morning I was reading in Acts chapter 5 about Ananias and Sapphira. This is a familiar story about a couple who were going far to fast for the conditions and did not think through the plan they had. They tried to pretend to be something they were not and were judged by God. The Lord struck them out of his holiness and they died immediately.
God knew the deceit in their hearts and made an example of them before the people. They had sold some land and tried to lie to the disciples and God claiming they had given to the church the full amount that they had received for the land. They were not even required to give the full amount but they chose to come with pretense and deceit in their hearts before God.
More and more I’m realizing with the current events of the days we are living in that playing games with God is a dangerous move. We are seeing the prophetic scriptures being fulfilled right before our eyes. The time has come to decide this day whom we will serve…
God is calling to his church to become the spotless Bride he’s been longing for; to wake from our slumber and stop living on the fence. I hear the call in my own life…it’s time to examine ourselves and ask God to show us what he sees.
It’s time to let go of the baggage from the past that causes us to swerve to and fro on the icy road of life and give God full control of the wheel. We can’t fool him…he knows it all.
God show me the places in my life where I am not being honest with you, I pray this with fear and trembling. It’s so hard to face truth sometimes. I want to be all you’ve called me to be. I want to be saturated with you and I want you at the wheel at all times.
If I am carrying baggage from the past, show me, help me to lay it forever at your feet because these are times to travel light and have an ear to hear you clearly.
Help me to be genuine and transparent at all times so the light of your glory can shine through. I trust you Lord. Help me pass the tests when they come…I want to please you. Amen.
Know Him
February 21, 2009
Early this morning before dawn I awoke with this question pounding throughout every fiber of my being…Do you know me? Do you know me? Do you know me? I confess that this has been my cry recently to KNOW him. It isn’t enough to know ABOUT him anymore…I must KNOW Him deeper and more intimately than I ever have.
There is such an urgency within me that comes with this question. Do others know him? Or do they know about him? I think of the narrow gate in Matthew 7:13 Jesus is speaking and he says, “Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life and only a few find it.”(CJBV)
Further down in Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus says this, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. On that Day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ Didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we expel demons in your name? Didn’t we perform many miracles in your name?
Verse 23… “Then I will tell them to their faces, ‘I never KNEW you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’(Complete Jewish Bible version).
Jesus is speaking to people who say they have done all these things in his name, they appear to believe in him and serve him, and his name is on their lips but where are their hearts? (Isaiah 29:13)
What hope do I have if only few make it through the gate? Where is the gate? In John 10:1-15 Jesus is speaking again and he is teaching the people about a sheep pen and how the shepherd is the one who the sheep KNOW his voice and they follow him.
The people aren’t getting what he is saying to them so he speaks more directly saying in verses 7 “Yes, indeed! I tell you that I AM THE GATE for the sheep…”
Again in verse 9 Jesus says to them plainly… “I AM THE GATE if someone enters through me, he will be safe and will go in and out and find pasture…I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.”
How do I enter through Jesus, the Messiah, the Gate so I will be safe? Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) says, “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
It goes on to say in the next verse…”As the Scriptures says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Also in Isaiah 28:16) So then all I have to do is confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead and I will be saved then I can go on living like I want to…great!…but wait a minute…
When I read from the Jewish Bible it says this… “that if you acknowledge publicly with your mouth that Yeshua (Jesus) is Lord and trust in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be delivered.
For with the heart one goes on trusting and thus continues toward righteousness, while with the mouth one keeps on making public acknowledgement and thus continues toward deliverance.”
Going on to verse 11 it finishes this thought saying… “For the passage quoted says that everyone who rests his trust on him will not be humiliated.”
This would indicate that believing in Jesus is a continual process towards righteousness and deliverance and not just a “set it and forget it” approach.
Coming to Christ and knowing him is a commitment, a new and full life; it is a hard road and something not to be taken lightly.
This life will last a short time and we will stand before God when it is finished. I don’t want to hear the words above directed at me on that day.
When the scripture talks about “trusting in him and not being humiliated or not being put to shame” it is not talking about in front of man but rather in front of God where it really matters!
Father, I pray for myself, that I would come to know you in a deeper, more intimate way. I confess with my mouth that your are Lord and I believe in my heart that you, Jesus, died for me and you were raised from the dead.
I give thanks to you that you will never leave me or forsake me. Thank you that you are the Good Shepherd; help me to know your voice and follow you and you alone. Amen.
Freedom in Jesus!
February 17, 2009
I was reading my Jewish Bible this morning and I was so struck by the words of Isaiah. I started in chapter 53 reading about Jesus the Messiah and how he was “… a man of pains, well acquainted with illness…”
I love reading from this version as many times in the NIV the Hebrew and Greek words are not translated so clearly. What depth this brings to Jesus the Messiah…he knew all about pains and illness.
Later in verse 4 it says “…In fact, it was OUR disease he bore, OUR pains from which he suffered…But he was wounded because of OUR crimes, crushed because of OUR sins; the disciplining that makes US whole fell on him, and by his bruises we are healed.”
It never occurred to me until just a few minutes ago that Jesus ACTUALLY carried our illnesses and pains! I had to wonder was he actually inflicted with disease? Earlier in this same scripture in verse 2 it says about Jesus the Messiah “…he was not well-formed or especially handsome; we saw him, but his appearance did not attract us. People despised and avoided him.”
In those days people who had disease were despised and avoided. . Wow! What a revelation! He KNOWS what it is to have illness and disease! He KNOWS what it is to have pains!
And again in Isaiah 53:10-11 it says “…yet it pleased ADONAI (The Lord) to crush him with illness, to see if he would present himself as a guilt offering…and at his hand ADONAI’S desire will be accomplished….By knowing (pain and sacrifice), my righteous servant makes many righteous; it is for their sins that he suffers.”
But why? Why did God allow Jesus to suffer in such a way? To test him and to make MANY righteous! He suffered to save us and bring healing to OUR diseases! Thank you Jesus! We are free from sin and disease because of what you did for us!
But Danni died of disease, how can I make sense of this? Jesus healed her in her death and not only that but that disease had ABSOLUTELY NO HOLD ON HER SPIRIT!
That’s why she could think of others in her condition! That’s why she could pray for others and care for others from her sick bed! SIN AND DEATH AND DISEASE HAD NO HOLD ON HER BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAD DONE ON THE INSIDE OF HER!
She had accepted him as her Substitute, as her Redeemer, as her Savior, as her Healing, as her Wholeness, and in return she was FREE no matter what circumstances she was in…Halleluiah! She was freer than anyone of us I know and yet her body was dying and she was confined to her bed!
Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah….I can see why she sang those words from her bed with her dying breath…she was free like NEVER BEFORE! PRAISE YOU JESUS…YOU ARE GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!!
She was free because Jesus had carried the illness for her and healed what mattered on the inside…her eternal spirit.
Come to Jesus today and let him heal you on the inside…stop trying to carry the illness and pain that you suffer and let him carry it for you as he did for Danni.
I saw these things with my very own eyes and so did many others and I am here to proclaim to you that Jesus our Messiah, our Savior is real and he works in marvelous ways even through the deepest, darkest set of circumstances! I testify to you today!
Fear Not! Fear God!
February 14, 2009
Job 3:25-26 (NIV) “What I feared has come upon me, what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness ; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”
Most of the third chapter of Job is him cursing the day he was born. He has just had everything near and dear to him ripped away. He says an interesting thing in verse 25…”what I feared has come upon me…”
I always thought to myself, “How do people take care of special needs kids or anyone who is suffering?” I confess there was always a fear of this type of situation. Something I’ve learned is that God will always make you face your fears.
Going through an experience like I’ve just been through made me see just how faithful God is and how powerful is his perfect love to drive out any fear. (1John 4:18)
I have seen his deliverance first hand. I used to fear not having enough money but after I had seen the provision of the Lord time and time again I no longer have those fears. Slowly God is causing me to face my fears in order to deliver me from them!
There are others he did this for in the bible such as Moses, Gideon, Esther, Elijah, Job, Joshua, and the list goes on and on.
So if something that you have feared has come upon you; go to God and thank him for the opportunity for you to be able to see his deliverance first hand and repent for having feared that thing in the first place.
Many times we are commanded in the bible not to fear people or situations but we are however instructed constantly throughout the scriptures to fear the Lord. Strong’s Concordance number 3372 is used the most where “fear of the Lord” is used in the bible and it means this…to fear, revere, be afraid, to stand in awe of, be awed, honor, respect, be dreadful, be held in awe, terrify, and to inspire reverence.
These are all attitudes we need to have where God is concerned. It seems to me that the only thing we are instructed TO fear is God!
LIFE
LIFE HAS HAPPENED
PIECES OF DELICATE GLASS IN SHARDS ON THE GROUND
MY LIFE IS SHATTERED
HER LIFE IS SHATTERED
EVERYTHING IS IN PIECES ON THE GROUND
PIECES ARE GROUND INTO THE GROUND
BURIED DEEP IN THE GROUND
THEN THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN COMES
HE LOWERS HIS HAND TO THE GROUND
HE POURS THE WATER OF HIS WORD ONTO THE GROUND
AND THE PIECES COME FORTH FROM THE GROUND
HE POURS HIS WATERY WORD ON AGAIN
THE BROKENESS SHINES IN THE SUNLIGHT
HE LIFTS THE SHARDS GENTLY FROM THE GROUND
HIS PALLET STANDING BY
THE CANVAS IN FRONT OF HIM WHITE AND CLEAN, BRIGHT AND NEW
THIS IS A SPECIAL CANVAS THE LIGHT CAN SHINE THOUGH
HE GOES TO WORK WITH ALL THE PIECES OF BROKENESS
FROM EVERYWHERE HE CAN FIND
HE PICKS UP HIS BRUSH AND WITH LONG AND SHORT STROKES
HE MOVES THE COLOR
NEXT THE SHATTERED PIECES ARE AFFIXED IN PLACE
THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY SHINES SO BRIGHTLY
COLORS ARRAY IN ALL DIRECTIONS
SUCH A THING OF BEAUTY THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN HAS CREATED
BY THE TOUCH OF HIS HAND AND THE WASHING OF HIS WORD
IT HANGS NOW IN THE GALLERY OF HEAVEN FOR ALL TO MARVEL
YOUR MASTERPEICES IS SO UNSPEAKABLE
FULL OF YOUR GLORY FATHER
I WILL TRUST IN YOU AT ALL TIMES FOR I HAVE SEEN WITH MY EYES
AND HAVE BELIEVED WITH MY HEART YOUR LOVE FOR ME
Sheep or Goat?
February 10, 2009
I was up with the roosters this morning longing to know God more, he’s doing more work in me. After a time of prayer I began to write and as I did things weren’t coming together so I left it alone as I commonly do to let the dust settle and then I can often times convey my heart.
I had the word open to Matthew 25:31-46 as I was writing but it didn’t seem to fit. I was reading about the sheep and the goats how on Judgement Day God would separate the people according to how they treated one another.
I came back to my writing thoughts this afternoon after I had checked the scripture for the day on one of my favorite sites and low and behold there it was again…Matthew 25…the sheep and the goats. I wondered what it was that God was saying.
My thoughts were on Danni about how she was reliant upon me during the last months of her life. I thank God for the opportunity to have served her, mommies do anything for their babies. She hated that I had to do the things I did for her but I was glad to.
Jesus showed me one day that as I did things for her I was doing the same things as unto him. I did my best for her and for him.
Matthew 25 shows us that how we treat and how we care for others goes a long way with God and we will stand before him some day to give account. I have learned so much compassion for people from serving Danni and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been there for her. I love her so much. I miss her so much.
What we do for others in this life matters.
This week is one year when Danni was diagnosed and I am amazed how life changes, we don’t know when exactly the Lord will return but if we are wise we will lay all doctrine and preconceived ideas aside and cry out to God to know him as he really is and not how we have made him out to be in our minds based on our earthly experiences or what someone told us about him.
Time is short…little sheep...treat people well…seek him to KNOW him as he really is and stay close to the Word these are perilous times and life can change on a dime.
Strength in Weakness
February 9, 2009
I love how my Father wakes me up every morning. We set our alarm to a local inspirational station and it never fails that the music seems to be handpicked for us. You know how when God is speaking to you many times you will hear the same scripture over and over from several different people and sources?
The song this morning was one I had never heard before but contained the following scriptures that have continually been presented to me in the last few days.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
I confess I had to repent for my prideful way of coming to the Lord in my “strength”. He would give me something to read and I would think in my mind, okay, I’ve read this and I know this story.
Consequently, God has been quiet lately and I haven’t been receiving much from the word. I thank God for showing me my error and I will come to him in my weakness that his power can be made perfect and that Christ’s power may rest on me as the scripture says above.
I think many times God is quiet when we come to him because he is waiting for us to come with a humble heart that is willing to receive what he has to say.
I am thankful for Romans 8:26-27 and Hebrews 4:14-16 which allowed me to see the grace of God and just how sufficient it is for me. I love how God always goes before us and provides all we need.
God, I want to know you, I want to experience your love for me deeper than I have ever known. Help me to fully surrender myself to you humble and weak so that your power can be made perfect in me and that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Help me not to fear and fill me with your joy and peace. Bring healing to my spirit. Help me to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Grant me favor in your courts and help me to hear your voice clearly. Help me be obedient to your voice at all times. Thank you that you will give me the desires of my heart as I stay focused on you.
Keep me from evil, give me all I need for today and let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Thank you that your Spirit is interceding for me. Amen
Endless Supply
February 6, 2009
Yesterday I read a news story about a 93 year old man who froze to death in his home because he didn’t pay his heating bill of nearly $1000 and the heating company shut off his source of energy. After the man died a hospital received from him $600,000! He had the money why didn’t he use it? How did this needlessly happen?
As I thought about this I realized that this is the way we as followers of Christ live our lives. We fret and stew about small potato stuff not realizing or believing that we have a Father that is of endless supply! In Luke 12:22-34, Jesus tells the people not to worry about the small stuff (my paraphrase) but to seek the kingdom and these things will be given you as well. GOD IS OUR SUPPLY!
I love the next verse (32), “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom…” Going on it says to sell your possessions and give to the poor. If we see a need in our brothers and sisters give to that need. This is how the kingdom operated at that time.
How can we see the members of the body in need and not help them if it is within our power to do so? How can we send them away and say be warm and fed when they have nothing? (James 2:16) Or better yet should we say we won’t help a person because they haven’t got a job?
In the original church, Acts 2:45 says, “Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Is this is how Jesus intends for the kingdom to work? Again in Act 4:32-34 it says, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. From time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales, and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”
What a radical thought. It is amazing to me that they sold the things they had for the shear purpose of supplying for another believer, the funds were given to those who had need in the body IF there was a need!
Radical! But look at what unity came from this type of behavior and most importantly it says “With GREAT POWER the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” Isn’t this the focus and goal of the believer’s life?
God tells us not to worry about the small stuff of everyday life but to focus on the kingdom seeking it with our whole heart and I don’t know about you but this is really challenging me to do some things different with the money and possessions I’ve been given. People... in these dark days we have got to have the gospel in our mouths and be able to proclaim it with GREAT POWER! GOD IS OUR SUPPLY!
Father, show us, lead us; forgive me for fretting the small stuff. Teach us how your kingdom operates and speak through your church with GREAT POWER the testimonies you have put within us! AMEN!
I challenge you to take these scriptures and find others…pray and seek the kingdom…see what God has to say to you individually and be obedient to what he is telling you to do.
Family
February 2, 2009
Near the end of 2004 our family suffered from divorce and our lives were torn apart. Everything Matt had known in his 17 years of marriage and everything I had known in my 16 years of marriage crumbled into pieces.
When divorce happens each married partner shoulders the blame, no one is perfect and there are many things that contribute to the dissolve of a marriage. In all cases it’s the children who are scarred most deeply. Our experience was no different.
For Matt and I our paths came together in 2005 through mutual friends and love and understanding was planted and began to grow. All throughout our courtship we submitted our relationship to God even to the point where we agreed to be apart for a time in the beginning to wait upon God and give ourselves time to get our bearings.
At other times we agreed in prayer that if God did not want us together that he would break us up. We had both been married and knew the depth of what we were entering into. We knew that it would take more than "love" to hold us together…we would need God, true Love, in the center to navigate the waters ahead.
In October of 2005 we felt confident that the Lord had brought us together and we married. We knew it would be difficult as the odds were stacked against us and we had an insurmountable task ahead of us putting two families of deeply hurt children together. Danni was 16, Jessi was 12 and Atlee was 7 at the time. Matt has two children, Mallorie 17 and Wesley 15; these were their ages when we were married.
Step parenting as many of you know is a tremendous challenge. There are so many elements that come into play that don’t exist in a first marriage family. I won’t take time to go into these now but I would like to express that it can also be very rewarding.
Something happed to our family through the time of Danni’s illness, we came together. While the circumstances were very bad God brought good to us and our children. It was a beautiful thing to watch as our children matured and saw what was really important in life. They were changed forever in a positive way.
Last week we took all our children to Florida for a vacation and God did an even deeper work of reconciliation in our family bringing us together. It has been three years since Matt and I were married and we have had enormous mountains and deep valleys to cross and I’m sure that we still have more to walk through but we have also experienced great joy and healing thanks to the Grace of God.
I want to encourage those of you today who may be walking in a second or third marriage with stepchildren that God can work in your circumstances if you surrender to him.
I also want to encourage those of you who may be toying with the idea of divorce to step back check your motives, go to God and ask him to show you the truth about yourself and take a second look into the faces of your children because they will be the ones left spinning in your wake. It is a very painful thing for all parties involved. I know why God hates divorce. (Malachi 2:13-16)
I also understand that there are times and circumstances that divorce cannot be avoided. I am in no way judging any situation I am in no position to do so but I know that when I turn to God he has always been there for me and if you turn to him he will be there for you too.
I think most times we have to suffer things in life to gain understanding of life. Hebrews 5:8 (NIV) says that, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” This scripture is speaking of Jesus, why do we think that we will not have to endure suffering? Why are we so surprised when it comes to us?
Danni taught me to “trust God and never give up” her words exactly. I have suffered much in this life but every time God has taken my hand as he did for Danni and walked me through the valley only to come out in victory on the other side. He will continue to walk with me till the end of my journey, God is faithful!
Give your life to him today and he will be a rock in the deepest, darkest moments of life. Trouble in life is guaranteed at some point and time for all of us. Jesus is the way through those times if you want to come out on the other side a better person. I’m speaking from experience.
Father, I know you put this on my heart today for someone, speak to their hearts and I pray they would not harden their heart toward you. I ask that they would be able to surrender themselves to you wholly and that they would cling to you. Strengthen them in their time of need. Encourage their hearts today that you see their situation and you are close to them even if they cannot “feel” your presence.
I know your love, grace, mercy and compassion for them as I have experienced it myself. Pour out your kindness upon them; bring peace and release to their spirits. Thank you Father Amen.
Songs of Deliverance
January 23, 2009
Sometimes I forget what I am here to do, what my purpose is in this life and I get all wrapped up in the events of the day. I had some errands to run the other day and I was in a hurry because I had an appointment and I wanted to get the errands accomplished before my meeting.
In my rush it didn’t even cross my mind that it was Martin Luther King Day and the main place I had to go was closed in the observance of this special day. I drove over there with so many thoughts of things I wanted to get done that I almost got in a wreck! That didn’t stop me I was a woman on a mission! Have you ever been there?
All around me nature was singing its heart out the trees were covered with a thick frost from a heavy fog that had lingered over them early that morning. They were radiant with the Glory of God blanketing their branches, white and sparkling like diamonds.
Gently he sang to me over and over again on the way with each tree and the beauty of the day. Finally, after I figured out that it was a holiday and I wouldn’t be able to do the “most important” task it was if God shook me and said, “Hello, anyone home?” and I realized what had happened. It was at that point that I repented and slowed myself to actually enjoy what I was witnessing.
God was surrounding me with songs of deliverance, His Glory covering the earth and I almost missed it. What a wonderful God we have, I love his word. Psalm 32:7 says, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah” Selah means to pause and think about what has just been said.
I had a “Selah” moment as I stopped the car on a dirt road and as I rolled my window down to take some pictures I listened to the silence and peace that the beauty around me displayed. I received it as a gift of God’s love to me who had kept me safe through the whole ordeal…he never gave up on me he kept singing and singing until he broke through to me.
Psalm 13:5&6 says, “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.” This is my purpose to sing and praise God for the rest of eternity in all the things I do and say to everyone I meet showing them the way to hear the songs of deliverance that surround them that they may be able to hear. Selah.
Father, today I pray that your love will blanket everyone who reads this and cover them in white and shining diamonds so that the world may see your glory and come to know you and accept you as their Savior. May they experience your songs of deliverance today. Amen.
Happy 20th Danni!!
January 21, 2009
Happy Birthday Sharky! I miss you so much. I was thinking this morning about the time I first held you in my arms. I was so amazed at what had just happened. My life had changed forever and like so many times before since you came to me my life is changed again.
I remember the day I took you to church in your pretty little dress and held you again in my arms before God and dedicated you to Him. You were his from the beginning as you are his now.
I remember birthday parties every year, cake on your face and in your hair, when you were younger of course :) and as you grew I watched you mature.
Strong, beautiful and very independent...I don't know the exact day you had that experience with God where you saw your need for Him and you stood on your own before Him and asked Him to come into your life but you dedicated yourself to Him and for this I am eternally grateful.
Such peace I saw in you, such grace, such mercy and love...you were my child but you were my teacher. I know if you were here and you could speak you'd tell everyone you knew to give their lives as you have done. To come to Jesus and find rest for their soul, peace for their spirit and everlasting joy for their heart.
I know you are part of that great cloud of witnesses the word speaks of and you are watching me now, cheering me on, cheering us all on. Sing with the angels my beautiful girl.
I love you so much...Mom
Cuddle Up!
January 19, 2009
Seems like every time I sit down our old cat wants to be on my lap or lying up against me. I’ve also noticed that she has found a warm spot on the floor in front of the kitchen sink. There is a heat duct there and it is always a very toasty spot.
With the arctic cold we’ve had even our younger cat doesn’t want to go out all night like he is accustom to doing. He doesn’t like all the snow sticking to his thick fur. I’ve been the same way though; I just want to cuddle up with a nice warm blanket and cup of coffee.
I was spending time with the Lord the other day when he took me to Proverbs chapter 2 and as I read verse 6 really stood out to me. It says, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” As I thought about this another scripture came to mind from Revelation 3:15-21, this is where the Lord is speaking to the Church of Laodicea.
He tells them that he has seen all their deeds but that they are lukewarm towards him and he is about to spit them out of his mouth. This sparked an interest in me and I went to my favorite online bible study place and typed in the word “mouth”…I wanted to see what all the mouth of God had in it.
There are a lot of “mouth” references in the bible but the two biggest associated with God that I could see were concerning His Word and fire. (Job 41:14, 19, 21, PS 18:8, PS 33:6, Matt 4:4). In such cold, dark times that we are in I think it wise for those of us who love and follow Jesus to stay by the fire of God reading and absorbing his Word like never before.
I think this is his message to me and all who call themselves believers to come to him and ask him to stoke the fire within us, to stir us up and thaw us out bringing us back to our first love for him. We need his wisdom, knowledge and understanding, it’s the only way to make it to the finish line victorious.
I found myself asking God for these very things, I drew near to him and he drew near to me (James 4:8) I don’t want to be spat out of the mouth of the Lord, I need him. Take time to cuddle up with God today and read his word; ask him for wisdom, knowledge and understanding and for his fire to bring you back to your first love for him.
He misses you.
Frozen Pipes
January 16, 2009
Matt discovered that we had frozen pipes this morning when he went to take a shower. In all the years we’ve lived here we’ve never had a frozen pipe in that bathroom. All the plans changed and everything had to come out of the closet that was in the way so that my brave hubby could crawl behind the wall to thaw them.
This had to be made a priority before they burst and sent water spewing everywhere. We scrambled to quickly and quietly take care of the problem so that we didn’t wake the household. With the mission accomplished, Matt got ready to go to work and I put the rest of the things back into the closet. I found my “Complete Jewish Bible” amidst the items strewn on the floor and I decided to take it downstairs and read it.
As I read Psalms 23, I was struck by the words in verse 4… “Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster; for you are with me; your rod and staff reassure me.” (Complete Jewish Bible version). Even though we went through trial this morning the Lord was there and we didn’t need to fear the disaster .
We will never know what the Lord protected us from and what seemed like a huge inconvenience may have been God’s vehicle of salvation! God always has our best in mind even when we face trials of many kinds… the Bible even says we should rejoice! (1Peter 1:6)
If you feel like God is disciplining you this morning be reassured by his rod and staff that he is there and has a good purpose for the things which you are enduring. But watch how you handle yourself…because He is watching and waiting to see if what he has taught you has been learned by you. He wants you to succeed and the only way to do that is to turn to him.
He will give you the answers to the trial you’re facing. We have the Word of God the “text book” at our disposal any time of day and it’s an open book test! We also have a direct line to the throne room of God into which the Bible says we may come with confidence. (Heb 4:16) All this we have available to us but how many times do I try to handle things on my own?
Father, I need you…I come with confidence into your throne room, before your throne and I ask that you help me with any and every trial I will face today and in the future. I want to bring glory to you and not dishonor your name. Help me to immediately turn to you when I feel the flood waters rising. Thank you for your faithfulness to be there and save me time and time again.
Thanks for helping us with the pipes today and sparing us from what the enemy had planned.
I love you, Jesus…Amen.
Ten Minas
January 11, 2009
If you want to see where I’m coming from read Luke 19:11-27.
If you are alive there is no doubt in my mind you will find yourself among these 4 kinds of people. Step back from yourself and ask the Lord to show you who you are because it is easy to deceive ourselves (Romans 12:3, 1 John 1:8).
Father, open our eyes to see where we honestly fit into this important parable. Amen
On the way to Jerusalem it says that the people had one thing in mind that the kingdom was going to appear at once. But Jesus had other thoughts and he told them a story to illustrate to them what was more important.
The first group of people we see are those who (vs. 14) hated the king and didn’t want him to rule over them, these are the ones who want to do everything their way, they don’t need God. We’ll see later in the text what happens to them.
The second person is the one entrusted with 10 minas. This is a servant of the king that receives all God (the king) has for him and puts it to work for God investing it in others. In order for this servant and the next to cause the minas to increase they had to invest in another. They had to trust someone else with what they had been given to receive a return.
The third person is entrusted with 5 minas. He doesn’t have as much as the 10 mina servant but it’s not about the amount that is entrusted to the servant but what the servant does with what God (the king) gave him. I see a good attitude in this servant, he doesn’t compare himself with the 10 mina servant he just does the best he can with what he’s been given and he is rewarded with a 100 fold return just like the 10 mina servant!
The last person is the servant who is motivated by fear. This is a judgmental person. This servant judged his master unfairly. He was critical of things he knew nothing about. I say this because of the response of the king in verse 22.
In the end, that servant lost everything and it was given to the one who had the ten minas (vs.24). The first group who wanted nothing to do with the king were brought before the king and killed (vs.27). This is a warning to those who don’t think they need Jesus.
I find that this passage is more about attitudes of the heart than what they had been given or not given. Faithfulness is what God is looking for in all of those who serve him and there is a reward for this…look at verse 17. Jesus says that these were “very small matters” and because they were faithful in the “small” things the servants who were faithful were given cities to rule over in accordance with what they were first entrusted.
I think that at least one or more times in everyone’s lives they have found themselves in one or more of these positions. I had to repent of a judgmental, critical attitude myself. But if you see yourself there remember that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) we are all learning as we go… just repent, receive God’s forgiveness and go on! Ask the Lord to help you, thank him for revealing your heart to you so that you can be cleansed of these things and learn from your mistakes.
If you have not received Jesus as your Savior, ask him to come into your life, repent of your sins as well and receive him as your only hope of survival. We will all stand before a righteous God and no one will be good enough, only Jesus. He is our attorney, if you will, and I’m going to need a good one!
Jesus the Triumphant!
January 7, 2009
The alarm went off this morning to one of my favorite songs, Mighty to Save, this song grabs me and causes me to worship with passion every time I hear it. The truth in it is so powerful! I went downstairs to spend some time asking the Lord what he had to say today and he took me to Mark 11.
What a picture…Jesus rides into town on a donkey and the crowd goes wild. As I read the Lord began to reveal some things to me.
Mark 11:1-10
And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethpage and Bethany, toward the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you. And going into it at once, you will find a colt tied, on which no one of men has sat. Untying it, bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why do you do this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and he will at once send it here.”
And they departed and found the colt tied at the door outside, by the crossway; and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt? And they said to them as Jesus commanded. And they let them go. And they led the colt to Jesus. And they threw their garments on it, and He sat on it.
And many spread their garments on the highway, and others were cutting branches from the trees and were spreading them on the highway. And those going before, and those following after, were crying out, saying, “Hosanna! Blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
In my study of these scriptures I went to the Strongs Concordance Interlinear Bible that I found on the shelf, I must have picked it up on sale somewhere as it has a sticker on it that says $12.88. Oh if the world only knew the value of the things printed inside!
Anyways, in verse 1 looking at the words Bethphage literally in the Greek “ house” and Bethany meaning “date-house.” Jesus had a date to keep at this house; he was right on time with what God had planned.
Verse 2: “The colt on which no one of men has sat…” Only Jesus could sit on this new thing (the colt) that he was doing, He was in the place of authority and the new thing that was happening would be dictated by the Father’s will. There would be no bucking! I think it very symbolic also that his disciples were commanded to bring the colt to him.
How awesome that Jesus would give them a part in all that he was doing confirming his power to them just as he does us. We are the “donkey” he uses to make an impact on the people around us.
Verse 3, 5& 6: “Why do you do this?”… People will always question you when you attempt to do something for God. You can be confident of that because he asks us to do things out of the norm, out of the box. But Jesus told them how to handle these hurdles. He told them to tell the people that the Lord has need of it. The Lord is in control and if he tells you to do something he will provide all you need and it will be released to you. He will provide IF he has asked you to do it!
Verse 4: “The colt was tied at the door, outside by the crossway”… Here was this new thing God was doing tied by the door at a fork in the road. How profound. The colt was waiting at the entry (the door) and at a turning point in the road. A clear “road sign” that something awesome what about to occur.
Verse 7: “…they threw their garments on the colt…” Those clothes were important to them. These were the clothes that covered their flesh and He sat upon them…symbolically ruling over the flesh.
Verse 8: “…Many spread their garments on the highway…” Many were moved in their hearts to give the valuable thing to him, to give their all and to proclaim him as King over them but others cut branches from the trees, they weren’t going to go so far as to offer this man all that they had.
Verse 9: Regardless of where they were in their walk with him some in front of him and some behind they cried out! Literally according to the Strongs O save! Blessed is the One coming in position in authority and character with supreme authority! (Strongs numbers 2127, 2064, 1722, 3686 & 2962)
Verse 10: Blessed is the coming royalty, rule, realm into position in authority and character, with supreme authority, of our father David. O save in the heavens most supreme God! (Strongs number 2127, 2064, 932, 1722, 3686, 2962, 3962, 2257, 1138, 5614, 1722, & 5310)
Interestingly enough they speak of David as their father and not Abraham. David was a man after God’s own heart and the work that Jesus does in us makes us to be like the Father.
This whole scene is a clear proclamation before the literal fulfillment came in the natural that is before Christ was crucified and raised from the dead delivering us all to be like him in his kingdom in a position of authority with him. But we have to lay down our “coats”, our fleshly ways and give it all to Jesus the King of Glory to ride, rule, and reign upon.
I don’t know whether or not the people understood politically or spiritually what they were proclaiming but either way they were proclaiming exactly who Jesus was and exactly what he was sent to do! There has to be a proclamation of faith before the Lord moves in the natural. Over and over again in Genesis 1 the scripture says, “And God said….and it was so”.
The picture of the triumphant entry is so beautiful, so full of deep meaning and it seems that every word speaks more just under the surface.
Father, today I lay down myself, my “coat”, and all things valuable to me for you to rule over. Show me what my proclamation is today; show me what you want to teach me about speaking in faith those things that are not yet made known in the natural.
O SAVE! Supreme God! Take the place of authority in my life, rule and reign over every word, over every thought. I submit to your authority use me to the fullest to proclaim your Glory and help us see who you are and our desperate need for you. To you be the Glory…Amen!
A View from the Red Chair by Penny Shrock
The red chair, given as a thoughtful, loving gift for Danni, became a place of rest and comfort to those who came and went from Danni’s room. It has an inviting shape with fur upholstery that is irresistible to touch.
I believe there might be 101 and 1 positions in which you could find to sleep on that chair.
I think Danni must have found it funny just observing the old ladies, twisted and folded trying to find rest while on loving watch with Danni. More important than the rest that was found on the chair were the amazing observations from it. These are the observations of one of Danni’s admirers;
I watched, feeling helpless to offer any help to the situation.
I watched as Christy administered love and medicine-always with patience and tenderness.
I watch as Kent and Alicia came to love on Danni.
I watched as Matt, otherwise known as the McMuffin to Danni, would pray and read scripture to her.
I watched as her brothers and sisters would go about their lives but still drift in and out of the room, sweetly checking on her.
I prayed as I laid on the Chair, “God, please bring her comfort and relief”.
We laughed- ohhhh how we laughed.
I gave thanks from the chair as Danni’s sense of humor would fill the room.
Thank you God for the trip to Cedar Point. The shopping trip, the car rides all taken with Danni while we sat in the chair. Thank you God for all the sweet “Here we goes” that came from her lips. I watched as Danni had a fencing Match with Grandpa Allen, until she muttered, “no fencing in the house.” And let’s not forget the Laser eyes!! Danni would flash a little grin when she would stun a visitor with her laser eyes.
Thank you for the sight of Danni’s hand raised in the air, and her response when asked if she was okay, “yep….. I’m just dancing”.
I was blessed to rise from the chair and help lovingly to move her legs whenever they were trapped and to put her oxygen back in place.
My heart broke as I listened to her pray for God to help her.
In all of this she would continually offer “”thank you. And would worry about her family.
I learned that Danni had amazing friends, and the most wonderful neighbors.
I learned from that chair that with God’s help we can endure the seemingly impossible, that He is truly with us when we walk through the fire.
I learned that we old ladies need a lot of sleep or we get rather silly at 3 am.
I learned that grandma and grandpas have the tenderest hearts in the universe.
I learned that my faith is not diminished nor defined by what God chooses to do.
I learned that I serve an overwhelmingly huge God, beyond my understanding.
I know that for the days to come he will sweetly reveal many more views from the red chair.
Danni and Jesus, what a thanksgiving!!!! While we dined on our turkey and gravy, Danni dined with the King!!!
Thank you God for the privilege to spend time in the red chair. Thank you for your kindness to all who spent time there. Continue to bless Danni’s family, give them Grace in the days ahead. Thank you so much for the Gift of Danni. I sure loved her while she was here. I can’t wait to meet her in heaven, and have her grab my hand and with a grin say
“here we go.”
Relax and Enjoy
January 2, 2009
Ecclesiastes 5:18 (Message version)
After looking at the way things are on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot.
5:19
Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift!
5:20
God deals out joy in the present, the now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live.
As I looked over Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 this morning I had so many questions in my heart. Why here? Why did you lead me here? How can I relay what this scripture says to people in this economy who may not even have a job?
After I thought about this scripture for a while, I realized that it wasn’t so much about having a job and enjoying that job as it was the accepting your lot in life and being satisfied with what God has given you and where God has put you. It is also thinking about the present joys that God has given you so that we don’t get all caught up in how long we may or may not live.
I don’t know what it is about me that makes me always think about living somewhere warm or having more things. Ecclesiastes says these things are meaningless. I have had thoughts like, “Is this all there is to this life, eating, working, sleeping, eating, working, sleeping, and laundry every now and then.” These scriptures seem to indicate… yep, that’s pretty much it better enjoy it while you can.
I’m wondering if I have ever just accepted that this could be it for me. Living where I live, doing what I do and then dying someday. Acceptance must be the key to enjoying life. Maybe God won’t change any of our circumstances until we learn to enjoy where he’s put us and trust that he knows best even if we stay where we are for the rest of our lives.
Father, help me to just relax and enjoy the life you’ve given me. Help me to stop thinking of all the possibilities of life and just take joy in the moment accepting all that you’ve given me. Thank you for giving me the ability to put life into eternal perspective and help me not get so caught up in all the details, trusting that you will put me where I need to be for whatever your reasons and I can trust you.
I am coming to see more and more that there is no hurry to life, that enjoying every moment is important and that I can rest in the assurance of the salvation given me by my loving Lord taking all the time I need to get to know him and his ways.
Help me to remember your words when the time of testing comes, Jesus. I love you Lord. Thank you for your peace. Amen.
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