Standing on The Word

“Comfort, comfort my people”, says your God.  “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”  Isaiah 40:1-2

Is God speaking of Jesus?  That He is to comfort us?  The gentle Savior has saved us?  If so, then this may be a prophecy of Christ.  He IS our comfort AND our Savior!!!

When the work on the cross was done and Jesus breathed his last breath, He cried out in a loud voice; “It is FINISHED!”

Friends, you must know that it is finished!  Our warfare has ended.  Your sins are forgiven.  You can be restored!!!

We must stop believing the lies.  “You’re not good enough!  You can’t be forgiven for THAT!  You never do anything right!  You’re hopeless!”  The enemy has set his warfare against us.  He likely knows just the weak spot in which to throw his punches.  He is on a mission to destroy us.  If he can paralyze us-he is one up.

But the Lord says, “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that her warfare is ended.”  The Lord says, “Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.”  The Lord says, “we are more than conquerors!”

We are instructed in Ephesians 6 to put on the whole Armor of God so that we will be able to stand.  One of those pieces is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  (Ephesians 6:17) Just as Jesus used the Word to stand against saten in the wilderness, so we must use God’s Word to stand against the enemy in our own wildernesses.

What are the lies that you have believed?  Identify them and ask the Lord to give you His Word to stand against that lie.  Then go to His Word and search it, led by the Holy Spirit, you will find just the right words to stand your ground.  Write them out, put them on your refrigerator, and memorize the Scriptures that God gives you.

And don’t forget to praise Him!  For God is good all the time and His mercies endure forever!

Heavenly Father,

Thank you that you sent your Son, Jesus, for the forgiveness of our sins.  He died so that we would live.  Help us not to live halfheartedly as ones who have no hope, but may we grab onto your Words and promises and live ours lives abundantly!

In that precious name, Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

Surviving . . .

Have you ever been in survival mode?  It’s not a very fun place to be nor do I ever want to stay there!  When I’m in survival mode, I am more than ready to throw in the white towel of surrender.  But who or what will I surrender to?  Only when I surrender to Jesus, can I find my way out of the survival mode and back into living.

I believe God has given me these 4 tidbits of wisdom to help get me back on my feet and back into alignment with Him.  With that, I will share these thoughts:

1.  Personalize God’s Word.  Find Scripture that speaks to your situation.  Write it down, hang it on your fridge, post it on your bathroom mirror.  Read His Words until you believe them.  Commit these words to memory.  Ask the Lord to write them upon your heart.  (Psalms 119:11)  When Jesus stood before saten in Matthew 4, He quoted Scripture.  So go to His Word and discover what it is the Lord would say to you and then believe Him.

2.  Trust a friend.  Find someone to confide in where you feel safe.  Find support.  Pour out your heart to that person.  If possible, pray with that person.  If you’re not trusting of a friend, find support in a Christian Counselor or through a Prayer Counseling Center.  Don’t carry your burden alone.

3.  Pray.  Pray constantly.  (Romans 12:12)  Pour your heart out to the Lord.  He is ALWAYS with you and loves you and hears your every word.

4.  Last but certainly not least.  Praise Him!  This one took me several months, if not years, but I finally got it!  Praise Him in the storm as the song sings.  With your whole heart-praise Him!  Knowing fully that He is in control and His timing is perfect.  You CAN TRUST GOD!!!

“Rejoice in your hope.  Be patient in tribulation.  Be constant in prayer.”  Romans 12:12

Colossians 3:12-17

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for your Word!  Ephesians 6: 17 states that your Word is the Sword of Spirit.  Equip me with your Word that I would be able to stand.  I pray that you would write it upon my heart and keep it ever in my mind that I would be able to call it to my lips whenever I need it.  Thank you that you are able to see us through any storm and that you never leave us nor forsake us but hold us close and gently guide us.  Guide me today, I pray, in your precious, holy name.  Amen.

The Good Stuff

 

Have you ever wanted something so much, that you find yourself living, breathing, searching, and devoting all of your time, energy, and existence towards it?  I find that when something has become that important to me, I need to ask myself these questions:

1. Is it REALLY that important?
2. Would it be beneficial for me?  Or if it’s something that I find myself obsessing over, is it beneficial for me?
3. Is it beneficial to God’s Kingdom?  On the final judgment day, will this thing that I am craving, really matter?

Jesus invites us to “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”  Is it time to turn this obsession over to God?  He is waiting, ready to take it from you, but He won’t just take it, you have to give it to Him.

I’ve been reading Proverbs and in Chapter 2, we are given that which is worth our time, energy and existence.

I can hear these words as if given by a grandpa.  One who has wisdom and who has experienced life.  One who is ready to share the secret to happiness.  Imagine with me, as you read these words and know that they are from our God, the Creator of all things;

“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his saints.  Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you’ understanding will guard you’ delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil; men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.” Proverbs 2: 1-15

The Words continue to give us some benefits to seeking wisdom.  As we seek for wisdom, He gives it to us, we will understand Him better, He will help us walk in His ways, He guards our paths with justice and preserves our ways.  Wisdom will be in our hearts, it will be pleasant to our souls.  We will make wise decisions.  He will deliver us from evil things, from men who seek to harm us.  As the book of Proverbs continues we find that when we seek wisdom, He will keep us on the path of righteousness, He will give us the land to inhabit.  When we keep His commandments we will have length of days and years of life, abundant welfare will He give us.  Write His Word upon your heart, bind them around your neck and you will find favor in the sight of God and man.

Who wishes to walk in the favor of the Lord AND man?  I do.

I find God’s Word incredible!  For whatever the problem, when I turn to His Word, I find the answer.  This morning I found myself obsessing over useless, unimportant activities.  Then I heard the Lord speak-He reminded me of these Words from Proverbs.  This is the substance that I want to obsess over.  This is the “good stuff”!

I hope you will continue to read Proverbs as our Lord describes the benefits to obsessing over Him and His ways.  Let’s throw ourselves into reckless abandon to the One who gave His life for us.  I’m so glad that Jesus wasn’t distracted from the work that He was sent to do.  He kept in constant communion with His Father, so that He could carry out their plan of salvation!

Thank you Jesus, for your obedience.  Help me to walk in obedience to you, for you gave it all for me!  Amen.

I can do it all by myself!

This week during our fellowship, Teresa shared another devotional from Max Lucado and while doing that, fondly recalled one of her children saying “I can do it all by myself!” when she was barely old enough to talk.  It makes me wonder . . .

Mom watches . . .

The child takes the gallon jug of juice out of the refrigerator; it’s almost as big as she is.  She’s going to attempt to pour it into the tiny juice glass.  As mom leans down to lend a helping hand, the child looks up at her, the jug barely off of the floor now, and defiantly states; “I can do it myself!”  Mom smiles at the thought of this 2 year old and her independence while simultaneously thinking; Oh no!  I have a monster on my hands!  She reaches down and helps direct the flow of juice into the tiny glass and relieves her child from potential disaster.

I wonder how many times God has smiled upon us as we try to take on burdens too heavy for us, ones that were never meant for us to carry.  What are you carrying today that He wants you to give to Him?  Are you ready to surrender?  Or like the 2 year old, are you saying to the Lord, “I can do it myself!”?

 

Psalms 37:5 “Commit your way to the LORD: trust in Him, and He will act.”

Staying the Course . . .

 

The Lord told me to write!  I love to write.  So why is it so hard to write?!???  And yet, I spend time arguing with myself as to whether I heard God or just made it up in my mind.  Did He really call me to write?  Has He gifted me to write?  Well, I can waste the day away wondering (and I have) or I can start to write.  So this is my attempt at obedience.  Since the inspiration that started this blog took place before Christmas-the 23^rd of December, I believe, it’s obvious that I’m a little slow to obey the Lord God.  For if it was the Lord who told me to write then I have spent many days doubting Him.  Many excuses.  Many obstacles.  Many fears.

It’s time for obedience.  I’ve titled this Staying the Course.  Isn’t that what we need to do when we’re walking by faith and things aren’t moving as fast as we’d like them to move?  Or when we doubt the Word given to us?  David was just a shepherd boy when God told him that he would be king.  Joseph was left in a well to die after he had been given the vision of being a ruler.  Things don’t always go as we plan them but if we trust in the Lord God, we can know that they will go as He HAS planned them.  In His timing.  We need to be obedient to the task at hand, whether that be writing or raising your children.  It may be your job, or your ministry.  Whatever God has called you to do, start doing it and ask Him to meet you as you step out in obedience today.

Mary

Imagine Mary.  Innocent.  Pure.  A child.  Excited, as she is about to marry her beloved, Joseph.

A life changing visit from an angel-Gabriel-no less!  “O favored one, the Lord is with you!”  Luke says that Mary is “greatly troubled” at Gabriel’s greeting.  Who wouldn’t be?  For like each of us, she knew her own unworthiness, her sin.

But Gabriel, knowing her trepidation, continues to proclaim to her; “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord will give to him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Did Mary tremble?  Was she taken aback?  Would her mind ever stop racing as she meditated on the angel’s words?  Did she want to run and hide or was her heart secretly joyful in anticipation of God’s kingdom come to earth?

“How can this be?”  She may have half-breathed, half thought in wonderment.  “I have no husband!”

The angel would tell her enough-everything she would need to know.  “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.  And behold, your kinswoman, Elizabeth, in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.  For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Was her mind spinning with joy at a greater purpose?  Was she already planning her visit to Elizabeth to see if what the angel had said is true?  Did the chills run through her body as a strange peace engulfed her soul?

The words that left Mary’s mouth were simple, trusting; “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

And the angel left.  Mary’s divine appointment with Gabriel – done.

What an amazing story!  Would others believe her?  Would they receive her words with skepticism?  Would they see her heart’s conviction?  What would Joseph say?  For Mary knew she had slept with no one.  Did Joseph know and love his beloved enough to believe her?  Or would it take his own angelic visitation for him to believe?  Did they share their stories with each other as they planned their future?  How do you even begin to raise the Son of God?  Did they search the old Scriptures to find the prophecies that spoke to this world changing event?

When Jesus slept in their arms, did they gaze upon this sleeping child in wonderment?  Did the words and gifts of the Wise men touch their hearts with a confirming peace?  Was the star above the manger so bright, it would not go unnoticed but cause talk among the peoples as they wondered at this strange sign in the heavens?

Did their hearts skip when Jesus slipped and fell as a toddler?  Did they secretly delight when they found Jesus in the temple, a pre-teen in deep conversation with the temple teachers?

Luke 2:51 says; “and his mother kept all these things in her heart.”  One of my favorite thoughts-pondering the words of the Lord.

What has God spoken to your heart?  Can you see through the distractions of the world to awaken that promise, that unfulfilled joy, or that purpose He has given to you?  Wouldn’t it be a great place to live; in the wonderment of God and what He can do in and through you?  Spend some time with the Lord and ask Him to renew His Words to you and then wonder . . .

Jeremiah 29:13 says; “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.”  Take God at His Word and believe.

Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year

Have you ever heard a song and realized that, though you’ve heard it all your life, you never really listened to the words?  Then you have a “Wow!” moment as the words seem to pierce your heart.  That’s what happened to me yesterday morning.  I’m driving to work, in my prayer time-my uninterrupted quiet and  KTIS starts to play The Drummer Boy.  As I listen and sing, the Holy Spirit seems to quicken my heart and my mind.  In the song, the drummer boy, plays his drums as an offering to the King.   It causes me to wonder, “What do I have to offer you, Jesus?  What could I give to the King of kings as an offering of my love and devotion?  What would be fit for The King?

I love the inspiration of the Spirit!  Sometimes it’s a quiet thought.  Other times He pulls out all the stops.  This morning, it was a quiet thought; “You love to write-I’ve inspired you to write-so WRITE and SHARE the words I give you.”  Hmmmmm.  My heart ponders these words throughout the day.  With KTIS in the background, this song echos a few more times as I work and each time I hear The Drummer Boy, the words cause me to think about my own gift to the King.  As I’m driving home, the radio again sings it’s melody to me.  I smile as I wonder what the Lord holds for me . . . for certainly the Spirit is up to something, and my heart is tuning in for more.

Christmas service is this evening-I’m frantic as we’re running late- my granddaughters see the side of me that I usually try to “hide” from others but I’m growing anxious as I don’t want to be late for church.  I love worship and we’re about to miss the opening songs.  We pull into the parking lot, and I know we’ll be at least 10 minutes late by the time we get in.  My impatience is another story, one we won’t go into now  but you’ll be pleased to know when we got settled into our seats-the Spirit must have inspired the “church” to wait an extra 10 minutes to start,  as there were still so many people rushing in!  God is such a wonder!  We were at least 10 minutes late-yet we were 10 minutes early!  As the countdown on the screen started . . . 10:00 . . . 9:59 . . . 9:58 . . . 9:57 . . . 9:56 . . .

The service was wonderful, the message-inspirational and as the Pastor and his wife stood at the front, wishing all a Merry Christmas-he is interrupted . . . though we know it is “staged” we watch in expectation as a singer breaks out in song-his powerful voice joined by musicians skillfully playing their instruments, gifted dancers enter the stage, more singers, more dancers.  All this excitement as the words flowed from their voices “I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum - I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum -That’s fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum”.  Music to my ears for the Holy Spirit has just put a very big exclamation point upon His morning inspiration to me!  All the stops were pulled out as these worshipers were offering their gifts of dancing, singing and music with all of their hearts!  Worship, that in my eyes, was fit for the King of kings!  What a blessing to each one in the presence of this offering!

As we celebrate the birth of this baby King, Jesus, what has He given you that you can give back to Him?  Is it a gift of  music?  Do you love to dance?  Do you love to sing?  What is the inspiration, the ability that is God given and natural that longs to burst forth?  What gift can you give to our King Jesus, this Christmas?

This is my gift.  May His sweet Spirit inspire you to realize His blessings.  May you hear His voice and honor Him with all that you have!  Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year to you!

Little Drummer Boy: by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone 1958

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum 
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum 
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum 
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum, 
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum, 
When we come. 

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum 
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum 
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum 
That’s fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum, 
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, 

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum, 
On my drum? 

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum 
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum 
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum 
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum, 
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, 

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum 
Me and my drum.