Lay it down... (it's all about forgiveness)

I've been surrounded by the topic of forgiveness lately.  It seems like everywhere I turn God is opening up a door for me to hear about it, talk about it, or write about it.  I have to admit, I’m a little concerned. Past experience tells me to run and hide.  There’s a storm a comin’.  Yeah.  Sometimes when God starts pointing certain things out to me, it’s because He’s preparing me for the onslaught. Sometimes it’s simply that He wants me to share with others, plant a seed, or help relieve their hearts in some way.  And with that thought in mind, I share a little about my own journey with forgiveness.

You see, I have been through more in my life than most people are aware of.  I may not come across as such, but in many ways, I'm a very private person.  Yes, I'm outgoing and often the life of the party. I wear my heart on my sleeve, but that doesn't mean I share the innermost secrets of that heart with just anyone.  In fact, for many years, I struggled with what had happened to my life, my marriage, my faith. I wasn't one of those people that you could see the signs of my struggle, though.  No, I was the clever one – the one who put on a brilliant smile for the world but then cried herself to sleep at night.  And after a certain amount of time, some days I really wasn't even sure why I was crying.

It was obvious why when I saw families together.  When I glanced at the innocent smile of a baby.  Watched soon-to-be parents together.  Played with my own children.  I was ashamed.  Deep down, I knew that I had failed my family, my children, myself and God.  In so many ways.  I felt guilty, weighed down by my past.  Haunted by choices I'd made.

And here’s the part that didn't make sense.  I knew God had forgiven me. But I couldn't find it in my heart to forgive myself.

I don't know how it is that we often can't forgive ourselves for our sins, failures, and shortcomings.  I’m sure there are a thousand reasons why.  Maybe because of how we were raised, maybe we don't grasp the true concept of repentance and grace.  Or maybe we are just human and struggle to forgive easily.  But as Christians, we have to learn to walk the walk and live a life of forgiveness. We have to willingly forgive anyone who sins against us.  Including ourselves. And that’s often the hardest person to forgive.  The one staring back at you every morning in the mirror.

It’s funny how it’s easier to forgive someone else.

My moment of truth came when God smacked me in the head with the truth.  Okay, it was a figurative smack. But it really got my attention.  While praying, once again asking forgiveness, the thought that came to me was crystal clear. It was almost like someone had verbally asked me: “Do you think you are better than God?”

It hit me hard. Of course I didn't think I was better than God.  What a ridiculous notion.  But the thought continued, “If God considers the death and bloodshed of Jesus enough to forgive you, then what gives you the right to say it isn’t enough?  By not forgiving yourself when you know God has forgiven you, you're being awfully arrogant about how much better you think your decision is when God said His way is sufficient.”

I won't lie.  That kinda hurt.  Really hit me in the gut.

As much as we would like to, we can't go back and correct our mistakes.  However, we can make a decision to learn from them and start forgiving ourselves.

God wants you to be free from guilt, free from depression, free from the past.  Scripture says, “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new...” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

It doesn't matter what you've done. Big.  Small.  No matter what your story is: rape, murder, theft, lying, cheating, adultery, addictions, etc; when you repented and asked for forgiveness the first time, God forgave you.  You can know that even before the foundations of the world were laid, He knew what your mistakes and downfalls would be – your sins, weaknesses, addictions – they all were nailed to that cross with Him 2,000 years ago.  He did it all so that we could know forgiveness.

And forgiveness puts it all in a new perspective. Yes, it still happened. But God detaches it from us, sends it as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). We are no longer covered in guilt; we are covered in mercy, spared from the punishment that was ours to take.

Maybe you are still carrying around the shame. Maybe you've been trying to forgive yourself, but the realization that you can't undo the past keeps eating at you. You've said you're sorry. You've changed. But the guilt, the burden, remains.

Once you repent, God doesn’t hold it against you or bring it up when you make mistakes. No. God forgives completely. There might be times when you don't feel like you're forgiven, and you struggle to forgive yourself.  But don't fall into that trap. Feelings can be deceiving. 

What I've learned is this: Forgiving yourself is a decision. One you sometimes have to make over and over.  And it’s not an easy one.  I know…I've been there.  But, God says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).”

Take it to God and lay it down.  It's not your burden to carry any longer.

Ready or Not...

I held my breath as I heard the footsteps slowly creek across the floor just beyond the only thing separating me from my hunter. Part of me wanted to close my eyes, thinking if I couldn't see what might happen next, it wouldn't happen. Part of me wanted to peer through the crack of the closet door in order to be prepared if my fate was to be found.

I did neither. 

I was afraid to move. Afraid I would give myself away. Even the slightest squeak of the floor beneath me might mean my doom. When the footsteps seemed to have moved on, I made a mental note of which direction they had gone. I carefully reached out and turned the door knob as I mentally played over my escape route to safety. Slowly, I pushed the door open and stepped into the hallway, only to be met by a shadowed figure waiting for me. He didn't hesitate to move quickly.

“Tag. You're it.” 

I thought I had been so careful. I thought I had covered my bases. But he was clever. He knew what he was after and what it would take to get his target and he was biding his time, waiting for his window of opportunity. And he found it. 

Being a Christian these days is much the same way. We think we are being careful. We think we are doing the right things. We think we are protecting ourselves from all that Satan and the world can throw at us just by living right and being a good person, but most of us aren't even aware of what is biding time around the corner...waiting in the shadows for the perfect time to attack.

And when Satan attacks, being a good person isn't going to be enough to fight back. We have to be prepared for battle. And the best way to defeat your enemy, is to never underestimate them and know what they are capable of. The only way to do that is through knowledge.

You've heard the saying time and time again...knowledge is power. Well, it’s time to up the voltage. Proverbs 24:5 tells us, "The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength."

When you are feeling weak. When you feel like you can't withstand another attack...God is there. There is no greater knowledge than what you can find in the pages of His Word. And in His knowledge, there is power to face any obstacle the world can bring against you. Anything.

Do you see anything?

I'm a writer.  

I write poetry, song lyrics, grocery lists, devotionals, to do lists…you name it.  But my passion is writing fiction.  And I admit, it’s a God-given gift.  I can't fathom how I would be able to write 36,000 words in six days if God wasn't the one pushing me along.  I'm not that disciplined on my own, I assure you!

And for years – most of my life really – I had felt led to use my talents in some way.  I just never really knew what way that was until I was in my thirties.  Even when I first felt like I knew, it was still hazy at best.  But I knew God expected me to use the gift He had given me. Somehow.

God has given us all gifts. We often don't recognize them for what they are or understand what God wants us to do with them…and we wonder why.  We question what the plan is and roam aimlessly in the dark.  But we don't have to feel so clueless.  God tells us how to know.

In Mark 8:23-25 we are told about the blind man who was given sight.  Jesus placed His hands on the eyes of the blind man and asked "Do you see anything?"  The man looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around."  And once more Jesus “laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.”

After the first touch, the man did what was natural, instinctive…he looked up and toward the source of the light.  But his vision wasn't yet clear.  He was still partially blind, saw men as if they were shadowy and much larger than they really were.  And so, Jesus touched him again.  When he did, his perceptions were cleared, his limitations were removed, and he was able to view the world as God intended him to view it.

I can't help but think that we are just like that blind man.  We stumble around, unable to see life the way God intends for us to see it. 

What do you think would have happened to the blind man if he hadn't let Jesus touch him the second time? Would he have been able to see enough to maneuver around?  Of course, but his vision was murky.  He could have managed, but he'd have never seen the true beauty of the world God had waiting for him. 

That’s us.  We are blind to what God can accomplish through us because we don't have the ability to see it on our own.  It’s only through God’s touch on our lives that the world He intends for us is clearly revealed.  Remember the two disciples walking down Emmaus Road?  It was only after they had walked with Jesus for seven miles and He explained the scriptures to them that “their eyes were opened.” (Luke 24:31)

We have to walk our seven miles.  If we don’t read God’s word, we aren't allowing God to reveal the world as He wants us to see it.  Our world – the one intended just for us individually.  He shows us what He needs us to see if we are willing to let Him open our eyes.

You might feel like God has been tugging on your heart and whispering to your soul about the way He wants you to use your gifts.  You might feel like it’s murky and clouded.  And it probably is.  But there is a way to clear the path you are meant to take.  Get into God’s word.  We tend to lead busy lives, but we have to make a way to hear God.  Maybe you aren't much of a reader, and that’s okay. Listen to it while you're driving in your car or while you're at the gym.  It doesn't matter where you are, just listen.  You aren't going to hear what God is trying to tell you, you aren't going to see what God wants you to see, if you don’t give Him the chance to show you.

Are you waiting?

Too many times in life we find ourselves wanting something we don't have.  Yearning for more.  

When all we really need is to believe.  Believe that God has a plan.

Are You Waiting

Is your heart wide open?

Are you waiting to believe?

Can you hear the answers

that your eyes will never see?

Has your faith been tested

beyond limits of deceit?

Are you ready for the truth?

Are you waiting to believe?

Have your doubts and questions

left you searching for a cure

to end the pain and suffering

that your heart and soul endure?

Has this world of trouble

sent you running for reprieve?

Is your heart wide open

are you waiting to believe?

Hope Restored

It happens to every one of us.  Daily.  We get discouraged.  We lose site of hope.  But God is always there, holding hope in His hands, just waiting for us to look in His direction so we can see it.

Hope Restored

Often life seems to be filled

with nothing more than distant dreams.

We stagger through barren lands

with shattered hearts and misplaced regrets,

certain that there is no road that will lead

beyond the shadows.

It is this certainty that leads us astray.

For hope is waiting in the wings,

biding time,

anxious for the chance to restore faith,

anticipating the moment.

And when we need it most

a strand of light will sneak through the shadows

and come to rest in the darkness of our path.

illuminating the way,

giving life to the dreams,

casting away the shadows,

making us believe anything is possible.

Because it is.

What NOT to do...

Have you ever had a friend going through a crisis? Something so heart wrenching that you didn't really know what to say or do for them? Yeah, I'd bet we've all been there at some point. If not, you likely will be sometime and when you are, I guarantee you could really use some pointers on how to handle those situations. 

Unfortunately, I don't have any straightforward ‘do this’ or ‘do that’ answers. But, I do have some insight into what NOT to do. As much as I hate to admit it, these “what not to do” moments of clarity were born from personal experiences.  Of course they can also be found abundantly in the Book of Job. Because, let’s face it, things haven't really changed as much as we'd like to think in a few thousand years.

Ok, here’s the scenario (you can read along in Chapters 1 and 2 if you'd like). Job lost everything: livestock, family, health (that isn't necessarily in order of importance). Except his life.

And Job has these friends, right? These “friends” decide they are going to give him some advice, try to cheer him up, you know…a little friendly intervention. I’m sure that, in their minds, Job’s friends had good intentions and all, but boy were they hitting the head of that nail a little left of center. Without a doubt, these friends had a questionable view of God and I’m not even going to mention their distinct lack of tactfulness…ok, maybe I am. They really needed a little sensitivity training. An HR department would have had a field day with these guys.

So, these friends were “cheering” him up, but it seems to me that they made a couple of mistakes in their attempt to do so. Their first mistake was one we all make at times. They assumed they could relate to Job’s situation. AS IF! I mean, really. This guy just lost EVERYTHING. Not just his home, not just a child, not just a part of his health, but ALL OF THESE THINGS. Everything! And these friends acted as if they understood. (insert dramatic eye roll here)  I’m pretty certain I wouldn't know how Job felt. I wouldn't even be able to begin to imagine how it would feel to lose everything.

On top of that, they made light of his pain (Ch. 11). Seriously?!?! They tell Job that if he would just repent to God then maybe he would be vindicated. Wow. Really? So essentially, they are just telling Job that they know he had to have done something to bring this upon himself. What kind of friends were these people anyway? They may as well have just said, “Job, stop lying about the fact that you haven't done anything wrong and admit it so God will stop torturing you for being such a terrible Christian.”

I don't know about you, but if I were Job, I feel confident they wouldn't be getting Christmas cards this year.

Which brings me to the moral of the story. A phrase we've all had burned to memory: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I can't help but wonder how Job’s friends would have wanted to be treated if the roles had been reversed. I’m sure they didn't think of that.

As friends, we will never be perfect. After all, we're human. However, we can treat our friends the way we would want them to treat us in a similar situation. With love, compassion, understanding, and a strong dose of sensitivity. There will be times when we are faced with a friend who is suffering, a friend who is hurting, a friend who has lost something or someone. And maybe we can’t truly relate. Maybe we can’t know how they really feel, but we can be there for them. We can pray for them and with them. We can show them the kind of love that God shows us when we need a friend. Take a lesson from Job’s friends (a what NOT to do lesson, that is) and do for that friend what you would want a friend to do for you.

Pieces of Peace - A Poem

I was working on my latest devotional to share with you all when I came across a poem I wrote back in 2009.  I felt led to share.  May you all know and rely upon the peace we can only get from Him.

 

Pieces of Peace

©2009

 Outside the world is searching

for the calm after the storm.

So many lives are torn apart,

so many spirits worn.

Within the midst of chaos

in a world that knows no peace

He will be a harbor

to offer hearts reprieve.

Governments can crumble

and riches disappear

but the arms of God are open,

His peace is always near.

Suffering and heartache

are never hard to find

as we suffer through the fires

emerging more refined.

We shoulder heavy burdens

that we aren’t meant to bear,

when God says He will carry

what we bring to Him in prayer.

 

Waiting in Faith

            Some of my clearest childhood memories are of Christmas Eve.  Baking goodies with Mom, family gatherings, my little brother thinking reindeer would fall through the roof into HIS bed while mine would be perfectly safe (right up until he was 11 years old), and who could forget the presents?  Each year they mysteriously appeared under our tree on Christmas Eve, seldom a day sooner.  You see my Mother is somewhat of a procrastinator in this area (sorry Mom), yet the gifts were always wrapped just in time for my day of torture.  That’s right, torture.   Boxes of green and red torture bound together with yards of beautiful, shiny, torturous ribbon. 

 

            Being a curious child I would immediately beg (and beg and beg) to open just one present.  Just one.  Naturally, my Mother would somehow manage to ignore my whiny requests until she finally looked me square in the eye and said “You’re just going to have to wait.”  

 

            Wait?  Wait!?!  What is that?  That word was so not in my vocabulary as a child.  Ok…so it’s still somewhat buried in the cobweb covered recesses of my adult dictionary as well.

 

            Today, I find that Jesus is much like my Mother on Christmas Eve and I am still much like that impatient child.  When I want something I want it yesterday.  I don’t want to acknowledge that I have the word ‘wait’ even hidden in my vocabulary, much less use it!   I often find myself trying to fix my problems only to have Jesus stop me dead in my tracks, look me square in the eye and say “You’re just going to have to wait.” 

           

I’ve learned many hard lessons by not waiting on God’s timing, as I know I should.  Because of this stubborn little streak I have, I didn’t receive the blessings I would have if I had only been strong enough in my faith to wait.  We have to be willing to be patient and look for God’s answers in many different ways in order to draw closer to Him.  Often we find ourselves at the end of our own efforts until we have no choice except to depend on Him.  Waiting involves trust in God. 

 

Webster’s dictionary defines trust as “placing confidence in something without fear or misgiving.”  Wait without fear?  That’s a tough pill to swallow in the midst of trials, but often the greatest growth we experience in our relationship with God stems from trials we face.  As tough as the trials are, the rewards are beyond measure.  When we act on our beliefs and humble ourselves before God, we find strength to wait.  When praying, don’t ask for patience, be faithful and ask for strength to wait on God.  Psalm 27:14 tells us “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart...”

 

            God has compassion for our pain because He loves us so dearly.  He will handle our situations and bless us in the process, but only if we have the strength to leave them with Him in faith and, yes, wait.  It’s not a question of will God take care of our problems, it’s a question of will we let Him?

The Sixth Sense of Christianity

It was recently brought to my attention that most people aren’t like me. I know, I know…no major news flash there, but the person was referring to how I perceive the supernatural realm. He pointed out to me that most people aren’t as fearless in their view of what’s going on around them. He reminded me that most people don’t comprehend the concept of legions of demonic entities stalking around us daily and most don’t want to.

It started my wheels turning.

He’s right.

Most people don’t really have a grasp of the spiritual warfare that encircles us at every moment of the day. We walk around in a perpetual fog. Don’t get me wrong; I do feel that most Christians are aware of spiritual warfare. After all, the Bible reveals to us that there is an unseen spiritual realm that affects the physical world. Satan and his demons are waging a vicious spiritual battle all around us, trying to prevent people from coming to a saving knowledge of God’s love and entering His kingdom. Their sole focus is to defeat God’s plans for our lives. As Christians, we needto know about this spiritual battle. 2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us that we need to be aware of the devil's schemes so that he doesn’t have the chance to overcome us. Without awareness, we cannot stand against the wickedness that we face, we cannot protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our ministries. God commands us to stand. He commands us to protect that which He has given us to protect. Ephesians 6:11-20 gives us that commandment when we are told to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” If we are blind to the battle and unaware of what is going on around us simply because we cannot openly see it, then it becomes easy for Satan to deceive us in cunning, subtle ways and to prevent us from being effective at doing the work God intends for us.

So how do we make so many aware who don’t want to be aware? Once again, God gives us the answer. He tells us in Ephesians 4:15 to“speak the truth in love.” Realistically every Christian, every person, isn’t going to grasp fully the reality of the supernatural battles raging in their lives. What they likely can grasp though is that Satan can, and does, attack us and influence our minds, our thoughts, our beliefs, and our actions. Hopefully they can comprehend that we are all involved in spiritual warfare, every one of us, whether we like it or not, whether we even realize it or not. And while you may be fully aware that Satan’s demons are the culprits behind these attacks, some are still not at a point to wrap their minds around that and that’s ok, so long as they are aware that Satan is on the attack.

To help them understand, here is an example that I heard and wrote down some time back.

Imagine a soldier on a battlefield. He can't see or hear any enemies and therefore he doesn't believe that an enemy is out there, so he wanders around without his weapons, not carrying out his assigned duties, completely defenseless and vulnerable, stumbling into the enemy's camp without even being aware of it. The enemy doesn't care that the soldier was ignorant to his presence or if he was unarmed and unaware. The enemy is going to take advantage of the unaware target and attack!!

We can all quickly realize that soldier wasn't going to last long, yet that is precisely the way that many of us live. We don't know that there is a war being fought in the spiritual domain, we don't understand that there is an enemy of pure evil out there and that we are God's soldiers in this spiritual battle. We don't understand that God has an assigned place for each and every Christian or that we have all been given spiritual gifts and spiritual weapons (defensive and offensive) for engaging in the battle in the heavenlies while we are here on earth.

As I mentioned earlier, so many of us walk around in a fog, but God wants us to have unclouded minds that see what goes on around us! In fact, our greatest strategy against Satan is clarity of mind, accuracy of perception and awareness!!! And all of these are available to us through God's word and prayer.

I was....Wrong

I was wrong.  Deep down I knew I was wrong...but I did it anyway.  And this wasn’t the first time...I’ve done it before. 

Justifications swirled around in my mind, muffling the little voice that was trying to remind me to do the right thing.  Man, those self-righteous justifications sure are loud...aren’t they? 

Have you ever wondered why the voice of reason - the voice of truth - never seems as loud as those arrogant, sanctimonious voices that often drown it out?  Have you ever wondered where that subtle voice comes from and why it doesn’t just shout at you:

“Hey...dummy...yeah, you... STOP THAT!” 

Why does that voice speak so quietly when so many other voices are barking loudly around you?  I have asked that question - many times.  Always after the fact, I hate to say.  The catch is, if I listen to the right voice I don’t have to ask myself that question afterwards.  Yet somehow I find myself asking it time and again.

Have you ever done something that you were pretty sure was wrong, but you justified your actions to yourself?  Hard to drown your own voice out, right?  I know you have.  We all have.  It goes with the territory of being human.  We make mistakes.  Sometimes big ones.  Sometimes we do things that we feel like God couldn’t possibly forgive us for.  But He will, He does, He has.  If we have truly gone before God in prayer and confessed our sins, asked Him to forgive them truly from the heart, then we are fully forgiven....no questions asked!!! 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Don’t you wish it were that easy with people?

I know from personal experience that sometimes it doesn’t seem so simple to us.  We wrestle with those voices in our head that say God couldn’t possibly forgive us for something so horrible.  Those voices are liars!  Those voices are Satan-sent and want nothing more than to see you suffer and not TRUST GOD.  It’s at this point that I personally would like to say:

“Hey...dummy...yeah, you... STOP THAT!”   

(ok...I really don’t think you’re a dummy...just trying to make a point)

No matter what you have done, no matter how horrid you think it is, no matter how repulsive it truly is...God has already forgiven it if you’ve already sincerely asked.  What you are dealing with now is guilt.  Guilt is a powerful weapon in Satan’s arsenal.  I should know...I’ve been attacked with it over and over.  But God’s forgiveness trumps any weapon Satan has - every time.  You only need to have faith in God’s forgiveness.

If you aren’t sure how to come humbly, yet boldly before God to ask for His forgiving grace...keep reading.  As always, He has already given us the instructions.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

God wants us to approach His throne with boldness...boldness He bestowed in us when we became His children.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Guilt is nothing more than heavy chains Satan wants to keep draping around your neck as he pushes you closer and closer to the edge, hoping to push you over and watch you drown as they anchor you beneath the dark waters.  Matthew 11:28 tells us that God doesn’t want us to carry that weight around.  He wants our burden to be light.  He wants us to give that burden to Him.  Hand over the chains...they don’t belong to you anymore.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)

Jesus has already shouldered the sin, He has already paid the price of forgiveness, He has already bore your guilt as His own...He has done all of this through the blood that He shed for all of us on Calvary.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

We still have to make amends for our wrongs, we will still have to face the consequences of whatever our actions bring, but that doesn’t mean God will never bless us again.  It does mean we are forgiven and we can go on knowing that by His blood, we are forgiven, we are healed of our transgressions, we are new in the eyes of Christ, all of our sins are passed away and our slate is wiped clean.  

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)

Are You WEAK Enough?

I can bench press 200 pounds.  I once punched out a guy with one shot.  I am a champion arm wrestler.  And my mind...my mind is sooo strong...I remember everything I see and hear

....as if!!! 

I’m sure you have already figured out...I am NONE of those things.  What I am...is a note taker.   I’d forget things if I weren’t.  The catch is...I often will stick my notes in places and then forget them.  Trust me; the irony isn’t lost on me.  Anyway, just this morning I was thumbing through the pages of my Bible when I found some notes stuck between them.  In the name of complete disclosure there are easily 30+ bulletins from church with as many notes as will fit scribbled on them stuck between the pages of my Bible.  So finding notes isn’t that difficult...but this page of notes was different.  It wasn’t a bulletin.  It was a small 4x6 sheet torn from a notebook.  There weren’t forty or more sentences penned to this piece of paper.  No, there were literally five sentences written below a Bible passage that I had to look up again.  What really struck me though was the following sentence.

The heart of prayer is weakness; strong people don’t tend to pray.

Ouch...now that’s a bit of a slap in the face.  I have always thought of myself as a strong person.  Not physically, like the things listed earlier, so much as mentally and emotionally.  In my life, I’ve been through a lot and mentally/emotionally I’d say I’m pretty strong.   But strength isn’t what God expects of us.  Because when we are strong...we try to do things ourselves.  We don’t rely on God for strength.   I’m fairly certain that’s what I must have been thinking when I wrote those words down.  Strong people don’t tend to pray.  

There have been many times in my life that turmoil raged and I tried to handle it myself.  Over and over I have learned that until I fall to my knees, broken before God, knowing that I can’t do it all myself...I won’t be able to do it at all.  I am weak.  My strength alone is not enough...ever.  God wants us to see that.  I Corinthians 1:27 tells us “...God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”  That includes us...thinking we are mighty.  Thinking we can do it alone.  Then along comes God’s strength and puts our puny “might” to shame. 

Personally, I have recently been dealing with some health issues.  Something I have been fortunate enough in my life to never have to deal with.  And I tried to handle it myself.  I went to the doctor.  I tried homeopathic remedies (which I prefer)...neither worked.  Until one day, only a few days ago, I lost it!!!  I was alone at home and I fell to my knees by my bed crying.  I didn’t have to say a word aloud...God heard my heart crying out to him.  Now, here I am, merely five days later and a remedy I had been trying previously suddenly is working.  I gave it to God.  I wasn’t strong enough on my own.  Why didn’t I read II Corinthians 12:9-10 earlier?  

“ And He said to me (“me” being Paul), ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul was actually thankful for his persecution.  Even though he had prayed God would remove his “thorn in the flesh” but God did not.  He simple told Paul “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  

I thank God for my weakness.  Without it, I would still be suffering in my own “strength.”  It isn’t just about physical strength and weakness though.  We suffer in hundreds of ways every day, ways that could be unbearable without God. 

Hebrews 11:32-34   “And what more shall I say?  For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Sampson and Jepthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdues kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant on battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens”

So ask yourself...are you weak enough to let go and let God?  For in weakness...we become strong.  It isn’t until we recognize our own weakness that accompanies this flesh that we are able to find our strength in Christ.

Brownie Mix & God

Proverbs 13:13
He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.

I just finished putting a pan of brownies in the oven for my not-so-grown-up 19 year old son who batted his eyes and said “please Mommy.”  He’s not a dumb child...he knows precisely which of my buttons to push.  He knows the ingredients to getting a situation to turn out the way he wants when Mom is involved.   

Puppy dawg eyes...check. 

Pouting bottom lip...check.

Hug for Mom...check. 

“Plllleeeaaassseee Mommy” (in that sweet 5 year old way that clearly still works at 19)...double check. 

A simple list of ingredients and viola!  Success.  So, back to the brownies.  I was adding the ingredients called for on the package (because let’s face it...there’s no way I’m making brownies from scratch) and something hit me.  Not literally...mentally.  The ingredients were: 1 egg (normal enough), 1/3 cup of oil (no surprise there), and 2 tablespoons of water.  Wait...what?  Only TWO tablespoons?  What difference is two tablespoons of water going to make?  Really?  But there is was.  It did get me to wondering though.  I mean, two tablespoons of water doesn’t seem like much and doesn’t appear that it would make much difference in one batch of brownie mix, but is that how we see the small things in God’s Word?  As though they are insignificant in the big scheme of things?

God’s Word is likely the same way for many of us.   We have all the ingredients at our fingertips, yet we choose to not put some of them in because they seem insignificant.  (Maybe BIBLE actually could stand for Basic Ingredients Before Leaving Earth...nahh...Instructions is probably better.)  Just like Betty Crocker, God has His reasons for the two small tablespoons.  We may never truly know the reason they are needed...but they are needed all the same.

I won’t lie...it crossed my mind not to put them in out of pure mocking curiosity.  But I already had the measuring spoons out...so, why mock what is tried and true?  As Christians, it’s hard sometimes to follow the list and add in everything we need.  We tend to think we can get by without this or that.  But in the end, if we leave out the things God intended to be in the mix, the results may be good enough to put on the plate, but the flavor will be lacking.  Trust that God knows what He’s doing.  He’s the Master Chef.  We are merely the Assistants here to learn from the Master.

And for good measure (get it...measure, it’s a pun...haha.  Ok, nevermind), anyway...here are a few other verses about following the instructions.  Feel free to quote them to your kids.  Enjoy!

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 13:1
A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

Job 22:22
Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.

What's so good about Good Friday?

Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offense. Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me. For I know my offense; my sin is always before me. Psalm 51:3-5 

Happy Good Friday!!!  Who’s hiding Easter eggs this weekend?  I thought about it...but since my kids are “too old” for that, I’m not really sure if my memory is bad enough yet to forget where I put them and try to find them myself.  Oh well.

I admit though...I’m pretty excited about Easter.  It’s not about getting to go dress shopping (though I did find this awesome cobalt blue number on sale), it’s not about the Easter baskets overflowing with scrumptious chocolate candies or Easter egg hunts...no.  It’s about Jesus - the man who gave His life so I could get excited about all these things and so much more.

He gave His LIFE!!!  Not just a few weekends here and there.  Not a week in a remote village to help build a few houses.  His LIFE!!!

And He didn’t want to.  Nope.  The Bible tells us that He agonized over it, He knew the pain He was about to suffer through.  He even prayed that God would find another way.  Does that sound familiar?  We do it every time we are faced with difficulty. 

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

He bore the weight of ALL sin...past, present and future.  How excruciating that must have been.

I used to struggle with the idea that we call the day Jesus was crucified GOOD Friday.  I mean...how is it good that we literally murdered Jesus?  By we I mean every one of us.  Think about it, had you and I been alive on that day, would we have tried to stop it?  Doubtful.  Even Peter denied Him three times.  Let’s face it...we did it. 

We conspired against Jesus.

We drug Jesus into that court.

We beat Jesus.

We called Him names.

We nailed Jesus to a cross.

We treated Him as though He was evil!

We killed Jesus.

He didn’t want to die like that..but He did.  God didn’t want Him to die like that...but He allowed it.  For us.  Jesus obediently walked those streets, felt the nails pierce His skin, and died on that cross...for us.

Looking at if from that perspective...how can we call this day good?  Really?  I can see Dark Friday.  Black Friday (I’d say this is more important and would trump the biggest shopping day of the year). Maybe Sin Friday or Execution Friday.  I think the German’s have a better grasp of the concept with Karfreitag, which means “Suffering Friday.” 

Such pain and despair.  But that’s how much God loves us.  That’s how much He loves YOU.  He sacrificed his own Son in our place, because everyone of us deserved to hang on that cross.  But now we have eternal life if we believe and claim Jesus as our Savior. 

THAT is why this is called Good Friday. 

He didn’t stop there, though.  Three days later...He walked away from the cold grip of death and left the tomb empty.  What a beautiful day.  Easter Day!!

So color those eggs, eat that chocolate and remember why today is such a good day!!

May God’s blessings fall on each of you this Easter.

Genuine, Childlike Faith

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

When I was pregnant with my second child people would often want to know if I was having a boy or a girl.  Since I wanted it to be a surprise I never asked the doctors to tell me.  However, my four year old son, Patrick, was certain that he knew.  Whenever someone would ask if I knew, my faithful little boy would pipe in boldly saying, “It’s a boy.   I know because I prayed and asked God for a brother.”  He was confident that he was going to get a little brother. He believed God for his promise that if we ask, we shall receive (John 16:24).   He had an attitude of faith that his request had already been granted even though he could not yet “see” this physically. James 4:2 states, “You have not, because you ask not…” Patrick asked and, low and behold, his little brother arrived.   Granted, we do have to be careful what we ask for sometimes.   There have been moments when I heard Patrick mumble “what was I thinking?” and other times, when Patrick is rather annoyed with Dade, the little brother he so faithfully awaited, I hear Dade quickly remind him “well, YOU prayed for me!”  (There’s nothing like brotherly love, is there?)

This childlike faith is required for us to receive the blessings that the Lord longs to give us.   When we pray and make a request of God we shouldn’t murmur to ourselves “I hope this works out.”  We should have the confidence in God that little children have. We should believe that our prayer has already been answered and wait patiently for God to bring it to us in HIS time.  At four years old, Patrick had no concept of the amount of time he would have to wait for his little brother, though he did often ask “how much longer?”  He simply believed that God would send him his request.  Never once did he question God.  I can’t lie, I found myself wondering how I would explain it to him in the event that his little brother turned out to be a little sister instead. My faith was not as genuine as Patrick’s was. Thankfully God took care of that one for me.

Looking back I realize that I simply lacked confidence in God.  And who am I to question the dependability of God? He has always been there for me.  Genuine faith is not professing that you believe… genuine faith is actually believing what you profess.   It is having confidence in the dependability of God...and who is more dependable than He is? 

Our Christian lives begin because of our faith in Jesus Christ, they are lived by faith and they end in faith.  Our faith is strengthened by spending time in God’s word, if we do this... it is guaranteed that our faith will grow and we will have more childlike confidence to ask the Lord for the blessings we long for…even the ones we think may be too much to ask.  Maybe it’s time that we stopped insisting our children grow up and start thinking about learning to be a little more like them...childlike in our own faith.

          Hebrews 11:1 is a well known verse.  Many Christians can quote it fluently, but quoting it isn’t enough...do you live it?  Do you truly have faith in God for the things you are hoping for, but cannot yet see?  How childlike is your faith?