The Gift

I love this time of year! There’s just something in the air. Last night I finished wrapping the Christmas gifts and now can hardly wait to be together with family to celebrate.  As I was wrapping, a memory from long ago came to mind – not that I remember actually but, I remember the story being related to me over the years, especially at this time of year. The story is about a little girl, two and half years old, who caused quite a stir one Christmas. Oh yeah, that little girl was me.  My parents, baby brother and I had been invited to a friend’s home for dinner a couple of days before Christmas. Apparently the dinner conversation at the table was so interesting that the adults did not notice that the little girl had slipped away and had not been seen for quite some time.  Hmmm… where could little Mary be?  My parents got up to look for me, followed by their friends. And then they found me… in the living room, by the Christmas tree sitting in a pile of wrapping paper and ribbon having a wonderful time. I had ripped the paper off of every present under the tree! I wasn’t at all interested in the gifts, but in all the shiny paper and ribbon. I cannot imagine how mortified my parents must have been! These friends had no idea now what presents were for whom, or who had given them what.  Of course, I was oblivious to all of that.

I’m wondering today how many of us overlook the Gift at Christmas. We get caught up in all the hustle and bustle, the glitter and glee so easily. Just as I, so many years ago sat amidst the shiny paper not aware of the things of more value – the gifts that had been enclosed in the paper, how many today overlook what is the most valuable gift of all? Christmas is the celebration of God’s gift to mankind, in the person of Jesus. The gospel of Luke recounts the angel’s message to the shepherds: “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” John 3:16 tells us “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.”

So as we enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, the wonderful family time, good food and celebration, let’s be mindful of the reason for the season – the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Messiah. Let’s not forget the Gift.

Merry Christmas everyone !!!

Decisions...

At our church we have several home groups that meet on Sunday nights.  The Fall sessions started last night and my husband and I joined the group studying the subject of knowing God’s will and how we can discover what God’s will is for our lives. 

As I have shared with you before, sometimes the Lord gives me a ‘picture’ in my mind that helps me to understand something or that helps me to commune with Him. Below is one such time. It is from my journal, written a few years ago, about a time that I was struggling with knowing what God’s will was for me in a certain area.

“I have a picture in my mind that I’m sitting in a boat.  It is evening and I’m looking at a beautiful sunset over the ocean.  The water is very peaceful.  I am alone with Jesus.  I am very happy and at peace there.

As I was thinking about this I began talking to Him about how I feel stressed about my circumstances.  I feel torn in two somehow over the decision I must make.  I feel so much better alone “in my little boat”, but, I am thinking that while it is good to be alone with God that there is much to be accomplished.  So I feel guilty about not doing more.  This turmoil has been in my heart for some time.  God help me to see your will and purpose for my life, and to walk in your will.  [Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good...]  I feel weary even though it seems I’m not doing anything.  I trust God is working this out.  I turn it all over to you Lord.  I will watch and wait for an answer.  Open my ears that I might hear, and my eyes that I might see.  Pour your oil over me Lord and heal my broken heart.  Thank you for letting me float along with you in that little boat and contemplate your beauty.  I love you Lord.

It is when we quiet our hearts before the Lord that we are able to put words to our thoughts, to bring them before the Lord and commune with him.”

Yes, God is always faithful!!!  He did help me and gave me direction for the circumstance quoted above. Do you know one of the things that I so love about God? It’s that I never have to be afraid of what He will think of me when I talk to Him. I can tell Him anything. I can say to Him exactly what I think, what apprehensions I may be having, what I don’t understand – what I love and what I hate; anything at all that I might be feeling. He knows all about it anyway, doesn’t He?  I can bring Him my questions, no matter how simple or how difficult, and yes I can ask Him to help me with decisions that I need to make and then trust Him to guide me on the right path.

Take a quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of life and sit with Jesus for a while.  You will find peace there, peace that passes understanding.

The Chair...

You know those emails that circulate at the office sometimes, or that friends post on social media from time to time – those sentimental stories? Well this is one I received this past week, and because it brought something to my remembrance of what I had personally walked through a few years ago, many years ago now, I wanted to share it and my story with you…

MOM'S EMPTY CHAIR

A woman's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her mother. When the minister arrived, he found the woman lying in bed with her head propped up on two pillows, an empty chair sat beside her bed. The minister assumed that the woman had been informed of his visit... ‘'I guess you were expecting me’, he said. ‘No, who are you?’ said the mother. The minister told her his name and then remarked, ‘I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up...’

‘Oh yeah, the chair,’ said the bedridden woman. ‘Would you mind closing the door?’ Puzzled, the minister shut the door. ‘I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,’ said the woman. ‘But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head... I abandoned any attempt at prayer,’ the old woman continued, ‘until one day four years ago; my best friend said to me, “Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest. Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, ‘I will be with you always’... Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now...” ‘So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though.  If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.’

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old woman to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil, and returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her mama had died that afternoon. ‘Did she die in peace?’ he asked. ‘Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, she called me over to her bedside, told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found her. But there was something strange about her death. Apparently, just before Mom died, she leaned over and rested her head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?’ The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, ‘I wish we could all go like that.’

This story touched me because I remember one time that I actually did this; pulled up a chair to the table and asked Jesus to sit with me because I so needed His help. It was at a time when I was going through a crisis of obedience to what I believed that the Lord was leading me to do – write a letter of forgiveness to someone very close to me. I remember thinking, ‘Lord I know that you are with me always, but how I wish I could just see you sitting on a chair next to me and that I could talk to you just like I would with a close friend. I can’t do what you are asking me to do without Your help.’

Here I was at the table with the paper ready and pen in hand; my obedience to His word to me had gotten me that far, but it was so difficult! How would I find the words, make them the right words and make them sincere words that truly came from the heart?

So I pulled up a chair next to me and talked, poured out my heart and asked for my Friend Jesus to sit next to me and help me write this letter. The more I wrote, the more my own heart was healed of the brokenness I had felt for many years. When the letter was finished I knew that truth was contained in the words that were on the page, the truth that I had truly forgiven all by the grace and ability that God had given me to do so. My Helper and my Counselor was indeed with me.

I mailed the letter, which again was hard to do because I was thinking ‘What will they think? Will they understand? Or will I be crushed again?’ I am so thankful to be able to say that through that letter God worked a healing in the brokenness of the other person too and that that person and I became close, as God had always intended for us to be.

I just want to encourage you, friends, to obey if you have felt God prompting you to do something in any area of your life. He won’t ask you to do it alone. He’ll help you all the way. Just take a step of obedience. Talk to Him like He’s your very best friend. He is!!! – a closer friend than anyone who could sit next to you on a chair.  

All is not as it seems…

I had a telephone call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft Security Systems saying they were calling me because of a malicious virus infecting computers. I knew this was a scam but for some reason I let her talk for a while and asked her questions like "So you're telling me that everyone running windows is infected?" Yes "So you are calling the millions of people in the world to advise them?" Yes. “Wow you must have some staff there!” She wanted me to go to the "run" box of my computer and type in a code. Well, of course, I did not. They sound very convincing and quite adamant that they are legit – how she was doing me a favour and was saving my computer. Ha!

Now, why would I write this in my blog???? I can certainly see a spiritual application here. The Bible tells us that the enemy (Satan) goes around looking for those who will fall prey to his schemes, those he can devour. He is the biggest scammer of all time. His goal is to kill, steal and destroy. The Word tells us there will be false signs and wonders; that he can even make himself appear like an angel of light. In other words what he dangles in front of your face looks like, smells like, seems like the truth, or a good idea, BUT it is NOT, it will lead you away from God and all that is good.

While discussing this with my husband he very wisely said “Test everything by the Word”.  Now there’s a word of wisdom !!!  Which brings me to another point. How can we test everything by the Word if we don’t take the time to study it – at least read it regularly?  When we are tempted what should we do? – go to the source for help, to the Word of God and in prayer ask for guidance. In the book of James the Word says that God WILL give wisdom to those who ask. The Lord is our helper, our deliverer, the lover of our souls, closer than our breath and a very present help in time of trouble.

We always go to the Source, the Word of God, on the matters of life, and the decisions we are faced with every day. If you are feeling a ‘check’ in your spirit about something you are considering, consult the Lord. He will guide you on the path of LIFE.

Pivot points…

Over the last few days I have watched some of the special programming on the 10^th anniversary of 9/11 – that terrible day, and pivotal time in history. On one program where people who were there on that day ten years ago were interviewed, something one man said really struck me. A man who was working in an office was interviewed. His co-workers said that this man was always smiling; nothing seemed to really upset him at work. He didn’t engage in all the trivial nit-picking and usual office complaining. The interviewer asked the man about it. He replied something like this: “I see my co-workers getting upset for such trivial things, the way I look at it, if you don’t have a passenger jet crashing into your building then you are having a good day at work”. On 9/11 this man was working on the 84^th floor of the North Tower. This man escaped just before the building collapsed.

It seems that this man now bases how he reacts to things that happen to him based on that pivot point in his life where everything changed and was never the same. I admire his resiliency and that he has been able to overcome the terror and trauma of that day, a nightmare from which some that were there have not been able to wake, who relive the horror every day. I pray that God would surround them with His grace and His love, that they would turn to Him that they might be healed.

I was convicted by the testimony of this man. I have found myself complaining over trivial things too, at work and elsewhere. Every day we have is a gift, isn’t it? What kind of an impact am I having on those around me? A positive one or a negative one. When they observe how I go about my day what do they see? – someone who is resilient in overcoming various trials? – someone who has hope and joy? – someone who overcomes evil with good?

We all face pivot points in our lives, some happy and joyful like the birth of a child; and some tragic and sad like a loss of a child. The Bible tells us in Psalm 46 that God is a very present help in time of trouble. I know this to be true experientially.

I pray that I would always turn to Him, my joy and the lifter of my head, immediately when a difficult pivotal time comes in my life so that I will receive the help He extends to me and that I would live my days with joy in my heart so that others would see that God is GOOD, that they would be drawn to this wonderful Saviour, this majestic, powerful, awesome, loving and merciful God – the God who loves each one of them with an everlasting love and extends His arms to them continually.  

I pray also that when I find myself ready to complain about trivial things that I would remember the example of this man who realizes that each day he has is a gift.

I'm praying for you...

What comforting and powerful words!

A dear lady, for whom I have great respect, spoke these very words to me before the church service started last Sunday morning. We didn’t have a long conversation, just a quick greeting and her words “I’m praying for you”.

As I went and sat down, waiting for the service to start it was as if I could feel God’s arms wrapped around me. Ah yes Lord, You are aware of my circumstances aren’t you? – of my being so mentally tired after coming home from work because of the changes that I feel too tired to write, and then feeling guilty because I am not keeping the commitment to write that I made to myself I guess, and to others.

God continually amazes me! He put me on this person’s heart and she faithfully interceded for me. And I have felt His sustaining power over the last few weeks as I struggle to organize and get my head around all that is now expected of me. He truly is my help and through Him I am able to accomplish all that He has brought into my path.

Has God brought someone to your mind lately? Sometimes it can seem like just a thought in passing; sometimes a stronger urging to pray for someone. Let’s be mindful of these invitations to pray – whether it be a quick lifting up of the person to God as we go about our day, or as need be a deeper conversation with God about the person when we have more time. If the occasion arises let that person know that you have been praying for them. Let’s use every opportunity to be encouragers!

James 5:16b (Amplified Bible)

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

Can you smell that?

2 Corinthians 2:14-16a

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life.

Wow, I’m just wondering how smelly I am – in the good sense, of course (smile)

First of all we are told that God ALWAYS leads us in TRIUMPH in Christ – Good News!!!

And note this amazing fact: through us the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ is diffused every place we go !!! So again my question, just how fragrant am I as I go about my daily life, in my home, at the mall, at my workplace?

F. B. Meyer wrote this about this verse:

Wherever they went men knew Jesus better; the loveliness of the Master's character became more apparent. Men became aware of a subtle fragrance, poured upon the air, which attracted them to the Man of Nazareth.

As we live our lives daily honouring our Lord and His Word, as we are led by the Spirit obeying His promptings, we emit this fragrance (the knowledge of our Lord Jesus – the gospel) everywhere we go. Among those who are being saved it is the aroma of life; to those who refuse to bow the heart to Christ it is the aroma of death. Our job is to be fragrant. The result of how others perceive and react to the fragrance is not in our hands. It is between the person and God alone.

Let’s get out there and smell good!!! 

Light Overcomes Darkness

I love this picture. It was done by my teenage niece, a budding photographer. She graciously gave me permission to use it here. I see so much in it as I am sure you will as well. I love her perspective and the thought she put behind it. It speaks to me.

When we are in the midst of dark circumstances it becomes easy to forget that there is the Light of the World, Jesus our Lord and Saviour, who overcame darkness and that in Him we are overcomers as well.  I have a dear friend who is facing very dark, wicked circumstances, seemingly impossible. This friend has not forgotten the One who is a very present help in trouble, no matter how bad that trouble is. This friend is fighting the good fight of faith with the Word of God, and will see victory. Fighting the good fight of faith is not giving up hope, not giving in to fear, not giving up, resting in God, remaining in peace while the battle rages, knowing that you have a God who will never leave you, never forsake you and who is at work on your behalf.

Sometimes we need our Father to pick us up and hold us – He does.

Sometimes we need our God to give us wisdom – He does.

Sometimes we need our God to sing over us with songs of deliverance – His Word says He does.

Sometimes we need our God to whisper comfort to us with His still small voice – He does.

Sometimes we need our God to rise up in His might and do battle to smite the enemy – Oh yes, most assuredly He does that too!

Who is like unto our God!!!!! Ah, there is none like Him!!!

There is no darkness that His light cannot penetrate. Light triumphs over darkness.

Psalm 27:1-7, 11-14 THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation – whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, [even then] in this will I be confident. 4One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple. 5For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock. 6And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. 7Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be gracious to me and answer me!...  11Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain and even path because of my enemies [those who lie in wait for me]. 12Give me not up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me; they breathe out cruelty and violence. 13[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living! 14Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

A Word in Season

Hello friends. I certainly enjoyed my six weeks of vacation. I was not particularly looking forward to returning to work (normal, I guess) especially as I knew that my responsibilities were to double upon my return. God is so faithful. He brought me a word through our Pastor’s sermon this past Sunday. Quite amazing – but then God is amazing, isn’t He ! Our Pastor did not know about the changes I would be facing upon my return to work and all that that entailed. Guess what he spoke to us about? – facing change! Yes folks, he did – all that he shared was definitely a word in season for me. How I praise my Father for His goodness to me. God knew all that I was facing and how I was allowing a bit of fear to creep in, a bit of sadness, a bit of stress, even anger – all to rob me of my peace. During the sermon our Pastor reminded us of a song “The world didn’t give it to me and the world can’t take it away” – speaking about the peace we have, the peace that passes understanding. There was a big AMEN in my heart on that one. I thought, “That’s right! What is this trying to rob me of my peace? I have the peace of God in me! I don’t have to be afraid, or burdened. God will give me everything I need to face this challenge.” And so, last night when I went to bed I thanked Him for that peace, asked Him that when I returned to work this morning that I would walk in with a genuine smile on my face, that I would be cheerful, as cheerful as the daisies in a field on a sunny day. That is exactly what happened – I had the peace that passes understanding and a genuine smile on my face.

Maybe you are facing change in your life. Trust in the Lord. Turn your burdens over to Him. He knows exactly where He is taking you and He’ll give you everything you need for the journey. 

Which way ???

Have you ever felt like a starfish?

Huh??? A starfish???

Yeah, I mean it’s got at least five choices in which way to go. How does it know which way is the best way?

You’ve got a dream, a fleeting glimpse of something that you are sure God put in your heart – well, at one time you were sure.  How to get there? By what means? Which way should you turn?

You’ve got a decision to make, it’s a tough decision – which way should you turn?

Your friends are all comfortable with a certain activity, but there is something gnawing away at your spirit about it. Which is better, to risk offending your friends and follow the leading of the Spirit or just let things slide? Which way should you turn?

There are numerous scenarios, aren’t there. Everyone, no exceptions, faces choices every day – some difficult, some not so difficult, and thus the reference to the starfish. It can set out in any direction. I know that there are times that I have felt exactly like that – which way should I go?

There is One who has promised to lead us and guide us. His promise is to not leave us alone to our own devices, but to show us the way. There are times the way is not so evident but that does not nullify the promise, it just means we need to be patient and diligent in seeking direction. He will help us. He will guide us into the plan He has for us.

Proverbs 3: 5-6 TRUST in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Psalm 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me.

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk and live in your truth; direct and unite my heart (solely, reverently) to fear your name.

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

Getting to know the Voice

I heard an interesting story. It was the story of a man who went on a trip to Israel. He was visiting some area of the countryside and he had stopped by a well where there was a watering hole for animals. One shepherd was there with his sheep when along came another shepherd and his sheep. The two herds of sheep mixed all together to drink water and the two shepherds stood together talking. The man thought, I have to wait around and watch this, how are these men going to separate their sheep. After a few minutes, to his amazement, he watched as one shepherd started to walk away and as he called out to his sheep his flock left the watering hole and followed him. The sheep knew the voice of their shepherd.

We need to know the voice of our Shepherd so that we will follow Him wherever He leads. Not only will we hear Him speak direction to us for our own lives, I believe it is God’s desire to use each one of us to touch the lives of those who surround us. He wants to use us to bring His words of life, a healing word, His love and comfort. Let’s get to know His voice more, to trust Him more so that as we go about our daily lives we will be so in tune with Him that we will always be able to discern His voice over the many voices that compete for our attention. Maybe there is someone God is laying on your heart to intercede for. Maybe someone needs an encouraging word. Maybe someone needs a loaf of bread or a bag of groceries. The Shepherd will talk to you about these kinds of things. Let’s get in tune with Him. Let’s spend time with Him in the Word. Let’s learn to hear and to obey.

Does God really talk to us today? Yes. John 10:3-5 says “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.. he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice”; v. 14-16 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me… they will listen to my voice”. 

When life throws you a curve ball...

It can happen to you, it can happen to me – and it did, a curve ball that I was not expecting. And therefore the struggle, I know how I should react and respond, but will I? Yes, by God’s grace I will react in the right way. I find it interesting that after I wrote what I did last Friday morning that I would need to apply that word myself the same afternoon and I will need to in the coming days.

When first processing the situation I was upset, angry and overwhelmed. There’s no way around it, I have to walk through, and walk through I shall with my Father, because He is able to make all grace abound towards me.

Here’s the thing, the battle is in the mind. The flesh says, stick up for yourself, let them know what you think. There is a time and a place for that in certain circumstances, but not always. Sometimes it’s best to say nothing and let God take up the battle for you. We need to seek God’s wisdom in the things we face. We need to obey what we know is His way. His way is the winning way. His way is the overcoming way.

So as a follow up to Friday’s post about relinquishing our rights and pressing on, here are a couple of thoughts. It is true that we have a choice – we can choose to react any way we want because we have the freedom to choose. We will of course reap the consequences of our choices. We have the choice to lay down our lives for God and to follow His ways in obedience or to live for self. It is a daily walk with daily decisions, isn’t it? As we face different situations, different decisions, we choose whether to obey God’s way or what our flesh and the enemy of our soul is trying to dictate.

The question pops into the mind “so you’re just going to let them think that you’re fine with everything, you’re just going to let them win without saying a word – that’s not fair!” Recognize that voice? Yeah, it comes from the pit.  

Well I’m choosing life !! I’m casting my cares on Him and facing the day knowing that Father is actively working everything out for my good AND more importantly, for His glory. Here we go Lord, into the day together. Change me Lord, make me strong. I’m pressing on.

Pressing On

Cast all your cares on God believing that in so doing He is actively at work to perform His word and His promise. Get up and face the day with the conviction that God is working everything out for your good, and more importantly, for His honour and glory.

There has to be a turning point where you consciously make this decision. When it is done then you can face the day with joy and peace. This is the relinquishing – relinquishing what you want, what you think is best and trusting God instead. This is not always easy, but must be done so that God can take the lump of clay and form it. This will only happen through continually yielding your life over into the Potter’s hands.

Is God truly able to make something more and more beautiful out of your life? In the yielding is He truly able to make all grace abound in your life? Are we able to stop thinking about what we (our flesh) want? Is it possible for us to live daily with the attitude – You are my desire Lord? YES it is possible!!! YES it is worth dying to self!!! YES He is worthy of our trust!!!

With God nothing is impossible. We can be tempted to hang around in graveyard mourning over something on which God has closed the door. If He closed one door it is only because there are new horizons to discover, to move towards.

Help me today Lord. Help me to relinquish my right to what I want to do, what I think is best, so that You can bring new life, hope and peace to me. Yes Lord as I stand here at the edge and take a great leap of faith, believing that as I leap and begin falling, you Father will catch me and swoop me up in Your arms and say “Now see what I have planned for you all along, what I have been longing to see in you all this time”.  Yes Lord, as an eagle pushes the eaglet out of the nest so it will learn to soar on the winds, so too Lord you nudge us ever onward into trusting You alone so that we will learn to soar on the winds of Your Spirit, always heading in the direction of Your divine plan and purpose. Oh Lord, may it be so with me.

His love endures forever. His ways are perfect and far above our ways.

Philippians 3: 12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me ... forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The Land of In-Between (Part 2/2)

(If you haven’t read yesterday’s post please do so before reading this one).

It may be that God is leading you away from something familiar into a new thing; from something that has become comfortable into the unknown. I am not referring to deliverance from captivity (although that is one application). This could be from one place of ministry to something new. It could be a move from one place to another or from one job to another, from one situation in life to another, etc. Part of the journey may include a trip through the desert. Expect that your old sources may dry up. Expect some doors to close before new ones are opened. This is by God’s grace. It’s all a part of getting you ready for the next phase. Those of you who are living this now, or have made the journey at least once will understand that it is not an easy place to dwell, the Land of In-Between. It is a hard place. There are tests that come in the desert. Resist the temptation to become fearful. Resist the temptation to become complacent or impatient during the time you are hidden away. Resist the thoughts that the enemy tries to get you to believe, that you have missed God somehow and that He won’t use you again or that He has forgotten about you. Keep your focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. He hasn’t forgotten you. He sees you there in that desert. In fact it’s all a part of the plan – the plan for good and not for evil, the plan to prosper you, not to harm you; and the plan to bless others through you.

It’s like a person who owns a valuable treasure. He sets it out for all the world to see. Then sometimes he puts it away for awhile, tweaks it a bit, polishes it up, and then sets it back out again in a different setting. The treasured piece did not lose its value; it just wasn’t the right time and place for it to be displayed. The owner knows the purpose of the piece and when is the most opportune time to set it out.

If you are presently in the Land of In-Between I encourage you to keep gathering up and eating your daily portion of Manna while God is leading you into the new thing He has purposed for you. Rest in Him. Trust Him always. Listen for His voice telling you to go this way or that. Let Him lead. He will bring you into a profitable land. Do you know what else? He will even send you a ‘Moses’ or two along the way with an encouraging word from the Lord to strengthen you on your journey. Yes, God is always and forever GOOD.

The Land of In-Between (Part 1)

When Moses under God’s direction was leading the Israelites out of captivity they eventually ran out of their own provisions. The supply of food they were used to eating back in Egypt was consumed and now here they were in the desert with nothing. There was no market around the next sand dune where they could buy food, even though they had plenty of money – the wealth of Egypt in their pockets. What had become familiar to them was gone. They didn’t know what the land they were going to would be like. All they knew was that here they were in the desert, in between where they came from and where they were going, and they were hungry, confused and afraid. This turned to anger, anger towards God’s chosen leader Moses, and before too long anger towards God.

God had a plan all along. He knew that the way to the next thing He had on the agenda for them passed through a desert. He knew they would run out of their own provisions, all the worldly things they were counting on. Surely they knew after seeing how He had delivered them from the land of bondage that He would continue to look after them now! How quickly they forgot the awesome display of His power. How could they have thought that God would leave them now and let them starve in the desert? Could it be that they knew about Him but they didn’t know Him? Or if they knew Him, they didn’t know Him well enough? God wanted them to know Him. He knew they needed to know Him, not just about Him. He was their Father. He had a plan, a plan for good and not for evil; a plan to prosper them, not to harm them. This part of the journey was a part of that plan.

No, God did not let them starve. He fed them, miraculously, there in the desert. They called it Manna (Exodus 16). It was bread that fell from heaven. Not too much, not too little – just what they needed each day to keep them going from the Land of In-Between to the land of promise.

If you have time today, read this over again and make a note of what comes to mind. It could be that Father has something to say to you.

Part 2 tomorrow…

Alone

Over the last few weeks on my drive to work early in the morning I have noticed a little boy standing by himself waiting for the school bus. He must be no older than 7 or 8. Why do I find this disconcerting? It’s because a few steps away there is another group of children waiting for the same bus. They are all laughing and talking together. I find myself wondering, why is this little boy standing all alone? Why is he not with the rest of the kids? He is probably in the same class at school with some of them.

Unfortunately the possible answers to my questions all lead to a negative conclusion and my heart goes out to this little one. But what can I do? I don’t know who he is. I don’t know any of the children. There is one thing I can do, and that one thing I did – I talked to God about him. I talked to the Friend of the friendless, the Father of the fatherless, the One who sees and knows all things. Yes, I prayed for this little boy and I will continue to do so every time I see him or that he comes to mind. I am expecting a good outcome – to see him someday soon talking and laughing with the other children.

Jesus often went out of his way to minister to the lonely, the social outcasts, the ones no one wanted anything to do with. We can think of the woman at the well, the lame, the blind, the lepers, tax collectors, etc.  Jesus saw them all as people of value and definitely worth His time.

Let’s be mindful of those around us. Who needs a smile or a friendly word? Who do you see who is seemingly alone? Who can you share God’s love with today? 

What’s in a name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.”

Yes, the famous line that Juliet Capulet speaks to Romeo Montague in Shakespeare’s play. Juliet is telling her lover that his name has no importance; it is the person she loves, thus asking him to give up his name and family so he can be hers. It is a tragic story.

Equally tragic is the fact that in the name of peace, tolerance and global goodwill, we are encouraged to attach no importance to names as well. What’s in a name, people say. The gospel of world is do your best to be a good citizen, accept everyone and their beliefs just as they are, point no fingers, make no waves, worship the god you choose, or no god at all.

But there is a NAME above every name!!!

There is one NAME given among men by which we must be saved.* There is only one NAME at the mention of which every knee will bow and every tongue will confess; there is only one NAME at the mention of which demons tremble in terror – that is the name Jesus; Jesus who is the Christ, the Anointed One, Lord of lords and the King of kings.

Yes people are free to name any name they like and to worship any gods they like, place their hope in one or a million gods but, there is only ONE who rose triumphant from the grave, who took away the sting of death. There is only ONE who paid the price, who took the wrath of God against sin on our behalf.

That is a Name not to be given up at any cost, not to be trifled with – a name to be honoured and cherished, the name JESUS.

* Acts 4:12 – Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Putting your best foot forward (4/4)

So here you are, standing at the door looking down into the basement. You don’t need to face the darkness alone. There is Someone standing right beside you. He’s not worried about what He is going to find. He already knows what’s there. Take off the mask!!! Invite Him in! There will be no shocked expression on His face. He is excited about getting down there, about setting you free! What does the Word say? “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). Take the hand He is holding out to you and He will walk with you down the steps. He will bring light to the darkness, reveal things that are hidden. Some things will need to be thrown away and completely destroyed. Other things He will repair and transform. He is gentle and kind, but He is absolutely thorough. There are no half-measures with Him, nor would you want there to be.

It is a process. Restoration may be finished in a day, a month, a year or longer. God knows the time it will take. Whatever it takes, however long it takes, it is worth it. We will always need to grow in grace and in truth until the day we meet Him face to face. Just ask Him every day – Come in Lord Jesus, search my heart, see if there is any wicked way in me, if there is any lie I am believing, if there is anything that needs repair, any wounds that need to be healed. I want to set my unmasked face before the world. I want to be me, the me you created me to be – the me that is continually being transformed from glory to glory. Let the world see the me that experiences ups and downs, that is sometimes perplexed, happy or sad, that laughs and cries, and at the same time a me who with unmasked face reflects the inner peace and joy that comes from knowing Christ.

No more worries about putting your best foot forward. Step out with confidence knowing that He will complete the good work He began in you. (Phil 1:6)

Putting your best foot forward (3/4)

Have you ever said or thought to yourself, “I wish I had someone I could talk to, I mean really talk to who would truly understand, someone who wouldn’t judge me or think less of me”? The Lord is that person! Not only does He see what is going on inside your head and your heart, He knows what to do about it.

It’s like a dark basement in a house where things are put away; put away from your vision and hopefully from your mind. You don’t want to go there. It makes you feel uncomfortable and uneasy. You don’t want anyone else to go there either – I mean look at the clutter and the cobwebs. What would they think!!! You don’t trust these places in your heart with just anyone, and you shouldn’t. But there is One you can completely trust. He will not break that which is already bruised. He will not snuff out the dying ember. (Isaiah 42:3)

Jesus said this about Himself in Luke 4:18-19 (NKJ):

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.

Here is verse 18 in the Amplified version:

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity]

Whatever is holding you captive, whatever has caused brokenness in your life, bring it to Jesus. He will set you free. He will heal your brokenness.

(Meditate on Psalm 34 and come back tomorrow for the conclusion.) 

Putting your best foot forward (2/4)

Have you been thinking about the answer to yesterday’s question: How do we become this ‘put together’ person who doesn’t need to wear a mask?

If you remember from yesterday, the last mask I mentioned is the one we put on when we go before the Lord in prayer. Actually, this is the FIRST one we have to get rid of. When this mask is destroyed the other masks will be destroyed as well.

Ask yourself, “Do I wear a mask before God?” Think about it. Do you ever try to hide things from Him? Are there things you don’t want to discuss with Him? Things you can’t face? Places you just don’t want to go? Things you don’t want to pray about? Things that are too painful? Things for which you are too ashamed? Things that you don’t want to admit to yourself and certainly not to Him?

These same things that you don’t want to, or can’t bring yourself to discuss with your heavenly Father are the very things that keep you bound to all the other masks that you wear!

Let this sink in – there is one person in the universe before whom you don’t have to put your best foot forward. Do you know why?

Because He already knows! – He already knows what both feet look like !!! Yes my friend, He sees behind the mask that you wear. He knows more about you than you do yourself! Let Him help you remove the mask. He so wants to set you free!

(to be continued)

Putting your best foot forward

We try to do that, don’t we? – Always put our best foot forward. Why? Because we want the world to see a person who is all put together, successful, happy and who has everything under control 100% of the time.

In order to keep up this masquerade we have to put on many masks. We have one we wear in public, another one in front of our spouse, one when we’re with our children, a different one for our work colleagues, a very special one reserved for when we go to church, etc. etc. We even have a mask that we wear when we look at ourselves in the mirror. Oh yes, and don’t forget the one that we put on when we go before the Lord in prayer.

Now before I go any further let me say that of course we should be positive and pleasant with everyone we meet. What I am saying is that this should come from a true state of who we have become from the inside out, not something that we have to pretend.

All these masks we carry around are quite a heavy burden; even so we become very adept at juggling them. It all takes a toll on our wellbeing. So the question is how do we become this ‘put together’ person who doesn’t need to wear a mask?

Tune in tomorrow….

The Scary Prayer

“Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray thee Lord my soul to keep

If I should die before I wake…..”

What???  If I should die???  Am I going to die???

Now that’s a scary prayer for a child, and unfortunately it’s children that were taught to pray it.

I remember one night when I was five years old that I was lying in my bed crying and crying. My mother came into my room to see what was the matter. So through my sobs I wailed “I’m going to get old… sob… sob… and I’m going to die…” I don’t remember what comforting words my mother told me, I’m sure she did give me some because I don’t remember ever crying over getting old again (until recently that is… sorry, just kidding).

As a young child I prayed this scary “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer.  I didn’t really know much about God, but I’d heard that He was in heaven somewhere and I hoped that I would get to go there someday, if I was good enough. I remember thinking that God, whoever and wherever he was, had the whole world to worry about so I was quite sure he was much too busy to care about me.

What an absolute joy it is for me to hear my grandchildren’s bedtime prayers when they sleep over at our house on occasion.  They are not praying the “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer. They amaze me that at the tender ages of 6 and 8, they talk to God like they really know Him, like He’s right there listening to their every word (which He is) and like He is going to answer their prayers (which He will). They speak to the Lord about many different things, for example they ask God to keep their daddy safe at work, pray to have pleasant dreams, for a friend’s mother to believe in Jesus, healing for another one in need and even for world events that they hear about – all spoken with absolute confidence and with thankfulness mixed in.

Do you talk to God like that? Or are you still of the mindset that God is so busy looking after the universe that He doesn’t care about or have time for you.  Jeremiah 33:3 says “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Yes, call on the Lord today, He’s not too busy for you. He will answer you. Talk to Him like He’s your best friend, because He is!!!

He loves me ! (4/4)

No greater love.

God loves us so much that He made a way for us to come into His presence. Do you realize how valuable you are to Him? Think of the price that was paid – that should give you an idea of how valuable you are to God. Think about that!

Because of the love and mercy the Father has for us Jesus came into this world and to the cross to take the punishment upon Himself that we deserved, because of our sin. Jesus has done what was impossible for us to do. It is by grace that we are led to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. If this is your testimony you can go boldly and confidently to Him because you have been adopted into His family.

The Bible tells us in Heb 4:16 to go BOLDLY before the throne of grace - boldly, not sneaking up to the throne hoping we won’t get kicked away. Go boldly.

Let me tell you about my daughter’s two Siamese cats, Sushi and Misu. (Great name for Siamese cats, don’t you think?). Misu is very timid. When she wants to get up on my lap she kind of daintily goes around and under the chair a couple of times and then crouchingly sneaks up and then looks up at me with her big blue eyes to see if I am going to let her stay there or not.  Sushi on the other hand, is completely different – no sneaking around with her, she just jumps up with confidence as if to say “here I am”.

That’s what we need to do. Go to our Heavenly Father with confidence. He always has time for us.

People are searching for significance and security. We will not find true significance and security in what the world has to offer, but it is found in Christ. He does not treat us the way the world treats us. His ways are far above our ways. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Heb. 13:8

Let it be ANCHORED in your heart that God is for you - that He loves you and that He is able to keep you; that He is able to complete the good work He started in you.  Phil 1:6

How healing it is to just to sit securely in Father’s lap, enfolded in His strong arms. You don’t have to say a word.  In fact, sometimes it’s better not to say anything - just listen. Listen to Him say “I love you”.

The Father loves me.

The Son loves me.

The Holy Spirit loves me.

I am loved.

Nothing can change God’s love for me.

He loves me... He loves me not (3/4)

God’s steadfast love

I Peter 5:7 (AMP) “Casting the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

WOW, the Word says He cares for us affectionately and watchfully!!! We are to cast our worries, our burdens and our cares on Him. What burdens are you carrying around? Why not do what this verse says and lay them all at the feet of Jesus. He doesn’t just care for you affectionately - He cares about you watchfully! He’s watching over you, you just have to call His Name.

Whoops… some of you have just had a thought, it just crept in there, in your mind, that goes something like this:  “yeah I know He’s watching over those who deserve it, you know, they’ve done all the right things” – no, no, my friend – let’s say it again, you can’t earn His love.  It’s not about what you’ve done. It’s about who HE IS!!! HE IS LOVE AND HoE LOVES YOU!! PERIOD.

What an amazing love, a deep and abiding love that we will only fully grasp when we meet Him face to face.  Until that time we can grow in that love every day.

His love gives    STRENGTH to go on in difficult times

                        PEACE in the storms of life

                        HOPE when things look bad in the natural

                        JOY in spite of circumstances

                        COURAGE to take that next step, to face the giants in our lives

His love gives    FREEDOM to discover who He is

FREEDOM to discover His plan for our lives

FREEDOM to be yourself and

PEACE & ASSURANCE to wait on Him – He really is working all things together for good in your life.

Psalm 57:1-3 BE MERCIFUL and gracious to me, O God, be merciful and gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You; yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed. (2)  I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]! (3)  He will send from heaven and save me from the slanders and reproaches of him who would trample me down or swallow me up, and He will put him to shame. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! God will send forth His mercy and loving-kindness and His truth and faithfulness.

He loves me… He loves me not?????

I believe the truth is sinking in… He loves me !