Grounded 3.17

Guess What?!

2012-02-02T21:41:00.001-08:00

"Guess what Auntie Kate?!"-- my almost 3 year old niece Grace.

"What?"

"I GOT A NEW TONGUE!" --excitedly sticking her tongue out to show me the new addition to her mouth.

My niece is something else. Honestly, I don't know where she gets this stuff; obviously not from her favorite auntie. :) However strange she can be, this excited statement made me think tonight. The Bible speaks of tongues quite a bit actually. In fact, the word "tongue" is seen in the ESV 102 times!

James 3:6 says, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." Whoa, those are pretty powerful words.

In our old nature, the only thing this tongue can do is set fire and bring death. (Proverbs 18:21) But that's not the end! As believers in Christ, we have a new nature, a new tongue! This new tongue can build up and encourage the body. It brings words of life! And in the new nature, by the grace and mercy of God, it praises our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I wish that were the end of the story. However, that won't be the case until we reach Glory in Heaven. While we do have a new tongue, we also have the old one at the same time. In this life, we have to deal with the old and new nature--a constant battle. But by the grace of God, He gives us the victory to cling to in His death and resurrection, and we can live in the new nature by His strength.

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

(2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV)

Friends, you have a new tongue. How are you using your's today?

The Art of Deception

2012-01-30T19:35:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking quite a bit about truth lately. It all started when Jordan and I started listening to one of Odyssey's newest adventures: an album entitled "The Green Ring Conspiracy" (again: I highly recommend). The four-CD adventure tells of a counterfeiting operation taking place in Odyssey. In one of the episodes, when Eugene and young Emily Parker first discover that the backpack Emily found in the woods is full of counterfeit money, Emily comments how real the counterfeit looks. Eugene explains to her that deceptions are difficult to detect because they are often made as close to the truth as possible.

As close to the truth as possible. Isn't that one of the frustrating things about Satan? He "disguises himself as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). But it doesn't stop there, does it? "Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness" (11:15).

All around us, lies are masquerading as the truth. And Satan loves having us believe his lies . . . lies that seem so close to the truth, we hardly even think to question them. Those lies often come through smooth talking, believable persons. People that sound good, seem smart, and are respected by a large number of people. People that we would never think to doubt or question.

So, my question to us is this: how well do we know the Truth? Do we know and study the Word of God for ourselves so that we cannot be taken in by the lies? Do we take everything we hear from the pulpit, on a podcast, or on the radio and compare it with Scripture? I think as we get closer to the return of Christ, the lies are only going to look better; more and more like the truth. I pray that we would each be so intimately acquainted with the Word and so dedicated to challenging what we hear that we are not taken captive by empty, hollow, false teaching.

"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'" - John 8:31-32

You are. Yes. You are.

2012-01-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

You are alive today.
You stand outside of time.

You entered our world as a man.
You remained God, yet became one of us.
You were tempted by the devil.
You did not sin.
You were loved by some, hated by others.
You died the death only sinners deserve.
You rose from the grave, victorious.

You are alive today.
You stand outside of time.

You enter our world as our Helper, Holy Spirit.
You remain God, yet become one with us.
You defeat the devil daily.
You fully forgive sin.
You are loved by some, hated by others.
You break the chains keeping sinners stuck.
You bring us new life, victorious.

You are alive today.
You stand outside of time.

One Thing

2012-01-28T20:08:00.003-08:00

But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41, 42

Many things fill the hours of our day. From the moment we wake, our brain starts making lists. We lay in bed at night, continuing our list-making for tomorrow. The faster we can move and the better we can multi-task = the more we can accomplish = the more productive/profitable our life. Right?

Time at the feet of Jesus is an action item in our schedule. It must fit within the confines of a specified time slot…because many things are waiting to be done. Many things vie for our attention. Many things need our attention, our care, and many good things rob us of physical rest and spiritual peace.

Does your daily time with your Heavenly Bridegroom reveal a travel mug or teacup relationship? Are your conversations with Jesus efficient—like calling a friend when you’re on the road (coffee in one hand, phone in the other) and “have 20 minutes to talk”? Or are they focused, quality moments—more like claiming a sofa with a friend and sharing a pot of tea?

Certainly Martha could have multi-tasked—swept the floor, poured water, and sliced bread, all while listening to Jesus. But it was Mary who Christ commended for setting aside her to do list and giving Him her undivided attention. One thing is necessary—one thing. Will you choose to recline at His feet?

One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

saturate well

2012-01-27T14:18:00.001-08:00

This past week, I have been challenged with an example of Jesus in mark 2:13-17. I think many times it is easy to get caught up in the “Christian life” that this is put on the back burner. In these verses, it tells about Jesus calling Levi (Matthew), the tax collector, to be His disciple. And then later, Levi invites Jesus into His house with other tax collectors and disreputable sinners, which Jesus and His disciples did accept. Jesus and His disciples are hanging out with the “outcasts.” Jesus Himself said that He didn’t come for those who “think they are righteous, but for those who know they are sinners.” So, if as a disciple of Jesus I am to imitate Him and act like Him, then I really need to think about that statement.

We had the privilege of having Dr. Don Bierle at our church here in Mesa this week to do a seminar on “Thinking like Jesus.” His main statement was “Thinking like Jesus so we act like Him,” as He talked about the importance of saturating ourselves in the Word in order that we may think like Jesus in order that we may act like Him. How many times have we tried to do the “Christian” thing, but fail? How many times has that happened, and we later realize that we tried to do it by our own strength and ability? See, God wants me to be like Jesus, but how can I be like Jesus without learning to Think like Him, and how can I learn to think like Him without knowing Him, and how can I know Him without saturating myself with the Word of God. It can’t be done. We may try, but it can’t. My life is an example of that truth.

So in combining the Bible Study and Seminar teachings, I have realized that I am to not shut out those who are not as “righteous” as I am – really, I am worse that those labeled as “sinners” in today’s qualifications. But, everyone needs Jesus. In working in a church, it is easy to minister to those who know Christ – they may need encouragement, but they already know Him. We tend to avoid those who sleep around, drink, gamble, smoke, etc. But if we avoid them, how can we let them know that the Kingdom of God is for them as well? If we avoid them, how can they know that Jesus loves them – for we are to be the picture of Christ to the world, and I don’t see anywhere in the Bible where it says love is to avoid. We do need to guard our hearts for sure, but when we saturate our minds with the Word of God, the Spirit will guide us. Will we be willing to go where God leads? And will we be saturated with the word enough that we are thinking like Jesus as we go, and as a result acting like Him?

Lift Up Your Face.

2012-01-25T22:06:00.000-08:00

Do ever find yourself easily discouraged? Do you ever wish you could draw nearer to God? In church this Sunday our Pastor preached on Jonah. He talked about hearing the voice of God. But how do you know when it's the voice of God? Do you ever doubt if God is speaking to you? Do you ever wonder "how do I hear the voice of God?"

The answer is so simple, it was staring me in the face. Do you know how God speaks to us? When you want to hear the Word of the Lord, when you need to hear the Word of the Lord, when your heart is crying out to hear the Word of the Lord, OPEN UP THE WORD OF THE LORD!

We hear his voice through His Word and as we read His Word it resonates in us. As we read His Word the Holy Spirit is actively working in us revealing God's truths to us. The Lord desires to speak to you.

With this sermon in mind I opened up my Bible on Monday and read James chapter one. Beautiful verse after beautiful verse filled with God's truth for me.

James 1:22-25 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."

Jonah's problem was not hearing the Word. Jonah's problem was obeying the Word. But God had something He wanted Jonah to do and one giant fish later Jonah was in Nineveh and because the people heard God's Word, His voice, they repented and were saved. Jonah 3:5 "The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth." Just like James 1 says that do what the Word says brings blessing when the Ninevites heard the Word and repented as they were told they were blessed.

I heard Third Day's song "Lift Up Your Face" on the way to work this morning and it flooded me with God's reassurance. This may not seem entirely related, but this verse especially "You feel like your life is fading, You’re tired of waiting, for your moment to arrive, But tomorrow will bring a song that you can sing, And your hope is gonna rise, Love is coming and it’s calling out your name" were words I needed to hear this morning.

Sometimes it's so hard for us to step away from our social media, phones, tv shows, to do lists, friends, family and life's distractions to quiet ourselves before the Lord. The most important conversation of our day is the one we have with God. The most important thing we will do all day is to be with Him, to be in His Word, to bow down at His throne, to lift our voices in pray and praise, to lift up our face to God Almighty.

This sermon, Jonah, James and this song have all been ways this week that I have heard God's voice. Not because I've figured out the magic trick or secret, but because when we hear his Word we hear His voice.

So be in the Word, obey the Word, lift up your face and hear His voice.

God's blessings on your week!
Naomi

Grandpa on the Farm

2012-01-23T19:09:00.000-08:00

My grandpa celebrated his 82nd birthday this past week. It would be the last birthday he celebrated here on earth. The Lord called Grandpa on the Farm home to heaven on Friday morning.

Ever since I can remember, Grandpa has seemed "old": he suffered from congenital heart failure and Parkinson's disease; and compared with my Grandpa Tonneson, he definitely had the longer list of health issues. So, his death wasn't necessarily a surprise. As my mom said, he was the man with nine lives - there were so many different occasions when we didn't think that Grandpa was going to live much longer, and yet he did. Except this time.

As I think about Grandpa as I remember him, it's heartbreaking. But, as I think about Grandpa as he is now - in heaven with his beloved Jesus - it's exciting. It's exciting for me to think of what that new body of his looks like . . . is he still well over six feet tall, now able to stand completely erect? I love imagining the youthful joy that's in his face - not the worn, aged look I remember since I was young. I love picturing his enthusiasm and awe as he stands in the presence of the Lord - maybe even dancing with joy before Him!

I don't know the theology of it all - like whether or not Grandpa has this new body now or if he has to wait for Christ's return to earth for the resurrection of his body - but I do know where he is: in Paradise. And I imagine that Paradise with Jesus in an unglorified body is just as amazing as Paradise with Jesus in a glorified body.

"For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on the immoratlity, then will come about the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:53-57 (emphasis added)

I am so grateful that Grandpa on the Farm knew Jesus because death has no victory in Him. But my heart goes out to those who do not know Jesus; to those left behind who know their loved ones are not in a place of joy but of torment. Let's not waste the time given to us by the Lord to share the glorious news of His salvation with those around us. After all, He "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4)

When It Rains, It Pours

2012-01-19T20:44:00.000-08:00

Pain, pain, and more pain. That just about sums up the past two weeks in the life of Katelyn Gudim.

1. I got a nasty concussion while snow tubing last Sunday. My 5th concussion--pretty impressive, but not fun to recover from.

2. My close friend Bekah Moore left for Nepal for TWO years, with minimal communication possible.

3. Two dear classmates and friends from my small hometown of Rockford, Minnesota were killed as they fell through the ice on a lake while snowmobiling. Both of the boys were buried today.

So as to say, these two weeks haven't been the best ever. As I've sat in such great physical and emotional pain these past few days, I came to wonder what in the world my God is doing. It'd be so great to confess some deep, inspiring meaning that I've found behind all of this in my life, but I can't. The only thing that I can say is that God has a purpose in all of it, and He understands.

As I was listening to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (listening to audio books in the dark became the only thing I could do besides sleeping for a while!), I was shocked by a statement made by Aslan. As he was being led to his death, he stated that he was "alone and sad". For those of you who haven't read or seen anything about Narnia, Aslan represents Christ, so that statement took me aback. I think I forget that sometimes-- Jesus had physical and emotional pain too.

"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not"--Isaiah 53:3

Jesus had emotional pain, as seen here, and also physical pain, as seen in the Cross.

However, Jesus had perfect communion with the Father. He knew what was going on, and could His plan in all of the pain. We, on the other hand, do not. Often times when I find myself in the midst of some great pain, I question God in why He let it happen in my life. But there is hope in this, because God knows what good He has in all of it.

1. This concussion was more severe than past ones, so the recovery process has not been great. However, as I was not allowed to read, write, watch tv, or use the computer, I had a lot of down time on my hands. This led to plenty of time to think and pray that usually do not have.

2. My friend is going as a missionary dealing with human trafficking, which is awesome! I'm excited to see what He does through her.

3. It's hard to see the good that could come out of my friend's deaths, but I know God is doing something. I'm praying that He calls those in Rockford that are mourning to His comfort and love, and that they would turn to Him with their lives.

Whatever situation you find yourself in at the moment--and I'm sure all of you could share some story about pain in your life as well-- know that God has a purpose in it. He knows exactly how you are feeling, and knows exactly what He's doing with it. The only thing we can do is bring it to Him. Bring Him your hurt, your tears, your pure exhaustion. He knows, He cares, and He isn't finished.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." --Romans 12:12

Troubled, Distressed & Burdened . . . But Never Alone

2012-01-16T17:32:00.000-08:00

Does it ever seem to you like Satan is winning? That the horrible, difficult, and tragic circumstance of this world seem to overtake those that are joyful, encouraging, and positive? Tonight, as I read through a list of prayer requests from my home church and began thinking over the many events this past week that demand urgent, intense prayer, I began to feel this way. Many loved ones in the body of Christ have cancer. Grandparents age - sometimes with pain. Family members are walking in rebellion and heartbreaking sin. Life is full of trouble.

And really, this shouldn't surprise us. Jesus promised His disciples - and us - that we would face troubles. But we only have to look to scripture to remember that we are not alone in the midst of these difficulties and distresses:

"'In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

"'Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.'" - Matthew 11:28-30

". . . He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we may confidently say, 'The LORD is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?'" - Hebrews 13:5-6

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:18

"'Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you by My righteous right hand.'" - Isaiah 41:10

Whatever difficult circumstance you find yourself in, remember the wonderful truth that you are not alone. We have the God of the universe on our side - and last time I checked, He defeated Satan at the cross!

"There will be storms in this life, but I know You will overcome; You have overcome."

Vulnerable

2012-01-11T19:13:00.000-08:00

How often do we focus on the I in serving and make it about ourselves?

Take a moment to check out this video: http://walktheway.net/video/vulnerable/

I was struck by the closing comment at the end "What would it look like to serve these people in the name of Jesus in a way that honored their vulnerability and gave them dignity." Wow.

Far too often my focus in serving is on myself and on my own discomfort. I see how wrong that focus is. My focus in service should be in grace, kindness, gentleness and gratitude to those brave enough to open themselves up, allowing me in and letting me love them in Christ.

What do you think?

Another Lesson from Odyssey

2012-01-10T18:32:00.000-08:00

I love listening to Adventures in Odyssey. It's safe to say I listen to at least an episode a day, if not more. Listening to an episode or two of Odyssey makes cleaning the bathrooms, washing the dishes, or making supper enjoyable. But I don't just love Odyssey because it's noise to have in the house when I'm home alone - I love Odyssey because, even as a 23 year old, I still learn important lessons and truths from God's Word.

Today's episode was one of those that truly challenged me. Unfortunately, it cannot be summed up justly in this blog. So, tonight, as you get ready for bed, or tomorrow as you wash the dishes, procrastinate studying, or make a batch of cookies, I encourage you to listen to the episode entitled "Tornado". You can do so by clicking here: http://www.whitsend.org/. Or, you can pay a couple bucks here (and trust me, it'd be well worth it): http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=DA14925-7.

May you be challenged and encouraged as you listen to the love of little Mandy. And may we be spurred to share the love of Jesus in the same manner. O Lord, when I see a need around me, may I not harden my heart or turn blindly away from them. Give me Your eyes, Your heart, and Your zeal to accomplish that which You call me to!

"Jesus didn't give us exceptions on who to show His love to." - Chris, Adventures in Odyssey host

"'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward to you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?'" - Matthew 5:43-47

Life Is Engaging

2012-01-08T19:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas and New Years are two holidays that inundate my mind with memories every year.

This year was no exception.

Being back home in Montana is always a delight. This year was different because of the fact that the doctor ordered me to refrain from any activities which would involve "jumping or jarring." That took skiing and making jelly out of the picture.

So instead of skiing my days away; I read, wrote, and crocheted hats. There is something about unplugging yourself from the computer, curling up on the couch, and spending hours with God in anticipation of Christmas. The weeks that I was dreading became a delight. My heart was readied for the day we remember God's coming in the flesh. I soaked up the hours I spent in silence. Life was simple and full of peace. Conversations with old friends reminded me of a two way street of encouragement. Meals were shared with loved ones and laughter filled the room.

Then everything changed.

On the first day of 2012, the year of our Lord; my life changed forever. With the sun rising over Flathead Lake, I picked through the rocks next to the frigid water with my closest friend. We were hunting for the perfect stones to make jewelry. Interrupting her search, I said "Emily come look at the rocks by me!" The rocks I had would offer her a surprise.

As I crouched close to the ground, I placed a stone on my knee that I had chiseled the words"Will you marry me?" with check boxes next to the words "Yes" and "No." Reaching in my pocket I pulled out a little white box. When I said "Emily look at this rock I found!" she quickly turned in my direction. With eyes locked, I "popped the question" and now this relationship is "set in stone."

The days that followed were a blur.

Phone calls to family and friends became an act of worship. Seeing opportunities to laugh together, cry together, and praise God together; we let those closest to us know that we would be getting married. The moments of our days seems to be more and more vibrant. Our senses heightened and our awareness increased. People coming and going matter. Without taking the time to really think about it, we realize that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives in a mighty way.

I am now back in Minnesota, anticipating the start of my last semester of college. This will be good. Now I look forward to getting a diploma and starting a new life with a wife. Words don't even begin to express the excitement welling up inside me. Each day now presents itself with new challenges. I've got hope that the Holy Spirit will keep me as engaged in life as I am to my future wife.

Drink

2012-01-08T01:54:00.000-08:00

The sermon was nearly half finished. A loud thump at the back of the room caught my attention. Someone called out for a doctor. My nursing instinct took over and surge of adrenaline sent me to the back of the church. A young, pregnant woman was on the floor, surrounded by medical professionals of all specialties. The most obvious initial response was to treat for low blood sugar. Another member and I went in search of a sugary drink--juice, coke, anything to increase her glucose. After searching various rooms and asking numerous people (and after what seemed an eternity) we finally secured some juice. The sweet liquid was truly life-giving. The unconscious woman awoke almost instantly.

I crept back to my seat. As the service concluded, the pastor made his way to the table before him. White napkins cloaked the ‘body’ and ‘blood’ of our Savior. As ‘the cup’ made it’s way down my row, I could hardly help but chuckle to myself. It was right there, the whole time. The life-giving-giving substance we’d been searching for--the fruit of the vine. There it was--right in front of us! On our Lord’s table.

I wondered to myself, how often do I find myself in desperate and searching. What non-satisfying places do I turn to? When all along, what I needed was directly in front of my face--Jesus.

Christ’s blood purchased us life. We need only allow the cup--His blood--to do it’s miraculous, redeeming work. “And [Christ] took a cup...and gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28

How easily we forget that the Power in the Blood doesn't stop with salvation! Following redemption, His blood continues its daily, sanctifying work in our life. In Jesus' blood we find hope, peace, joy, and strength to meet any trial, struggle, burden, or sorrow. “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6:52-56

Look no further--the table is spread before you. Come to Jesus. Drink and be saved. Drink deeply and abide in Him.

Resolutions

2012-01-05T16:19:00.000-08:00

The time of year has come upon us to make resolutions that we aim to keep all year long. The year of 2012 has just arrived and people are busy starting things up again, but at the same time reflecting on the past year and anticipating what the next will bring. As I have been doing just that, I have come up with my own New Year's Resolution.

This year, I'm going to stop.

As humans, we always desire to give back in return for anything given to us. We're extremely bad at accepting gifts without being able to give in return. That is exactly why we have a hard time accepting God's gracious salvation as a gift-- something that does not have a price that we must pay.

Romans 3:21 "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"

Scripture clearly states that Christ finished everything in the work of redemption on the Cross. However, our human nature tells us we have to contribute to this gift in order for it to truly be our's. We try to be "good" and do our best...to try harder and push forward. We try to be a better Christian, a better witness, a better all around person. We try and try and try! But do we ever get anywhere?

The law is exhaustive. It demands perfection in every aspect of one's life--thought, word, and deed. Without God, we live under the law. We are expected to adhere to every rule and regulation in the Word of God, we are to be holy (set apart, different) as God is holy. But we cannot. It is absolutely impossible to fulfill even one aspect of the law in our own strength, and even if you could manage to keep the law in all areas except one, it will have still been broken. "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it."-- James 2:10.

BUT! The most glorious word in the world. BUT. It signifies that there is more, that the last statement is not the end result. BUT. God has poured out His grace upon us, lavished us in His love, and bought us with the price of His very own blood. BUT! The story isn't finished. He has given us such a glorious, gracious FREE gift that is our very own. We do not have to work to deserve it or even work to keep it. The gift of salvation is our very own. Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and King, we are emerged in His love.

So this year, I'm going to stop. I'm going to stop trying to achieve my salvation. I'm going to "cease striving, and know that [He is] God."--Psalm 46:10.

Keeping Christmas Like Scrooge

2012-01-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest: I've never been a big fan of New Years. Maybe it's because January 1 seemed to symbolize that the Christmas season is completely over. Maybe it's because January 1 meant the return to school was only days away. Maybe it's because January 1 appears to be the end of all our Christmas festivities and excitement. And for someone who loves Christmas, it's sad to see it all come to an end.

The other day, I was listening to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I was struck by what was written about Scrooge after his visits from the three ghosts. Dickens writes that Scrooge began to "keep Christmas" better than anyone. Instead of living in contempt of Christmas, Scrooge brought Christmas into everyday life throughout the year. Scrooge was no longer blind to the needs of those around him nor hard to their plight and thence a hoarder of his money; he became a man who generously gave to those in need. He was no longer the grumpy, terrifying old man but became a man filled with joy who was loved by all.

I was greatly challenged by old Ebeneezer's actions. What does it look like in my life to "keep Christmas" throughout the year? It probably doesn't mean that our tree and other decor needs to stay up all year long; and it probably doesn't mean that I have to go Christmas shopping every month. But what about bringing joy to those around me through other means? Maybe it's by baking cookies for a neighbor or inviting others into our home for a meal, games and fellowship. Maybe it's by asking the Lord to soften my heart towards the needy around me and giving generously to them, no matter the cost to myself. Maybe it's intentionally spending more time in His Word, focused on a specific passage like we so often do with the Christmas accounts. Maybe it is simply taking time to sit back and ponder the incredible, miraculous reality of God's love towards us.

As we consider how to "keep Christmas", I think Paul has some good, practical ways that we can bring that Christmas spirit into every month of the year:

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly." - Romans 12:9-16

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:9-10

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions. But this year, my goal is to "keep Christmas" better than anyone, just like Scrooge. By living out those passages of Scripture (and many, many more), I hope to bring the joy of Christmas to those around me every day of the year. Because really, the joy of Christmas is Jesus Himself, and He cannot be contained in a single month. Although I'm not quite sure how it will look, I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for my keeping Christmas throughout 2012.

So. This is Christmas. What have you done? And what will you do?

Only One Did That For Me

2011-12-28T19:56:00.000-08:00

The official holiday of Christmas is over. The planning, gathering and traveling is done. The gifts are unwrapped and the stockings are empty. Perhaps we feel a little let down as the spirit and cheer of Christmas suddenly dissipates and the decorations and twinkling lights come down.
As my fellow Grounded 3.17 blog authors have shared, I hope you were able this Chrismas to focus on Christ.In Christ we find our true joy and so the real reason we celebrate Christmas is never over. Even though we take this time every year to celebrate Christ's birth, His purpose for coming to earth - to bring us His Salvation - is a gift that lasts year round.

1 Timothy 1:12-16 "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. "

Mark 10:43-45 "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The song How Many Kings by Downhere has been catching my attention on the radio recently, (From the album Bethlehem Skyline Vol. 2) I think that the lyrics in this song capture so well the truth of Christmas and our God and Savior's dear, sweet, and intense love for each of us.
Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we've projected,
A child in a manger
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl
Just a child - Is this who we've waited for? 'cause...

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe.
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we've waited for?
Only one did that for me
All, all for me...
All for you...

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:8-14

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

God's blessings on each of you. May He continually draw you nearer to Him. May you each day seek Him whole-heartedly and grow in your faith in Him. May you be reminded today of His love for you and His gift of Salvation to you.

"Only one did that for me
All, all for me...
All for you..."

~Naomi

Simple - yet, Glorious

2011-12-26T14:15:00.000-08:00

"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was govenor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." - Luke 2:1-7

No doubt you've heard or read this passage in the last couple of days. And, if you've grown up in the church, you've probably heard it countless times. Too much, I fear, that we have lost the glorious simplicity and magnificence of its truth.

The birth of the Savior of the world - the great I AM coming in human flesh - is descibed so simply. Do you notice that Luke takes more time "setting the stage" than he does giving us details about the birth of the Messiah? Paraphrased, one might say: "Mary gave birth to Jesus, wrapped Him up in a blanket, and placed Him in a feeding trough."

It doesn't really make sense to us, does it? Jesus - God Himself becoming man - should not have been born outside, let alone in a cave. He shouldn't have been placed in a donkey's cereal bowl. Instead, He should have been born with pomp and circumstance with doctors attending and a party upon the announcement of His birth. After all, this is the long-awaited Messiah - the One promised since the fall of mankind. But, as once explained to me by Pastor Phil Haugen:

"God's way of doing this is different than man's way of doing things. If something is not big and splashy, dynamic and awesome, we have the idea that it's not very good. God's way is very different - He has a very strong tendancy to take that whcih is despised and insignificant in the eyes of man to accomplish His purpose."

Merry Christmas, all. And may the wonderful simplicity and glorious significance of Christ's birth never grow old in our hearts.

We Celebrate and Await

2011-12-25T20:32:00.000-08:00

Today is Christmas Day.

This is a day where we give gifts, laugh a lot, and over eat. It is a day we frantically look forward to once Thanksgiving passes. This 24-hour period becomes ingrained in our memories.

But for what?

What is the reason we celebrate Christmas?
Why do we do what we do on December 25th?
Who smiles the most when we gather together?
When was the last time your life changed on Christmas day?
Where will your focus be as you close your eyes tonight?
How has the Holy Spirit shaped you into someone new this Christmas?

We celebrate Christmas because of the incarnate birth of the infinite, personal, Creator God.
We await the triumphant return of Him who rose from the dead and sits on the right hand of Our Father.

Today there was many a feast, there were gifts given, there were laughs and photographs.

We humans were together as family, and whether we acknowledged it or not, Christ was with us. The presence of God filled our homes today. He was knocking at the back door, looking through the side window, sitting by the fire. When the shutter snapped and the flash bulb popped, He was smiling too. Standing at the sink, scrubbing pots and pans, our Savior selflessly served us. Holding the hand of the elderly, His powerful presence made those in permanent care feel right at home.

Thousands of years ago "the hurricane became human, fire became flesh" and God became man.

Today we remembered this mind-blowing reality.

Lives have been changed. Love has been lived.
We celebrate and await God's plan perfected.

A Simple Dollar Story

2011-12-22T12:13:00.001-08:00

Oh Christmas, the time of the year when I feel most loved. Family members, friends, all sharing in long-time traditions that all serve to show that we care about one another. We gather in homes, eat delicious foods, and open well thought of gifts especially of our own. But isn't Christmas much more?

Throughout the rest of the year though, it can be hard to see the value in our lives. This season puts a good distraction in our thoughts, as we're busy with the twinkle and sparkle of Christmas. However, when January comes, those worthless thoughts often return. Steve Jensen once used a metaphor to describe the value of life. Think of a dollar--paper and ink. In of itself, it means nothing. It's just another slip of paper that has green ink on it. However, the piece of paper represents a treasure hidden far off. The dollar in and of itself means nothing, but what it represents means everything. Our lives are like that-- in and of myself, I'm just a girl. But what I represent is Christ. My worth does not come in myself, in the paper and ink, so to say, of my own. My worth comes in what I represent, what is represented through me.

That's where the real meaning of Christmas comes in. If what I represent as a Christian is Christ, then my life represents His. As so wonderfully stated by Sarah in the post below, Christmas isn't even just about the birth of Jesus. While that was wonderful miracle and declaration of God's love, it points to something much bigger. The whole point of Jesus' lowly birth was to bring Him to the Cross. That is where the meaning of Christmas lies. That is where the love and worth that Christmas brings lies. Christ came as a humble babe, ready for what He knew would come 33 years later. That is love.

"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10 ESV)

As we go about the busyness that comes along with the Christmas season, I pray that each of us would look to Christ and the Cross at this time. I pray that we would place our worth and desire to be loved in the hands of God, because that's where He holds us. I pray that in this time, and in the long months of cold (at least for us mid-westerns!) that follow, we would find our worth in the One who chose to die for us. That is the Good News, the Gospel, that we so desperately need. And that is the real reason for the season.

Merry Christmas, and may you walk in His love this day!

No Snow in Bethlehem

2011-12-19T12:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a rather ridiculous day here in western North Dakota. The temperature reached an unnatural 51 degrees. The beautiful layer of snow we received on Thursday night vanished except for spotty portions on lawns and streets. On my afternoon walk, I decided this weather was more appropriate for an Easter celebration, not a Christmas one. And I wasn't quite sure I liked that.

As I walked, however, I was reminded that as much as we (or at least, I) love to associate snow with Christmas, Christmas is not about snow. Christmas isn't even about a beautiful tree or dazzling lights. Christmas isn't about that mysterious gift, about seeing family, or Sunday School programs. Christmas is about the cross.

"'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.'" - Matthew 1:21

"'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.'" - John 3:16

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21

I pray that whether your Christmas is white or brown, slushy or fluffy, that your focus would always be on Jesus Christ. May we remember that Christmas is wonderful because it means that our God loved us enough to become a man, live among us, die and come back to life in order that our relationship with Him might be restored. What a glorious reason to celebrate!

And if you find yourself or others pouting about the lack of snow, just remind them that there wasn't snow in Bethlehem either.

Thoughts anyone?

2011-12-16T21:58:00.000-08:00

True. Honorable. Right. Pure. Lovely. Admirable. Excellent. Worthy of Praise.

Do these words describe your thoughts during every part of the day. No matter what time of year it is, God wants us to keep our thoughts pure. I know many times I catch myself thinking unlovely thoughts, that probably are not true. And eventually they come out in my actions. Lord, help me to be aware when my thoughts are not true, honorable, right, pure lovely, admirable, excellent, worthy of praise. Mold me into your image.

"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." - Phil 4:8

Freedom to Be

2011-12-13T12:03:00.000-08:00

As the Christmas season has come around once again this year, I am reminded so very well of why Jesus came. The Bible talks about how Jesus was one time looking at the people around Him and He had compassion on them because He saw that they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. That's kind of how I am feeling this Christmas season, harassed and helpless.

Sometimes as a Christian I think that I need to have it all together, have it all under control, and be doing everything right all of the time. The reality though is that I don't get it right all of the time, and this is hard for me to accept, but the reality is that Jesus knows that I won't, and He doesn't expect me to. That's why He came to die. Even as a Christian I sometimes think that I need to get everything right though, that I don't have the freedom to make a mistake; that's no way to live. By living that way though I once again put myself under the judgment of the law instead of under the grace and mercy of Jesus. Jesus came to set me free from the mentality, the belief, the need, to do everything right. As a Christian I have the freedom to mess up and be broken because Jesus is the one that makes me different. As I live my life with Him He is the one who changes my heart. As I abide in Jesus, by walking by the Spirit in obedience to Him, the Father comes and cuts away all of the things that He no longer wants to be there. There is a lot of freedom in that. He takes care of the things that are bad and makes me into the person that He has given me the desire to be, which is like Him.

This means though that I have to give control of my life to Him, and sometimes that is hard to do, especially when He is asking me to do something that I have never really done before. It makes me want to run away from what He is trying to do even though I know that what He wants to do will be good for me. We're like that though. We're control freaks. Through it I am learning to trust Him and others better as He asks me to follow Him through this season of life into something great and wonderful that He has planned for me, even though right now it sees kind of dark and dreary. That's the beauty of the Christmas story though. Jesus came into the darkness and shone Himself to be bright and to make a way for us to follow Him into a a good and abundant life with God.

Whatever your feeling this Christmas season, I hope that you will find Jesus to be everything that you need. I am being reminded that Jesus knows I am harassed and helpless; so He offers to be my shepherd and to lead me out of this place into a good place that He has planned for me. Even though it is kind of difficult to follow Him down the trail He is leading me on I know that I can trust in Him and He will bring me to a a new place of wholeness and healing in my life if I will follow Him the whole way through.

He is the King of Kings, who came as a baby and died on the cross, may we praise Him as such this Christmas season.

Big Things in Small Packages

2011-12-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

I just returned from a blessed weekend of Christmas festivities in the Cities with family and friends. As I drove westward towards Minneapolis, C.S. Lewis' classic The Last Battle kept me company. One phrase towards the end of the novel caught my attention - so much in fact, that I kept "rewinding" (can you do that with a CD?) to hear Lucy Pevensie's statement. But before I jump right into that, let me give you a little bit of context:

King Tiran has just been thrown into a stable by enemy Calormens. "He looked around again and could hardly believe his eyes. There was the blue sky overhead, and grassy country spreading as far as he could see in every direction, and his new friends all around him laughing.
'It seems then,' said Tiran, smiling himself, 'that the stable seen from within and the stable from without are two different places.'
'Yes,' said the Lord Digory. 'Its inside is bigger than its outside.'
'Yes,' said the Queen Lucy. 'In our world too, a stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world.'" (The Last Battle by CS Lews, pg. 176-177)

Did you catch that? Did you understand the magnificence of the statement made by Lucy? "In our world too, a stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world."

Jesus Christ, the One through whom the whole world was made. Jesus Christ, the very image of the invisible God. Jesus Christ, the One who was with the Creator God from all eternity past. This One came into a humble, earthly stable. He was laid in a manger - a feeding trough for cattle. What humility. What love!

I pray that this magnificent truth would never grow dull to us. May we continually be shocked and awed by the humble birth of our Savior. May we always remember that He is, in fact, the LORD God Almighty. And may we never forget that it was all because of His great love for us.

"And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. . . He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." - Luke 2:7; Colossians 1:15-17

Once in royal David's city,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed;
Mary was that mother mild.

Jesus Christ her little child.
He who came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor and oppressed and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.

Follow God's will or follow the crowd?

2011-12-07T21:40:00.001-08:00

I love the book of Daniel. It's my favorite book of the Old Testament. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah followed God's law and will for their lives even when facing the direst of outcomes. They are pillars of faith and fortitude. Daniel especially was steadfast through-out his life in his pursuit of God.

When we first meet Daniel in chapter one he has been taken into captivity and chosen along with other male youth to be trained for the King's service. Daniel along with Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (also known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) meet their first challenge as they enter training for the King's service.

1) The first challenge: To eat from the King's table or not.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were to be fed meat and wine from the King's table. They were captives in a foreign country. However, to eat from the King's table would have broken God's laws and would have defiled them. It's not really like they had a choice and yet rather than defile himself Daniel was so bold as to ask for different food.

Daniel 1:8-10 "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

Out of all the young men gathered and trained to serve the king only these four, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, chose to go against the grain.

The question before them: Follow God's will or follow the crowd?

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah hold true to God's commands:

Daniel 1:11-14 "Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days."

The outcome: God is Victorious:

Daniel 1:15-20"At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom."

2) The second challenge: Bow or Burn.

Faced with the decree to bow before a false idol Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego remain standing, even though the king commands they bow. When brought before the king they still refuse to bow, even at the threat of being burned to death.

Daniel 3:13-15 "Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

The question before them: Follow God's will or follow the crowd?

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) hold true to God's commands:

Daniel 3:16-23 "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace."

The outcome: God is Victorious:

Daniel 3:25-27 "Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them."

3) The third challenge: To pray or not to pray.

Through schemes to trap Daniel and discredit him before the king all the other royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors come up with a law that no one can pray to anyone but the king for 30 days, knowing Daniel will not keep this law.

Daniel 6:6-9 "So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing.

The question before him: Follow God's will or follow the crowd?

Daniel holds true to God's commands:

Daniel 6:10-11 "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help."

The outcome: God is Victorious:

Daniel 6: 16-23 "So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God."

When we live for Christ we will also stand out for Christ.

Ephesians 6: 10 - 18 says "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Theses verses in Ephesian always bring Daniel to mind because he exemplified this kind of faith all through out his life. Daniel had the full armor of God on.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah never doubt that God will be victorious. We too can trust in the strength of a God whose outcomes are always victorious.

The question before us: Follow God's will or follow the crowd?

~Naomi

Hark! What Great News!

2011-12-05T17:11:00.001-08:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we are bombard by Christmas music at every turn. I have nothing against Christmas music - in fact, I love it! My only fear that all too often, we hear these songs so much that they no longer hold any meaning. One of my favorite Christmas hymns is "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". It may have begun simply because it's the final song on the movie, It's a Wonderful Life - but as I've grown, I've come to love this song because of the truth it proclaims. I want to encourage you to read the words to this classic carol- not sing them in your head. Sometimes we sing so quick the words don't have time to move from our mouth to our heart.

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

When Jesus was born, He brought peace. Not an end to war, strife, famine, or trouble. Peace with God. No longer are God and man separated by the great chasm of sin because Jesus came to close that gap. He came to offer the most precious peace we could ever desire.

"And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth. This One will be our peace . . . " - Micah 5:4-5a

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 5:1

Israel had been awaiting their Savior for hundreds of years. They experienced 400 years of complete silence from the LORD in which no prophet spoke. But when the time was right - in God's perfect time - the Savior came. The Immanuel - God with us. The presence of God among men.

"But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." - Galatians 4:4-5

"'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which translated means, 'God with us'." - Matthew 1:23

When the Savior came, He came not as man had expected. He laid aside His privileges and glory as God Almighty and became a man. Born just like any other human child. His birth means that we no longer have to be separated from the Father; His birth has brought us new life.

"Although He [Christ Jesus] existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men." - Philippians 2:6

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Praise be to God for His abundant, steadfast, never-changing love! His love that was so great that He became a baby for us - to bring us peace with Himself. How can we not joyfully proclaim this truth every day - whether it's December or August?

Are you a Follower?

2011-12-02T19:18:00.000-08:00

Who will you be?

I have been challenged with that questions the past few weeks, and especially with the down time as I was sick this past week. Sometimes God has to make us slow down and be in His quiet love...He knew what I needed...

Have you ever noticed how Jesus called His disciples? He didn't ask them if they believed in Him. He didn't ask if they would be OK with the rough road that was ahead. He said "Follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people."

So much happened after the disciples made that choice to follow Christ - and it all wouldn't have happened if they decided to do their own thing instead. Following Christ was just the beginning.

Have I missed out from so much in my walk with Christ, because I have said that "I believe in Him" but it stops there because I choose to do my own thing over following Him...Many times I don't truly follow Him - I cling to my will, or maybe I am too worried about appearance or doing "what is right."

Many times tho, we can find ourselves believing in Jesus, "following" Him until the hard path comes. But then what? We decided that we don't want to be fully committed - we want to have a part and do what we want. We can't seem to let go.

Watching "not a fan" on JCTV this week stirred a question in my heart, and has really challenged me -

am I just a "fan" of Jesus, or amd I a complete, devoted Follower.

If we choose to follow Him, where He leads us will not be easy, it won't be void of sorrow or despair, but it will develop our character to be more like His, it will draw us closer to Him if we allow Him, and He will show us what to do next. We need to decide in our heart if it is worth it, and not turn back. And it will only be the beginning - He will teach us show much, and show us how to live as we let go and follow Him.

Joseph's Planner

2011-11-28T18:03:00.001-08:00

I like to plan. I like to know what's going on, what's coming up. Since graduating high school, my planner has been an especially close friend. To-do lists, homework due dates, work schedules, family gatherings. . all of it (or mostly all of it) can be found recorded in my little planner. As my friend Samantha once said, "Don't ever forget your planner. It has everything in it!"

But sometimes - actually, often times - things don't go as we plan. Not much gets crossed off that to-do list, or plans to get together with friends or family don't work out. Although it may not be the end of the world if some of our plans don't come to fruition, there are times when tears can be shed and frustrations abound when something we plan on falls through.

I couldn't help thinking of this desire to plan when reading through the life story of Joseph a couple of weeks ago. I'm pretty sure that if Joseph had plans for his life in mind, they definitely did not include what really happened. Being thrown into a pit by his older brothers and then later sold by those brothers to some Ishmaelites. Sold into slavery in Egypt. Thrown into prison on the basis of false charges. And then, made second in power and rule over all of Egypt; lower only than Pharaoh himself. (This is a rather short, very incomplete summary. For a full version of the story of Joseph, check out Genesis 37-50. You'll be glad you did.)

Yet, all this hardship was orchestrated by the Lord. He knew every injustice done unto Joseph, heard every cry Joseph may have offered for justice and mercy. When Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, he says to them:

"'Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God. . .'" (Genesis 45:5-8)

What better example than Joseph do we have of the LORD's declaration in Isaiah 55:10-11?

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

So, next time things don't go exactly as you planned - no matter the magnitude or importance of the event - think about Joseph. Think of how the LORD used what may have appeared as awful, unfair and cruel circumstances for His greater glory and good. Cling to the promise that He has better things prepared than we could ever ask or imagine. And then, wait patiently upon Him to bring about His perfect result.

Glad Game

2011-11-24T19:03:00.000-08:00

Ahhh Thanksgiving. Family, laughter, great food, and rest. I love this time of year.

Throughout the entire year, almost on a daily basis, I play what's called the "Glad Game". This was introduced by Eleanor H. Porter in her book Pollyanna, in which the little girl can always find something to be glad about, even in the worst of situations. As today is Thanksgiving, there has been plenty of time to sit back and reflect on what I am thankful for.

Here's an excerpt from my favorite book, Redeeming Love:

"Who are you?"

Yahweh, El Shaddai, Jehovah-mekoddishkem, El Elyon, El Olam, Elohim...

The names kept coming, moving together like music, rushing through her blood, filling her. She trembling in fear and could not move. He reached out and touched her, and she felt warmth encomassing her and the fear dissolving away. She looked down at herself and found she was clean and clothed in white....Blinking, she looked up again and saw the Man of Light covered with her filth. "No!" she wept. "Oh God, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll take it back. I'll do anything..." Yet even as she reached out, the defilement disappeared and He stood before her perfect again.

I am the way...Follow Me."

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for family, friends, good food, laughter and joy, a warm house, and so much more. However, what I am most thankful for is the fact that my Jesus has redeemed me! I'm thankful that He chose to come to earth and die in my place, where I should have been, and defeat the power of Satan and hell! I'm thankful that I can now spend eternity with Him in Heaven!

Give Thanks

2011-11-23T17:11:00.001-08:00

The Bible is full of verses with the phrase "Give Thanks," (many of these verses are found in Psalm) and are in the context of giving thanks to God for who is is or what He has done.

1 Chronicles 16:8 "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done."
Psalm 35:18 "I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you."
2 Corinthians 2:14 "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

As I drove to church on Sunday, to the West of me the sky was dark grey and cloudy. In contrast to the East the sky was blue and the sun was shinning. As I looked to the West towards that cloudy dark grey sky the sun coming from the East lit up all the buildings and trees. The colors were brilliant. The building were bright white and the leaves on the trees were vibrant yellow, orange and reds. It was truly stunning. It made me catch my breath and in that moment I marveled in the design of God the creator, in His creation and in who He is.

When I begin to think of all the things I have to be thankful for I am overwhelmed. I am thankful for a God that gives us moments in our lives to glimpse and glory in Him. I am thankful for an amazing, loving and supporting family. I am thankful for awesome friends who love me, bless me and encourage me. I am thankful for my job. I am thankful for a home and food to eat every day. I am thankful for clothes to wear. I am thankful for my car. I am thankful for a church I can attend freely where the Word of God is preach strongly. I am thankful for my country. I am thankful for each member of the military who serves sacrificially and bravely so that I can enjoy the freedoms that I have. I am thankful thankful thankful! But even if I was stripped of all earthly gain, possessions, and comforts I would still have cause to give thanks because I have the ultimate gift to be thankful for. I have a holy God who loves me so dearly He suffered His son to die for my Salvation. And so do you.

Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!
~Naomi

Thanksgiving Blindness

2011-11-21T09:41:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving week is here!

Yesterday, in my 5th and 6th grade Sunday School classroom, we had a Thanksgiving party with a feast of our own to celebrate the upcoming holiday. While there was no turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, or pumpkin pie, we had a host of other goodies: banana bread, lemon poppy seed muffins, apples with caramel, peppermints and potato chips. I guess this is what Thanksgiving meals might look like if left up to pre-teens instead of adults. And maybe with some Mountain Dew and Pixie Stix thrown in there too.

Before we began "feasting" on all of our blessings, our class read through a familiar Thanksgiving passage found in the book of Luke:

"While He [Jesus] was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' When He saw them, He said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine - where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?' And He said to him, 'Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.'" (Luke 17:11-19)

As I read through this passage in preparation for Sunday School, I was struck by the fact that as the leprous men call out to Jesus for mercy, He sends them to the priests. Jesus doesn't lay hands on them and heal their leprosy before sending them to show themselves to the priests. Jesus doesn't speak healing words to them, instantly restoring their skin before sending them to the priests. Instead, Jesus instructs them to go immediately to the priests, to the men who would look them over and declare them "clean", once again fit for society. It was on the way to see these men that the lepers were cleansed and their skin restored. Yet, there was only one of the ten lepers who turned around to thank Jesus for the healing that He gave.

I think it's easy for us to read this account and get angry at those other nine guys. How dare they be so ungrateful that they don't turn around and run to Jesus as well?! How dare they be so rude?! But do you think those nine guys could have been blind to the fact that it was indeed Jesus who had healed them? Do you think they just plain didn't realize that, although they had just cried to Him for mercy, He had brought the healing they so desired?

How often do you think we do the same thing? Unfortunately, I think we are far too often blind to the blessings that the Lord gives to us. We may cry out to Him for a particular pain or struggle; but as time passes and the answer comes later than we initially hoped for, we forget Who we cried to. We forget to thank Him. Or we simply don't see that every single thing we have is from the hand of the Lord and therefore don't thank Him.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I challenge you to ask the Lord to open your eyes to all that you have to be thankful for. While the general "family, friends, home, and food" is indeed all great things to be thankful for, I believe the list stretches farther and deeper than that. Let's not take for granted every blessing - big and small.

Healing. Faith. Hope. Peace.

2011-11-20T21:15:00.000-08:00

This evening I spent some eternal moments with some eternal friends speaking to and listening to the eternal God.

We were in a room together, us human beings and the Holy Spirit. Filling the space was the sound of individual voices speaking to our Father in heaven. As distinctly different as each voice sounded, the heart of our words were the same.

On behalf of our sick friend Jeremy Erickson and his steady wife Jen, and their three young boys, Aedan, Eli, and Jo Isaac; we prayed.

We asked God for healing.
The Creator of us complex humans understands why sometimes our bodies don't work right. We humans don't always understand much of anything. We want God to fix the chromosome in Jeremy that isn't working properly. This is clear.

We asked God for faith.
There are times when our Creator works in His time and His ways; which tend to stand far beyond our human comprehension. It is here where we need Him to give us faith that He is with us. During the times of uncertainty and pain we need Him to put a mustard seed's worth of faith in us. Jeremy and Jen have a faith that comes straight from the Father. We want them to receive more of that faith every moment of everyday. Little moments of faith bring us through big moments of life. This is clear.

We asked God for hope.
When circumstances seem hopeless, our Creator brings us hope. A quick scan through Scripture shows us that our hope is found in no one else than our Creator. God. Yahweh. Emmanuel. Jesus. Father. Son. Holy Spirit. When hope is rooted in the deep love of our Father, it is tapped into someone infinite, perfect, and trustworthy. Hope is expectant of results. We hope in a God who can do the unexpected. This is clear.

We asked for peace.
Our Creator first made us to live in perfect peace. The Deceiver crept in, brought sin, and broke the relationship built upon peace forever. Peace has been destroyed. Our sense of utopia and bliss is clearly distorted by pain, sickness, and death. Throughout history, we see peace being restored. For the triune God, peace is His story. This is a time where we want to see spiritual peace transform lives, physical peace restore life, mental peace make life a little more clear, and emotional peace calm hearts that may be filled with fear. In Christ alone we find peace. This is clear.

As an overwhelmed, humbled man sitting at a keyboard; I type words that communicate the smallest fraction of what went down tonight. Only God knows the details of every prayer that was spoken tonight. Only God knows how He will respond. We want healing. We receive faith. We have hope. We long for peace.

Thanks for joining all of us in prayer.

for additional details see
2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Jeremy's facebook note

About Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Psalm 63

2011-11-14T11:45:00.001-08:00

Psalm 63:

"O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
to see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
for You have been my help,
and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.

But those who seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.
They will be delivered over the the power of the sword;
they will be a prey for foxes.
But the king will rejoice in God;
everyone who swears by Him will glory,
for the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped."

May the love of our Yahweh God always be sweeter, better, and more important to us than anything this world has to offer!

Continually Dirty

2011-11-12T11:26:00.000-08:00

Recently I found myself on my face, weeping at the feet of Jesus, pleading for forgiveness and mercy. That besetting sin, which I so despise, had once again reared its head. How many times would He continue to forgive me? Shame and hopelessness gripped me.

Knelt on the floor, I was suddenly struck with a vivid picture from John 13—the story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. Into His pure hands, Jesus takes their grimy feet: pours water and rubs their soles. Dirt releases at the touch of His hand. Jesus then pulls their now-clean feet close into Himself, into the drying towel He’d wrapped around His waist.

A particular facet of this story spoke to me as it never had before. Why had Jesus even bothered washing their feet? He knew as soon as supper ended, their feet would leave His presence and tread on dusty pathways again. This is precisely why Jesus ends the foot washing by commanding His disciples to “wash one another’s feet.” He intended for this to serve as an example of an ongoing practice—continual washing of feet that would continually get dirty.

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” Psalm 51:1-3

Despite our best efforts, we continually sin. God knows and has an ongoing solution. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I Jn. 1:9

Don’t be like Peter, who tried to refuse the Lord washing his feet. Place your dirtiest, ugliest sins into His pure hands—allow Him to cleanse and then draw you close into Himself.

Out-Of-This-World PEACE.

2011-11-10T19:23:00.001-08:00

What is the purpose of war?

Is it not to bring about peace?

Throughout the Old Testament (especially the book of Isaiah, but 299 times in the OT total) the Lord is referred to as the LORD of hosts, translated as YHWH Sabaoth. I have read this name for God multiple times, but never really stopped to think about it. The master of the armies, the commander of all.

The LORD, over and over again, told the Israelites that He would fight for them. In Exodus 14:14, Moses said to the people, "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." For me, that's not something I'm very good at. I'd rather be fighting myself, doing something so that I could feel as if I were accomplishing anything at all. But God told them to be silent? He tells me to be silent? Later King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 says, "For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." Do you ever feel like that? That you're powerless to face up to whatever situation or circumstance is in your life?

Remember, the point of war is to win peace.

If God stated that He would fight for them, He was fighting for their peace. As I've been contemplating the idea of "peace" for the past few weeks, I wanted to do a word study on it. However, my good intentions slowly diminished when I saw that there are 429 uses of the word "peace" in the Bible. Whoa. 57 of the 66 books use that word. Granted, not all of them deal with the peace of God; some are as someone has made peace with another, as a peace offering to God, peace as they died, and so on.

But Jesus also spoke of a peace, a new kind of peace. In John 14:27 He says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." The 'peace' used in this verse is the Greek word 'eirene', signifying quietness and rest. In Hebrew, the word would translate 'salom', or as we would say "shalom". This is not the peace in the sense of the word that we are accustomed to. This peace refers to peace--contentment, safety, etc--but also to peace with God. As sinners with a human nature, we are at war with God. We are called even "children of wrath". However, with the blood of Jesus, we now have peace. Jesus has fought and won, and now there is peace.

YHWH Sabaoth fought for you. And Jesus won. While we still struggle with sin daily, Christ has won the victory in His death and resurrection. Sometimes I don't feel that peace in my life; I feel like I'm tossed in a great storm with no sight of peace and rest in the distance. But the Bible tells me that I have peace with God, peace with the Creator of the universe, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, the Holy One. And no matter where I am in life, knowing that I have peace with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that gives me peace.

"I have said these things to you, that in ME you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" --John 16:33

Time

2011-11-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

I can't tell you how many times in my life when God has a message for me that I hear it from multiple sources.

Here are three sources just this week.

1) I just started a study by Dave and Rennie Garda (of Cadre Ministries) called Getaway Like Jesus. Chapter One is Daily Rhythms For Connecting with God and is filled with verses of Jesus' example to us to spend Time alone with God.

2) On Air 1 (the Christian radio station I listen to) Jason Anderson in today's Taking A Minute - Get It Right said "He [Jesus] says in John 14:25 "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you." God does not want to be misunderstood. Two things are important then here. First, ask God to help you understand the word of God. Next, you must be hearing and reading the word of God. Remember that Jesus said “the Holy Spirit will remind you everything I have said to you.” Get more bible in you so the Holy Spirit has something to remind you of."

3) This morning I opened an e-mail from Simply Youth Ministry entitled Devotional for Your Next Day Off in which they shared Exodus 16 and talked about the Sabbath- a day of rest.

These may seem slightly disconnected, but for me, a common thread sticks out. Time. 1) Time spent alone personally with God. 2) Time in His Word so that He can speak to us through the Holy Spirit. 3) Time off from everything else in our lives to spend Time with God.

Time is a driving force in a relationship. A relationship grows and deepens over Time, but only if Time is invested into the relationship.

Jesus knew so well the importance of Time in His relationship with the Father.

Luke 5:15-16 "Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

Matthew 14:22-23 "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,"

Mark 1:35 "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
Jesus often withdrew by himself to a secluded place to spend Time with God.

When I think of the Time I invest in my relationship with God (which should be more significant than any other relationship in my life) in the same context as the importance of the Time I invest in family and friends, I'm convicted by the need to spend more of my Time with God.

I'm seeing three ways I can spend time with God.

1) Points of connection through out the day with God.

For example, one thing I've gotten into the habit of is leaving earlier than I need to for work. Once I arrive at work I have 10-15 minutes in my car to read my Bible and pray before my work day begins. I also keep a Bible in my car so that I can read it on my lunch breaks or when I find myself somewhere with a little extra time. I don't consider this my daily devotional time with God, but rather important points of connection through out my day.

I'm sure you've also heard from 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray without ceasing" and from Ephesians 6:18 to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions." Something we can also do to stay connected with God is to talk to Him though out the day.

2) Daily time spent alone in His Word and in prayer.

Find a time of day that works for you, but be sure to find a consistent time of day, every day that is your time to spend with God. Find a place were you won't be interrupted or distracted. I think Jesus knew how easy it is to be distracted because, as you will notice in the above verses, when he spent his daily time with God he withdrew to lonely places, sent the crowds away, was alone, went off to a solitary place... He safeguarded His time with God giving it first priority in His life.

3) Dates with God.

Now here is where I really struggle. Filling the Daddy Talk. What do I mean by that? It's really important to spend extended time with God. We do it in our relationships all the time. One of my best friend's is coming to visit me this weekend. I'm incredibly excited. I can't wait to spend Time with her. She isn't even here yet and I already feel like I'm not going to have enough Time with her! I've known her for over ten years now and one of the greatest gifts we can give each other is our time. It's important that we do this in our relationship with God too. We give our friends a whole day. God deserves that too. Are you willing to set aside time on your Calendar, spend a whole day (dare I suggest a whole weekend?) with Him. Are you also willing to turn down other plans to keep to this committed time with God? That's a Daddy Talk day.

What are some ways you can invest Time in your relationship with God?

Be Blessed,

Naomi

Vision

2011-11-09T00:20:00.000-08:00

Have you ever lost your vision? I don't mean eyesight. If you had lost that you probably wouldn't be reading this. (That joke is a true :) and LOL joke, right?) I'm serious though. Have you ever gone through a moment or many moments of time in your life where you have lost sight of what God had called you to do? I have. I am just coming out of one right now.

Here's how the story goes. I spent much time in prayer and seeking wise counsel over a decision that had to be made a while ago and when I made the decision in the way that God wanted me to, with a vision for what He wanted me to do and accomplish, I was raring to go and ready to accomplish His will. As time went by though I got sidetracked by circumstances that I really had no control over, but wanted to control, and I lost sight of what it was that God had originally intended for me to do. I became burdened by things that I was not called to be burdened by and I was ready to be done with what God had called me to. Have you ever been there? Have you ever had a goal, had a vision for something that was supposed to be accomplished in your life? Maybe it wasn't necessarily a "God-given" vision, but have you ever desired to see something done? Maybe it was to lose weight, read a good book, sing a song in public, or something else like that. Did you find that as you went on you lost sight of the vision you had sometime along the way; so you quit before you made it to the end goal. That's kind of what I am describing here.

I started off and went strong for about 1 1/2 months and then some things began to happen and I was ready to give up on my vision. Why? Because I couldn't see it any longer. I could no longer see and had no desire to see what it was that God had called me to do. This became a huge spiritual battle in my life and it was only with the counsel of those around me that I was able to once again gain my vision and see what it was that God had originally called me to do.

Here's my advice. When hard times come and your vision is challeneged, and it will be, stay the course. Don't quit. If God has given you a vision for something that He wants you to do, do it, and if you need to, get some wise counsel to help you stay the course. In the end God wants His vision to be accomplished and He wants to accomplish it through you.

Proverbs 29:18 (TNIV)
"Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed are those who heed wisdom’s instruction."

Show Me!

2011-11-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

Towards the end of the musical My Fair Lady, Eliza's anger erupts at lovesick Freddy. The poor man fell in love with Eliza the moment he met her and wrote her two to three letters a day trying to prove that love. Eliza exclaims to Freddy:

"Words! Words! I'm so sick of words! I get words all day through . . .Don't talk of stars burning above; if you're in love, show me! Tell me no dreams filled with desire; if you're on fire, show me! Here we are together in the middle of the night! Don't talk of spring! Just hold me tight! Anyone who's ever been in love'll tell you this is no time for a chat!"

Do you ever think the Lord gets sick of our words? Our words declaring our love for Him and the spoken promise to do whatever He calls us to do? Do you think He'd rather simply seeing us actually do what He has called us to do?

"'Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?'" - Isaiah 58:6-7

"'I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like the waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.'" - Amos 5:21-24

And what about those He has called to us to care for and to show His love? Do mere words help them at all?

"But whoever has the world's goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart to him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." - 1 John 3:17-18

It's one of my favorite times of year: Operation Christmas Child season. What an incredible way to share the love of Jesus Christ. By filling a shoe box with school supplies, coloring books and crayons, hygiene items, toys, stuffed animals and other goodies, a child not only receives a wonderful material gift. They receive the message of Jesus' immeasurable love for them. This past week, I received a newsletter from Samaritan's Purse, the parent organization of Operation Christmas Child. I was once again profoundly blessed as I read about the impact the shoe boxes and the Gospel has had on children's lives around the world. Check out these numbers dealing with the country of Haiti:

Last year, 286,000 shoe boxes were given to children in Haiti. Praise God!
Last year was the first year Samaritan's Purse offered The Greatest Journey (a 12-week Bible study; upon completion, children receive their very own copy of the New Testament) in Haiti. So far, 60,000 boys and girls have completed the lessons and received a New Testament in Creole. Of those, 27,000 have made first-time commitments to Jesus Christ! Praise God!!!
One of Samaritan's Purses' church partners in Haiti began handing out shoe box gifts in the mountains, in a town where there was no evangelical church. Now, there is! There is a growing congregation with 250 children enrolled in The Greatest Journey. Praise God!

You still have time to pack a shoe box and share the love of Jesus with children around the globe. November 14-21 is the National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child. For more information, go to: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_Box/. What an incredible opportunity we as believers have to not just say that we love Jesus or love others -- but to show them!

What do we do with Halloween?

2011-10-31T15:05:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I don't like Halloween.

It's not that I am against dressing up, gathering with friends, or even eating candy for that matter. I've just never "done" Halloween. When we were growing up, my dad would tell us that Halloween was "Satan's birthday" - and honestly, that was enough explanation for us. Although we dressed up for our class parties at school, that was it. And to be honest, I don't ever remember feeling left out or like part of my childhood was being denied me.

During my high school youth group days, we watched a video on the pagan roots of Halloween and how many of some of those practices continue today. I wish I could remember the name of the video, but alas, my memory fails me. You can check out this website for some of that background, as well as some of the current practices that still happen among Satanists and witchcraft followers today: http://logosresourcepages.org/Holidays/halloween.htm. I recognize that many of the sources quoted by this pastor are other Christian resources; and it doesn't seem like the non-Christian world has much to say regarding the current "occult practices".

Regardless, I can't deny that Halloween started primarily as a pagan holiday. As I write this, I'm listening to the Bismarck radio station and the DJ is commenting on creepy, mysterious, explainable things that happen on Halloween in various North Dakota locations. And I do believe that Satan and his demons are indeed real.

So when I read this verse in 1 Thessalonians, I struggle with what to do about Halloween:

"Abstain from every form [or appearance] of evil" - 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Should we as believers have absolutely nothing to do with Halloween because of its roots? Is that what Paul is calling us to in that verse? Or is there a way that we can redeem Halloween - say, for example, by passing out gospel tracts or wordless book bracelets to trick-or-treaters? I've heard that some of Christmas traditions have their roots in pagan things as well - so do we abandon those practices too? Is this another way that we can fulfill the exhortation: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. . ." (Romans 12:2)

Honestly, I don't know what to do about Halloween. Do I lean to one extreme and have nothing to do with it - and is that Biblical? Or do I use this opportunity to reach a group of people I might not usually encounter and have the chance to introduce to Jesus? I pray for the Lord's leading, guidance and wisdom: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

What do you think? What do we do with Halloween?

Call Me Martha

2011-10-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I just feel like a Martha. Do you ever get that way? No, I'm not talking about Martha Stewart. I'm talking about Mary and Martha from Luke 10. Let's take a look!

"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42 ESV

When I was younger, I used to think that Jesus was being a little rude here. After all, Martha just wanted to serve her Master, and there can't be anything wrong in that, right? She was just showing her love in a different manner than Mary was. However, in taking a closer look at the text, I find it's more of a matter of the heart here. Martha wanted to serve-- to feel like she was doing something for the Lord. Meanwhile, her sister Mary sat in awe of her Lord.

Clarification-- there is nothing wrong with serving. In fact, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, which in turn means that we would serve. I am by no means trying to imply that we don't need to serve. James 1 says, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." But sometimes, and I'm speaking to myself here, we get so busy serving that we forget to take time to sit in awe and just listen to Jesus. To spend time with Him.

Jesus desires such an intimate relationship with us, not of a servant/master, but as a friend. "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15)

But isn't it easier to serve? To feel like you're doing something in return for all that He's done for us? It's in our human nature-- everything in this world has a price, so we tend to feel guilty when we receive a gift if we don't have one to present in return. But God doesn't work that way. He doesn't require our good works, our service-- no matter how charitable, godly, or whatever else you want to justify it with-- it is. He just wants us to come, to sit at His feet, and be in awe.

In the midst of all the crazy, busyness of life, in all the different ways that we serve each week (Sunday school, praise team, kids club, youth group, volunteering, the list could go on for quite a while!) remember one thing: God longs to spend time with you. He wants that close, intimate relationship. When was the last time you just sat at the feet of Jesus and listened?

This week, I challenge you to stop. To stop trying to give so much, stop trying to pour yourself out into everyone else. Just breathe, and listen to God. Stand in awe of God.

Incredible Worry - Incredible Peace

2011-10-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

Worry. It's one of those things that perpetually plague believers. Whether it be finances, health issues, looming exams or travel conditions - we worry. Well, at least I know I do. And I sure wish I didn't.

This afternoon, I was quickly consumed with worry. Panic took over my heart. Shortly afterwards, I turned to the Lord in prayer. As I cut my apple, folded clothes and prepared for work, I prayed. During my 14 mile drive to work, I prayed. On Highway 200, the Lord reminded me of a verse I had read just this weekend:

"'Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold." - Psalm 46:10-11

And as I drove an incredible peace flooded my worried heart. All of a sudden, instead of an anxious heart, the Lord gave me a heart filled with a peace that passes understanding.

I was reminded that the LORD is in control of my every circumstance. The fear of my heart is near to His. During my times of panic, worry and fear, the LORD is not just near - He is with me. He gives me strength and peace. And no matter what happens, He is in control - He will be exalted.

I pray that you too will find comfort in these great promises of the LORD. Don't let fear and worry grip your heart when you have the God of the universe ready to take that worry upon Himself and give you incredible peace.

Lift Your Voice!

2011-10-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

Have you heard the song "The Days of Elijah" before? I'm assuming this is a resounding yes all across the board-- most people have. But in case you're in the sad minority that hasn't, I'll give you the chorus:

"Behold He comes, riding on the clouds, shining like the stars, at the trumpets call! Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee, out of Zion's hill Salvation comes"

I have sang this song for years, and never really thought twice about what "jubilee" means. However, in my class with Pastor Haugen (yes, I adore Haugen and quote from him multiple times a day) this week we have been learning about the Year of Jubilee. Let me begin with Luke 4:18-19

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (emphasis added)

Verse 18 is full of wonderful promises-- that He came for the poor (in spirit, the lowly of heart, those who know they're in need of a Savior--Matthew 5:3), those held captive to sin, blind to the true light. He came for freedom! Then verse 19 comes-- whoa! "To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." According to Pastor Haugen, this is referring to the Year of Jubilee! Now, onto the meat of this post.

The Year of Jubilee was the 50th year (after seven years of seven...49...50!) for the Israelites. At this time they were required to release their slaves, forgive debts, and return inheritances. It was a year of celebrating, a year of freedom, a year of liberty-- which is what the word "jubilee" actually means.

So, in thinking of this, now jump back to Luke with me. It said that Christ came to "proclaim the year of the Lord's favor". In His life, death, and resurrection Christ fulfilled the year of Jubilee. Did you catch that? Do you understand what that means for you and me? The New Testament describes us as slaves to sin, in bondage to our sin, or something to that effect. For example:

"Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."

--Romans 6:16-18

We were slaves. But through Christ's atoning sacrifice, He has brought to us the Year of Jubilee. He has brought us freedom. We are no longer slaves!

Friends, no matter where you are, no matter what you're struggling with at the moment, you are free. Christ has set you free, all you have to do is gladly receive that free gift. How foolish would it have been for a slave to come to the year of Jubilee and say, "Ehh, no thanks." or "Hmm, maybe I'll wait until the next time". They wouldn't do that! Would you? Are you?

Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee, out of Zion's hill salvation comes!

Contentment - Part Three

2011-10-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

Part 3: Thankfulness
Contentment cannot come without a grateful spirit.

Philippians 4:12 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

1 Timothy 6:6-10 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Lately I have really been struck with how much I have. A year and a half ago when I moved I consolidated my belongings down to a car load and a car lop carrier. It's amazing how many things I was able to determine I did not "need" when I couldn't take them with me. Contentment is never about having what we want, but rather being grateful with what we have. Even when at times we may have nothing.

Hebrews 13:5 speaks to this, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Of all the things we have in this life we have the most important thing, Christ.

Thankfulness is key to learning contentment.

Part One: Joy
Part Two: Perseverance (and Endurance

Moments of Quiet and Boredom

2011-10-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel boring? Like nothing exciting ever happens to you?

I remember a conversation I had with my good friend Rachel a few months after the two of us had been married. We commented on how, when you're engaged - you're exciting. Everyone - even those obscure relatives of your mom's you who've never actually talked to before let alone met - want to know how you are doing, how the wedding planning is going, and what plans are post-wedding day. And then, suddenly, after the wedding, it's like you fall off the face of the planet. No more wedding planning = no more excitement.

Until you have a baby. Or spend the summer in Africa on a missions trip. Or spend a semester studying overseas. Or graduate from college. Or something exciting.

But, what about those of us who nothing exciting never happens to? Those of us who move to western North Dakota, where the most exciting things seem to happen to those in the oil industry? Sometimes, it can be disheartening when nothing exciting happens. But this week, as I was listening to Adventures in Odyssey, I was struck by this truth spoken to a similarly discouraged Connie Kendall by the wise Jack Allen:

"Life moves in rhythms and cycles and we all go through periods when it seems like nothing is happening. But things are happening - all the time. We just have to stay in tune enough to see what they are, how they fit together. So even in times of quiet and boredom, God's handiwork is shown to us. That's the real adventure - learning to look and listen to our lives so we'll understand what God is doing."

As believers in Jesus and servants for His kingdom, our lives are exciting! I think we sometimes just get caught up in the big things, like doing ministry in Africa or Haiti rather than in rural North Dakota. Each day, as we spend time with the Lord in His Word and in prayer, He is teaching us. He is molding us after His image. The change comes slowly, but it comes if we're willing to let Him work. I think our feelings of boring-ness come when we make our walk with the Lord about us rather than about Him. We have been created to do things for Him, not Him for us (Ephesians 2:10).

Next time you feel boring and like nothing exciting ever happens to you, take a step back. See how the Lord is using you in your unique place and position. Maybe it's showing love to the unlovable, or spending time at a homeless shelter, or telling your co-workers about the wondrous love of Jesus. We also need to examine what He has been teaching us in His Word and how He is using those lessons to make us more like Jesus. In those times of quiet and boredom, remember to look for God's handiwork in your life.And always, no matter what:

"Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually." - 1 Chronicles 16:11

(The quote from Adventures in Odyssey came from album 26: Back on the Air; episode entitled "Love is in the Air". Check out the entire adventure at whitsend.org.)

Flakiness

2011-10-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?” Proverbs 20:6

A friend made the following statement on Facebook this week: “On flakiness--If I commit to you and then bail, my word can't be trusted. If I say, "Yes, I'll be there," and then don't show, what does that say about your value to me? I think it says you're a commodity meant for my entertainment, not a valuable human being. When something more entertaining comes along, I toss you aside.”

The 16-comment thread that ensued was interesting to follow. The conversation spoke to personal selfishness the Spirit recently revealed to me (through an honest friend). I have difficulty committing. It’s so much easier (and self-serving) to offer a fluid “I’ll see” reply to invitations. When really, the only valid excuse for my vacillating is to stay open in case a better offer comes along. My focus is on self and personal pleasure rather than valuing a friend. Ouch.

Last night, a friend who mentioned he’d been offered Texas Ranger tickets for tonight’s game, but he wasn’t going because of a prior commitment to attend a party with a friend. I was shocked. My attempts to dissuade him from the party only left me embarrassed. His noble response seemed more like something from Pride and Prejudice than a modern-day man. He corrected me, “I value my friend and my commitment to her. I don’t feel like it would be right to go back on my word because I received a more attractive offer.”

The truth is, “When you dishonor agreements, vows or promises in order to gain some advantage, you become the real loser, because whatever may have been gained will never replace your lost integrity.”⁽¹⁾

I wonder, if I treat my friends this way, am I also flaky in my relationship with God? Do I bail on spending time with Him when something more attractive arises? Do I frequently reschedule our ‘dates’? Am I even wishy-washy in setting a specific quiet time because I’m afraid my commitment might get in the way? Do my decisions speak of a self-serving, or Christ-loving devotion to God?

Convicted, I’ve asked several friends to keep me accountable to making/keeping commitments. May the Lord help each of us become trustworthy, men and women of integrity in both our relationships with God and others.

(1)
Crown Financial Ministries, Keeping One’s Word

To Be Bought Back, Forever.

2011-10-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." -- Hebrews 9:11-14

I wish I had time to do an intensive study on this passage, as it is one of my favorites at the moment. But alas, the internet shuts down shortly here at the good ol' Bible School.

This portion of Scripture was displayed on the screen at a Vespers service I attended on Sunday night, and the words "eternal redemption" caught my attention. First, let me describe the situation for you:

As most of you know, in the Old Testament days, priests would offer an animal sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of the people. The high priest (there was only one until his death) would enter the holy place and burn incense. This was a big deal, and it could only be done by a priest. (Take a look at what happened to King Uzziah when he tried to get smart! (2 Chronicles 26) The blood of "goats and bulls" was used as a symbol of the need for sacrifice, but ultimately the blood of such animals meant nothing. It was by looking forward to the Cross that the men and women received forgiveness.

Fast forward a few hundred years, and we find Christ on a tree. It was this act of sacrifice that provides atonement for sins: past, present, and FUTURE. It is here and here alone that we find forgiveness.

Now onto the two words that I wanted to stress. The Greek words that are used here are "aionios" (eternal--agelong, everlasting) and "lutrosis" (redemption-- liberation, deliverance, the ransom price).

Does this mean anything to you? Are you grasping what this is really saying? In the OT times, the word "lutrosis" would be used to the ransom used for an imprisonment or debt. When this word is used for us, it describes the imprisonment to sin and debt to the Law that we have on our record. However, Christ has paid the ransom-- He has redeemed us! There's nothing we can do, nothing we have to do! And "aionios", meaning forever, signifies that once we have been bought, that price does not need to be paid again. We are eternally (something our mind cannot understand-- shall we say forever?) His. He has bought us out of our imprisonment and debt, and He longs for us to live with Him in that freedom.

What an encouragement to my soul tonight. As I think of the sin in my life, sometimes it's easy to think that I need to be redeemed again, to own up for my own sin somehow. However, that price was paid in full at the Cross. All I have to do is rest in the assurance that I was forgiven there, on that tree, over 2000 years ago. It was there that the veil was torn between the Holy Places and Holy of Holies. It was there that my Savior's blood was shed, much better than that of goats and bulls. It was there that I was forgiven. And it's here, now, that I stand righteous (the declaration of holiness, not something that I can earn).

I pray this is your testimony as well!

Contentment - Part Two

2011-10-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

Part Two: Perseverance (and Endurance)

2 Timothy 2:7-10 "Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory."

A) Suffering: Paul endured seriously tough times, but he recognized that contentment is not the product of ease. He endured being chained not because he liked it, not because it made him happy, not because it was what he wanted, but because it pointed others to salvation.

James 1:12 "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

B) Under Trial: Paul saw the end goal. He saw what perseverance leads to. Paul always had an eternal perspective in his ministry. Knowing that what he worked for here on earth led to the crown of life and eternity with Christ in heaven allowed him contentment especially in times of trial.

Romans 5:3-8. "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

3) In our Tribulations: As Paul faced multiple tribulations in his life he recognized that perseverance refines us and shapes our character. Yet again with the purpose to point out the Gospel of God's love for us and Christ's sacrificial death for us.

Suffering, Trial and Tribulations bring us perseverance. That perseverance is key to learning contentment.

Psalm 22

2011-10-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

I think one of the things I like best about the book of Psalm is that it's so real. It's isn't a collection of "happy go lucky" songs that seem to deny the realities of life. The psalmists, as they composed their songs, were emptying out the cries of their heart before the Lord. They told Him of the struggles they were facing. They asked Him where He was in the midst of their suffering. And they praised Him.

I have been struck with this truth as I've started reading through the Psalms again this past week. But it hit me especially hard this morning as I ate my Honey Nut Cheerios and read these words:

"My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; and by night, but I have no rest.
Yet, You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; in You they trusted and were not disappointed." (Psalm 22:1-5, emphasis added)

If you feel as though the Lord is far from you; that the cries you are offering up to Him aren't being heard; if you fear that His deliverance won't reach in time . . . Remember. Remember who God is: Yahweh - I AM. The One who carried our sorrows and bore our griefs. The One who experienced every temptation that you face and endured. The One who does indeed hear your cries and does indeed answer in His time.

Remember. Remember the countless times that the Lord has shown you His faithfulness in times past. Remember the countless times that the Lord has shown His faithfulness to your family members, your friends. Remember that He is Holy and completely in control.

And in the shadow of His wings, take refuge.

Falling in Love with Fall

2011-10-09T20:55:00.000-07:00

I've been getting into a routine lately.

Twice a week, I look at the world before the sun has that chance. In my groggy, lethargic preparations for the day, I read a chapter in Psalms.

As the coffee hits my lips, the word of God welcomes me to the new day. The writings of the psalmist set the tone in my head and my heart as I walk through life with the Lord by my side. More often than not, I am reminded that my Savior is with me; He hears my cries; and He is my refuge in times of trouble.

Sometimes I am intrigued by the explanation of creation and as I drive East, I see my Creator's face coming over the horizon. With the colors of fall in full force here in Minnesota, the daylight brings with it a special brilliance only seen for a few weeks each year. This time of transition makes me think of the change that God is continuously wanting to work in my life.

Each day brings with it new sights to see, new people to meet, and new life to live.

How will God be making you someone new today?

Redemptive Distress

2011-10-08T14:19:00.000-07:00

I recently ran across sermon notes I'd jotted on the back of a bulletin during a Lent service this year. Rereading the thoughts challenged and encouraged me. May you find similar strengthening in these truths.

Jonah's distress was the fruit of his disobedience--but God mercifully redeemed his life and gave him a second change. If sin in the cause of your distress/burden--confess.

Jonah recognized it was ultimately God who threw him in the water (not the men who actually did it.) God purpose for adversity is never simply to "punish," but for redemptive purposes. Trust Him.

Jonah has the boldness to ask, the very One who caused his punishment, for deliverance. God graciously rescues Jonah for redemptive purposes. Petition the Lord.

Jonah's salvation (redemption) came through a whale--ours comes through the cross. Look to Christ.

Salvation belongs to the Lord--it is His to do with as He wills and it is His delight to give it to us. Thank the Lord for His salvation.

Adapted from notes taken during a sermon heard at Our Redeemer, Dallas, TX

be lovable

2011-10-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

I took a pill the other day that said "Be lovable." Well, not literally. At one of my bridal showers, the ladies each wrote marital advice on a piece of paper and rolled it up so it looked like a pill and put it in a prescription bottle. The advice to "be lovable" was intended to be directed towards my husband, but God didn't want me to only apply it to him.

The Bible tells us in several places to love each other, to put others before ourselves, to live selfless lives. Though we hear it continually, it is something that we as Christians continue to struggle with. I know lately God has been trying to teach me about loving others, and sacrificing my wants and preferences to put others before myself. It is a process.

But by the advice the other morning, God turned my thoughts from these commands to the other side. God commands us to love others and sometimes it is hard because people aren't very lovable, or we are just being stubborn. But my thoughts were turned to, "Am I, in loving others, allowing myself to be lovable?"

Lovable defined is of such nature to attract love. God continued to question "in your struggles with loving others, are you being lovable as part of your attempts to love them?" We can try to love people, but when we make life miserable for them in our unloveliness, is that really love?

The challenge that God has placed on my heart for this next week is as I continue to learn to love others, is to be intentional about making it easier for others to love me as much as possible by being lovable. Maybe that is something we all need to focus on as Christians as we, by God's grace, love others.

Never Once

2011-10-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt alone? That's a silly question; I think everyone would answer with an absolute "yes". This song by Matt Redman (click on the title of this post!) has been such a powerful reminder to me this week that God is always with me. Even when I feel utterly alone, God is with me.

In my class with Pastor Haugen at the Bible School, we were talking about the description in Luke 2 of the birth of Christ. Pastor Haugen spoke of how the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to write of this account in such a simple tone, basically stating that it happened. Pastor Haugen said, "We like fireworks. We would prefer parades with pomp and blare bands playing. But God often comes to us in a whisper, in the quietness of our hearts."

God doesn't always make His presence known in our lives, but He is always with us. If you're like me, you'd rather have Him physically here, guiding each step that I take. However, that's where faith comes in. Over and over again in Scripture, we're given the promise that God will never leave us.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." --Deuteronomy 31:6

One of my favorite passages about God's faithfulness in keeping His presence with us comes from Joshua 1:5. In this chapter, God is commissioning Joshua to lead His people after Moses has now died. Can you imagine the fear Joshua must have felt? Moses saw the Lord-- in the burning bush and also on the mountain. God was with Moses every step of the way, even when Israel's faith was lacking. Would He continue to lead Israel now that Moses was gone? God makes such a beautiful promise to Joshua here, and I think it is a sweet truth to take with us even this day, "Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you."

Know that wherever you are, on the mountain top or the battle ground, God is with you. You will never be alone, because God is faithful.

Contentment - Part One

2011-10-05T22:40:00.000-07:00

Am I content? Am I content with where I am? Am I content with what I have? There are two areas for us to find contentment in. The first area is finding contentment in where in life we are. The second area is finding contentment with the things we have.

We should be content, but how do we arrive at contentment? Paul in Philippians 4:11 says, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

Contentment is learned.

How is it learned?

Part One: Joy.

Contentment is found in having joy in all circumstances.

Philippians1:18-20 "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death."

Paul's purpose was to preach Christ and that surpassed everything else in his life. That brought him joy. Joyful contentment.

Philipians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Paul recognized the importance of rejoicing and giving thanks no matter the circumstance (situation).

I've always loved these verses in James 1:2-4 that say "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Sometimes the place we find ourselves in is great and sometimes it's tough. We know it's easy to be positive when things are going well. The above verses encourage us to rejoice in all things whatever our circumstance may be. In all things we have the Joy of the Lord to abide in and exhibit as we face all of the different circumstances, situations and trials we will face in this life. That joy is key to learning contentment.

Tune back in next Wednesday for Part Two.

~Naomi

Lessons from Amos

2011-10-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

My novel of choice over the past several weeks has been a collection of novellas by Francine Rivers entitled Sons of Encouragement. Rivers recounts the stories of five Biblical men who stood firm in the LORD despite the risks: Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos, and Silas. This weekend, I finished the story of Amos – a shepherd whom the LORD called from his simple contented life in Judah to bring a message of destruction to the nation of Israel.

Amos first brings to Israel a message of destruction to their neighboring nations: Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab (Amos 1-2:3). With this message, I am sure the people rejoiced! Miley Cyrus would probably have made a song about a “Party in Is-ra-el!” However, the Israelites rejoicing would soon turn to scoffing and contempt as Amos brings the message of destruction and God’s justice to Judah and to Israel (Amos 2:4-16). They overlooked the rampant sins of their own while condemning those of their neighbors. Though they longed for the day of the LORD, they did not understand that they, too, had greatly sinned in God’s sight.

“'Alas, you who are longing for the day of the LORD, for what purpose will the day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light; as when a man flees from a lion and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake bites him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

‘I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.’” (Amos 5:18-24)

I want Jesus’ return to come quickly. I might not be so ready for the LORD to judge the people as the Israelites were, but I am ready for Him to put Satan in his final place, to have the final victory. But as I read the story of Amos and reviewed some of the prophecies the LORD spoke through him, I couldn’t help but wonder: Sarah, where is your heart? What sin of yours are you overlooking as you look into the sins of the world? Are you blaming the world more for its current state of sinfulness more than yourself?

May the prayer of my heart and the action of my life always be: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me . . . Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:10-12)

Service

2011-10-01T21:50:00.000-07:00

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (emphasis added) I Peter 4:19

6:00 am—Lyndi was already dressed and in the kitchen scooping hot, sticky oatmeal into bowls. Her face told of another pain-filled, sleepless night. A wee whine from the back of the house cried out something unintelligible, something about shoes. Dependent on crutches, Lyndi hobbled toward the voice. Unaccustomed to such early morning energy, I rubbed my sleepy eyes. Lyndi’s mother took over in the kitchen and rounded up the three superheroes from outside. Every school morning Lyndi’s mom drives the short, dark miles between their houses to help dress four young children and drive them to school.

3:00 pm—Grocery filled arms, I close the door with my foot. Paper sacks tearing under the weight of milk, eggs, fruit, and bread. A plastic sack dangles off my pinkie: pink ballet shoes and leotards. The noise in the house is louder than usual. Lyndi brought home two Korean children, giving their young parents time to grapple with that day’s news of a tumor and liver cancer.

5:00 pm—Flour dusted counters, batter filled bowls, sizzling griddle, preheating oven, and empty foil pans waiting to be filled. Banana bread, protein pancakes, breakfast muffins, and chicken casserole. My week with Lyndi was soon ending; freezer meals would be an ongoing support.

6:00 pm—The doorbell rings. Lyndi painstakingly makes her way over. She smiles at a Korean woman, cheeks glistening with fresh tears. Before allowing her to pick up her children, Lyndi ushers this new friend to her room—an intimate gesture of friendship. Barely able to communicate the same language, Lyndi assures the woman they are now family and will walk through this cancer battle together. They pray—the Holy Spirit speaks every language.

The front door once again opens. Lyndi’s mother enters, bearing a Crock Pot of pot-roast and vegetables. I wipe my hands on my apron and stack pancakes on a plate to send home with the Korean family. Young black hands, eager to help, add one to the stack and one in the mouth.

Suddenly, like a flash of lightening, the beauty of this moment strikes me. I look around at faces—two blonde children, chocolate-skinned adopted twins, two sharp-eyed Korean children and a weeping mother, my friend on crutches, her widowed mother, me from 350 miles away and brokenhearted.

My vision clouds with tears. My spirit is overcome with emotions. Service. The outpouring of love amidst pain. This is Christ, at work, in and through His bride. I can feel, see, hear, and touch His presence. I am paralyzed.

Joseph, even in prison, faithfully served guards and fellow inmates. Moses, weary and exhausted from journey, continued to lead God’s people in the desert. The poor widow and her son gave of their last resources in hospitality to God’s servant Elijah. David continued to play harp for his king, though Saul sought his life. Paul, despite his ‘thorn in the flesh,’ continued to tirelessly serve the church. The apostles, though threatened with persecution and death, continued to spread the gospel. We could go on with Biblical examples of service in the face of suffering, couldn’t we?

"Love suffers long and is kind." I Cor. 13

Somehow, in my serving that week, I’d quite forgotten about the cracks in my own heart. Instead of dwelling on my own pain, I was thinking of how I could lift Lyndi’s. That heavy burden, which seemed unbearable last week, lost its weight. My circumstances didn’t change, but my vision had. It’s a mystery. A beautiful mystery.

Do you find yourself in pain today? Physical, spiritual, or emotional pain? Reach out. Pour into others. Serve. Love. "Let those who suffer... [do good]." I Peter. 4:19

Ambassadors to Earth

2011-09-28T23:23:00.000-07:00

In 2 Corinthians 5 believers are called Christ's ambassadors. That's no small role. It's also a huge privilege, one these verses say we are committed to.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Let's break this passage down. (For context read the entire 5th chapter of 2 Corinthians here)"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view." - The term not of this earth comes to mind. Something we gain in coming to a Saving knowledge and relationship in Christ is an eternal perspective and adoption in to the family of God. Salvation has given us an eternal perspective.
"Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" - Because of Christ's death and resurrection, we also die (to the old nature and sin) and are reborn (the new nature) in Christ. Our view shifts from earthly to heavenly.
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." - Christ's death on the cross was done for us that we would have atonement and therefore be reconciled:holy before God. Having this done for us, we are to turn around and bring the same message to others.
"We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - Each of us is an ambassador called to represent God and His interests. God is interested in reconciliation. We've been reconciled to God, He has taken our sin and given us His righteousness. Spread the news.
So the short and sweet: We are Ambassadors on Earth; to Earth. All the time in this lifetime we need to be bringing the message to everyone on Earth.

Afraid of the Dark

2011-09-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

I don’t know about you, but I’m not a huge fan of the dark. I never really have been. Ever since I was young, I had a nightlight in my bedroom. As a 23 year old, I still have a nightlight in our bedroom – and when I’m home alone, lights are on throughout the house.

One of the problems with not liking the dark (I guess I could just flat-out say it in humility – being scared of the dark) comes in the area of my morning walks. It’s taking longer each day for the sun to illumine the earth; the problem rests in my desire to walk before morning activities, such as church. The other morning, I came up with a solution to my fear: a flashlight. Although the flashlight probably made me no safer than I would have been in the dark, I felt secure knowing there was a light to illumine my path and bring a small patch of light to the darkness around me.

As I rejoiced over the ingenious idea of walking with a flashlight, I was reminded about the true Light – Jesus Christ.: “This is the message that we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

Not only has Jesus taken away the darkness of my sin, but He lights my lamp in the midst of my fears – whether it be the fear of the dark, the fear of uncertainty, or the fear of a certain future. The LORD is indeed the Light – but He does just send a spotlight down upon us, but He walks with us throughout those fears. What a great God we serve – One who is in control of the entire universe, yet cares about us individually. Praise Him!

“For You light my lamp; the LORD my God illumines my darkness.” – Psalm 18:28

Conscious Confession

2011-09-25T20:10:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I'll check my email only to be surprised by an inbox that is filled with messages that are not junk. This happened today with timing that can only be described as divine. A good friend of mine shared something with me that he was planning on incorporating in the worship service at church this morning. I hope you are blessed by it just as I was this morning.

O Lord,
I have a wild heart
And cannot stand before thee;
I am like a bird before a man.
How little I love thy truth and ways!
I neglect prayer,
By thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly,
By knowing thou hast saved my soul.
Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be an evangelical hypocrite,
Who sins more safely because grace abounds,
Who tells his lusts that Christ’s blood cleanseth them,
Who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell, for his is saved,
Who loves evangelical preaching, churches, Christians, but lives
Unholily.
My mind is a bucket without a bottom,
With no spiritual understanding,
No desire for the Lord’s Day,
Ever learning but never reaching the truth,
Always at the gospel-well but never holding water.
My conscience is without conviction or contrition,
With nothing to repent of.
My will is without power of decision or resolution.
My heart is without affection, and full of leaks.
My memory has no retention,
So I forget so easily the lessons learned,
And thy truths seep away.
Give me a broken heart that yet carries home the water of grace.

Taken from The Valley of Vision edited by Arthur Bennett

?

2011-09-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

What does one do in the midst of tragedy? It's been a while since I've posted on here; for that I am sorry, but I am struck with the question tonight of, as I said, "What does one do in the midst of tragedy?" In a week's time I have been witness to a family having to deal with the a husband and wife suicide. The wife shot herself last week, was removed from life support today, and the husband shot himself today in the wake of his grief. I don't have any answers for that, but I do know this. I have heard and I have seen the strength, resolve, and peace that God gives in the midst of a tragedy and I have seen the devastation and havoc Satan causes in those that are not trusting in Him for the strength that they need. Again, I must ask the question, "What does one do in the midst of tragedy?" Besides turning to Christ, I don't know, and I don't think there's a better answer.

Compassionate Action

2011-09-19T13:51:00.001-07:00

Give me Your eyes for just one second . . . Give me Your eyes so I can see everything that I keep missing . . . Give me Your eyes for humanity . . . Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted . . . Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten . . . Lord, give me Your eyes.

I couldn't tell you how many times I have prayed for the Lord to give me His eyes and His heart for those His heart breaks over. It truly is the desire of my heart to love my neighbors as the Lord would have me to love them. To see their hurt and their need. To have compassion as Jesus has compassion.

But this week, I was struck with a thought as I read through parts of Matthew. Often times, we read about Jesus having compassion on those He encounters - but He just doesn't feel compassion and leave it at that:

"A leper came to Him and bowed down before Him and said, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.' Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing; be cleansed." - Matthew 9:2-3 (emphasis mine)

Now when Jesus heard about John [death], He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick." - Matthew 14:13-14 (emphasis mine)

Did you catch that? Jesus did indeed feel compassion, but Jesus also put that compassion into action. As believers, we must be willing to act - not just to feel compassionate. It's like having faith without works: faith without works is dead, so perhaps we can say that compassion without action is dead too.

I will continue to pray for the Lord to give me His eyes and His heart for the lost, hurting, and needy. However, my prayer has now extended to include, "Lord, give me the boldness and courage that You have to show compassion to those that need it."

2011-09-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

A New View

2011-09-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

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When I have something new I notice things that would otherwise be completely meaningless to me.

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For example ...

After purchasing a Subaru Loyale my freshman year of college, I noticed them everywhere. Now that I am a new owner of a Volvo V70 XC, I see them all the time. That time I had a mullet, I saw mullets all over town, not just at Walmart. When I was in middle school and some dude put braces on my teeth, I would acknowledge the presence of metal in many more mouths. On the ski hill, I point out the people with matching skis, goggles, or jackets. As a young adult with a significant other, I actually notice other couples now. When I'm wearing glasses, I see other people's spectacles. Years ago, I was sitting in a coffee shop with my new computer, and what did I now notice? People with the same thing as me.

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This list could go on forever, but it will stop now. It is significant that I notice new things when I receive them into my life. My perspective is forever changed.

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I wonder ...

After entering into a relationship with the infinite, personal God who gave me something new, what is my new view? The Holy Spirit lives in me now, shaping my thoughts, guiding my actions, and leading me in the way everlasting; do I notice things differently now? Are other people seeing something new in me? When I see a brother or sister in Christ, is the first thing I notice their beauty in light of the Beloved, or do I see their sin? Am I noticing people who are covered by the blood of Christ as forgiven or needing forgiving? Will you begin to look at life from a new view?

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He gives us strength

2011-09-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

This week has really been a test of my trust in God. I have been so busy and have so much to do and honestly, just want to not have to deal with it anymore. Yet, I must, and in it all I need to rely on God for my strength! I am overwhelmed when I look to myself to supply the energy and strength for each day! But that's when I claim His promise in this verse:

Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

When I depend on my LORD, He gives me new strength. In Him I will not become tired or weary. All I can do is cling to His promise and know that He is faithful!

The Laughter of the Devil

2011-09-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

"I've heard that laughter before."

This came a few nights ago from a friend as I was talking about how easy it is to get discouraged and start believing all the lies Satan throws at you. Have you ever heard the devil sneer as you believe the lies he tries to place in all of our minds? The more I opened up about it, the more I realized that Satan is after each one of us in this manner.

Satan is known as the father of lies--the great deciever-- it's what he does best. He's really good at taking little things that seem to be true and twisting them until they're a flatout lie, but once you're at that point, it's hard to go back. Jesus faced a similar situation as recorded in the gospel of Luke:

"And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their flory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve."" And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, "for it is written, "He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you', and "On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone." And Jeesus asnwered him, "It is said, "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." --Luke 4:5-12

In each situation that Jesus was tempted in, He responded with Scripture. Satan knows the Word too--as he tried tempting Christ by quoting it to Him-- so that makes it all the more important that we know what God really says.

Psalm 119:11 says, "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."

In whatever situation you find yourself in today, no matter how Satan tempts you, you can find your source of peace and security in Christ and the Word of God. The sneers of the devil are just empty laughter, and in Christ we have the victory over sin and death. That doesn't mean that temptations won't arise, but when they do, that we have the authority in Jesus Christ to cling to Him.

Friends, cling to Him today.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." --Psalm 119:105

Life's Frustrations and Disappointments

2011-09-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned, expected, or hoped for.

Case in point: Friday morning, I threw a load of clothes in the washer before heading off to church to accomplish a couple of things. When my husband got home for lunch before I did about two hours later, the washer was still running. Long story short, our washing machine from the late 70s-early 80s broke. The machine wasn’t able to finish the wash cycle; so the clothes were covered in water and unfortunately, were still a bit soapy. This required a trip to the Laundromat (praise the Lord the one Laundromat in Beulah re-opened!) – something that is slightly inconvenient when you’re used to the ease of washing clothes within the comfort of your own home.

However, as Jordan and I waited for our clothes to re-wash, we were extremely blessed. There was an older gentleman who came to wash his clothes shortly after we had arrived. A conversation between the three of us was struck, and we got to know Gary, a man we had never even met before. Gary is an inspector from Missouri, has only been home for 2 weeks all summer, and is a follower of Jesus. Hearing him share about the ministries he is involved in back home and how he had been blessed by believers in Beulah enlarged my heart.

Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned, expected, or hoped for.

Case in point: Sunday evening was to be the start of our 7^th-8^th grade girls Bible study. I was truly excited to begin this particular Bible study with this particular group of girls. I was all prepared: we had all the materials for our collages, I ran photocopies of worksheets for the girls, I had sticky notes for them to write down an important Bible passage to remember throughout the next 2 weeks and I had even purchased folders for them to keep everything in. As 6:30 rolled around, no girls burst through our door. 6:45 – still no one. By the time 7:00 came, I decided that both the girls and their parents had forgotten that our Bible study was starting up that night.

So, I decided to accompany Jordan on his walk up to church to lock it up for the night. On the way up, we walked past the home of a family from church that has recently lost a mother and a grandmother. We then spent the next hour or so visiting with this family of four; hearing some of the grief of their recent lost, but also the joy in knowing that she is no longer in pain but is rejoicing with Jesus. When Jordan and I departed, my heart was enlarged and encouraged by the visit with this wonderful family.

Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned, expected, or hoped for.

Case in point: “Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17) “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” (Colossians 4:5-6)

How are you going to deal with life’s frustrations and disappointments? Are you going to let yourself get angry or mope over your circumstances? Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned, expected, or hoped for. But the LORD is always in control. Are you going to let Him use you and bless you despite frustrations and disappointments? I pray that we will always be open to the Lord’s working in and through us, no matter what the surrounding circumstances are.

Blessed to Be a Blessing

2011-09-11T21:51:00.000-07:00

Blessed to be a blessing
No more second guessing

Why do I roam these streets?
Why is it my heart beats?
You came and lived the life
You want to take Your wife
From sin we've been released
Almost time for the feast

Blessed to be a blessing
No more second guessing

Who I'm supposed to be
Who You've called me to see
You've shaped me with your hands
You let us fill the lands
Took the fruit from the snake
The we watched Your heart break

Blessed to be a blessing
No more second guessing

What You have done for me
What Your blood helps me see
You've risen from the grave
Freedom You freely gave
Each day for Your glory
You write this new story

Blessed to be a blessing
No more second guessing

Please save me from myself
Put my past on the shelf
Show me how to love
Fix my eyes up above

Blessed to be a blessing
No more second guessing

Broken Shackles

2011-09-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

Familiar hot, salty tears fell freely onto my pillow. Yet another woe joined my ever-growing list of personal afflictions. The pain was real and tore at my weakened, despairing heart. This year has been a season (what has seemed a very long season) of painful changes that have shaken me to my core. My emotions no longer obey my will and I struggle to accept them. How can such grief and a faith in God’s goodness/sovereignty coexist?

Afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down—these are the verbs Paul uses to express his very real physical life. Yet he concludes, that he is “not driven to despair.” Why? Because “[I am] always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in [my] mortal flesh. (emphasis added) What hope! When my pillow is drenched with tears, in that very moment is when I want Christ to be manifest in me. I want Him to manifest Himself to and through me.

Daily, we swim in sin, death, pain and suffering. Where is the joy in that? It can be found at the cross! (The cross—itself a representation of suffering.) It is there that Christ took upon Himself the ultimate curse of sin. While we bear the pain of where our shackles once tore into our skin (the consequence of sin here on earth), our chains are gone! We've been set free! Because of Christ's work, we have hope that this “light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Our final victory over sin will culminate when we unite with Christ in heaven.

In your sorrow, press deeply into Jesus. Spend time in His word daily. Commune with Him in prayer. Spend time with His people. And serve Him in obedience.

And finally, look to others needs, to serving and pouring out in the midst of your own suffering. (To be continued)

All scripture referenced from II Cor 4

Remember

2011-09-09T23:50:00.000-07:00

"Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, 'My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all my good pleasure"

There are many times when we are tempted to be anxious, to try and fix our problems, or to just give up. Life has not and will never not be without life's challenges. But I think it is in those times when we need to remember all that God has done in our lives. He has done so much in our lives, and made something beautiful out of situations that didn't seem so great.

I went through several months of being sick last year. I went to several doctors, and they couldn't figure out what was causing the sickness. Those many dr appointments and several months lying in bed were the hardest, most lonely and disheartening days I have seen thus far. But God had a purpose in it all, and used it to mold me to be more like Him. So many times I wanted to give up, but He gave me the strength to continue, and to trust Him in it all. Seeing His faithfulness and love throughout the Bible and in my life and others is something I will always remember.

Maybe you are in the middle of an ugly situation, maybe you are just coming out, or are preparing to head into one - remember what God has done in your life and remind yourself constantly. Keeping a journal or blog are great ways. Remember what happened to the Israelites when they forgot all that God had done for them? They turned away from God and tried to fix their problems on their own - or they complained to Moses. Remember and Trust God. He uses everything for good, for He is good!

Prepare to Meet Your God

2011-09-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

Life at Bible School my senior year is now underway--how strange! As classes are starting up, old friendships being renewed and new ones just beginning, and a world of new opportunities at my doorstep, I've pressed with a question already:

"Are you ready to be changed?"

The president of the AFLC--Pastor Elden Nelson--spoke at chapel today on Amos 4, and I have never before agreed more with the saying "great minds think alike". :) As we look toward being alert and ready this month, I thought of twisting that a bit towards being ready for what God has in store for us here. Amos 4:12b says, "Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!"

Have you considered that before? Are you ready to be challenged in your faith, stretched, to know Him more? The first question I want to ask: Do you want to be changed?

Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied". It is in that hunger, that desire that God is going to have so much more room to work in your life. How often have you, like myself, had to learn a lesson multiple times until God finally smacked you upside the head with a figurative 2-by-4 before it finally sunk in, all because you weren't willing to be changed in the first place? God is going to bless that desire in you.

My second question is this: Are you willing to be transformed?

As I think of what it means to be transformed, I'm immediately drawn to the image of a butterfly. Transform comes from the word "metamorphose", which we get our word "metamorphosis"--the process a caterpillar goes through in order to become a butterfly. That change is not something that happens over night, and it certainly isn't an easy process (imagine being cooped up for so long... talk about claustrophobic!) but the end result is something beautiful.

As you start this new year, wherever you may be, are you ready to meet your God? Are you ready to be changed by Him? Are you ready to become more like Him?

Are you ready to become something beautiful, no matter how difficult and long the process?

The Day and Hour Unknown

2011-09-07T23:40:00.000-07:00

"the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him"

Does the thought that Christ could come back at any moment scare you or excite you?
When it comes right down to it are you really ready?
Is His return more of an eventually that will happen in the far off future or a daily hope and anticipation for you?
Is Christ's eminent return at the forefront of your thoughts?
Do you think we should always have the return of Christ in mind?

Matthew 24: 36-51 is entitled The Day and Hour Unknown. It talks about our need to be ready for the return of Christ. Verses 36-39 says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."
The statement and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away in verse 39 stood out to me because it conflicts with my memories of childhood versions of the story of the Flood. Do you have a childhood picture of the Flood? You may remember Noah warning people, who refused to believe him, of the coming flood. You may remember people scoffing and laughing at Noah as he built the ark. Maybe Noah did warn the people, maybe they asked him what in the world he was doing building the ark, maybe they laughed at him, but it doesn't actually say that in the Bible. In fact this verse in Matthew indicates they were not warned. It would actually seem that this was an unheralded judgement, given without warning. If you read Genesis 6-8, what is in the Bibe is that God saw that the people were wicked, regretting making them, and decided to wipe them out. God told Noah ("a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time" Genesis 6:9) to build an ark because He was going to destroy the people and the earth. And that's just what he did, without telling them He was going to. Imagine the horror of the flood as rain poured, gathered and rose to dangerous heights and people had nowhere to go and no chance to save themselves. We see in Genesis 7:23, "Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark."

A flood with out warning. No escape. No hope for salvation. This is what the coming of the Son of Man is compared to. It's a bit chilling isn't it?

Matthew 24:40-51 says, " Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
The coming of Christ will be sudden and like the flood it will be in God's timing and without warning. There is, however, a small difference. We, like Noah, have the foreknowledge of it's coming. Like Noah with the Flood we have been given an ark - Salvation.

There is a two fold responsibility we have with this knowledge. The first is to be prepared ourselves. Matthew 24:42 admonishes us to "keep watch." We must always be ready for Christ's return. He wants us to be ready (vs. 44). He wants us on the ark. The second is to share this knowledge so that others also have hope for salvation. Psalm 130:7 says "Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." and 2 Corinthians 1:10 says "He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us," This second responsibility is of great importance. Of all the things Jesus could have said to His disciples before He ascended into heaven He chose to remind them to share Him with the world. The Great Commission found in Matthew 28: 18-20 says "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." and Mark 16: 15 "He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

Will you be on the ark? Are you sharing the hope of Salvation with others?

Prepared by Failure

2011-09-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

As a senior in college, I realize how much I have learned in the last five years. It is kind of neat to look through old notebooks and see the scribbles on the page indicating that my brain was digesting new information. Even more interesting is seeing that content show up in my daily life. Much of what I have learned gets passed on to people after I have become prepared to share.

The main thing I have learned during my college career involves self-observation. Without an ability to see oneself through the lens of God's reality, there is little hope for growth. More often than not, this means that I am becoming more and more aware of my failures. This sounds depressing, but by looking back at what I've learned, there is room for rejoicing.

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Just like everyone else, I am unique. In my own quirky way, I find new avenues of adventure to lead me away from the feet of Jesus. More often that not though, I take the well beaten path of destruction. The familiarity of particular indulgences make my flesh feel good. As an individual, my struggles often look the same. I repeatedly find myself journeying away from Jesus.

Just like everyone else, I am offered grace. In my own quirky way, I find new avenues of adventure to lead me back to the feet of Jesus. More often than not though, I take the well beaten path of devotion. The familiarity of particular practices make my soul feel good. As an individual my successes often look the same. I repeatedly find myself journeying closely with Jesus.

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In an old paperback book that I picked up for free the other day, the author, Miles J. Stanford writes ...

"Our personal, heart-breaking failure in every phase of our Christian life is our Father's preparation for His success on our behalf."

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God continually shows me His grace as I continually show Him my defeated, downward looking face. In my lowest of lows, He shows up to bring me to His highest of highs. The less I deserve His love, the more He loves to give me what I don't deserve. At the end of the day, I am only prepared to share what I have learned when I come to grips with the fact that I fail.

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Much of the Church today clings to the promise of Romans 8:28. This is fine and dandy, but what makes my heart sing is the truth sandwiching the popular sentence.

Take a look at this ...

^"26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷ And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. ²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ²⁹ For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory." -Romans 8:26-30 NLT

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Amen.

The Normality of Culture

2011-08-31T20:17:00.000-07:00

I like the definition of culture in this picture. It says, "Culture is the sum of all forms of art." Culture can be a beautiful thing, a part of who we are, a way to express ourselves. Culture can also confuse things for us.

How often do you think about culture? How about trends as they relate to culture? How often do you think about our culture's affect on Christianity? Does culture affect our mind set?

In Romans 12: 1-2 we are urged to not conform to the pattern of this world. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

How would you define culture? In part we probably aren't even aware of culture half the time, unless it's a hot topic or trend. I think culture in its simplest form is the societal norm.

Culture is what is normal.

Right now, today, in our culture it's normal to work 40 hours a week, listen to the radio on your drive to work, have a drink at happy hour, update your status on facebook, have premarital sex, watch a movie in the theater, go out dancing, drive through McDonalds for dinner, get a divorce, get remarried, go to college, get an abortion, pay your bills online...

Some of the items on the list above might not even strike you as cultural and some may cause you dismay.

When I started writing this blog my thoughts were first sparked by the end of Acts 2, entitled The Fellowship of the Believers, verses 42-47, say "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

These veres sparked the thought of the difference in community in the early church and community in today's church. Do you think that the culture of Jesus time affected the early church? Do you sometimes find yourself thinking they got it right, why can't we be like the early church? Probably a large part of the way the early church interacted was due to the culture of the day, but do you think we have lost a certain sense of Christian community in not adopting a like wise culture now?

Do you ever question if your convictions are grounded in Biblical truth or swayed by current cultural opinion?

Biblical truth remains the same. Culture fluctuates, shifts and changes through out time.

Think how often a parable takes on deeper meaning when we understand the culture of the time. Jesus told well known stories (normal stories of the day) with a twist. He pulled from current cultural understanding to get his point across.

I'm curious where our Christianity fits in our current culture. It's so easy to be caught up in the cultural tide. Do we start to confuse normal with right?

Pause: Slight disclaimer, I am not saying that because it is normal it is wrong. I'm not saying that because it is part of culture it is wrong. I'm asking if we mix wrong in with right because certain things become a normal part of society.

Do we let certain cultural beliefs sway our Biblical opinions? I think we do. Again Romans 12:2, says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Perhaps Christ knows how easy it is for us to jumble certain accepted societal norms with Biblical truth?

What do you think?

A little tongue talk

2011-08-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

I don’t know about you, but I sure am grateful to have a tongue. Think about it. A tongue helps us speak, swallow – and probably most noticeably and to some the most important – it allows us to taste. Praise the Lord for taste buds, eh? But lately, I’ve been convicted with the sharp magnitude of the tongue’s danger.

There’s a pretty familiar section in James (3:1-12) that compares our tongues with bridles on horses or rudders on ships. Small parts – but a powerful part that controls the direction of the entire vessel. James also says that both fresh water and salt water can’t come out of the same stream; so too blessing and cursing can’t come out of the same mouth.

But, the warning regarding the danger of the tongue isn’t just limited to James chapter 3. Here are some verses that have convicted me the last couple of months regarding my speech, my tongue, and how I am using it:

“The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” – Proverbs 13:3

“He who restrains his words has knowledge . . .” – Proverbs 17:27

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.” – Proverbs 21:23

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment.” – Ephesians 4:29

“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed, which amounts to idolatry . . . in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, malice, slander and abusive speech from your mouth.” – Colossians 3:5, 7-8

Unfortunately, the Lord doesn’t rank or categorize sin. No one sin is worse than another – all are equally disgusting in the sight of the Lord. The sin of gossip is often listed right alongside sexual immorality and murder. It’s easy for us to talk about others . . . to share what we heard, what we saw, what we experienced. And, if we honestly look at ourselves, we kind of like it when we’re in it, don’t we? Sin unfortunately looks fun and harmless sometimes – but consider the power held in your words. Are your words glorifying to the Lord? Would you say those words with Jesus there? (And as a believer, He’s always with you, so. . .) Would you say what you want to say about that person in front of that person?

I think our moms were on to something when they told us, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

A Work in Progress

2011-08-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

Are any of you like me? Do you ever have days when you look back at all your failures, shortcomings, sins? I had a few of those this week.

I think it's easy for us to get down on ourselves sometimes--to dwell on our past, especially when it is still effecting the present. While there is a time to have sorrow over our sins, we need to be mindful that when God forgives, He forgets. "As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). That's pretty far!

During one such day, God brought me the song "History" by Matthew West, which reminded me that everything that I've done that I regret and wish I could take back is gone, it's history. And while some of those choices do still effect the present and consequences might linger on, there's such a great promise that God isn't finished with us quite yet. Just today I was brought to Brandon Heath's song "Wait and See":

"There is hope for me yet, because God won't forget all the plans He's made for me. I have to wait and see. He's not finished with me yet."

What a glorious promise! Sanctification (the process of becoming holy in the world's eyes, as opposed to justification: the immediate holiness in God's eyes) is something that will continue until the day we enter into eternity with our Father. The process isn't going to be completed on this earth. While to some that might be rather grim news, but to me this is such a sweet promise because I know He still wants to work in my life.

Philippians 1:6 says, "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ".

Friends, He has begun a good work in you! And He will not stop working in your life until He's done. I don't know what any of you struggle with in your past, but leave it there. The blood of the Lamb is more than enough to cover all your mistakes, regrets, everything. And take heed to the promise that God isn't done working. I'm sure many of you have heard the old saying, "God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you that way."

Yesterday is history, leave that in the past. Look at today and what He's doing in your life; He's not finished with you yet!

Transparency

2011-08-26T22:42:00.000-07:00

You know how your mouth feels when you’re parched? That dry, cotton-mouth feeling? When absolutely the only thought on your mind is “water, water, water.” It’s miserable. Recently, my heart was painfully dehydrated from insufficient intake of Christian fellowship. My heart was weak and hurting. I was miserable.

My Powerade? A road trip to Lubbock, Texas--where just over a year ago I left many precious friends with whom I have walked through some of life’s greatest joys and trials. Driving into the gorgeous West Texas sunset, I asked the Lord to guide conversations during my visit over the next three days—to bring me/others encouragement and Himself glory.

I was not prepared for the unique way in which the Lord would work to refresh my spirit. The contents of hearts were spilled on breezy front porch steps, beside a sparkling pool, on a leather couch, across a dinner table, in the front seat of a car, in the Discount Tire lobby, and in Cracker Barrel over mounds of maple-syrup-drenched pancakes.

Vulnerability with others isn’t easy. It can be uncomfortable, embarrassing, and humbling. Taking off our mask and allowing someone to see the raw us--our tears and snotty noses, our insecurities and hurts, our addictions and besetting sins, our fears and “why God” questions--that’s hard. But that’s exactly what the body of Christ is called to--transparency. I’ve never experience such mutual transparency as I did on this recent trip. Arriving at such a level of trust and intimacy in a relationship takes time, but the rewards are many.

Driving back to Dallas, reflecting on my trip, I couldn't help but feel as though some sort of miracle had just transpired. Mutual transparency quenched my thirsting heart.

1) In sharing, my weaknesses, struggles, and sin come to light. As I pour out the contents of my heart, lies separate themselves from truth, much like fat rising to the surface of broth. Although humbling, this is cleansing and healing (James 5:16). In sharing these sensitive areas of our lives with godly friends, we invite comfort, counsel, accountability, and intercessory prayer.

2) In listening, my focus suddenly shifts from self to others. My own sorrow shrinks as my friend’s burdens reach my ears and heart. The “woe is me” track (that’s been playing for weeks on repeat in my head) is interrupted and replaced with compassion for my hurting friend. I am suddenly preoccupied with ministering instead of being ministered to.

Having both shared and listened, we have mutually opened our hearts to each other--we have shared our burdens. My weight is no longer as heavy, because my friend is helping carry the load (Gal. 6:2). In knowing each others’ personal details, we are equipped to pray specifically and find ways to serve one another. (I Thes. 5:14)

3) Although God is at constantly work in my own life, it’s oft times easier to see this evidenced in a friend’s life. Like looking in a mirror, I identify with her root issues (lack of trust, faith, love, etc.). I am encouraged to know I am not alone in my struggles; I am strengthened with testimonies of how the Lord is working in/thru her weaknesses (II Cor. 1:3). Witnessing this miracle reminds me that our good and sovereign God is indeed sanctifying her (and me) and bringing Himself glory through every detail of our lives.

Being transparent requires humility. We must let down the pseudo walls of perfection we’ve erected and reveal the real us. Much like a wound (our sin), the shirt sleeve must first be rolled up and the bandage removed before a wound can be analyzed, cleansed, and treated. There’s a place for the bandage--we need not walk around revealing our deep wounds to the world. But there is a place (need!) for intimacy in the body of Christ if we long for sanctification. The cleansing may bring pain, but the end is healing--encouragement, hope, strength, and a deepened friendship.

-Karyn Ballmann

*Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16
**Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6:2
***Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
****Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” II Cor. 1:3-4

No Pain. No Gain.

2011-08-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

Starting a new routine hurts.

This week the pain was felt physically for me with my new routine. My brain is a physical thing isn't it? Wrapping my thoughts around what this semester - this entire next year - will hold has been one heck of a task. Juggling school, work, relationships, and my own person will make me look like a one man circus if done properly. If I fail, it'll probably hurt. After that, it's time to rework, rethink, and restart a new routine. Which, inevitably will hurt.

Part of the pain I felt physically because of my new routine was felt in my legs. While my brain pain came from thinking about stuff that is absolutely essential, the leg pain is optional. If we were to get into a dialogue covering pros and cons of travel options, you may think my opinion is that leg pain is essential. But, I honestly have a choice to ride my bike to school or drive. There are plenty of reasons why I choose to pedal and feel pain. Read them here. However you look at it, I stand firm on the fact that starting a new routine hurts.

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For some, the new routine includes the absence of a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Others feel pain when life's routine changes with their new job relocating them far away.

There are folks who feel pain when the alarm goes off as they wake up for some quiet time.

Statistically speaking, most people can't handle the pain of starting a new exercise routine.

With the birth of a new child, the up-at-random-hours routine doesn't feel awesome.

Financial routines that are responsible seem to hurt the pocket book at all times.

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As the old saying goes though - No Pain. No Gain. The same can be said about life with Christ. Sometimes it's through the most painful and tragic circumstances that one grows closest to Jesus. There's nothing better to gain than a more intimate relationship with the one true God. For many teenagers, myself included ex post facto, waking up for church on Sundays is worse than pulling teeth. Do I see the gain in that routine now that I look back? Yah sure you betcha!

This could go on and on, but my new routine hurts. Therefore, I will stop typing and go to bed. But first, think about this:

What new routine might bring you some pain but offer significant gain to your life?

Running Anyone?

2011-08-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever run a race? Think of the way running feels. I imagine this conjures up a variety of images and feelings. On one hand running is exhilarating, exciting, freeing, dare I say fun? On the other hand its hard work, dirty and tiring.

We run for all sorts of reasons. We run for sport, exercise, speed, to get somewhere fast, and even to get away. Regardless of why we run we usually have a purpose and a goal in running.

There are several references to running the race in the New Testament. Most of us are probably familiar with the concept of running the race as a comparison to Christian living. I've always liked this analogy because as a cross country runner in high school, it's such a clear depiction of the Christian life for me. Preparation for a race takes daily effort, perseverance and endurance. Our faith walk could also be called an endurance run.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Hebrews 12:1-3 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

When I read these verse I'm reminded of my cross country training; daily running 5 to 7 miles, calisthenic exercises and lifting weights to strengthen muscles to prepare for our weekly races. I'm reminded of the importance of hydrating all day long before practice and races, of stretching before and after running, of warm ups and cool downs. I'm reminded of being part of a team that rooted for and encouraged each other. I'm reminded of the sense of triumph and accomplishment at crossing the finishing line. I'm reminded of the pride in knowing you ran a good race and finished strong.

Our Christian life walk is so similar to this. It takes daily practice and perseverance. Running is hard. Even for a seasoned runner it can be work. But when we work at it daily by being in the Word and spending time in prayer we develop, tone and strengthen our muscles and that makes us and our run stronger. We are a part of a team of believers and the fellowship and encouragement of our teammates is vital to our run as well. We have a finish line to cross and a finish line to encourage others to cross.

My encouragement to you today is to run a good race with Jesus as your focus and an eternal goal set before you.

God's blessings upon you.

Crazy Obedience

2011-08-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

Noah. Abraham. Jacob. Moses. David.

These are just a few of the men who the Lord used in mighty ways for the advancement of His kingdom on earth. But I have the opinion that when they answered the call of the LORD and were obedient to that call, many around them found them to be crazy. Here’s a portion of what is recorded in Hebrews 11 regarding some of these men –

“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of righteousness which is according to faith.” (vs.7)

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. . . By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your descendants shall be called.’ He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead . . .” (vs.8, 17-19)

And, Moses, “By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land . . .” (vs.27-29)

These are just a handful of men who displayed crazy faith in the LORD. I mean, think about it. When God told Noah to build the ark because He was going to send a flood to destroy the earth – it had never rained before . . . ever. But that didn’t seem to hinder Noah’s obedience. He kept right on building – probably while a nation mocked him. Abraham was called by God to go, but the Lord didn’t even tell him where he was going. But that didn’t hinder Abraham’s obedience. He went. Abraham was even willing to offer his one and only son on an altar as an act of obedience to the Lord. Moses had faith in God when all around him, the Israelites complained, fought, and cast blame. Despite all this, Moses’ obedience was not hindered.

The LORD often calls us to that which is crazy in the eyes of the world; to the things that don’t make sense. No matter how illogical the call seems through the worlds eyes, if the LORD calls you to it, will you be obedient?

love

2011-08-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

Jeremiah 31:3

God's love is always there, even when ours isn't.

Forgiveness

2011-08-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

I heard a great sermon a few weeks ago. The underlying theme: Forgiveness. Listen to it here. It's easy to be angry. It's hard work to forgive.

A question a friend and I discussed after the sermon was: Do we forgive out of obedience or do we need to have feelings in forgiveness too?

On one hand, we are called to forgive, so it is an act of obedience. On the other hand if we still harbor anger, resentment, bitterness, etc., have we really forgiven?

So what is it really to forgive?

What do you think?

God's Greatness

2011-08-16T16:38:00.000-07:00

I just got back from camping for a week in Jedidiah Smith State Park, which is located within the boundaries of the Redwood National Forest. What can I say? Those trees are amazing! The whole week I was there I was told over and over again by the Lord to just enjoy the trip I was on. For some reason I was finding it hard to do, but by the time the week was over I coul gladly say that I did enjoy it and it was amazing.

We were given the opportunity to do many different things, but the things that I enjoyed doing the most were kayaking the river we were camped on, cliff jumping, hanging out on the beach, swimming, and listening to this guy sing at the state park about the life of salmon. The singing this was kind of weird, but my heart was awakened through it to the beauty of God's creation and the fact that I don't really know much about it and would like to learn more.

The first night we were there we took a walk to this section of the forest called Stout Grove, which is home to the biggest tree in that section of the forest and as we walked through that grove and other parts of the forest I was completely awestruck by what I was seeing. It almost seemed like what I was looking at was fake, as I had never seen the Redwoods before and my imagination really hadn't done it justice, and that night as I was laying in my tent spending some time in prayer and reading the Scriptures I was led to read Psalm 96 and the part that really ministered to my heart was verses 11-13, which say, "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness." (NIV) As I read this, especially, "let all the trees of the forest sing for joy," it was easy in my mind for me to imagine and see how this could be possible because all week they were screaming out the greatness of God to me. I couldn't wrap my mind around the greatness of those trees...and I was looking at them! How much more so can my mind not ascend to the greatness of God. Glad I am that Jesus came in human form to be the perfect representation of who God is that we might be able to see a visible picture of the invisible God. In Jesus we can get a glimpse, though dimly, of who God is and long for the day when we shall see all things fully.

Not Content with Being Comfortable

2011-08-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

I’ll be honest; I had a difficult time deciding what to blog about tonight. But as I thought over the last couple of days, storms were a prominent theme. Friday afternoon, I was on a boat in the middle of Lake Sakakawea with Jordan, a couple from our church, and three girls from our youth group. There was no getting out of the downpour; we tried to head for sunshine, but the storm seemed to follow us. We even spotted a little funnel cloud descending from the dark clouds. Then last night, an intense thunderstorm blew across the region, bringing with it 65 to 80 mph winds.

These storms reminded me of a Bible passage that has played a significant role in my life – Matthew 14:22-33:

“Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up to the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they had got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’”

At the FLY Convention in 2004, the Lord used this passage to deeply challenge my faith. Although I was a believer in Jesus and was walking with Him, I was challenged to do more than just stay on the boat. The speaker that night at FLY pointed out that the other 11 disciples just watched the exciting, daring act of faith occur. She challenged us to not be like those disciples, but to be like Peter – to step out in faith to whatever it was that the Lord would call us to. And she reassured us that just as Jesus was there to catch Peter, He would always be with us to catch us when doubts and fears assailed us.

That night, I prayed a prayer I will never forget. I gave the Lord my entire self; I promised Him I would do whatever it was that He would call me to and go wherever He called me. I remember specifically praying that I would even “go to Africa if You call me”. Seven years later, it’s exciting and intriguing to see how the Lord was working in my heart even then to what He is bringing us to today.

So, where are you? Are you standing within the security and comfort of the boat? Or are you leaping over the side of the boat, jumping at the chance to exercise your faith in Jesus? Remember, no matter how intimidating the wind and the waves may seem, “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Brokenhearted

2011-08-10T23:05:00.000-07:00

Brokenhearted. Heart split in two, three, four, five, shattered into a million pieces.

We find ourselves brokenhearted because we face both pain and shame in this life. We are born into a broken world - a world full of sin. So we come broken before an Almighty God. Knees on the ground and head held low. We come needing to be put back together. Needing to be put back together for the times we fail in life, for the times we mess up and fall, for the times we slip and even for the times when we intentionally stray from God's will. Needing to be put back together for the things that are out of our control. Needing to be put back together from things like break ups, disappointments, arguments and the loss of a loved one.

Psalm 34:18 says "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit." and Psalm 147:3 says "He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds."

The line "without You holding my heart I'm falling apart" from Royal Tailor's song Hold Me Together is such a beautiful picture of us in God's hands. (full lyrics) It's speaks so clearly of the restoration of the broken hearted.

So we come before the Lord with our broken hearts and he puts the shattered pieces back together making us whole again.

Today I'm reminded to let God hold my heart.

Pressing Needs and Good Deeds

2011-08-08T20:11:00.000-07:00

First off, I feel like I owe some of you an explanation of some kind. My thoughts from last week got some people a little nervous and maybe even a little excited. To clarify, Jordan and I’s decisions I wrote about last week have nothing to do with leaving Beulah or attending seminary. So, apologies to those of you who may have lost sleep or burnt your hair with your curling iron.

Today, Titus became one of my favorite books in the Bible. Only three chapters long, I think we can glance over it far too often. Although there were many verses that both challenged and encouraged me, I was struck with how often Paul wrote of “good deeds”. In regards to the “defiled and unbelieving”, Paul says,

“They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” (1:16)

Paul encourages Titus that –

“In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds . . .” (2:7)

As well as encouraging him to

“Be ready for every good deed” (3:1).

Most convicting to me, however, was found at the end of chapter 3 –

“Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.” (3:14)

Although I know that it is not my good deeds that grant my entrance into heaven or cloth me with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, I cannot help but be convicted by the constant admonishment of Scripture to be involved in good works. Jesus Himself said that we would be known by our fruits (Matthew 7:16, 20).

Pressing needs: like children eating rocks before going to bed in order to trick their stomachs into thinking they are full. Or mothers paying for their children to eat biscuits made from dirt. Or children and women being sold into slavery to satisfy the sinful nature. Or American children running away from home seeking refuge in a homeless shelter because their parents simply don’t care.

Believers, what are we doing about this? I don’t have all the answers, but I know that we have to do something. We must be active in meeting the pressing needs that surround us; it is not the job of the government or of the state. So, what do you think? Are we ready for good deeds? What good deeds can we be engaged in to show the world how deep and great and high the love of Jesus is?

“’I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.’” (John 15:1-2)

Let Us Run

2011-08-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with working out of any nature. This is problematic at work, as I do not have a vehicle to tot my three little kids that I nanny around to parks and the like. However, we do have a bike with a cart behind that I frequently (yes, at least once a day) squeeze all three kids into for a trip to one of the many nearby parks. I love taking them to the park, and feel great after such long bike rides, but every time we go I say to myself, "This is the last time we're going to the park." I had no idea how hilly Maple Grove, MN was until I started lugging around 100+ lbs of weight behind me on a bike! There's one park we go to that's just over half an hour away, and it has the steepest hill on it, which I dread each time. And there always seems to be something to obstruct my path-- such as construction signs down or sidewalks blocked off halfway through the block. It's during these times that I often think of 1 Corinthians 9:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." --(24-27)

The Christian walk is compared to a race here, in which there is discipline and hard work involved. It's not always going to be easy, such as the roadblocks I often find in my path while biking. And sometimes it might hurt, especially while going uphill and you feel as though you'd like to quit.

Do you ever feel that way? We're guaranteed hardships and trials in our life, but we're called to press on (Philippians 3). And do you know the wonderful thing in all of this? God gives us such as sweet, sweet promise:

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." --Isaiah 40:31 (emphasis mine).

Friends, God will give you strength. He will give you His strength, which will not fail. So no matter what you're going through right now, no matter how steep the hill is or how many roadblocks you find in your path, rest in the promise that God will give you His strength to press on. And our wreath is imperishable, our prize is HEAVEN!

Just keep running.

Heaven

2011-08-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

I have been thinking more about Heaven lately, and realizing how the importance of Heaven isn't emphasized today in the Church as much as in the past. This passage from Philippians 3 (the Message) sums up what our focus is to be as a Christian. I will let you read it and let God examine our lives as we do. But I encourage you to think about Heaven, and how that is THE Goal, we are WAITING for Jesus to return! Are we living it? It is easy to be focus in the right here and now, but when we focus on eternity, if we are going to Heaven and how many we will bring with us, it gives us a purpose, and more of an understanding of God's work in our lives. Run for the Goal.

It's ALL about Who You Know

2011-08-04T21:26:00.000-07:00

Someone once told me, a long time ago, that in life ...

"It's all about who you know."

Ain't that the truth?!

Trying to get a job? It's all about who you know.
Want to have fun on the weekend? It's all about who you know.
Looking for the girl of your dreams? It's all about who you know.
Need to get your car fixed, but you're broke as a joke? It's all about who you know.
Medical issues need assessed, yet you have no insurance? It's all about who you know.
You want tickets to the Justin Bieber concert? It's all about who you know.
Wondering where to go while wandering a foreign land? It's all about who you know.

This nugget of truth has helped me more recently than any chicken nugget on any dollar menu.

Beyond any employment opportunity.
Pushing past any social gain.
Further than any medical help.
Way more than any Justin Bieber hookup.

This principle - "It's all about who you know." - has changed my life.

Knowing Jesus is what it's all about. From the time I was tooting and scooting around in diapers until today, Jesus has been pursuing me. The same goes for you.

We are all created by the one true God, who came to this earth as a man (Jesus), and established the statement - "It's all about who you know." This isn't printed in some obscure translation of the Bible, but you can gather this fact by reading any portion of God's Word.

Jesus lived a life like any other man, except when tempted by the Devil, He did not sin. Rather than floating around all high and mighty, this sandal wearing son of God took the punishment for all sin. Rather than letting Satan hold Him down in death forever, He walked out of the grave three days later. Now, we all have the opportunity for this same Jesus to be the who that you know.

It really is all about who you know.

People Pleasing

2011-08-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

I’m a people-pleaser.

I don’t like disappointing others; I don’t like the feeling that I have somehow let them down. In elementary school, I didn’t like when my teacher would give me that well practiced “look” that told me I had done something wrong. At home, I didn’t want to do anything that would majorly upset my father; I couldn’t bear to disappoint him. The day I told my boss at the lumberyard I would be quitting on July 1, I felt awful, like I was letting him down, giving him a reason to be disappointed in me. Yep, I’m a people pleaser through and through.

As I was reading through Paul’s letter to the Galatians awhile back, I was struck by a familiar verse. One that had been underlined for years:

“For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” (1:10)

This verse has begun to speak to me more boldly in the past couple of days as I consider some rather significant potential changes that Jordan and I are facing. One of the changes may disappoint some people – some of them whose opinions I value very highly. But as we spend time praying over the decisions before us, I am pushed to the Word and to its truth. If the LORD calls us to make these decisions, then we must be obedient to Him – not to the world, to our friends, or to our family. We must be faithful to what He calls us to. No matter how ridiculous it seems to the world.

“’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are My ways your ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:9-10

“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Wedding Madness.

2011-07-31T19:58:00.001-07:00

I've finally reached the age when all of my friends are deciding to get married. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about: 11 weddings within one calendar month. People are moving and changing their names, and it's throwing me off! While I think this is crazy, apparently it's normal for growing up. I'm just new to this whole "growing up" notion. As I've been attending so many weddings, showers, and parties, it's really put me in a wedding daze. But not in the silly, romantic way. It has me thinking more about my relationship with the Lord.

Throughout Scripture we are called the Lord's Bride, we are in a covenant relationship with God. However, Ezekiel 16 in the ESV Bible has the heading 'The LORD's Faithless Bride". This chapter, more than any chapter I've ever come across, has convicted me of my adultery against the Lord. I don't think we talk about this enough today, so I would encourage all of you to take a look at Ezekiel 16 sometime this week.

In this chapter God is speaking to Ezekiel, depicting a gruesome, lovely, horrid story that is true in ever aspect. He starts in verse six by stating, "And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' I said to you in your blood, 'Live!" He continues to describe how His love grew in beauty and at the age for love He said, "and you became Mine" (Verse 8). It goes on to describe a beautiful, intimate relationship that between a Lover and beloved.

However, in verse 15 it states, "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his." The story continues with the beloved giving everything to the passerby-- her jewels, garments, oil and incense, bread, and even her children as a sacrifice. The story reaches a climax in verse 31, "Yet you were not like a prostitute, because you scorned payment. Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband! Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you gave your gifts to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from every side with your whorings. So you were different from other women in your whorings. no one solicited you to play the whore, and you gave payment, while no payment was given to you; therefore you were different."

This is a nasty picture, but I cannot tell you how true it is of us as believers, of myself in specific. I have the unconditional Love of the only Lover that will ever satisfy, and yet I run--yes, run!-- to anyone that I think will bring me greater pleasure. I don't wait to see if something better will be offered, but I turn and give whatever I can-- my time, adoration, gifts, talents-- to anything that looks good at the time being. We play the whore with anything we see as an idol in our life, anything that we put above God. This can easily be seen in relationships, but also in smaller aspects as finances, goals, and so on.

The sweet, sweet truth that the Lord grants us at the end of this chapter has always brought such comfort to me. Verse 59 and following, "For thus says the Lord God: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant... I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord God."

Even after all of that, all of the prostitution, God still chose to remember His covenant with His bride. And He remained faithful, even while she was unfaithful. 2 Timothy 2:13 says, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful--for He cannot deny Himself". In the Old Testament, God used the word "hesed" to describe His love for us-- loyal, steadfast, faithful. That is His love for us. As it can clearly be seen, this love has nothing to do with our performance or our love in return. He loves us unconditionally, that means NO MATTER WHAT. Can you fathom a love that big? That strong?

"And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD."-- Hosea 2:19-20.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."--Jeremiah 31:3.

Wow, that love is big. That love is for you and for me, today!

New is better than Old

2011-07-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

"New is better than old."

Sounds like something car salesmen and guys at the Genuis Bar would say to anyone walking in the door.

This statement is often debated inside the crowded parameters of my cranium. The debate is very similar to the much anticipated political debates which occur every four years. It's not similar in the fact that one silver-haired, middle-aged man in a suit passionately talks crap about one or two other middle-aged men in suits. No, my brain is not that large. It is similar in the fact that when the dust settles, nothing has been settled.

When I try to figure out if new is better than old, it comes down to my pride. I think old cars are better than new ones because I have an old car. I would say that the old way my hometown was is better than this new town I hardly recognize. My new hairstyle is much different than the look I sported in junior high, leaving me longing for the days of old. The new technology with cell phones continues to blow my mind, hoping to never remember the old designs. New perspectives challenge my old ways of thinking. My old job was more demanding physically, but my new job challenges me mentally. Old friends are easier to talk to than that new "friend" in the elevator. New socks smell better than old socks, but I still like to feel the crunch between my toes.

So, basically I have decided it's a draw.

New is sometimes better than old.
Old is sometimes better than new.

But this is not the case when it comes to the fuel for life - spirituality - God decides the outcome of my internal argument. There's no room for discussion. He has the final say and it's better than anything I could come up with anyway.

There's no passage in the Bible where Yahweh says "New is better than old" but He spoke through a couple of dudes who wrote some stuff down for people looking for a right way of living. These two guys were the kind of guys you would remember after hearing words come out of their mouth. Passionate like those politicians. Isaiah and Paul clearly communicate the reality that new is better than old.

After ranting for about forty pages, Isaiah pours out his heart to the Lord. He acknowledges the rebelliousness of his people - a group of folks that God was especially passionate about - a rebelliousness that would break the heartiest of hearts. In the midst of this reality check (ch. 64 of Isaiah) he points out how God prefers new rather than old.

To do this, Isaiah uses an analogy that has stuck out to me for a while now. In Isaiah's words, "But now, O Lord, you are our Father, we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." (Isaiah 64:8) If you've never seen the artistry of a potter at work, let me tell you, it's obvious that when using clay, new is better than old.

Now Paul is a different story. In his little letter to some friends in Phillipi, he pours his heart out too. Instead of admitting how horrible he had been, he tells the truth which consists of a really good report card in religiousness. If getting into the gates of heaven were a matter of what we did, Paul would be first in line, having come from a past of near perfection.

It is right after recognizing how awesome he is that Paul writes this, "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14) Even after having been the best of the best, Paul sees that his old way of life won't even compare the new life with Christ.

The new life is made possible through Jesus' death and resurrection. By taking the punishment for our sin on the cross, He paid the penalty that we all deserve. Three days after dying, Jesus walked the streets of Galilee with His closest friends. His new life had some scars, but they allow us to move on from our old life.

So, where are you landing today?

Are you content with the old life that sin has shaped?
or
Are you looking forward to new life lived with Christ?

You are Mine

2011-07-24T20:52:00.000-07:00

"But now thus says the LORD, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you....Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you."

--Isaiah 43:1-4

Did you catch all that? Go back and read it again. not only does God tell us that He has called each of us by name, He calls us His own, that we're precious in His sight, honored, and loved. And to prove this to us, He lived and died for us!

However, I think a lot of times we focus on how much God loved (past tense) us. But this is not written in the past tense; it does not have a timeline on it. God says that He loves us, now--this very day! What I love about this passage is that He says "when"-- not "if"-- we go through trials, He will be with us. What a way to prove His love for us each and every day. God has promised us that He will never leave us, nor forsake us--He will never abandon, desert, or give up on us.

God loves each of us in a real, special way, such as a husband would love his wife. He knows all of us, and still desires that intimacy. But He has guaranteed hardship to come in our life. Many times I think that's the most powerful way that He brings me closer to Him, and I'd assume He works the same in each of your lives as well. He allows us to suffer, because we find strength and perfection in His name. And in the midst of all of this, He never leaves our side. He allows us to cling to Him while we walk through the fires and wade through the rivers, because He's right there with us, and so much stronger!

So wherever you are right now in life, take comfort, God is there as well. He has called you, and you belong to Him.

"Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him."

--Isaiah 30:18

Lakeside Living

2011-07-21T20:39:00.001-07:00

The beach is buzzing louder than a beehive at harvest. The aroma of sunscreen indicates that the Banana Boat may have capsized close to shore. Sunglasses cover wide-eyed, love-struck teenage faces. Shrill screams precede the painful slap of a sunburned boy's back after a failed attempt at a front-flip. Boy chases girl across the sandy beach - she's a state champion sprinter - so she stays just out of his reach. Lifeguards turn the color of a turkey at Thanksgiving.

Everyone seems to be loving life.

Below the surface of every body on the beach, there is more to the story. Smiles are often perfect masks used to cover the feelings of neglect, shame, and loneliness. Infants are a little more willing to show their true feelings. Middle schoolers quickly pick up on the art of acting like everything's O.K. By the time high school is a mere memory, most kids are professionals when it comes to putting on the "right" face. This skill is accidentally taught to kids by the adults closest to them.

Reality hit me faster than the mercury climbed in Minnesota yesterday.

Every single person at that beach has a story. Some are hurting. Others laugh everyday. Some people lie awake at night worried beyond belief. There are those who haven't smiled in days and those whose cheeks are permanently creased because of the fake grin that fools friends. Every single person at that beach needs Jesus.

Jesus loved the lake.

One particular dude who spent a lot of time at the beach said this about Jesus ...

"And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
(John 1:14 ESV)

The guy from Nazareth, the one called Christ spent a lot of time with people who frequented the most popular lake in the area. Jesus showed up at the lake and let people know the promise that they could be forgiven of all the sin in their lives. Jesus knew normal people by name. He continued to show up where people liked to hang out. His promise was later understood a little more clearly when the families from the beach saw him hanging on a tree and buried in a rich guys grave. Emotions were as mixed up as the sand between a little one's toes on the edge of lake Galilee.

That previous promise was later understood to mean that the man who dwelt among them, would now dwell within each and every person who believed his words.

If you are reading this and believe what Jesus taught us about the glory of God that is "full of grace and truth" - if you are reading this and wonder why the lake is some important - listen up. In Hopkins, MN the local beach is the place to brush shoulders with sinners. I've been blessed with the opportunity to move into this community with the purpose of sharing the truth about who Jesus is with young people here. Oddly enough, that means I can spend a good amount of time at the lake like Jesus did with his friends. Don't stop now.

You have the Holy Spirit in you. There are people everywhere around you who are searching for love. God's love is limitless and always available to all people. When even one sinner returns to Daddy's loving arms, all of heaven throws a party. You live someplace unique.

There is at least one person you come in contact with on a regular basis who will benefit for eternity if you - you who has Christ in you - will take the time to listen to his/her story. Then, tell them how the Greatest Story ever told has forever changed your story.

Treasures

2011-07-17T18:38:00.001-07:00

I've just recently declared war on my bedroom. My goal for the summer is to completely strip my room of everything but what I want to take with me as I look to moving out for good. Not an easy task, let me tell you. This evening as I listened to Needtobreathe blasting from my speakers and sifted through my closet, I found old notebooks filled with my name in front of my old crushes last name, vocabulary words, and algebra equations. I found old clothes that haven't fit me in five years and pictures from elementary school that filled my mind with memories of the "good 'ol days". But I also found trophies and medals from basketball, softball, and piano. I found my high school letter that I was so proud to fill up with different awards. And suddenly, I found that all of these were meaningless.

At the time, these awards seemed to be all that mattered. I would long to return home from a basketball tournament with a trophy in hand, or to score a perfect 5 at my piano festival. As I went through all of these this evening, they brought back good memories, but they didn't end up in the "to keep" box. They ended up in the garbage.

As I tossed these awards away, I couldn't help but think of Matthew 6:19-21

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"

What are you placing your treasures in? Remember, not everything is going to end up in the "to keep" box. Money, clothes, friends, cars, or whatever else may try to steal your attention cannot travel with us to eternity. But a relationship with the Lord Most High will!

Coming Home

2011-07-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

The crazy thing about living as a disciple of Christ is coming home. At the end of the day, no matter how messy I've made my life, Jesus is always watching and waiting to see if I'll be coming home. Many people know the story of the prodigal son. That story strikes me in so many ways. I often see myself as both of the sons in the story, but more often the "prodigal" one. After all these years I finally looked up in the dictionary the word "prodigal." Now, the word prodigal tends to be used in terms of spending money, using up material goods in an outrageous fashion, and wasting the riches that are freely given to someone.

I haven't had the opportunity to take the family fortune and squander it on wine, women, and water parks (Praise God!) but I have been the prodigal son countless times before. The most priceless riches given to any one human being would be God's grace given to me - a dirty rotten sinner. What do I do with this wealth of patience, second chances, and undeserved delight?

I waste it.

My days are filled with my own selfish thoughts, thinking about what will bring me the most benefit, and trying to fulfill my momentary desires for self gratification. At the end of the day, all I can do is crawl home to Dad. He's waiting for me with a new pearl snap shirt, a clean hat, and a large pizza from Mooses Saloon about to throw a party because His crazy kid came home.

The LORD at work

2011-07-11T18:34:00.002-07:00

A couple of months ago, I ran across a pray of Paul's written to the church in Ephesus. Paul's prayer become my daily prayer for our youth group girls here in Beulah:

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ . . . " (Ephesians 1:19-20)

This past week, I was humbled to watch some of results of my prayers. As the Word was preached through many Godly men and women at the FLY Convention, the Holy Spirit was working. He was softening hearts and opening eyes to the hope of the calling of Christ, the richness of the glorious inheritance that we have in Christ, and the unsurpassing greatness of God's power. What an amazing thing to see take place. How humbling it is to realize that there is nothing I myself can do to bring our students to that place of brokenness, realization, and salvation. Only the Lord can do that.

And praise Him that He does indeed work!

"Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it . . . " (Psalm 127:1)

The Gorgeous Rocky Mountains

2011-07-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

It's the end of day 3 here at the Free Lutheran Youth Convention 2011 in Estes Park, CO. Surrounded by the glorious Rocky Mountains I am constantly reminded of the Absolute Splendor of God. God is here. He is wanting to move in each of us.

Today I was blessed to meet with all of the other blog authors for lunch. I'm so thankful we were all here at FLY this week and able to spend time together over a meal in fellowship. Praise the Lord!

My mind is so full of things I could share with you right now. If you are interested in listening to or watching the evening sessions from the week you can go here: www.aflc.org/youth/fly.

As I sit and reflect on the week so far a combination of two thoughts have struck me. The first is: "The uncomfortableness that God's Word brings is a good place to be. Its what you do with it that counts." The second is an analogy used with legos. When you buy a lego set you follow the instructions and put the legos together, but you don't just stop there. You also break those legos back down and rebuild them up. We are like those legos before God.

As I think of these two thoughts I see a connection. We have times when we need to be broken down and then built back up by God, but it can be uncomfortable. Both that uncomfortableness and process of being broken down so we can be built back up comes from being in the Word of God.

Which leads me to ask myself:

Are you in God's Word?

Are you uncomfortable?

Do you need to be broken down?

Do you need to be built back up?

What will you do to make it count?

Blessed be Your Name

2011-07-01T23:33:00.000-07:00

Many times we don't realize how much we really appreciate anything until they are taken away from us. Yesterday, 150,oooish people were without power in the Mesa area for 1 to 10 hours or so, depending on the location, which of course included my house. Normally, this wouldn't be so bad - if you're not in the Valley of the Sun! Air Conditioning is a necessity in 110 degree weather! As I was toasting on my couch, I was thinking of how thankful I am for electricity, AC, and the ability to see in dark places without windows! But I was thankful for friends who let us stay at their house who had power for a little while to chill. We got our power back 6 hours later, thankfully, but this song, especially the line from Job, has been my prayer and praise today.

"Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your glorious Name.
You give and take away, you give and take away,
my heart will choose to say, Lord, Blessed be Your name."

There are plenty of other times where bigger and more significant things are taken away from us, but God's ways are greater than ours, and far beyond what we can see or comprehend. God is faithful, and provides for our daily needs - He deserves thanks and praise every moment of every day! And that is something we can be intentional in - to be thankful in every situation, no mater the circumstance. How do we do that? By fixing our eyes on Jesus, and letting His joy be our strength.

Memories in my Memory

2011-06-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

I'm fascinated by memories.

When I say memories I'm talking about two things.

First, I mean memories as in the things that some people have and some people don't. Your brother might have a great memory but your memory isn't quite as sharp. This is sort of like a journal in your head - for one person it's got pages packed with details and another person has a couple notes here and there while someone else has stacks of paper scattered everywhere in no sort of order. Our memories are all different.

Secondly, memories are specific events stored within each individual's memory. That sounds like something a computer geek would say - but this is more human. Everyone remembers different parts of life differently. Your mom remembers your birth differently than your dad, but each of them has the memory. His and her recollection of that first kiss is a distinctly unique memory. Matt, Mark, Luke, and John all have slightly different yet similar memories of Jesus when He walked the Earth.

So, each of us have memories stored in our own memory. It is from our memory that we pull these memories from the past into our present moment to make some sense of life. More often than not, music triggers my memory. When certain songs enter my ear and cruise into my brain, my memory starts to get all nostalgic and have a party.

Today, the 30th day in the month of June, I read the 30th chapter in the book of Psalms. In the fifth verse, the phrase "but joy comes with the morning" was read and memories began to dance in my memory.

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My beard was gone.
My hair was long.
My voice changed more frequently than my underwear.
My dreams were big and my God seemed to keep getting bigger.

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My memory has stored the memory of first hearing the song "Trading My Sorrows" at the FLY convention years ago. Today, almost ten years later, I read one line in the Bible and God brought me back the the first time I heard one song sung. My memory has preserved those intimate moments with my Savior, singing with hundreds of other students, and being shaped into the person God has created me to be today.

The lyrics of this song say:

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I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

Yes Lord, Yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes, Lord, Yes Lord, yes yes Lord Amen!

I am pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned struck down but not destroyed I am blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure his joy is gonna be my strength

though the sorrow may last for the night His joy comes with the morning

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In the years it took for my hair to shift from the top of my head to my face, I have made a lot of memories. Countless times, these memories have caused me to trade my sorrows and shame in for the joy of the Lord. As often as I screw up, Jesus is always there for me ready to restore my broken heart with His joy. The curse of sin is always in front of my face, but I can trust in His promise of forgiveness.

Wherever you're at in life right, rest in the fact that Christ died and rose again for YOU. Trading your shame and sorrow for His joy will be the best memory ever stored in your memory.