Friday, May 25, 2018
Back At The Lake
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
The Reasons Why
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Where is Your Faith?
Monday, May 21, 2018
The Pain We Know
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Popping Corn
He's standing on a chair in front of the microwave, impatiently jumping up and down, "Mom, mom when is my popcorn going to be ready?" My mind is preoccupied and my thoughts are a million miles away from this kitchen and that little boy waiting for his popcorn. He must have said that three times in the 2 minutes and 49 seconds it took to pop that corn. Finally, his irritated voice broke through my distant thoughts and I just looked at him like he was crazy and said, "Boy, you do this every day, you know how long it takes." It wasn't even completely out of my mouth when the Spirit of God whispered those words to my turbulent soul.
"Daughter, we've done this before. You know you can trust my timing." Suddenly, I could see myself impatiently standing in front of the microwave, watching the seconds tic down and crying out, "when, when, when?!"
My little guy had things he wanted to do and friends to play with and waiting on popcorn was an irritation in his life. His four year old little brain didn't see the importance of waiting on the just the right timing. If he had taken that popcorn bag out at the 2 minute mark most of the kernels would be unpopped. He would have a bag of unfinished popcorn that would have been less than satisfying. Waiting for that precise moment 2m 49s would produce a full bag of delicious popcorn with enough to share with that little friend he was so anxious to play with. If he could just hold on 49 seconds he could have it all, his yummy popcorn and playtime with his buddy. Forty-nine seconds seemed like an eternity, to a little boy who was just ready to be done with it, but forty-nine seconds means everything when it comes to popping a perfect bag of corn.
Oh man, does my heart need this little illustration today. My heart needs to remember that God's timing is perfect. I need to quiet my soul with the truth that at the appointed time God will have his way and if I wait on him, I will have the perfect bag of buttery corn and good times with my friends... but I have to wait. I have to trust that timing is EVERYTHING when you're popping corn.
And I can remember, because we've done this before. In previous times when the Lord has given me a glimpse of the future and told me to wait patiently for Him to bring it to pass. It was hard to wait then, but He made it happen, just the way He said it would... in His time.
The Children of Israel had to wait. God sent Moses to tell them He was going to set them free from Pharaoh so they could be his people. They thought it would be immediate, but they had to wait and the waiting was hard. Their circumstances even became harder as they waited. Pharaoh and the Egyptians despised the Hebrews for suggesting that God would rescue them. They made their lives harder with more work, less supplies and more severe punishments. As they waited they began to doubt that God had really spoken and maybe this guy Moses was insane to suggest that they would ever be set free from Egypt, but God had bigger plans that they couldn't even understand. God wanted to display HIS GLORY to Pharaoh, Egypt and the surrounding nations.
The Lord HAD spoken and He would have His way, but His timing was everything. By the time that God was done with the Pharaoh and the Egyptians, they were begging the Hebrews to leave and throwing all their valuables at them as they made their escape.
Waiting is hard. Especially when you're standing on a chair, in front of the microwave, watching the seconds tic by. Waiting is hard when you smell that popcorn and your mouth is watering and you know it's gonna be gooooooood! Waiting is hard when you want to go play with your friends and you think you're missing out on something.
Waiting is hard. When you're in Egypt, knowing God has something different in your near future. Waiting is hard when you've finally heard from the Lord about something you've been praying about for a long time. Waiting is hard when life becomes more painful and what He says, doesn't line up with what you see. Waiting is hard when the stripes on your back become more frequent and you can't keep up with the new work load.
But the harder it's gets the sweeter that day of deliverance will be when the Lord says, "Get ready, You must be dressed for travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand."
"On the same day the Lord brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt according to their military divisions." Exodus 12:51
The Lord did all the work. He did all the preparing. He made the way, where there seemed to be no way. He humbled the greatest nation on behalf of His people. He set them free and led them to a new land. All they had to do was be ready when that day came.
The popcorn is popping. Watching and waiting and worrying isn't going to change one thing. It will take 2 minutes and 49 seconds just like it does every other time. Sitting there fussing about it isn't going to make that popcorn pop any faster AND taking it out before it's time is only going to be a disappointment.
"Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him..." Psalms 37:7
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Are You the One?
The Messiah was supposed to be setting Israel free from Rome, conquering enemies and ruling on the throne of David. John had been so excited the day Jesus came down to the river to be baptized. He was amazed to see the descending dove and the voice, he would never forget the sound of the voice proclaiming "This is My beloved Son." There was no doubt that was the voice of God. But, now what.
John had been convinced that Jesus, his own cousin, was the Messiah that Israel had been waiting for. He had seen the miracles and when Jesus spoke it pierced his very soul, but this was not how this was supposed to go. John's ministry had just begun. He wasn't supposed to be sitting in prison.
And Jesus... what was he doing? He was hanging out with tax collectors and sinners. Every day out preaching to the masses of the Kingdom of God, when was he going to rise up? When was he going to start acting like a King?
John's thoughts began to take a dark turn. Whispered lies that sounded so much like truth started to penetrate his mind. If Jesus was really the Messiah, wouldn't he get John out of this mess? They were cousins after all. John had seen him doing harder things before. John knew in the depths of his soul that Jesus had the power to get him out this situation, but day after day he sat there. Day after day, his disciples would bring more news of all that Jesus was doing and they would look at him with more uncertainty each day.
John was beginning to feel like a fool for believing all of this. Maybe he had just been carried away with all the excitement and emotion. Maybe Jesus was not who John thought he was... but the voice from heaven... he couldn't forget that.
Once again John's disciples showed up looking for answers from him. What did he know? He was in prison. He really just wished they would go away and leave him alone. He didn't have any answers himself and he felt the pressure to be strong for them, but he was starting to feel cracked, so battered and bruised and faithless. His whole life he had known he was the prophet preparing the way for the Lord. He had spent his whole life waiting for this moment and for what? To sit in prison and wait for death. Why wasn't Jesus doing something?
John feeling defeated by the endless questions finally blurted out, "Go ask him. Is he the One or should we seek another?" After a shocked expression passed on the faces of his two friends, they turned on their heel and walked away. Immediately, the Spirit of God pierced John's heart... He knew with everything in him exactly WHO Jesus was, and he knew that the problem wasn't Jesus...it was his own expectations. But who could know the mind of God? Maybe they had been wrong all along...
A few hours later the men came back and told John what they had heard and seen. They found Jesus surrounded by people as usual. He motioned them forward recognizing them as John's disciples and greeting them affectionately he asked about John. The two men said John had sent them with a message. "Are you the One?"
With an understanding look on his face, Jesus turned to the crowds pressing in on him. With the touch of his hand or a word spoken many walked away healed. Healed of diseases of the flesh, the mind and the spirit. There were some who received sight, some lame made whole, no matter what they needed they walked away new that day.
Thinking they were forgotten, the two men weren't sure what to do or even what to think. Watching all of this didn't seem real. How could any man have the power to do what Jesus was doing. After a while, Jesus turned back to them, as if he had been doing all of that for them and said, "Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, and blessed is the one who isn't offended in me."
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Don't Want To Miss A Thing
It had been a long, frustrating night. Bone weary and preoccupied Simon hefted the heavy nets out of the boat to wash them. All the people were already standing around waiting for that new teacher. He really drew the crowds. People made a lot of noise about him, saying he healed people and cast out demons. Some even whispered he might be the Messiah. At that moment it didn't matter who he was, Simon just needed a catch. Sore and weary, he just tried to get through the routine and get home.
Lost in his thoughts he didn't hear anyone approach, but catching his name, he turned and found himself face to face with Jesus. The people were all pressing around Jesus, all wanted a touch or a word, some miracle to cling to. Jesus stepped into the boat and asked Simon to push out from the shore. Exhausted, hungry and a little irritated, Simon climbs in and pushes away from shore. Jesus sits down in the boat and starts to speak to the crowds. Amazingly, his voice carries and the power and authority radiate from him. His message is so different from what Simon had ever heard before.
As Jesus spoke to the crowds, Simon begins to relax and feel the weight lifting off his shoulders, he's not sure what it is about this guy, but he's different. After a while, Jesus finishes teaching. Simon is just about to head back to shore when Jesus says, "Go out to the deep water and let your nets down." Inwardly, Simon groans, thinking to himself, "Jesus, stick to teaching."
Simon is a fisherman and he knows a couple things... You can't catch fish in the deep and especially not at this time of day. He has great respect for this guy, but obviously Jesus doesn't know a thing about fishing. Feeling the need to explain this to Jesus, Simons says, "Master, we've worked all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll let down the nets."
Unfolding the nets, Simon swings them out into the water and before they even sink below the surface, fish begin to throw themselves in his nets. Simon stands in open-mouthed shock as his eyes take in what his mind can't understand. He is so dumb-founded that Jesus has to remind him to pull the nets in, but as they pull them up and try to heft them into the boat the nets begin to tear. With his brain still befuddled, he motions for his partners in the other boat to come get all the fish in the boats. Simon looks over at Jesus, who is helping pull the nets out of the water and he's laughing, acting like he's having a great time.
Simon and the others just keep pulling fish into the boat, which is becoming overloaded. He has never seen anything like this. The boat begins to sink, as the weight of the fish becomes too much to bear. Again Simon looks over at Jesus, looking like he's having the time of his life and Simon becomes very afraid. His mind is beginning to understand the true gravity of this situation. He is witnessing a miracle. He's standing in the presence of the one who made those fish. He's standing in the presence of the One. Simon falls to his knees and cries out, "Go away from me, because I'm a sinful man, LORD."
Jesus turns serious, all traces of humor gone, and says, "Don't be afraid, from now on you will be catching people."
Although, Simon didn't understand what that meant, he knew that he could no longer go back to life, as it had been. He didn't know anything, except that he would follow Jesus anywhere. That day Simon left everything on that shore and followed Jesus.
Simon, who became Peter, followed Jesus from that day forward. Peter became the Messiah's right hand man. Peter saw Jesus walk on water, and even got to take a few steps himself. Peter saw Jesus break bread and blessing it to feed thousands. Peter saw people healed, his own mother inlaw included. Peter saw Jesus raise the dead, give sight to the blind, calm storms and he was a eye-witness to the beautiful sermons, to words spoken that changed lives, and set captives free.
Peter witnessed the transfiguration and he also witnessed the cross, where his dearest friend and beloved Lord and Savior was brutally beaten and nailed to wood posts and left to die. He witnessed that same Jesus raised to life again and ascending into heaven. He was told to go and preach the Gospel and make disciples. He was thrown in jail for fulfilling his calling. He saw and performed miracles. He suffered for the message and eventually, church tradition says that he was hung upside down on a cross of his own...
But, I know that Peter wouldn't have changed a thing. He wouldn't want to miss all that he saw and experienced. From the first day, when he fell down in from of Jesus and worshipped him, he wouldn't have missed a thing.
And I don't want to miss a thing. I want to follow Jesus, wherever he leads. I want to walk on water with him. I don't want fear or common sense to keep me from seeing miracles. I want to recklessly follow the One who lavishly loves me. How about you... don't you want to follow Him too?
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
You Make Me Brave
I'm naturally a pretty out-going, happy person. Maybe it was a perfect storm of grieving for my mom and being consumed with what people thought about me, but I just couldn't stand the constant worry about what I should say, how I should act and why I'm just not good enough, so I hid. It was just too painful to be around people.
I didn't realize at the moment that I had erected an altar in my life, on which I would sacrifice, to the god of people worship. What people thought about me was all that mattered and like the fire on the altar, I was consumed. My dearest friends became enemies, the slightest comment perceived as a piercing jab. I was easily hurt and completely insecure. Not enough likes on a fb post would send me over the edge and prove repeatedly that I was unworthy. Unworthy and unloved and invisible and fearful.
All that changed one day when I was challenged to read Ephesians chapter 1 for a whole week... that was 3 years ago and the treasure I found there I'm still unpacking today. In Ephesians chapter 1, I saw a completely different picture of me...
Take a look at what I found there:
"For HE chose us in Him, BEFORE the foundation of the world, to be HOLY and BLAMELESS in LOVE before Him... He adopted us as sons (AND daughters) through Jesus Christ for HIMSELF, according to the GOOD PLEASURE of HIS WILL, to the praise of his glorious grace that He LAVISHED on us in the Beloved ONE." Eph 1:4-6
If you know me very well right now, you know I'm standing up, raising my voice!!!!
IF there really is a God in heaven and if this BOOK is really HIS WORD to me... IF the Maker and Creator and King of the universe LOVES me and accepts me at His table, as His child FOR no other reason than HE WANTED ME... Who am I to deny what he says by believing what other people say about me (not that anybody was even thinking of me in the first place), BUT it doesn't matter what anybody thinks about me, IF the King of Heaven loves me and chose me for His own.
Who am I to say what He says isn't true? Who is there in this world that can decide my worth and value, IF HE has already bought me at a great price? Who am I to tell myself I can't do what He says I can?
Little by little my thirsty soul began to drink in the truth of God's word and especially the words in my very favorite chapter Ephesians 1, and like a plant that was just about to die, I started to perk up again. Ephesians chapter 1 was Miracle grow to my soul. My people worship began to fade away. All the sudden, I didn't care what people thought about me anymore, because He loved me too much to keep listening to that noise. He flipped the script.
Today, I spent hours preparing a Bible study to bring to my lady friends at church... My heart laid bare for them to examine, critique and hopefully enjoy... but it doesn't matter what they think really, because His love has made me brave enough, to follow Him into waters that are too deep for me. I've taken my first step in the journey and I'm walking with Him, in spite of my fear.
"The Lord said to Joshua, 'Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD YOUR GOD WILL GO WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO." Joshua 1:9
You make me brave. I want to go with YOU!
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Expect The Attack
When the enemy heard that the children of Israel were conquering city after city, victoriously gaining ground in the land of Canaan, they were obligated to counter attack. They were not going to lay down and die, without a fight. The King of Jerusalem had heard about the walls of Jericho falling down and the complete distruction that had followed. He had heard about the town of Ai and how Joshua had lured the men of the city out, leaving it unprotected, allowing his men in hiding to gain access to the Ai and destroy it. He had heard that Gibeon had craftily managed to gain a treaty with Joshua and the children of Israel and he knew it was only a matter of time before Israel turned in his direction. Hoping to gain enough military strength to stop their advance, Adoni-zedek commissions the kings in the surrounding areas to join with him to attack Gibeon.
What Adoni-zedek did not know is that the Amorites had been marked out for judgment by the Lord of heaven and earth. Although they may have believed that they were battling against the children of Israel, their real enemy was God. The vessel that he decided to use in this instance was inconsequential. As the five Amorite kings planned and strategized for battle, they had no way of knowing that their efforts were useless in the face of their true enemy.
Four hundred years before God had promised Abraham this good and fertile land, but He said that Abraham's descendants would be slaves in Egypt for four generations because the iniquities of the Amorites had not reached full measure. The wickedness of the nations of Canaan had testified against them and their sins would be punished. Their true enemy could not be defeated.
"The Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid of them, for I have handed them over to you. Not one of them can stand against you." vs 8
"After this, Joshua struck down and executed (the five kings of the Amorites)." vs26
The five Amorite kings had joined forces to come out and fight against Joshua and the Children of Israel, not realizing that their strategy played right into God's plan. The details were inconsequential, because God's purposes and plans would be fulfilled. He had promised judgement on the people of Canaan for their abominable sins. He had given the land to the Children of Israel and He had promised them that NO ONE would be able to stand against them. The Lord would be fighting for them and they had nothing to fear.
When the enemy sees victory in your life expect attack. When he sees you taking what's been promised to you, he's going to get riled up. When you begin to walk with the Lord and by faith (confident assurance) claim what's rightfully yours, you need to know that he is going to strategize and plan an attack to keep you from gaining ground (the territory that's been in his hands)... expect it, but don't be afraid. Our enemy has already been defeated. He has already been marked out for annihilation, because he's not really our enemy at all, his true adversary is God and he hasn't got a chance. That's why he attacks the children and tries to discourage them, he knows he is already defeated.
Keep believing the truth of God...
"No weapon will be able to hurt you; you will have an answer for all who accuse you. I will defend my servants and give them victory.' The Lord has spoken." Isaiah 54:17 GNT
"Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee." James 4:7
"When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots and an army larger than yours do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt will fight for you." Deu. 20:1
We are the children of the Creator King of heaven. He has plans and purposes that he is fulfilling in this world. He has good works that He has prepared for us to do, to bring him glory on earth, to reveal Him to the nations and He will accomplish those things. He is ABLE. He is able to accomplish his work, but the enemy is going to try to stop YOU from being a part of what God is doing on earth. His greatest weapon is fear and discouragement, but he is an impotent enemy, who can't really gain victory over us because we belong to God... So, keep progressing. Don't let him stop you from gaining that ground you have been promised, IF you take it by FAITH!
Be strong and courageous... Your God is fighting for you!
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