Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Honest to God

photo courtesy mimwickett, rgbstock.com
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

You can be honest with God. He already knows your thoughts, your attitudes and your intentions, so just go ahead and open up to Him. He can handle it.

Often we're the ones who don't really know what's inside us. We pick up the Bible and as we read, we become aware of ugly thoughts, ungodly desires and bad attitudes that are lurking under the surface. God's word reveals this to us, not to condemn us, but so that we can openly confess these things to God and ask Him to forgive us and to change those things in us that are not pleasing to Him.

What freedom there is in knowing that we can be ourselves with God! We can tell him when we are hurt, angry, jealous or confused, knowing that He will lovingly listen and begin to work in our hearts as we trust Him and submit ourselves to Him.

Father, thank you that we can come to you with complete transparency, that we can share those things that are held deep within and that you will hear us and love us still. Thank you for your word, which reveals those things that hinder our spiritual growth. We ask that you change those things and replace them with Christ-like characteristics...for your glory, Lord. Amen

What things are you afraid to confess to God? Has God revealed things about yourself as you read His word that surprised you? Take time today to get honest with Him and let Him fill your heart and mind with godly thoughts and attitudes.

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Thursday, June 13, 2013

Her Name is Katie


Today I met Katie. I don't know her last name or much about her. She was standing outside Chic-fil-a in 105 degree weather. Her face was bright red, her eyes dull and her clothes dirty. She didn't ask for money or something to eat. In fact she moved away from our car as we approached and went to stand up against the building.

"Do you think she's okay?" I asked my husband.

"I don't know," he said.

I started to back out of my parking space, all the while watching her in my rear view mirror. I started to pull away. "Do you think she's hungry?" I asked as I drove away slowly.

"Pull around and ask her," Lee said.

So I did. The answer was "yes".  

I parked the car and joined her on the sidewalk.  As I approached her she asked, "What makes you so nice?"

One word flew out of my mouth, "Jesus."

"Let's go inside and get you some dinner," I said.

She stared at me. "I can go in with you?"

"Of course you can. Why wouldn't you?"

"I don't want to embarrass you," she said. My heart broke.

Inside we ordered her dinner, then made our way to a cool booth. We chatted a bit while poor Lee waited in the car.

Her name is Katie. I'd judge her to be in her mid to late 60s. She's smart, articulate and interested in others...and she's homeless. She asked questions about me, my family, where I'm from. She told me her story briefly, further breaking my heart.

I kept thinking about my poor husband waiting outside in the hot car. I had to leave, but I really wanted to sit and talk with my new friend more. When I told her I had to go, she said, "When I asked you why you were so nice, you said Jesus...would you pray for me before you go?"

That had been my intention all along.  We prayed. "Your good at that," she said.

I shrugged, "God's easy to talk to."

"You've been praying for a long time," she said.

I nodded, then stood and gave her a long hug. "I'll be praying for you every day, Katie, and anytime I'm in this area, I'll be watching for you so that we can share a meal and have a chat."

Her response..."Thank you for hugging me."

I drove away with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. My husband says I (we) did what Jesus would have done, but I wish we could have done more. I wish, like the Good Samaritan, I could have taken her to an Inn and paid for her care. I wish I could have taken her to a doctor to have the sores on her legs tended. I wish I had room to invite her to stay with us until we could find a home for her, but our second bedroom is already in use by someone else we're helping.

I wish I could really do what Jesus would have done. He might have healed her on the spot.

The only thing I can do is pray for her daily, trusting that Jesus will help her...or give me the means to help her if I see her again.

If you think about Katie after reading this, please mention her to God in prayer. I know this precious woman will never leave my mind and my heart. I wish I could have done more.


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Monday, June 10, 2013

Trusting God When There's Not Enough Money


"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

You know what I'm going to enjoy most about Heaven...well, being with God, of course, but second most, I'm going to enjoy not having to worry about money.

Seems like every time I turn around something needs repaired - car, truck...today it was the home air conditioning unit.  It would be wonderful if we had a well-stocked savings account when these things happened, but we don't. We're like millions of other people who just barely make it on our paycheck.

We've downsized until there's not much more we can cut out. We live frugally, shop at second-hand stores for most of our clothes and everything else. Shop at the least expensive grocery store in town, don't go out much and haven't been on vacation in 6 years.

Still, life keeps throwing these things at us. We've never really had credit card debt...until now. I hate putting things on a credit card, but what can you do when it's 107 degrees outside and your air conditioner breaks down? It would be nice if wages kept up with the cost of living, but even our employers are struggling.

Do you feel guilty about credit card debt? I do. The Bible talks about not being in debt to anyone and how the borrower is slave to the lender. Our pastor frequently encourages us to get out of debt, to live on less than we make, to save for emergencies, but how do you make that happen when you've already cut back to the bare bones and you're still just barely making it?


So, today the repair bill for the air conditioning unit added $669.00 to the credit card. Sigh...  I am not happy about that, but I can't imagine what it would be like not to have a card to put it on. We're facing 5 more months of triple digit temperatures. That's torture enough without having a place to escape from the heat.

Yep, sure looking forward to Heaven, where we won't have to deal with money, but until then, I will cling to the verse that says my God shall supply all my needs. I will trust Him, I'll keep giving my tithe and I will not let this stress me out. I'll take one day at a time, knowing that He is with me and will be with me through it all.

How about you?  How are you doing? Are money problems stressing you out? Do you find it difficult to trust God with your finances?

Father, we thank you that you have promised to meet our needs. You see that we do not spend frivolously and that we are faithful in giving. We rest in your loving care and trust you to bring in the money to pay down our debt as we apply ourselves to working our jobs and being wise with our spending. Thank you for the peace that settles in our hearts, displacing worry. We trust you. Amen


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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Pray Believing

"Men may, and often do, pray without faith (though this is not true prayer), but it is not thinkable that men should have faith and not pray. 

The biblical formula is "the prayer of faith." Prayer and faith are here bound together by the little preposition of, and what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Faith is only genuine as it eventuates into prayer. 

When Tennyson wrote "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of," he probably uttered a truth of vaster significance than even he understood. While it is not always possible to trace an act of God to its prayer-cause, it is yet safe to say that prayer is back of everything that God does for the sons of men here upon earth. One would gather as much from a simple reading of the Scriptures. 

What profit is there in prayer? Much in every way. Whatever God can do, faith can do, and whatever faith can do prayer can do when it is offered in faith. An invitation to prayer is, therefore, an invitation to omnipotence, for prayer engages the Omnipotent God and brings Him into our human affairs. Nothing is impossible to the man who prays in faith, just as nothing is impossible with God. 

This generation has yet to prove all that prayer can do for believing men and women."

 ~ AW Tozer

 God would not ask us - command us to pray unless He had every intention of answering prayer. Why then, do we sometimes feel that our prayers have gone unanswered?

Perhaps it's because we did not pray in faith, believing that He would answer.

Or, perhaps He answered, but we did not like the answer. Let's admit it, we want God to answer our prayers the way we think is best. 

Complete healing...and fast.
Loved ones saved...today.
Finances sorted out...yesterday.

And when that doesn't happen, we assume that God hasn't heard or answered.

Sometimes His answer is "no," because He wants us to walk through the difficulty in order to learn more about His all-sufficient grace or because He us using the trial to shape our character more into the image of Christ.

And we have to be okay with that - He is, after all...God.

Read God's word, see what things are in His will, then pray with faith, believing...but don't stress if the answer is "no," because He is building a greater faith in you than you know.

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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Build-Your-Own-World Games


You've seen them - all those games out there where you build your own world, farm, amusement park, zoo, etc.

You usually begin with a blank slate, then start adding landscaping, buildings, furniture, animals and more. You keep improving your world until you put the last piece in place and consider it perfect.

Some may think that God created the world like that. He began with a blank slate then added the heavens and earth, sky, then dry land, plant life, heavenly bodies, sun, moon & stars...then he stood back and said, "Hmmm...what else would look cool here."

So he added all sorts of fish, birds and flying insects and after that all the creatures that live on dry land. He game all of them the ability to reproduce.

Once again he stood back and wondered what more he could add to his world. Maybe something in his own image that could talk, reason, choose...so he created man and plunked him down as the finishing touch of his masterpiece and called it all good.

THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT HAPPENED!

Ephesians 1:4 says...

Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. (MSG)
 God didn't create us to inhabit the Earth...He designed the Earth to sustain us - because he had already conceived us in his mind as the focus of his love.

If that doesn't make you feel special, I don't know what will.

Next time you take a look at the world around you, mountains, oceans, flowers, animals, plants that grow food - take a moment to consider that all that was placed here to sustain your life because God loves you. You were not an afterthought in creation - you were the FIRST thought!

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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Are you a fan or a follower?

photo credit: Scott Ableman via photopin cc
"My concern is that many of our churches in America have gone from being sanctuaries to becoming stadiums. And every week all the fans come to the stadium where they cheer for Jesus but have no interest in truly following him. The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren't actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them." (quote from Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman)*

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

Salvation is free, but that doesn't mean it doesn't cost something.

It cost Jesus his very life, the surrendering of his human will to the will of the Father. It cost him time as he ministered to the throngs that followed him day and sleep as he prayed through many a night. It cost him acceptance - the religious leaders scorned him and the secular leaders plotted his demise. It meant giving his all for those who would reject him and ridicule him . Yes, it cost him plenty, but he was willing to pay the price for those who would believe and receive him, for those who would fall in love with him and enjoy a restored relationship with the Father through him.

And then he tells us that if we want to be his disciple (a Christ follower), we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow him.

Salvation is free, but being a Christ follower will cost us, just as it did Jesus. It will mean total surrender to his purposes for our lives, laying our will aside for his will. Ministering to others who may or may not appreciate it. Sharing the message of God's love even if it means that those who hear will ridicule us and toss the message back in our face. But we will sacrifice, and we'll do it for those who will hear and receive the message and invite Christ into their lives. For those who will then carry the message to others, that they will come to know forgiveness and restoration through Christ.

Surrender - that word has come to have a negative connotation today. Giving up, giving in, defeat, failure, but that's not what happens when we surrender to God. We lose nothing when we surrender to Him...and we gain everything. Doing life our way usually ends in despair and destruction. Surrendering to the One who love us immeasurably and has wonderful plans for our lives can never be a bad thing. It brings freedom, confidence, peace, joy and strength through the hard times in life.

We're never alone when we walk with Christ, so let this be the day when you surrender to the One who created you to the One who gives purpose and meaning to your life. Surrender and walk in freedom.

How? Simply pray (talk to God) and let Him know that you are His for life.

God is not looking for fans...He's looking for followers. Men and women that will humble themselves and seek His face. Fall in love with him. Surrender their lives, then allow God to use them to reach others.

Is that you?

Are you a fan or a follower?



*Recommended reading:
 
Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus
by Kyle Idleman


Are you a follower of Jesus? Don't answer too quickly. In fact, you may want to read this book before you answer at all. Consider it a 'Define the Relationship' conversation to determine exactly where you stand. You may indeed be a passionate, fully devoted follower of Jesus. Or, you may be just a fan who admires Jesus but isn't ready to let him cramp your style. Then again, maybe you're not into Jesus, period. In any case, don't take the question---Are you a follower of Jesus?---lightly. Some people don't know what they've said yes to and other people don't realize what they've said no to, says Pastor Kyle Idleman. But Jesus is ready to clearly define the relationship he wants with his followers. Not a Fan calls you to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple. With frankness sprinkled with humor, Idleman invites you to live the way Jesus lived, love the way he loved, pray the way he prayed, and never give up living for the One who gave his all for you.

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Friday, March 29, 2013

Do we really believe this?



As I listened to a sermon this morning based on the 23rd Psalm, I was blown away. I've been a Christ follower for over 35 years and I've heard and read Psalm 23 many, many times. It's a beautiful passage of scripture that flows with poetry, with beauty - it's comforting, peaceful and reassuring. But today I discovered the challenge hidden within it's verses. See if you can spot it.


The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

So where's the challenge? 
The challenge is found in living
as if we really believe the promises
of this passage. 

Do we really believe that we lack nothing?
If so, why do we whine about what we don't have?
Why don't we just trust that whatever we need, God will supply?
Why are we afraid to give generously?
Are we afraid that if we do, God will punish, rather than bless by not giving us what we need?

Do we really believe that God will guide us along the right path?
If so, why do we wrack our brains trying to figure out our next move?
Why do we stress and lose sleep over what we should do?
Why are we afraid of the future? 

Do we really believe that God is able to prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies?
That He could give us enough peace and protection to be able to sit down and enjoy a meal in the midsts of  a dangerous situation?
If so, why are we afraid to minister to the homeless, to those who live in crime-ridden areas, to those who are in prison, to those in foreign countries?
Are we really convinced that God will protect us?

Do we really believe that God will anoint us to do any work He calls us to do?
If so, why do we hesitate when He calls us to step into a leadership position?
To teach a Sunday School class? To lead a Small Group?
Why do we shrink back when He prompts us to reach out to the seemingly unreachable?

Seriously...do we really believe the Word?
With God for us, who can stand against us?
What can they do to us?
Kill us?

Oh, please...don't make us go to Heaven!

This morning, my eyes have been opened.
I'm praying that I never again let fear keep me from doing something brave for God.
I'm praying that I never again let my perception of lack keep me from stepping out in faith.
I'm praying that I never again allow well-meaning people talk me out of doing something outrageous for the One who loves me, protects me, provides for me, equips me and anoints me.

I pray that I will take Him at His Word, for when we are bold enough to do that, to live like we believe it, the world will sit up and take notice...not of us, but of our Almighty God.

God's promise is this...


Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Believe it!
And live like you believe it!



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