Friday {in focus} ~ Follow the Signs

I took the kids to the pool in Eunice this week. As we neared the turn off of Highway 18 to head into town, I noticed this sign no longer stands.

Unless I'm wrong and this was in another place.

But if I'm correct, in it's place stands a new sign (which makes me thankful I took this picture when I did). It's modern. It's bigger. It's taller. It's fancy.

Point One: Watch the signs. They may not always be there. Jesus told us of many signs of the times. Some day, they will pass away with this earth and it will be too late for several people. Beware the seasons we're in. God wanted us to know ahead of time what's to come. He gave us fair warning.

Point Two: Some people don't like the signs. God used prophets to spread the word of the coming of a babe in a manger. An infant. A King. Jesus' birth was celebrated by many. A short lifetime later, the scribes and chief priests felt threatened and decided to attempt to take down the sign. Little did they know (or maybe they did) a new one would take its place. A cross. A Savior. Don't hate the sign. Jesus died on that cross so we could have eternal life with the God who loves us.

Point Three: We have been given directions. In order to get where we're going (heaven), we need to follow the signs. Don't get lost along the way. Pick up your guidebook/map today and learn how to get there. Read the Bible. Listen for the Holy Spirit to direct you. Don't turn to the left or to the right. Stay on the straight and narrow path. I hope to see you on the other side!

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

~ Luke 21:25-27

Friday {in focus} - Cross Over

This isn't the prettiest picture. The light's a little to bright. The lines aren't even. It's not straight.

Just like obstacles in our lives. We're presented with ugly circumstances. We're blinded by distractions. The path is too crooked.

But we all have a promised land. We all have a call on our lives. We were all created for a God-specific purpose.

If only we would cross over. If only we would allow God to divide the sea, bring that wall down, or destroy the Goliath standing in our way. What stands in your way?

Jesus overcame all of it when He died on the cross. He conquered death. He provided abundant life.

And we, through the name of Jesus, have been given that same power. The power to speak to the mountain and have it move. The power to cross the Jordan. The power to slay Goliath.

It's time to cross over and enter into the life that God has called you to.

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying:

 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.

~ Joshua 1:1-2

The Law of the Lord: Do This and You Will Live

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:2

What is the law of the Lord?

According to the Strong's Concordance, the law is the Torah. It's a precept or a statute. It directs. Informs. Instructs. Teaches. (The Torah includes the first 5 books of the Bible, known as the Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. However, it can also mean the entirety of the Old Testament, also known as the Tanakh.)

Is this the same law that we discussed last week? The law that Jesus came to fulfill? Yes. According to the Greek definition of the term "law" used in Matthew 5:17, it means regulation. The Law of Moses. The Law of the Gospel. A principle.

Which makes me question, what is the law of the gospel? When I think gospel, my mind automatically runs to the New Testament. The four gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Here is the law of the gospel that sticks out most in my mind:

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’^"
And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
Luke 10:25-28

I included the story surrounding this precept, because it identifies Jesus asking the lawyer what is written in the law. Note that Jesus doesn't say the law is void. He says the lawyer answers correctly concerning it.

Is the law of the Lord relevant to me? This is, after all, 2013. Things have changed over the years. Times have changed. I'm a Gentile, not a Jew. So do the laws apply to me?

First of all, times haven't really changed all that much. Nor have things. They've merely gotten worse. We still suffer the same sinful natures people did in the days of Moses. Or the days Jesus walked the earth in His human form. Otherwise, God would not have addressed such issues as child sacrifice (abortion), same sex fornication (homosexuality), adultery, divination (witchcraft), divorce, and so many others within His Word. 

Which is why it's important to know and understand God's law. We are called to live holy lives unto Him. How can we do this if we don't know what He requires of us and how to avoid those temptations that frequent our daily lives? We can only do so when we know His Word, when we meditate on it day and night, when it becomes our delight.

And if Jesus felt it important enough to ask a questioning lawyer what is written in it, how much more do we need to know what is written in it? "Do this and you will live."


 


 

Are Old Testament Laws Still Valid Today?

My husband and I are reading through the Bible this year. This is something I've never done before. I've read plenty of the Scriptures; I've probably read most of them. But, like many, I have my favorite books. Psalms. Proverbs. Matthew. John. Isaiah. James. And then there are some where I have to pray to get through. Like Leviticus, which is where I am now.

After reading about the temple and the sacrifices and the laws concerning leprosy, I made it to chapter nineteen. Here is what God says in the beginning of this chapter:

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy (Lev. 19:1).

He calls us to be holy. To be holy means morally (what I'm focusing on here) or ceremonially sacred. If we follow the word back to its Hebrew root, it means to be clean. To consecrate. To hallow. To keep holy. To purify. To sanctify. (I love discovering roots.)

So, in verse one, God is calling us to be set apart as sacred unto Him. To be as He is. Despite our sinful nature.

Next, God goes on to tell us how to do this. He gives specific details, which we consider to be either the Ten Commandments or the laws of the Old Testament. One would question whether or not these hold relevant to today's world. Especially since Jesus' death on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins has occurred. Does that leave us free from the chains of the law? Not necessarily.

Matthew 5:17-20 says the following: 
 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

This is Jesus speaking. He did not come to destroy the law. Let's look at destroy. In the Greek, the definition of destroy is to loosen down or disintegrate. To demolish. To halt for the night. To dissolve. To come to nought. To overthrow or throw down. If we trace it back another step to the root, it also means to break up. To unloose. To melt. Or to put off.

Jesus did not come to dissolve the law. He didn't come to overthrow it. He didn't come to put the law off. We are still called to follow the law. Including the Ten Commandments.

Jesus came to fulfill the law. In the Greek this means to make replete (fully or abundantly filled). To level up. To furnish (to imbue: to permeate or influence as if by dyeing) (to influence). To satisfy. To execute (an office). To finish a period or task. To verify. To accomplish. To be complete. To fulfill. To make full. To fully preach. To perfect. To supply.

Here is what I see in this verse: 
Jesus didn't come to destroy the law or make it null and void. We still need to honor God's commands and consider the rest of the Old Testament laws. However, we should not forget the importance of justice and mercy and faith (see Matthew 23:23).

Jesus came to fulfill the law. He came to complete it. He came to be a living example of righteousness and holiness for us to follow. He came to set us free from the sinful nature that ensnares us, and by His death on the cross, we are set free from that curse. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, so we no longer need to offer bulls and goats and turtledoves on an altar. 

Does that mean that we should run out and do whatever we please because we are covered by the blood of Jesus, that we no longer need to obey the laws of God? I don't think so. I think the laws are just as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago:
 
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith (1 John 5:1-4).

My final thought on the law is this: The laws were given so that people would know that they were sinners. The law became a daily reminder that the people needed God to redeem them from their sins. Hence, the sacrifices. To me, the law is a constant reminder that I am merely a sinful human being. Personally, I have a difficult time keeping all of them every day. It's not possible. Heck, there are even presumptuous sins: "Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression" (Psalm 19:13). Sins I don't even realize I'm committing.

What I do know and put all of my faith in is that God loves me so much that He sent Jesus to save me from myself and my sinful nature. With Jesus standing between me and God the Father, I am clean. I am righteous. I am holy. I am set apart as a child of God who will spend eternity with my Father in heaven because His Son became the ultimate sacrifice for my sins. I am forgiven every time I break one of God's laws. But I will also do my best to honor my Father and obey His commands. Down to the last jot and tittle.

For the next few weeks, I'll be taking a look at some of the laws mentioned in Leviticus 19. I'd love it if you'd join me. And please, if you'd like to discuss something particular, feel free to leave a comment. I love to discover God's word. I'd love to do so together. (However, let me also add that I do not wish for this to become a huge debate where people get ugly. Let's remember holiness as we discuss the things of the Lord.) Thank you!

Wordless Wednesday ~ A Solitary Place

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight,

He went out to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

Mark 1:35

Words of Life

I'm a writer. One of the things they tell writers in books about writing and at conferences is that you need to develop a thick skin. You need to be able to take criticism in all of its many forms. Your thick skin will allow some of what your critics say bounce off, not allowing them to take root.

And with good cause. Because some people don't think before they speak. Their words don't speak of truth, they aren't helpful, inspiring, necessary, or kind. They just hurt.

They condemn. They tear down, destroy, destruct. And most of the time, it's because those people are so damaged inside that the only way they feel good is when they're certain others don't. They feel elevated, better than thou, holier than thou. When in reality, they've blinded themselves to the truth of their own bitterness and heartache.

As Christians, it is our call to love others with the love of Jesus. Because Jesus did not come into the world to condemn us. He didn't come waving a "holier than thou" banner over our heads, setting up expectations that would never be achievable. No. He came to serve. To love. To heal. To speak truth. To set captives free. So that the world, through Him, might be saved. He laid down His life for all of humanity.

It's up to us to accept His gift of salvation.

And it's up to those of us who have to set examples for others, so they don't need to be thick-skinned and insensitive, unable to receive truth.

So this Resurrection season, let's THINK before we speak.

Is it TRUE? Does it line up with the Word of God? Would Jesus say something like that? Or is it just your emotional trauma speaking in the moment? If it is, hold your tongue. If it will bring life to the hearer, then by all means, share it.

Is it HELPFUL? Is what you're about to say going to further the recipient's walk with God or draw them to Jesus? Or is it going to drive them away from not only God but you too? Will you hinder their walk and become a stumbling block? Or are you going to encourage them. Be aware that some people don't need to be fixed; they need to be graced.

Is it INSPIRING? Will your words draw out the creator in them? Will they challenge them in a healthy way? Will they push them toward their dreams? Encourage the hope that is within them? Or will they crush the joy the person is struggling to hold onto? Be aware that there is power in the tongue. It can lead someone to life or it can kill their spirit.

Is it NECESSARY? Must you say it? Or could you just keep quiet? Proverbs 10:19 reminds us, "In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise."

Is it KIND? Jesus taught us the Golden Rule, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). If you wouldn't receive what you're about to say as kind, don't give it away. Allow the law of kindness to reside on your tongue. Remember that tone matters, as well as the words. It's easy to say something that would be perceived as kind in a tone that says it isn't.

Remember, Jesus came to bring us to salvation, not condemnation. The world would be a much more pleasant place if we chose to consider others and how our words will impact their hearts instead of running at the lips. Love someone today. Speak an encouraging or kind word to them. Be the light Jesus called you to be.

An Eternal Inheritance

My husband and I recently had a conversation about leaving our children an inheritance. It initiated with a discussion concerning finances and saving. Naturally, the first thought of an inheritance is a bankroll of cash. We automatically consider Proverbs 13:22 and think we need a storehouse so we can save up enough to put our grandchildren through college.

But, I'm not quite sure that's what God had in mind...

In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus tells us not to store up earthly treasures {money, stuff}, but to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (v. 19-20). He then says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (v. 21).

So I considered this.

What is more important to me, as a parent and a grandparent? Saving up thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in hopes that one day I can pay for my grandchild's education? Or making sure I leave a godly inheritance of generational Christians behind me?

One will fade away just as I will and the earth will. Dare I say that with the way the world is today, we may not even have use of that money in X amount of years? What good will it do my grandchildren? I'm not sure.

One thing I'm sure of, though. Jesus died for my sins and the sins of my family members so that we could have an eternal inheritance in Him. And that is something that neither moth nor rust can destroy and a thief or a government cannot steal. That is the greater inheritance.

Am I saying that it isn't important to save? No. Not at all. I'm just cautioning against making that a priority over making certain our future generations have the spiritual inheritance they so greatly deserve.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 2

Once again, life took over my posting schedule. Between baking cookies, shopping, wrapping presents, watching school and church performances, working, sleeping, and enjoying four wonderful children and the blessing of my husband, blogging became a wayside thought. But, you, my readers, have continually been in those thoughts as I've geared up to celebrate my favorite holiday of the year. Because on this day, God blessed us with the Light of the World. I pray you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with love and many blessings and fond memories.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 21

"My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation."
~ Luke 1:46-50

What has God done for you? Have you proclaimed it today? Have you shared your testimony with others? Have you told those around you of your lowly state and how God has done great things in your life?

Share your testimony with another today. Shout from the mountaintop of the glory of the Lord, your Savior. Don't be shy. It may change someone's life...

Lord, help me to be bold and brave and courageous when it comes to sharing my faith with others. Open my throat, so that my words may come forth. Help me to testify of Your goodness and mercy. Help me to get past the fear of the unknown, so that others may come to know You this Christmas season.

 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 22

"But why is it granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." ~ Luke 1:43-45

What happens when you hear the name of the Lord? When someone says, "Jesus!" do you leap for joy as Elizabeth's child did in her womb? Can you sense Jesus' presence, even when you cannot see Him in your midst? John certainly couldn't see Jesus from within his mother's womb. But, He could certainly sense His presence.

My heart swells when I consider the name of Jesus. It brings great joy, knowing that I've found salvation in Him. Think about how He makes you feel, how you respond to the mention of His name. Let your heart swell as you consider His presence in your life. Write down how you feel, what you think upon. Enjoy the moment.

Lord, may my heart always swell at the sound of Your name. May I never experience the hardness of heart this world promotes. May I always be putty in Your hands, allowing You to mold me and shape me into Your wonderful glory. I love You, Lord. Thank You for the joy of Your salvation.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 23

Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. ~ Luke 1:38

If an angel appeared to you and told you something that seemed impossible and was a little {okay, a lot} scary, would you be so quick to say, "Let it be to me according to your word"? I think most of us would respond, "Let me pray about it." The pat Christian answer for anything that would bring us out of our comfort zones. This Christmas season, consider what God is asking you to do for Him. It takes an act of faith to answer Him, "Let it be to me according to Your word."

Lord, help us to move past our fears, our doubts, and our comfort zones in order to serve You with everything in us. We thank You that Your plans for us are far above all we could ever ask or think. In You we put our trust. So be it.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 25

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.'" ~ Matthew 1:18-21

What has the Holy Spirit impregnated you with? Is there a call on your life to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? What holds you back, keeping your call a secret?

Lord, help us to understand what You desire to birth within us. That zeal, that passion, that desire. Give us the strength to pull it out of the secret places of our hearts so our light can shine for Your glory. Thank You for the things You've called us to do. Help us now to do them.

Confidence in Everything

In the aftermath of horrendous weather and damaged property and death, it may not seem God is for us or on our side. To some, it may feel the exact opposite. How could He allow this to happen? If God is for me, why am I suffering like this? I've lost my home, all my belongings, all just before the holiday season. How is God for me in the midst of this? I can hear the questions, the concerns, as I watch The Weather Channel reporting the devastation left after Sandy's jaunt through the eastern seaboard.

I love the Scriptures Mary DeMuth points out in the chapter of Everything entitled, "Set Aside Worry." These are taken from the NASB:

If a river rages, he is not alarmed; he is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth. Job 40:23

Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident. Psalm 27:3

I know I don't live in the path of the storm that has raged its way across New Jersey and Connecticut and New York City and all the areas it has hit. That doesn't mean I don't know what it's like to weather a storm or can't relate to death and destruction. I've faced many storms in my own life, both self-inflicted and naturally occurring. And I've had to choose where my confidence would lie.

It will always be in Jesus, my Everything. God is in control. Even when it seems the circumstances of life are overwhelming and He's gone missing, I know God is always there. His Word says that He will never leave nor forsake us. It also reminds us that He is not in the storms. He is not in the fire, the wind, or the earthquake. It's His still small voice that answers in the midst of the chaos of life. That is where we shall find our confidence, our faith, our trust. In the still small voice of God. Reminding us that He does care.

Everything is a book that has changed many lives already. There are near one hundred of us on Mary's launch team. If you've kept up with my posts or have followed my Pinterest board, you've heard us repeatedly endorse this book. I have yet to hear one person say it didn't impact their life in one way or another. So, grab a highlighter, a pen, a cup of coffee or tea or whatever else you enjoy drinking, and pick up a copy of Mary's book today. Find out exactly what you give and what you gain when you make Jesus your Everything.

This post is part of a Blog Tour for Everything. Feel free to click here to read more posts from the launch team.

Want a shot at winning a KitchenAid mixer in Everything blue? You've got today and tomorrow to try! Click here for contest rules and instructions on how to enter.

Book Review: Everything by Mary DeMuth

If you follow me on Twitter, then you've noticed I keep tweeting about #everythingbook. This is because I am super excited to share with you that my favorite non-fiction book, Everything, by Mary DeMuth, is finally available for you to get your hands on and your hearts wrapped around! Forgive me if I start writing in exclamatory sentences!!! I'm really that excited about sharing this book with you!!!

Okay, I'll calm down now. But only so that you'll keep reading...

Everything is all about what you give and what you gain to become like Jesus. In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus tells us there's a price we must all pay in order to be His disciple. We must count the cost before we jump into that relationship. We need to be ready to give our everything so that Jesus becomes our Everything.

This book is all about that. It is a challenge. It is a heart-invader. It is a smack on the spiritual behind. It is filled with love. It is filled with compassion. It is filled with hope.

I was blessed to become a member of Mary's launch team a few months ago. As I opened the PDF file containing the book, I expected life-changing words and fresh revelation of God's will for my life. I wasn't disappointed. As I read word after word, God poured wave after wave of His conviction over me.

I've read Psalm 19:13 multiple times over. "Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression." As I read Everything, my heart fell to the floor and broke into a million pieces. Those presumptuous sins add up after awhile and total great transgression - transgression that the saint isn't even aware of. It's been said that after we've walked with the Lord for a measure of time, leading others, ministering, and working for His kingdom that we tend to get into a groove. One day, rather suddenly, we find ourselves broken again, as we were the first time we came to the Lord. That would be me as I read this incredibly wise woman's words.

Words like,

{AND}

{and}

I believe more of my copy is highlighted than not. My copy of Everything has dog ears and notes in the margin. It has been my Bible's companion and will be for a very long time. I have attempted to read it slowly, enjoying the crumbs and gobbling every nugget left on the page. There's too much to take in the first time through. I will need to wrap it up and save it for later and return to partake of it again and again.

Mary shared her thoughts, her stories, her struggles, her successes, and God's word in such a way that caused me to laugh, cry, and fall humbly to my knees as I read. I feel like I have a twin sister. I feel like she sat across from me, sharing, laughing, crying, and reaching out to hold my hand through the book. I've honestly never read something that drew me in like that - other than the Bible. What a read! What a change I'm going through because of her obedience in writing it!

If you read it, you won't be disappointed. You'll be forever changed as you allow God to move in your heart and your life. If you don't read it, you'll be missing another opportunity to grow closer to Jesus and to take a good look in the mirror of God's word and compassionately shared truths.

Do you love FREE STUFF? I know I do! If you purchase Everything this week {Launch Week} you can get over $200 of FREE GOODIES. Simply visit Mary's website to find out how.

To purchase your copy, please visit one of these retailers, or head out to your local bookstore. :)
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Parable

Please be aware that I have received a free copy of this book for review. I was not required to give a positive review, but this book is positively AWESOME!!!

My Way for a Day

Some days I find myself bemoaning my to-do list, wishing I could shred it into a thousand pieces and watch it fall into the trash like fairy dust. Fairy dust that gives me the right to do as I please for one day. To have things my way. To have my husband and children serve me. To have the house to myself. To be left alone. Because sometimes being a wife and a mom is just plain exhausting.

Artwork Copyright Karla Dornacher

Alas, this is not the life I have chosen. Nor will it ever be. When I face those days, I must turn to the following verses:

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Psalm 51:10-12

Lord, remove my will and replace it with Yours. May I love my husband and children the way that You do; may I see them with Your eyes. May I love them with Your heart.

Renew my strength to endure, Lord. Give me a fresh breath of life. Blow Your Spirit deep into my own. May I stand firm in my confession of Your goodness and mercy. Let me not grow weary in doing good.

Lord, draw me near to You. Hold me in Your embrace. Hide me under the shadow of Your mighty wing. Don't allow me to stray from Your path. Help me to hear Your still small voice amidst the winds, the fires, and the earthquakes of life.

Restore the joy of Your salvation. Let me never forget the moment I came to know my First Love. Let Your Word jump off the page at me just as it did in that first moment of purity in my life as a new woman. Blot out the world in my life and purify my heart. Bring Your refreshing. Uphold me in the generosity of Your Love. Fill my heart and mind with the joy of knowing You.

Tell me, dear reader, what words you would use to pray this verse in your life. How do you handle those days when you wish  you could have it all your way and not have to do anything for another, out of desire or desperation?

Please Note: For the next few months, as I post these devotion-type encouragements on Mondays, I will be featuring artwork and photographs and such that I've discovered around the web. I pray you find these inspiring, as well. I will link to the website of the artist/photographer/etc. underneath the photo. Watch below the posts for more information, such as where to purchase the designs if you wish. For example:

Today's artwork is by Karla Dornacher. She has a shop over at Etsy, where she sells copies of this print. While visiting, check out her other designs. They're so precious!
 



 

When the Wind is Loud and the Land is Dry

My apologies. This was supposed to post on Friday. I found it in draft mode today.  Go figure...

On Wednesday, I mentioned the dry spot I find myself in. Like standing in the desert, waiting for rain. How convenient (I don't believe in coincidences, or luck. I believe in divine appointments.) that I came across this song on Pandora last night:
 

 

"Desert Song" starts out with a verse about God bringing Moses and the Egyptians out from under Pharaoh's rule, walking them through the sea as it moves aside.

I immediately thought of how living in the bondage of our sins, whether they are perceived or presumptuous, is like living in bondage under a mighty ruler. We so desperately are driven by that sin day-by-day as we toil and sweat under the weight of the guilt it brings to our hearts and minds. We crave a drink of life. We starve, looking to the heavens for nourishment and finding none. We walk on blistered feet down paths never intended for man to travel. We buckle under the weight of it all and finally fall to our knees, exhausted, unable to go any further.

Until Moses (fill in Jesus) comes with a message from God and commands the sin in our life to let go. Because under the blood of God's precious Son, darkness must flee. The clouds of life part and the tunnel has light at the end and the seas rear up and move out of our way. Because God calls us out into His glorious presence. He calls us forth to a new life with Him.

And then we have a choice. Will we worship Him in spirit and in truth? Or will we find our way to the wilderness? I choose worship. I choose freedom. I choose life.

How do I avoid the wilderness and enter into a heart of worship?

1. I turn on the praise. I have a "Jesus Radio" station on Pandora. I've listened to three hours of Jesus music--mostly worship songs--tonight as I've worked and typed and worshiped. My heart has lifted the name of God high. As a result, my spirit has lifted, as well. The frustration has released its grip. The overwhelming weight has dissipated. I smile instead of scowl.

2. I pray. I pray when I open my eyes. I pray while I pack my husband's lunch. I pray while I yell at the kids (that I would have more patience). I pray before I read the Word. I pray while I shower. I pray before I turn out the light. Is it always out loud? No. Is it always for an hour straight? Hardly. Is it long-winded? Not a chance. Is it always a request? Nope. My prayers are in the moment. They are short, brief, to-the-point. Once in awhile they are written or whispered or hollered from the top of my lungs.

3. I read the Word. No matter how dry I feel, the Word is always living water. I may be so parched I can't recognize its life-giving power, but with every drop I remain alive. I may be scorched in my sin and floundering like a fish out of water, but I will not wait for someone to pick me up off my bed of life and drop me into the pool as the angels come to stir it. No, I will inch closer and closer to re-hydration with every line of Scripture.

4. I give thanks. God deserves my thanks regardless of how I feel in this moment of life. He doesn't put me into my sin. I do. Why bemoan Him when He is my Refuge and my Strength? No. I will not complain. I will thank Him for my salvation. I will thank Him for the victory already won. I will thank Him for the storehouse of blessings coming my way. I will thank Him for just being the One Who Sees Me. 

5. I press on in the midst of adversity. I wait on the Lord. I still my thoughts and listen for the still-small voice. I wait as the wind, the earthquake, and the fire pass by. I look for the seas to part and the Promised Land to come into view. Because I know it will. God called me out of the darkness into His marvelous light. His word over my life never comes back void. I stand on the promise of the joy of salvation. And I wave my hands heavenward.

What do you do to make it through the dry places? What facet of faith do you cling to? What Scripture brings life into your heart?

Abundantly Satsified with the Fountain of Life

Have you ever had one of those days/weeks/months/years where the little things in life drain you, leaving you feeling like a flat tire with nothing left to go on?

I can relate. It's been one of those weeks. In the process of it all, I've been fighting frustration, anxiety and the urge to either scream or cry. I haven't fully relied on God's strength to hold me up. I don't face the new day with abandon, trusting God to supply all of my needs and the needs of my children. I fall very short of the mark before me as I cling to the strands of my own efforts and plans.

BUT GOD. He is so gracious. He wakes me each morning and brings comfort and peace through His words. They wash over me like rivers of living water. 

"Children of men put their trust under My almighty wings." Protective wings. Sheltering wings. Wings that can take me anywhere God wants me to go or I want to go with God. 

"My children are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of My house." Abundance. Satisfaction. Fullness. Lacking nothing that I truly NEED. Because God provides for me and my household straight from the wealth of His household. 

"I give My children drink from the river of My pleasures." I drink from the things that delight the Lord. When my focus is heavenward, when I choose not to see the earthly things around me, God is delighted. I can drink from His pleasures. There is joy in knowing Him and in loving others and in walking in forgiveness. 

"The fountain of life is with Me." The earthly things don't give me life. My life flows from Him. He is life. In Him, I have life. Revive me, oh Lord. 

"You will see light when you look to Me." He is the light at the end of my tunnel. When I turn to look at the true Light, all of the darkness fades away to nothingness. I am comforted and revived. I can face the new day with life in my spirit. Because Jesus is my Everything. 

In chapter six of her book, Everything, Mary DeMuth puts it this way:

"The truth: God puts us through more than we can bear.
 He does.
 Why?
 Because after we journey through those places, we learn resilience.  And that resilience brings the ability to joyfully live in the moment despite our circumstances--a holy paradox."

Where are you in your circumstances? Are you resilient and living joyfully in the moment? Or are you like me, still gaining that resilience?

Until then, I will be meditating on Psalm 36:7-9. I will be letting God's truth concerning His children sink deep into my spirit until it flows as living waters within. 

Blogging Through the Book:
As a member of Mary DeMuth's launch team, I've been honored to read her incredible book, Everything, before its release. I have been and will continue to be "Blogging Through the Book" as I read it. Mary's words are inspiring and honest, and she brings so much light to God's word as she's transparent about her experiences as a Christian who has made Jesus her Everything. If you'd like to sample Everything before it's release, you can download a few chapters here for FREE. I highly encourage you to do so. You won't be disappointed, and you may find yourself transformed.

5 Seeds for Growth in the Lord

 

A dear friend recently asked how some people mature in their faith while others seem to "get stuck."

Funny that Mary DeMuth should pose the same question within the beginning pages of her upcoming (October 16th) release, Everything.

Mary offers wisdom throughout the pages of her book that will help answer this question. In the meantime, I present Five Seeds for Growth in the Lord:

1. Observe spiritual mothers and fathers of the faith. My spiritual mother is a powerhouse in the Lord. She could be like Joyce Meyers or Fuchsia Pickett. She could minister before stadiums of people, but instead she chooses to raise up generations of Women of the Word in the town God called pastor and her to. She says she prefers to encourage women and push them off her shoulders to soar, rather than take the stage. I've made it a point in my spiritual life to watch, listen and learn from her. She emanates wisdom and smells like Jesus. I know she's a deep well to draw from, and I drink from there frequently.

2. Don't compare yourself to others. You are unique, created by God. We like to look at others and wonder why we're so different from them. Why we don't learn as quickly as they do. Why we don't have a particular quality they do. Remember these truths: God created you the way He wanted you to be. God gives each one of us a measure of faith. God gives each one of us gifts. We each have unique ways of learning. We cannot compare ourselves to one another, because we are each individual. We each have a plan and a purpose in life. No one else can do what we are called to do. Others may be able to do something similar, but God wants to use each of us for His unique purpose.

3. Be obedient in the things of God. There's really no mystery to it all. God knew we'd need His help if we were to accomplish what He has called us to do. So He left us a guide and an instructor. The Bible. His Holy Spirit. When we immerse ourselves in the Word of God, we get to know Jesus and His heart for humanity. We get to know who He is and what He requires us to do. When we allow the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, He whispers truth to our inward parts. He divides the old from the new. He divides the flesh from the spirit. He brings healing and causes change within our hearts. We become more like Jesus as we allow the Holy Spirit to move in our lives. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God(Romans 10:17). Our faith increases as we hear the Word of God spoken in our lives and are obedient to the truths contained within. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith (1 John 5:3-4).

4. Don't fear change. Step out in faith. Move from your comfort zone. Let's face it. Sin is comfortable. We don't like change. We are afraid of what we don't know. Here's where we have to trust our Leader. We have to understand that God has our best interests at heart, that He's our #1 fan. We have to trust Him to take care of us as we put feet to our faith and take steps toward a new life of allowing Him to be our everything. As we forgo the ways of our past and head toward the ways of His future for us, we must recognize His love for us and allow Him to replace our worries, fears, doubts, and anxieties with His peace, comfort, hope, faith, and love. Trust the change, knowing it will produce growth in our spiritual lives.

5. Accept that growth is a natural process that can't be forced and must be embraced. My spiritual father always says that the kingdom of God is organic. It comes complete with birth, life, death, and various seasons. To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under Heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). When we are young in the Lord, we need milk, gentleness, comfort, soft embraces. We don't need hard slaps with spiritual rods. Until we grow a little older in our faith. Then, we need iron to sharpen our spiritual maturity. One day, we find ourselves able to chew on some meat. It's tough at first, maybe difficult to process. As we chew more and chew more, it becomes easier to swallow when someone brings a word of correction. Eventually, we're able to feed ourselves and find the Holy Spirit prompting changes in our behaviors. We start making better choices. We grow. We develop. We become the feeders, rather than the ones being fed. However, like a baby who needs formula, if we try to ingest food too advanced for us, we throw it back up all over the place. Because growth is an organic process. It comes line upon line and precept upon precept. Don't strive to be someplace you aren't. Let God process you, rather than forcing the process. Don't die before you've had a chance to live.

Where are you in the growth process? Are you a seedling, ready to sprout? Are you a sapling, hoping the wind doesn't knock you over? Are you a solid oak who can pour into the younger trees who stand in your shadow? Have you recognized God working out the process within you? I pray you embrace the growth process and thrive in the stage you're in as God prepares you for the next season of life. 

Thoughtful Words - Compromising Words

"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;  nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." - Matthew 5:33-37

About a year ago, I realized I'd said I'd do a bunch of stuff that I never followed through on. Whether I promised God, my family or my neighbor, I recognized my lack of adequate planning, desire or ability to complete the tasks I'd set out to do. This bothered me. It brought feelings of inadequacy and depression upon my heart. I needed to make some changes.

God's word tells us not to make an oath, to say we're going to absolutely, for sure do something. We should never swear on our mother's grave (or by heaven, earth or Jerusalem) that we will see it through, that we will be there for someone, that we will get 'er done. Because things happen in life that are beyond our control. These things tend to get in the way of whatever our heart and mind was set on accomplishing. Then our word becomes nothing to those we've promised the world.

I know I'm not the only one who struggles with this compromise. Peter did the same. 

In Matthew 26, we find Jesus partaking of the Last Supper with His disciples. He's already mentioned that Judas would betray Him. Then, He tells the disciples, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered (v. 31).'"

Peter immediately responds without thinking, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble(v. 33)."

To which Jesus replies, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times (v.34)."

Again, Peter doesn't weigh his words. He says, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You! (v. 35)"

A few years ago, God asked me to consider my faith. It's a word that has stayed in my heart for a long time. I believe it will remain with me until the day I die. It's a simple question, and a timely one, considering the age we're living in. He simply asked, "Will you stand for me?" Of course, my heart immediately jumped to say Yes! However, my wisdom said, "Lord, will I be able to stand for You? Will my faith endure? Will I find my strength in You when I face times of tribulation?" Because I want to say Yes. But I acknowledge I am only human. And if Peter, the rock upon whom Jesus built His church, denied Jesus three times at the time of His crucifixion, who am I to say I'll be able to stand? Uncompromising in my faith? Unwavering before the cross of my day?

"It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,And afterward to reconsider his vows." - Proverbs 20:25

When we promise to do something and then neglect to get it done, our words are compromised. Our intentions are compromised. Our integrity is compromised. Rather than being seen as someone dependable, people begin to say, "You can't count on her."

I don't want to be seen as undependable. I don't want to vow to do something and then neglect to do so. I'm a Christian, standing on my faith in God. If I promise to do something for someone and neglect to follow through, I not only compromise my own image, I compromise the image of God, in whose image I am created. I must remember Who I represent. I must learn to let my Yes be Yes and my No, No.

Which means I must change. I must set my boundaries in life, manage my time and learn to use the word No when I am already inundated with things to do. I must prioritize and stick with my priorities.

How about you? Are you making compromises? Or are you able to say Yes and mean it?

Photo Courtesy of Gary Scott

Thoughtful Words - Spousal Words

There have been times in my marriage when Victor has said something to me, and I've wanted to give him a fat lip. His intentions were to encourage me to change my ways, but his method fell short of its result.

Have you ever noticed that the ones we love the most tend to be the ones who hurt us the most? Why is that?

My husband irritates once in awhile. I weary of picking up his dirty socks, washing his dishes every day, listening to the drone of his video game theme song, and hearing him talk loudly yell during a regular conversation.

I know he wearies of my imperfections too. My muttering loud enough for everyone to hear how frustrating it is to have to repeat myself twenty times and still find "people" not doing what I've requested. My looming deadlines and the need to work after hours, rather than scratch his head. My consistent requests for him to keep the kids and the dog out of my space so I can finish a project. 

We both have our imperfections. We come with plenty of baggage and a few faults. We both have logs in our eyes.

We tend to see one another as common, rather than remember we are sons and daughters of the King of Kings.

Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. - Hebrews 10:29-31

We and our spouses have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus. We have a covenant relationship with God. How can we treat our spouses as some commoner, when he or she is a child of God? In doing so, we insult the Spirit of grace. And we fall into the hands of the living God.

I know I've become the unjust judge of my husband on more than one occasion, and I know he's done the same to me. I know I've jumped to conclusions, rather than giving him the benefit of the doubt. I know he's done the same to me. The Lord says that vengeance is His. Not ours. He is the One who will judge our spouses according to what they have done and said and us according to what we've done and said.

How do we overcome our spouse's hurtful words and our temptation to continue in our judgmental attitudes?

Remember: Jesus is the only One who can change our spouse. We can beg and plead and try to love them into being someone else, but God holds the power to change their hearts. It's better to focus on our own faults and allow God to change us. It's selfish to think our spouse needs to change and we don't. Avoid selfishness. Let God work on your heart first. Let Him deal with your spouse.

We all know where our faults lie. Only Jesus knows the intent of our heart better than we do. Despite what we may think, we don't know the intents of our spouse's hearts. We don't know what drives them to do the things they do or say the things they say. Rather than assuming we do, we should ask them. Quit accusing one another. Start supporting one another.

Rather than pointing our the negative things in each others' lives, point out the positive things. Instead of tearing one another down, build each other up. 

We need Jesus to be the center of our marriage. When we focus on Him, we can see our spouse through His eyes. In doing so, we see the positive far outweighs the negative. For that we can be thankful. And that thankfulness will be reflected in the words we say to our husband or wife. 

Let your words bring life to your spouse. Stop killing them with your words. 

Photo of Far From Love Courtesy of  Enver Uçarer
Photo of Kiss Courtesy of Mike Lawrey