New Month, Renewed Hope

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Eph 1:15-23

Praise the Lord!

We serve an awesome God. A God who created this world and everything in it. He spoke and it came into being. A God who demonstrated His power over and over again in the Old Testament—from raising a young boy from shepherd to king of Israel to stopping the sun in the sky to bringing victory to an army of 300.

We serve a God who sacrificed His own Son for our sins—and then raised him from the dead.

Hallelujah for Jesus reigns!

Jesus, the Son of the Most High God, sits at His right hand. The Son who was made man, who walked among us for a time, showing us how to live and love one another. A Savior who, in obedience, hung on a cross that we might live. He offers us eternal life through his death. King of kings, he rules the church—his bridegroom, his body. And now, he is the Great Intercessor, interceding on our behalf.

What an encouragement to contemplate as we enter the holiday season! We have so much power at our fingertips. We are sons and daughters of God, we share in the same inheritance that Christ has (1 Peter 1:3-5). We need only have faith. Faith that God is who He says He is, faith that Christ’s death was not in vain. When we embrace who we are in Christ, we open the door for God to work in our lives and bless us beyond what we could ever imagine.

Let’s start this month with praise and worship for our Creator and our Savior. Let us raise our hands, our voices, and our hearts, pouring out our thanksgiving and our hopes, but also allowing God to fill us with His Spirit that we may live life…not just live it, but live it abundantly (John 10:10).

Dancing before the Lord

David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might…” -2 Samuel 6:14

It’s Monday morning—the start of a brand new week!

Last week is gone—in the past, old news—we’ve been there, done that. Next week is so far off and never guaranteed. But this week, today, is here and now. A gift from the Lord.

Monday is especially special—the day after Sunday. The day after we join with others to worship the Lord along with other believers. Our cups have been refilled and we’re ready to tackle another week with renewed vigor.

How often do we worship the Lord during the week? I’m not just talking prayer…but uninhibited worship?

In 2 Samuel 6, David brings the Ark to Jerusalem. As the Ark came up the street, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Then he danced.

I love to dance. It is freeing to use all of my body in expression. I turn up the praise and worship music…and just let go. (Of course, sometimes my husband catches me and looks at me weird, my girls just join in. lol…)

Dance is not the only way to worship the Lord, of course. Music of any kind, prayer, thanksgiving, work…anything can be worship when done to the glory of the Lord. Obedience is a big one…but that is a whole other post in itself.

Today, though—today I am going to dance.

Be Strong and Take Heart

“Wait for the Lord, be strong and have heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

Over the past couple of months, I’ve realized that the Lord is preparing me for a season of change. Little by little, bit by bit, He is revealing His plan. It’s kind of hard, though, to know only part of the plan.

I have the type of personality that when big changes are coming, I need all the information. I need to be able to formulate my plan of “attack”—lists, schedules, you know the deal. A good example is this looming Hawaii trip. I know we’re moving. Yet, other than going through my household to get rid of trash and other items we no longer need. I can’t plan much else. My husband has all this stuff that has to be completed before he can get his orders cut and we can start making plans. It’s driving me nuts!

God works the same way as the Army sometimes.

We know from the Bible that, like the Army, we are on a need to know basis with God. He has a plan, and if we’re willing, He will use us. When He has something for us to do, He may disclose a small part of what’s in store, in order that we can start making the appropriate changes in our life.

In the Old Testament, God told Abraham that He would bless him with a son—yet that didn’t happen until twenty-five years later. In the New Testament, God had a plan for Saul (who later became Paul), and incited a change in him, even though it was years later before He sent Paul to the Gentiles.

In this verse, we are not only told to wait on the Lord, but to be strong and have heart while we do so. This is the part most of us struggle with. It can be frustrating and discouraging to wait—but it really shouldn’t be. God wants us to be strong and have heart because He has something in store for us—something better than we can imagine.

I know something big awaits me in Hawaii, and I know God has used the past couple of months, and will use the next couple of months, to prepare me. I’m not fretting over what that “big thing” is, instead, I’m using this time to deepen my relations ship with the Lord, letting Him shape my life to fit His plan so that when my time comes, I’ll be ready.

Are you waiting? What have you done to stay strong and take heart?

VOTW - Whose Approval?

I ran into some friends the other day that I hadn’t seen in years. In fact, I hadn’t seen them since I had kids—over four years ago. It’s always nice to get together with people after an extensive time apart and catch up, especially if it feels just like old times, don’t you think?

I love catching up with old friends, except for one thing, I’m not who I was back then. As I’ve matured and grown closer in my relationship with Christ, I’ve become a different person on a different path then the girl these people knew. I’m not afraid to be different, not worried about following the crowd. Yet, when questioned about some lifestyle choices (in a curious fashion, not a judgmental one), like homeschooling, I found out I still want to be accepted. I felt the need to qualify my decisions, even though my friends weren’t questioning my choices. My defenses went up automatically.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Gal 1:10

This verse comes in the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, who were falling prey to false gospels. They were compromising their beliefs to fit in, much like the old me.

This is an area of weakness I know I have to fight. As believers, we are not here to win the hearts of those around us. In fact, the Bible says that the world will not understand us, nor will they like us. Instead, we seek to please God. We cannot serve two masters—the world and God. Their moralities don’t mix.

So, as we go into the first full week of October, let’s reflect on whose approval it is we seek!

How Fertile is Your Land?

Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. – Hebrews 6:7-8

I’m not a farmer. I come from a military family. Yet, even I know that the land requires water and nutrients or it will dry up and become useless. It is the same way with believers.

We are the land. When we drink in the rain (God’s word) and nutrients (provided by the Holy Spirit), we become immersed. We begin to produce crops. Everywhere we go, people know who we are by what we do, what we say.

But when we profess our belief in God with only our mouths, without any deeds, we dry up. We become like the soil that fosters thorns and thistles. What does a farmer do with land like that? He burns it.

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Luke 8:5-8

In direct correlation with the verses from Hebrews, is the parable of the sower. As we mature as Christians, it becomes our responsibility to help grow new believers. They look to us for examples of what it means to be Christians, children of God. If our land is dry or rocky, what will they have to latch onto?

Satan will swoop down upon them before they have a chance. Two birds with one stone—the Christian and the believer rendered useless.

How do we keep our land fertile and our crops fruitful?

Study God’s word. Pray. Listen for the movement of the Holy Spirit inside of you. Make sure your deeds reflect your beliefs (or show vs. tell for you writers out there). Find a community of believers to help teach and encourage you, for the road is long and the battle against the world is tough, but when you remain in the Lord, He will be your strength.

How fertile is your land?

Patience

“But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:31)

Wait on the LORD. In other words, be patient.

Patient is something that I am not very good at. I have always been an impatient person. I’m an act now type of person. I think, I do—no waiting.

I’ve been working through the Bible Study, Experiencing God, with my group. One thing that this study is teaching me is that I need to be in God’s will at all times in order to succeed. This is frustrating sometimes, because in order to be in God’s will, I have to be willing to wait.

Abraham waited 25 years (I think, without looking it up) for God to bless him and Sarah with a child. Saul waited for years after God confronted him on the road to Damascus before he began to preach to the Gentiles. Why? Why was there so much waiting?

God had a plan. God wanted these men to be part of that plan. God wanted them to know they were part of the plan. But they weren’t ready—yet. God had to bring them to a position in their lives where they were most equipped to carry out the plan.

Those who wait, tough, are deeply blessed. God renews their strength and helps them to soar. We are prepared to run the marathon, to traverse the mountain. We are more than we could have been without God.

Wait on the LORD.

Giving like Jesus

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

One of my favorite chapters in John is Chapter 14 where Jesus comforts His disciples and then promises them that, even though He is going away, the Father will send the Holy Spirit to teach and guide them.

Do you ever notice how every time you read something, even if you’ve read it a hundred times, something new jumps out at you? I find that especially true when I read the Bible—and the same was true today.

Today it was John 14:27 (copied above). “I don’t not give to you as the world gives.” How does the world give?

I sat back and thought about that. How does Jesus give that differs from the world?

When the world gives, it gives only to those it deems worthy.
Jesus gives because He loves all of us—the saved and the lost.

When the world gives, it holds back, only giving what is necessary.
Jesus gives freely and generously.

When the world gives, it expects something in return.
Jesus gives only desiring a relationship with us.

And if you think about it, throughout His lifetime on earth, Jesus gave, not only to those who believed in Him, but to everyone. From something as simple as providing a meal during a sermon to giving up His life that we may have the opportunity to live, Jesus’ gifts were meant for all.

In our quest to show Christ to the world, we should consciously strive to give as He gave. Give both of our time and our gifts. Give cheerfully. Give without worry, knowing that God will provide for us. If for no other reason, give because He gave His life for us.

God Knows the Truth Behind the "Why"

Hey everyone! Happy Monday! It is time for another crazy week in this thing we call life.

Things have been crazy around here. Kyra, Connor, and myself have been sick for over a week. Even though I've been on meds since Tues, I'm still coughing up some pretty nasty stuff. Kyra and Connor went to the doc this morning--didn't really get any answers, just the "it's probably viral" answer. Kyra has some decongestant medicine, and I have to get a stool sample from Connor (yuck! TMI, I know).

All this to say that I didn't really have the time or energy to write up a proper blog post this morning. Never fear! I may not have a VOTW for you today, but I would love to refer you over to my friend and critique partner, Cathy Bryant's, blog where her Meditation Monday gives us some insight on the truth behind the "why" of human behavior. Enjoy!

Believing God's Word

2 Timothy 3:16

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

I have a Christian friend that doesn’t put much stock in the Bible. He is always going on and on about how so-and-so changed the Bible at this time, and how someone else changed it another time, and how many things tend to get lost in translation. Therefore, he concludes that you really can’t trust everything you read. Good advice, in most cases…but not with the Bible.

Verses like 2 Timothy 3:16 tell us that God has complete control over His Word. As the little side note in my Student Bible says, God-breathed is where the term “inspired” comes from. We don’t know how God inspired the writers, but we know that He did. And I think the same goes to everything that has happened to the Bible since.

The Bible is essentially one of the strongest ways that God speaks to us in modern times. From the time we are young in faith, we are trained to study God’s Word. Why? Because that is the basis from which we live our lives. So much of our direction, encouragement, and learning is found there.

Why would God let anything happen to the Bible that would compromise its most important message?

Last week, I talked about finding time to study the God’s Word. This week, we need to realize the importance of believing the God’s Word.

Why do you put your faith in the Bible? Do you ever question what has happened to the Bible over the years?

VOTW - A Chosen Generation

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

A chosen generation—

A royal priesthood—

A holy nation—

His own special people—

What a glorious inheritance we have received in our salvation! Upon accepting Christ as our Savior, we were adopted into the family of God. We became Sons and Daughters of God, brothers and sisters in Christ.

Belonging to a family comes with both joys and responsibilities. Being part of God’s family is no different.

A chosen generation: God offered the ultimate sacrifice in the death and resurrection of his Son to call us to Himself. Those of us who heed that call are chosen. We are chosen to be part of the family, and we are also chosen to serve Him in a way worthy of our calling.

A royal priesthood: When we accepted Christ as our Savior, we were gifted with the presence of the Holy Spirit inside of us, speaking to us on spiritual matters. As a result, we are changed, not just internally, but on the outside as well. We lead by example. In the rest of the book of 1 Peter, Peter shows us how Christians are to live, talking about such matters as submission to those placed over us and suffering for God’s glory.

A holy nation: What is a nation, but a unity of people under the same governing body. In our case, we are believers united in Christ under God’s protection. And, as with any nation, we are all unique individuals who must work together to ensure the nation runs smoothly. God sets us each aside for His specific use.

His own special people: Once we were lost, and now have been found. Adopted into the holy family of God. Verse 10 says that once were not a people, but now we are part of God’s people; once we did not know mercy, and now we do. God’s mercy. We are human—sinners in need of redemption—and God showed us mercy. Praise be to the Father!

The list of joys and responsibilities could go on and on outside of these verses. However, we know that ultimately "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Eternal life in the family of God, at home in Heaven.

Today is Monday and we enter into a new week. We should consider how our words and actions reflect both the joys and responsibilities of being adopted into God’s family.

VOTW Psalm 119:114

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” –Psalm 119:114

God’s word holds more power than our deepest fears.

God’s word holds more power than the fiercest army this world can build.

God’s word holds more power than the devil himself.

Yet, how many of us spend sufficient time studying God’s word? I know I don’t. Too often, I let life get in the way. I pretend that it’s okay to push my study time to the side “just for today” to pursue some other distraction (i.e. kids, work, cleaning). And maybe skipping it for one day isn’t that big of deal—but when one day turns into two, and then three, and before you know it a week has passed. You blink again and it’s already the first of the next month. Where did the time go?

Like I said, I’m guilty of this more often than I care to admit. I love reading the Bible, absorbing everything God has to tell me. So why do I keep letting life get in the way of something I love so much?

Well, it’s like salad.

Yes, I said it’s like salad. Follow me on this.

I love salad! That may make me slightly weird, but I do. Give me a bed of lettuce with tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, and hardboiled eggs any day! But—I love French fries, too…and pizza.

Some days, when faced with the choice of salad or French fries (or pizza), I opt for the French fries. Why? Maybe because it’s easier. Maybe because it’s more comforting. Maybe because I just like to savor the warm deliciousness as it slides over my taste buds and…oops, sorry. I forgot myself for a minute. Anyway, my point is, there are many different reasons I may decide on French fries in the moment—but they are definitely not better for me, right?

Starchy, fried-in-oil sticks of death—OR—lush green bed of renewal and taste? Potatoes that will clog my arteries and grow my hips—OR—Salad that will control my blood sugar and give me energy? The choice is simple.

So, like the French fries, the many distractions in my life that I feel have to be dealt with may satisfy me in the short term. Too soon, though, the consequences start to show on the hips—er—soul.

We need to remember that, although something might be easier or seem more important, doesn’t necessarily make it better for us. For a more lasting satisfaction that will help us, not just in this world, but the next, we should make more time to study God’s word for us. It’s calorie free!

Unconditionally

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

We all know the above verse. Even if you’re not a Christian, you’ve heard it. It is probably the most quoted line from the Bible. The words are the entire basis of Christianity and what makes us different. But how much do we really understand about the sacrifice both God and Jesus made?

As I sit here, holding my new precious bundle of joy in my arms, I cringe to think of ever letting anything bad happen to him. As parents, it is natural for us to want to protect our children from all things big and scary in this world (and there are a lot). We know, ultimately, they’ll have to face the world for themselves and we’ll have to let them go. But can you imagine sending your child off, knowing that when he has accomplished his mission, he will die?

I don’t think our human minds can quite wrap around that concept. We would be fighting our selfish nature to snatch up the child and lock him in a closet until the danger passed. No mother sends her soldier off to war, but fights it every step of the way. No mother of a death row inmate wants to watch their child die, but suffers a complex helplessness at the situation. We all want to save our children. And I imagine, in many ways, so did God. But being God, He knew what the world needed. A Savior.

Even Jesus, the human side of him, struggled with the path set before him. In Luke 22:42, Jesus prays that this cup could be taken from him, but that God will would be done. He knew what was expected of him, yet when faced with it, he still struggled. Just like a soldier on his way to war. Still, he willingly went with the guards, and he did not fight when they nailed his wrists and feet to the cross. He did not call down the angels of heaven when the pain became too much. When he struggled to draw in one haggard breath after another.

And yet, both God and Christ put aside their own wants and desires and made the greatest sacrifice. Because they loved us that much. While we were still sinners. They loved us. Unconditionally.