I dare you!

I remember going to a house of mirrors when I was a little girl and giggling at all the images that could be reflected from my body. We would race from one image of being a six foot tall giant, to another where we where as wide as we were tall! Even though what we saw was clearly physical it was still a distorted view of what reality was.

The dictionary describes image as, "the visual impression of something produced by a lens, mirror, etc.; a mental picture of something; idea; impression."

Today, the lens we view through can also distort reality either into something it is not or prevent us from dreaming of what could be. Our lens is shaped by past and present experiences, which will have a direct affect on how we perceive God and His ability to work in our lives.

There are many examples throughout the Bible of people seeing through distorted lenses. Two come to mind: one is found in Genesis 17:17; 18:11-12. Both Sarah and Abraham saw God’s promise of an heir through a distorted lens. They both laughed at God when He said they would bear a child at an age when most were becoming grandparents. Their laughter and disbelief did not change God’s plans or fulfillment of those plans.

The other is Mary who also saw through distorted lens when the angel proclaimed she would become pregnant and carry the Son of the Most high God—all through, not the normal process but rather an “overshadowing” of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:28-35). Again, her inability to comprehend the process would not prevent God’s plan nor the fulfillment of that plan to be accomplished.

Both these events would become reality not through anything man could accomplish, but rather through a Power that could neither be manufactured nor prevented.

So what does this have to do with you and me today? What are your dreams…what do you dare hope for?

Paul, in reminiscing about Abraham’s age of bearing children, says, “…the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17-18)

It is God’s power that is at work within us to fulfill the plan that only He has set into motion for our lives. That plan will include things that today may only seem like a dream but can become a reality when we steadfastly look through the lenses God sees through.

I dare you…no I double dare you to dream the “immeasurably more” today not focused on the “now” but looking through God’s lenses to what could be and then allowing God to accomplish it in His timing and through His power!!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...... (Ephesians 3:20-21)”

Gentle awakening

Isa 50:4-5 “The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.” (NIV)

Today before you begin your day and have all kinds of voices demanding your attention, realize that it was God that gently awakened you to listen to His voice today. No matter the ‘means’ of how you were awakened God wants to whisper His hope and His life into you today through His Word…it is worth taking the time for His instructions!

Go into all the world.

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 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." (Mt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15).

Have you ever thought, "Lord, how can I go into ALL the world?" Family and job responsibilities and sometimes just our own survival quickly diminish hopes of fulfilling God's call to "all the world." Some of us may never have the experience of going to foreign countries, although we long to fulfill this mandate given to us.

The United States has always been a melting pot--that is our great heritage. But even more so today with "wars and rumors of wars" in foreign countries, people are literally fleeing for their lives and the lives of their children. They look to the United States as a land of freedom and hope seeking to escape injustices.

In God's goodness and grace, today He has brought the world to us! Our neighbors, our co-workers, those we rub elbows with at the mall, the gym or in school may be from foreign lands. Instead of looking at them through eyes of fear and disgruntlement, let's see them through the eyes of Christ. If we are truly Christ followers we will walk as Jesus walked. Jesus walked into the world of the Samaritan women…she walked out in freedom. Their path to True Freedom may just begin right at our own front door. All we have to do is open our door, see them as Christ would, and walk as Jesus did…

"I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20).

First hand Jesus

Contrast the account of Stephen in Acts 6-7 with the account of the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19 and we see an underlying theme that has crept into Christianity today. That theme is best described in a devotional book I recently found in our library which says; "Secondhand religion is always overpowered by firsthand evil…the impotence of the Church is caused by the secondhand nature of its religion. Jesus is never available if you are preaching a secondhand Jesus. It must be out of one's own depths to the depths of the other person. Only that which comes from the heart can reach the heart."

Stephen presented a "first hand" Jesus that he knew deep within the depths of his heart. This Jesus motivated and compelled him to share the greatest love he ever knew without consideration of his own well being. This heart dwelling knowledge and love of Jesus was not encountered by the sons of Sceva. Oh they knew of Jesus, but so did their attackers.

Our actions will always reveal Who really masters our hearts.

Breaking up for harvest

I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’
Hosea 10:12 (NLT)

The cycle of allowing God as the Master Gardener of our hearts:
When we ask Him, He will plow/break up the dry, hard, unfertilized grounds of our hearts resulting in our desire to plant seeds (deeds) of honesty, justice, integrity, goodness, kindness which will then result in a harvest of not only our love for God but those we touch.

As hard as our ground may become God's touch will ALWAYS be able to penetrate...if we open ourselves to His touch.

Be a generous sower

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously…God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

We have not been given to hoard but to give away, whether it be out of plenty or “slim pickings.” With many out of work or working without a paycheck (as in Pennsylvania state government), this reminder is so important for us today. Neighbors, co-workers, family, friends or you may even be in this situation. God’s economic system is not like that of the worlds which tells us to “save it for a rainy day.” The Bible clearly tells us God has given us EVERYTHING so we can be generous on every occasion, doesn’t say “wait until you have to be generous”…be generous NOW. Look around at those in need. Doesn’t always require giving of money, sometimes it may be our time, the sharing of a meal or a ride, sharing a talent/trade God has given you. Bake a cake for your family and give some to a neighbor. Weed a neighbor’s flower bed or if you are a handyman fix something for a neighbor. Give a word of encouragement …all it cost is your time.

“You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of this service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that ACCOMPANIES YOUR CONFESSION of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.” 2 Corinthians 9:11-13

Bless someone today...not to receive, but just to give…………

Be the light...

I sent these scriptures with my daughter when she left on a missions trip Friday. May they be an encouragement to you and I as we open ourselves for God to use us...wherever that may be.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
REMEMBER: The One who is in you is TRUTH and is greater than the deceiver!! PRAYING that eyes and hearts will be opened to the Truth

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Cor. 2:9 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Heb 11:1
REMEMBER: Your only limitation is unbelief. PRAYING your faith will explode

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Cor 2:14-15
REMEMBER: Daily “heart-cleansing.” PRAYING those around you will smell the sweet aroma of Christ through your touch and your words; through you, others will be drawn to experience His cleansing.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is of God and not us. 2 Cor 4:7 For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10
REMEMBER: when it seems tough, you are not there on your own strength. PRAYING your weakness will be a magnifying glass for God’s power to be seen.

For our struggle is not against flesh & 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. Eph 6:2 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord Prov 21:30
REMEMBER: what God has determined…will be accomplished. PRAYING God will give you discernment to know when the enemy is working against you and when God’s divine interruption is at work; that in and through Jesus Name His power will be released to proclaim freedom and liberty to those who are bound and their eyes and hearts would be open to experience Jesus Christ.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer everyone. 1 Peter 3:15
REMEMBER: even when you don’t realize it, you are being watched. PRAYING God will not only bring to remembrance His Word for you to share at just the right moment but you will also be “living” His Word EVERY moment.

But you are a shield around me, O Lord; I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Ps 3:3,5,8
PRAYING God will invade your dreams so rest and peace will flow through you at night. Encouragement and praise will be on your lips.

God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases him (Phil 2:13 New Century). Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 New Century
REMEMBER: God called you and at just the right moment will equip you with everything you need to serve Him. PRAYING you will rest in His “equipment”…whatever form it takes on!

But I tell you!

“I don’t care if everyone else is doing it…you are not!” “It doesn’t matter what Susie says, that is not how we __________!” Oh the NUMEROUS times I heard this growing up, vowing never to say it to my children! How quickly the 'nevers' are forgotten when we then sit in the parent seat!!

While reading Matthew 5 this morning, I was struck with what Jesus said not once but multiple times, “You have heard it said____________, but I tell you______.” Words…actions…traditions are powerful tools in shaping our thought patterns, values and even what we believe as truth. Life or death is given to those around us with our choice of words or phrasing when we speak. We “hear” a teaching or possibly hold the bearer of those teachings in high esteem and automatically believe what they say is truth.
Those who heard Jesus speak were amazed at his teachings because “he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Mt 7:28-29; Mk 1:22; Luke 4:32). This proclamation has always amazed me. One would think being teachers of the law they would be authoritative in their teachings. After all, this was God’s law they were teaching…or was it?

Traditions and hundreds of man-made laws, added to what God originally gave Moses on Mt. Sinai, had so bound and burdened the Israelites that when Jesus spoke it must have seemed like a refreshing cool shower sweeping over their hearts. While life was never intended to be experienced in the law neither was the additional burden inflicted by the religious leaders. The law was given as a moral and spiritual guide until the One, Jesus Christ, would come who was to fulfill the requirements of the law for them and us. (Romans 3; Matthew 5:17).
Was it not Jesus who said (with God’s authority), “I have come that you might have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10), and “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke (my teachings) 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 (my teaching) is easy and my burden is light." (Mt 11:28-30 italics added)

God’s truth (His Word) must be the foundation of any directives or instructions we give to others and receive from others…no deviations. If not Jesus words still hold true for us today, “I don’t care what others are saying or doing, BUT I TELL YOU!”

WHAT’S IN YOUR JAR? Part two…

2 Kings 4:1-7
III. When there were no more containers the oil stopped flowing
Just as in the days when Israel wandered in the wilderness and God met their needs with manna every morning, God will give us what we need, when we need it, to accomplish His good work within us.
“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10
We need not compare ourselves to others who may be doing “more” or to whom the Spirit may be manifesting himself in a different manner. The oil that God is pouring into your jar and my jar will be just the right amount that He will need to accomplish what He wants to accomplish in and through our lives. Period…no more and no less!
When our lives are done and His purposes are accomplished then the oil will stop flowing.

IV. Used the oil for debt payment (practical use)
God has been gifted us not only for spiritual ministry to one another but also for ‘practical’ ministry.
“In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:30-37)

We are to use the ‘oil’ that has been poured into us from God wherever we go to help those in need around us…no matter what church they attend or don’t attend; no matter what belief structure they have or don’t have; no matter what nationality, race, or sexual preference.
Bottom line: no matter how much ‘oil’ we have received, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Luke 10:8) We will forever owe a debt to Christ for what He has done for us. As He freely gave to us we are to freely give back to Him by giving to others.
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:6-8)

V. What seems like hoplessness…
A number of years ago, one of the coffee cups from my china set broke. I had two choices, throw it away or use Superglue. When hopelessness and desperation come into our lives sometimes we only see, “throw it away…what’s the use anyway.”
The value of something is not always seen from the outside. Sometimes in order to see the true value or strength of a jar it will be packed to the limit and possibly broken. The antonym for packed is “empty.” At times we will be so packed with the cares and worries of this world we may crack if not break under the pressure. It is exactly at that moment when our “stuff” empties out that you and I also have a choice, be thrown away or allow God to put “humpty dumpty back together again” with His Superglue. We live in such a disposable world but YOU and I are not disposable! “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) How great is the value God placed on us that He gave up His son for us...before we were even born!
God will NEVER throw us away. When we finally let go we then will be in a position for Him to mold and shape us for His divine use.

I Superglued my coffee cup and it sits in my china closet with the other “perfect” cups. It serves as a reminder to me that God isn’t finished with me yet either. I may not be perfect, I have a few “scars” but each one bears witness to the all-surpassing power of God that is still at work within me.

So….What’s in your jar?

WHAT’S IN YOUR JAR? Part one…

2 Kings 4:1-7 “The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves." Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a little oil."
Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side." She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one." But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."

A few observations:
I. She had nothing “except a little oil”.
How much oil are we working with? Working on ‘overload’, trying to do it all, making sure all bases are covered? Bound by perfection? Have a zillion lists and checking them off like a crazy person?
Do we run on ‘just a little oil’ and then wonder why God is not using us the way we think he should?
When we renew our mind (Phil 4:8-9; Romans 12:2; and re-prioritize our “lists”, bring them into alignment with God’s priorities, we then will be able to say, “If all I have is a little _______, then I want you, God, to use the little that I have to multiply it for your kingdom. My life is yours!
All God needs to work in our lives is “a little oil”.

II. Empty jars, not just a few but gather many then pour oil in them.
Empty jars attract dust and bugs. Unless used strictly as a decoration, empty jars are not ‘usable jars.’ God is not calling us to be decorations left on a shelf to look good or be reminded how “useful we once were”. Fruit left on a tree will eventually drop and rot, it won’t provide nourishment for anyone. Left uninhabited by the Holy Spirit our lives will eventually return to what we left behind, unnourished and rotted.
We will never experience the “springs of living water” that will yield the abundant life He has promised us if we don’t first empty those ‘things’ in our jars that are crowding God out. What needs to be emptied from the jar of your life before God can use you? Perhaps:
Guilt over a situation…
Disappointment in how others may view or treat you…
Consequences resulting from choices made by you or someone else’s choices that have affected you…
Living in disillusionment that your life was suppose to be_________by now.
Living in the past…
Jesus Christ has promised to cleanse our ‘jars’ from sin daily and fill them instead with the presence and power, the oil of the Holy Spirit. This can only come through daily communion with Father God (John 15).
This cleansing and communion also prepares His people, you and me, for works of service (not to add one more thing to our ‘to-do’ list) so the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Eph 4:12-14).
What is the ‘fullness of Christ’? His character displayed in our daily lives…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to which there is NO LIMIT (Galatians 5:22-24).

I love the fact that she was told to gather “not a few but as many as you can”. We limit ourselves so much when we can’t see the potential God sees in us.
Surround yourself with people willing to challenge you to see the potential in your life that God sees. Potential that can be used for greatness in God’s kingdom. God is the Potter we are the clay. He has molded us to be used for His Kingdom (Romans 9:20-21).
God may use our jars in different ways and at different times in our lives.
We are not empty jars. God has been with us and has seen everything that has come through our jars even before we were born (Psalm 139).
When we allow Him to use heartaches, sickness and pain that have come into our lives then His Glory can be seen to those around us. (Romans 5:1-8)
Without purpose in life we will always be unsure and never have a sense of fulfillment.
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. (The Message Mt. 5)
If we truly want to live a powerful and purposeful life, then we must allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with his oil…his power…his life…his joy.

Crop failure or bountiful harvest?

Spring, summer and fall are my favorite seasons. The first sight of green in the spring renews hope of life and of warmer and longer days; the aroma of the first grass cutting; the brilliant colors in the blooming flowers and trees; planting of spring onions, lettuce and broccoli (along with the “oh my aching back!” proclamations); harvesting asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, tomatoes, squash, corn-on-the cob….my mouth is watering!! My parents always planted a veggie garden. In fact, up to the summer before my dad died he always planted and harvested the best tomatoes!

We plant our gardens with the expectation of producing beautiful flowers or delicious fruit and veggies. None of us plant expecting crop rot, bug infestations or “critter” invasion to destroy the hard labor and love put into our gardens.

God has planted His fruit in us with the same expectations, a bountiful harvest…not plant failure. He has planted the perfect Seed (Jesus Christ), sent the perfect Gardener (the Holy Spirit) to tend our garden and produce the perfect harvest (fruit of the Spirit). But at times we allow the soil of our hearts to be tainted thereby affecting the quality of the harvest.

Luke instructs us in Luke 3:8 to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
The proof of sincere repentance will always be a change in actions or conduct (Acts 26:20).
Repentance is the “weeding” (Galatians 5:19) of our gardens which is the result of the “remaining” Jesus spoke about in John 15. He promised if we remain in Him we would bear fruit (Galatians 5:22-25). When we allow His pruning in our lives (part of the weeding process) we will then bear “more fruit.”

God’s Word combined with repentance is like the spreading of Miracle Grow on the fertile soil of our hearts so that “much fruit” can be yielded from the “investment” God has made in our gardens.

How is YOUR garden growing?

In God's sight

“Now the earth was corrupt IN GOD’S SIGHT and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.” (Gen 6:11)

I am so very thankful God bases His judgments and observations according to His unchanging standards, not what man says. Likewise, I need to see through God’s eyes, not according to man’s popular opinion, from which to arrive at truth.
The last verse of the book of Judges (21:25) seems very fitting when we don’t follow God’s standard, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did AS HE SAW FIT.”
It is a sad day when we are ruled by what we “see as fit”. That ruling will always result in the easy, unaccountable and most self-satisfying way. But in the end our display of rebellion will never deliver the peace, contentment, acceptance and assurance we so desperately desire and search for.
God has always desired to be personal and intimate with His creation; has always desired to walk and talk directly with us as He did with Adam and Eve in the garden before their fall. This is why God’s fulfillment of a Redeemer in Jesus Christ, as he first pronounced in Gen 3:15, had to be carried out.
It wasn’t with hatred and revenge God banished they from the Garden but with a heart that was filled with grief and pain (Gen 6:6). God’s heart continues to be filled with grief and pain over our choices today, and as with Adam and Eve, he has given us the wonderful gift of choice. What we do with that gift determines life or death…hope or despair…a future reunion with Him, or one of eternal separation and darkness.
I have personally discovered that God can be trusted with everything and everyone I hold dear. Since He can be trusted with my past and my future, then I can trust Him with my “today”. He has proven Himself over and over again in my life that His Word is truth and His way is ultimately the best!

So what will you choose today, “God’s sight” or “as you see fit”?

“There is a way that SEEMS right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desire of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
“I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23

The Lover of my heart!

Ann Jean "A.J." Mitchell slipped into eternity on March 28, 2002. Of all the earthly belongings left behind by this wife, mother and grandmother the most treasured were letters sent to her more than sixty years ago. The letters would serve as a reminder of a love that could only be separated by distance. They echoed whispers of love from an era gone by. A heartbeat that only grew stronger as time marched on. They were sent from her husband Sylvester Chris Mitchell (“Mitch”) who captured and won her heart more than 60 years earlier. Their love would never let go. For the first time in fifty three years AJ had to surrender him not to a war, but to a heart attack. Death would become the final separator. The letters told that story.
(www.cbn.com/special/WW2letters/index.aspx)

Just as Mitch’s letters reminded A.J. of his love for her, God has sent his “love letters” (His Word) to remind us that He is coming back again, that He loves and longs for us. He has sent His “Friend”, the Holy Spirit, to watch over us and remind us about our Lover until we are reunited with Him.

God, the creator, lover and pursuer of my soul longs for an intimate relationship with you and me. God KNOWS the most private and intimate parts of our hearts, our emotions, and He pursues us in spite of the fact we often turn our backs on Him and deny Him the love He longs to have from us.
What can we give God, the creator of all? Our heart, of which He created for love; first and foremost His love and then for the love of His children.

Isaiah 30 describes a romance gone sour. The pursued have rejected the pursuer and YET…“the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion (30:18).” The Pursuer of my heart NEVER gives up!!

No wonder Paul could say in Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
How was he convinced? Because Paul knew the love of God, he knew Jesus Christ intimately. Since Paul knew God would never lie or never change His mind (Numbers 23:19), he then knew what He said could be trusted as Truth. This allowed him to proclaim with all assurance, “NOTHING will be able to keep the Pursuer of our hearts away from us…NOTHING.”

Thank you God my circumstances will never dictate how you love me or even IF you love me. You will never stop pursuing me. You, my God, are the ULTIMATE lover of my heart!

Living off God's Interest

My husband is a whiz at doing any kind of math in his head. His eyes light up like the keypads of a cell phone…I can just envision fiber optic lines just buzzing in his mind calculating the answer. He can calculate gross profit of anything in mere seconds. I, however, have developed brain paralysis! And it is all because of a love affair. Yes, it is true I have had an ongoing love affair with a machine ever since my senior year in high school. Prior to my love affair, I was pretty decent at calculating figures in my head. Now I cannot even do the simplest division without my lover! The object of my affair is…a calculator.

You are probably thinking, “What does a calculator have to do with how I perceive God’s view of me?” What is the purpose of a calculator (besides trying to increase our check book balance when clearly we should be subtracting!)? It helps find or place value or worth of something with the information given to it.

The past 24 months has been a roller coaster with investments in the stock market and real estate market. Values that were ballooned have burst and the hot air completely drained out of these markets. Investors are left holding worthless papers; retirees are left with empty accounts that they thought would provide for them in their later years; home owners’ struggling to make mortgage payments on homes that now are sometimes below the value of those mortgages. What changed? What calculator is being used that no longer adds or multiplies…but only divides and subtracts?

On a recent morning, I awoke to the thought, “banking and living off the investment.” I started thinking, “What am I placing value on, what am I “storing up” and will that to which I am spending time and energy hold its value in order to return a dividend?
Are we living off the interest of what someone else has invested in us? Are we placing our value, our worth in what others think and speak into our lives? And is what they are investing in us “bottoming out” or yielding a “high rate” of return? If we try to live off a “ballooned” interest others place on us, make no mistake we will eventually go bankrupt. However, if we are living off the interest of what God has said we are worth, the value God has placed on us then we will yield a high rate of return in investing in others.

Our value is not based on this world’s economic system, but on a heavenly banking system.
The value system the world uses to determine our worth is ever changing because it is based on the latest guru, religion, ideas or philosophies (Col 2:8-10)

These two systems are so far apart. The world system says, “I AM #1..it is all about me” and the heavenly system says, “He must increase, while I must decrease.”
Lies and deceit are behind the world’s value system, while truth and love are the standard for the heavenly value system.

In Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life” he says,
“God was there as an unseen witness, smiling at your birth. God did not need to create you, but he chose to create you for his own enjoyment. Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life. If you are that important to God, and he considers you valuable enough to keep with him for eternity, what greater significance could you have?
Eph 1:5, ‘Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose.’”

Our value and worth is not determined by how others view us but rather KNOWING how God views and values us:
· God chose us…BEFORE the creation of the world! (Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 1:4)
·God pursues me; He knows me; He protects me; He guides me; He holds onto me; He uniquely created me; He knows the number of hairs on my head and has established the number of days of my life (Psalm 139)
· God has a plan specifically designed just for me (Jeremiah 29:11)
· God determined to give His Son as a ransom to purchase my freedom from the chains of Satan’s death chambers before I was even born. (Romans 5:8)
· God takes great delight in me even to the point of singing over me! (Zephaniah 3:17)
· God doesn’t treat me according to my sins (1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:10)
· God is preparing a home for me so I will be with Him…FOREVER! (John 14:1-4)
· God gives me peace in the midst of my troubles (John 16:33)
· God has engraved me in the palm of His hand…He will NEVER forget me! (Isaiah 49:16)
· God has given me everything I need to live (Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 1:3-11)
Nothing..ABSOLUTELY NOTHING will turn God’s love and affections away from us...NOTHING!! He has placed such high value in us that He gave His very best for us, His Son Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:31-39).
When we understand and accept the value God has placed in us, then we truly will be able to “re-invest” that value in others.

Opposites

I love to dig into the meaning of words and recently have been thinking about the word “opposite.” The English thesaurus lists, “conflicting, contradictory, reverse” as some of the adjectives defining this word. Easter Sunday is tomorrow and like a movie in my mind this word was playing out the events that lead to this significant day in our faith walk.

Without the manger we wouldn’t have the cross. And without the cross the manger meant nothing more than a sweet baby’s birth. The Manger and the Cross are two complete opposites of life.

Both represent hope…but only one would give eternal hope
Both represent life…but only one would give eternal life.
Both represent the sacrifice of surrender…the cross was the ultimate sacrifice of obedience.
Both represented a lamb…the cross demanded the only “pure and spotless lamb” ever to be born.
The manger was under the law…the cross brought fulfillment to that law.
A star gave direction to the manger…the cross gives direction to the Star.
The manger was surrounded by angelic hosts...the cross was surrounded by thieves.
The manger gave us a servant….the cross gave us our King.

It is easier to worship the manger than the cross.

It has been said, “the character of the worshiper will always be molded by the character of what he worships.”

The dictionary defines ‘character’ as:
1. A distinctive mark, trait, quality or nature
2. An engraving instrument

The cross became the engraving instrument by which the full character of God was displayed in and through Jesus Christ (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness...Galatians 5).

We bear His character today, OR do we?
Like Jesus, do we allow God’s character, His engraving instrument to carve His distinct mark, His distinct qualities deep within us? Troubles and pain come into our lives as an “engraving instrument” to produce God’s character within us. This will always require a surrender of self.

Romans 5:3-5 “We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts.

Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter (completer) of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

As contradictory as the manger and cross are, without the Hope from the manger AND the Resurrection from the cross our Promise for the future would be futile.

Dead man walking

DEAD MAN…WALKING
John 11

This is Easter week. For some that means bunnies, egg hunts, new outfits, spring flowers, ham or lamb dinners, family gatherings, suffering, resurrection, hope, winters end and springs glorious colors…life.

Martha and Mary didn’t have the luxury of reminiscing about THE resurrection like we do today when they laid Lazarus in the tomb. Oh, they knew a resurrection was coming, just not the one they were about to experience.
Lazarus was everything to them; brother, provider, friend, safety….and now he was gone. Jesus had been a good friend to them, why didn’t he come when they first sent word of Lazarus illness? If he had, they would not be staring at a tomb holding their beloved brother. The death wails were ear piercing and heard for miles, had Jesus heard them? Tradition held that the spirit of Lazarus would hover over his body for three days listening to all those wailing for him. Would Lazarus realize his friend Jesus had not come in time to rescue him?

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

1. And then he came…"Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb."
Jesus is deeply moved when He comes to the “tombs” we live in today. He came to bring life, not death; freedom, not entombment (slavery); hope not despair. When we invite Jesus to deliver us from our tombs, He stands at the very entrance to Hell and proclaims, “I HAVE COME TO REMOVE THE STONE FROM THEIR TOMB AND TO BREAK THE CHAINS OF BONDAGE YOU HAVE ON THEIR LIVES. I HAVE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR THEIR FREEDOM.”

2. “Lord, he will stink!”
What is our odor to those around us today? Is it the “fragrance of life” or the stench of death? Will others long and crave after our scent? Or do we blend in so well with the world’s fragrance they don’t even realize we are different?
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

3. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Lazarus walked out of the tomb with his “death clothes” still on. Had it been me, I would have felt like I was suffocating and would have ripped the grave clothes off while running out of the tomb! Until the graves clothes come off, the things of our past that bind us will prohibit us from walking in and experiencing “new life.”

4. The grave cloths only covered the hands, feet and face:
With our HANDS we receive, we give, we touch.
We ARE Christ’s hands extended to all…no matter the smell, the disease, or the social order.
With our FEET we go.
“Go into all the world”…we are to take His message of love, mercy, grace, and hope EVERYWHERE we go.
With our FACE we see and express emotions.
Do others see Jesus in our eyes and expressions or do they see the Grinch?

May we be the very hands, feet and face of Jesus to all we encounter today
Let’s be people walking in the aroma of Life…not death.

Devotion

Desire…is God really all that I want and need? 2Peter 1:3-9; Psalm 37:4

Encounter…do I expect to meet God or is this a religious act? Psalm 5:3; 1 Chronicles 28:9

Visceral…proceeding from instinct rather than from reasoned thinking. God put this “instinct” to connect with him into our very depths. Isaiah 33:2; 50:4-5; Acts 17:24-28

Object of worship….is God the recipient of my worship ALL THE TIME or is He just the afterthought during troubles? Deuteronomy 4:39; 13:4; Philippians 2:9-11

Thanksgiving…am I living a thankful life no matter the circumstances? Psalm 34:1
Philippians 4:4-6; Colossians 2:6-7

Invasion…do I welcome God to invade all of me and every part of my day? Jeremiah 10:23; Philippians 2:13; Proverbs 16:3,9

Ownership…whose label do I wear? Isaiah 43:1; 48:17; Ephesians 2:10

Nature of God…whose character (engraving instrument) is sculpting me? 1 Samuel 3:21;
2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 1:20; Ephesians 3:18-29

Devotion isn’t about a “time” period or a “quiet time”, but rather an encounter that deepens our relationship with God and continues to shape us throughout the day and night. It is when we box God into a specific method or time period we then become frustrated that “the” method does not produce results we expect or have been taught to expect.

So today, let’s resolve to OPEN our hearts and EXPERIENCE the amazing-life changing-awesome-power of God! Not just for ourselves but so others can see Him and experience Him through us (2 Corinthians 4:7)!

Who's stationed at your door?

It was a warm summer day when my Mother started calling our names, “Kay…Charlie”. The only thing separating my childhood home from the railroad tracks behind our house was an alley and small embankment. But to the wonderment of a child, that alley held treasures and far away places that could only be envisioned through the eyes of a child. The brush became forts where we fought dangerous Indians or conquered thieves and robbers, and always the victor! The next day the very same brush would become the backdrop for a royal kingdom complete with handsome princes’ that rode to our rescue upon glimmering white stallions. We even picnicked on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that were fit for royalty! Although on that particular day we decided to venture beyond the boundaries that had been drilled into our minds. You remember those boundaries and the consequences of crossing over! When we finally heard our names being called we ran back to the “safe zone”, albeit a little too late! We had been discovered...UGH!! As we came through the gate, slowly walking up the yard to the back door, we just knew where our Mother would be…sitting in the doorway, waiting for us. She sat at the advantage point; we HAD to pass in front of her to get into the house.

“He also stationed doorkeepers at the gates of the LORD's temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter.” (2 Chronicles 23:19)

When reading this verse I immediately was taken back in time to our childhood “alley days.” Our Mother was the doorkeeper to our home as a protector for her children. The boundaries that she instilled in us (sometimes via the back of a wooden stick!!) were meant not to curtail our curiosity but to ensure our safety by not allowing any “unclean ways” to enter us.

In much the same way, God has set boundaries for us, His children today. Our bodies (mind, soul and spirit) are the temple that the Holy Spirit lives in today. “Set a guard over my mouth, oh Lord. Keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil or take part in wicked deeds.” (Psalm 141:3-4) David mouthed this petition to God a long time ago, but it is as relevant for us today as it was when he spoke the request. Why? Because God knows that whatever “things” we allow to enter our hearts can either promote good or have the potential to destroy us. Jesus said, “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) What we allow our eyes to see and our minds to entertain will eventually find its way into our hearts and then be externally exhibited in our actions and behaviors. God wants only the best for us, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

He hasn’t stationed the Holy Spirit as the “doorkeeper” of our hearts to deny us, but rather to ensure our safety. So the next time when trying to determine what to do and we sense that tug at our hearts…listen, don’t dismiss it! It just may be the very voice of God trying to get our attention and divert us from an “unclean” intruder!

By the way, I almost never was on the receiving end of “the” stick...well, ok maybe that thought is a left over remnant of my “pretend” days too!!

Brain Freeze

BRAIN FREEZE..it doesn’t just happen with ice cream!! Have you ever been in a situation where your eyes meet those of another person and your mind goes into overload trying to dust off those webbed covered areas with questions like, “I know the face, but can’t place a name with it”; “Oh please God, give me his/her name so I don’t look like an idiot?” Well, I found myself in such a situation. It was a recent Sunday at the end of church when I met up with my husband who was talking with a man and his wife in the lobby. But this time, it was the one my husband was talking with that had the brain-freeze and not me (so nice to be on the other side for a change!). When his eyes met mine he said, “You look familiar” and I suddenly realized this was Bob, a plumber that worked on our home last year. Feeling quite pleased with myself that I knew his name, I blurted out, “Hey, I know you! You are Bob the plumber.” After a few exchanges, I introduced him to our daughter who was standing with me, “this is Bob, the plumber.” She, picking up with her quick wit, replied, “and I’m Jess the lawyer.” A few minutes later, as we walked away, we chuckled at the odd introductions. But I started thinking, how often we view others not by who they are but by what they do. We can even go so far as to place a value on someone based solely on what they do.
Good news, there is One who values us by who we are not what we do!
“The Lord answers, "Can a woman forget the baby she nurses? Can she feel no kindness for the child to which she gave birth? Even if she could forget her children, I will not forget you. See, I have written your name on my hand.” (Isaiah 49:15-16)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
God loved us and knew us before we were even born! Before we had any opportunities to establish our name, or establish our identities by our jobs or deeds, GOD LOVED US!! Let that sink in to your soul today. He sees into the very depths of my heart and knows my heartaches, my failures and mistakes, my hopes and yet unfilled dream and He doesn’t hide or run away.
I don’t have to prove anything or pretend I’m something or someone I’m not to God. He loves me for WHO I AM!

“…… I have summoned you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1b) He will NEVER forget me.
Just as He called to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1-2), He calls to you and me today. Just as He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He walks with you and me today. Just as He longed for Adam and Eve, He longs for you and me today. How comforting to realize that the God of things seen and those unseen, the God of the universe known and unknown knows your name and mine and still pursues us today.

Realize dear friend that you are not alone today. When others may have turned and run away from you, God will remain. My name may never have been tattooed on anyone’s arm, but it is engraved on the very hand of God.

Welcome!!

Hey, welcome to my blog, I am so excited you visited with me today!! Grab a cup of coffee and join me for a few minutes. I don't know about you, but I NEED a few minutes of peace and quiet before my day starts. That is the purpose for this blog...to have some Quiet Reflections that may help remind us throughout the day what is important. Take for example, yesterday as the sun was rising I stood looking out my study window admiring the beauty of the colors that filled the morning sky. The brilliant colors of red, orange and blue were painted across the sky's horizon like an artist paints on a tapestry. A flock of birds flew by right in the path of my view of the sun and I sensed God placing a thought in my mind and heart, "See my birds and how I take care for them? Not one of them has to beg me for food or shelter. If I care for these birds, why wouldn't I care for you today. You are more precious to me than all the birds of the air!" In Matthew 6:25-34 God tells us not to worry about we are going to eat and drink (very comforting for someone like me who tends to eat when stressed or bored!), or wear. He says when we seek after God all these will follow. He will provide all our NEEDS, not necessariIy our WANTS. Getting our priorities right is the first step. When we start living for the Creator instead of created objects our worry level will deline a few notches. If a tornado came blowing through my house what would I grab on my way for shelter? My husbands' and childrens' hands, and my cats. Kind of brings everything into perspective doesn't it? Whatever "things" can be disposed of are really not worth the anxiety, sleepness nights, overload of working or family tensions. Those "things" that are worth working for are relationships, giving a cup of food or water to someone less fortunate, a hug given to a grieving parent or friend, a smile or kind word spoken to a stranger. I believe when we do these things we are seeking God's kingdom. Christ came to seek and to save those that were lost and hurting. When we bear His name (CHRISTians) we are His hand and voice to those around us.
Let's be Kingdom seekers today....His kingdom not ours.