It Must Be Grace
God’s riches at Christ’s expense. That is what I was taught as a child about the word Grace. As I read an excerpt from one of Chuck Swindol’s books this morning there was a phrase that caught my attention. It was one of those “whoa” moments, you know when the light goes off and you suddenly realize something important that maybe you never thought of before. It was one of those moments for me.
Last evening while I was watching television I found myself caught up in the onscreen drama of a real life couple. Like millions of others I tuned in to hear the “big announcement”. Their marriage was over! No big surprise there, the media had been suggesting problems and eminent divorce for weeks, but this was a rating thing. You know the kind that gets people to watch. They had played it up so that all the world would be watching just to see what would happen to them. Guess what, they did not disappoint their fans either. It was confirmed their marriage was over. The reality TV couple was separating and filing for divorce.
How do you think you would feel if suddenly before millions of viewers your life was suddenly on display for the whole world to see? Several years ago there was a not so real reality movie starring Jim Carey about an ordinary man’s life who had his entire life filmed unbeknown to him. Millions of people tuned in to watch his life and he had no idea what was taking place. The cameras were hidden so well that he never knew that everyone in his life were only actors in his life’s story. The town was fake, the friends were fake and everything about his life was a fake.
For this couple however, this is not a movie, it is their life. How sad that their lives have come down to this one defining moment, ratings. Chuck Swindol in his book “Come Before Winter and Share my Hope” describes another man whose life was played out in the pages of the Bible. Jephthah-the meanest man in the old testament. His story is described in Judges chapter 11. We would find him a disgusting human being ranking right along side Osama Ben Laden. He wasn’t worthy of the time given to him in the pages of scripture.
Then there were these words; “But there is one major difference between Jephthah and us. God chose to reveal his past for everyone to read, while He chose to hide ours so none would ever know what colossal misfits we really are. Talk about grace!
That was the phrase that hit me. How would I feel if God chose to reveal my sins to all the world. How would I react to the public humility of it? Honestly, it would be devastating. Like being on national television in a reality TV show, where my life was on public display every week. I couldn’t do it. It wouldn’t be worth the money they would pay me. But, God chooses not to do that. It can only be grace. The grace the He alone gives to me the one who is unworthy. He doesn’t need ratings or money. He needs nothing from me but he chooses to love me in spite of all of my failures. Unlike our TV couple He knows my sins and still loves me, so much so that he gave His only son’s life for me. Now that is GRACE!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Anticipation
Last summer my husband, along with my parents, and I made a trip to see my son who lives in South Dakota. I had not seen him in a year because we live several hundred miles away from him. The night before the trip I was busy preparing for trip, packing and getting snacks and drinks to take along for the trip (you would think I was moving for all the stuff I took along). It was going to be a long trip that would take us about 20 hours. We had decided that we would make the trip non-stop, stopping only long enough for small breaks and to get something to eat. The anticipation of the trip prevented me from sleeping much that night before we left because I knew that within a short time I would see my son and I was so excited. Halfway into the trip we were beginning to feel the exhaustion of the long ride. We had played cards, watched movies, tried to sleep some but after 12 hours on the road we were getting tired. Jim and my father were doing most of the driving while my mother and I were the tag team keeping the men awake. While I was resting in the back of the van I heard my husband and my father discussing the possibility of stopping for the remainder of the night and getting up early the next day to finish the trip. I quickly rose from my semi-slumber and rebuked them for the very idea that we should not continue on as planned. How could they even think such a thing? I was on a mission to get to South Dakota in the shortest time possible. I wanted to see my son. They quickly dismissed the idea and we continued on.
All along the trip my son would call to find out our progress and what time we expected to arrive. He was just as excited about the visit as I was. When we arrived at our hotel my son met us there and we hugged and laughed and, of course, I cried. The journey was complete and the reward was seeing my son in the flesh.
God sees our coming to Him in much the same way. The anticipation mounts and when we finally arrive God is waiting to receive us with open arms. All of heaven is rejoicing upon our arrival. Can you picture in your mind the scene unfold as God receives a child into the Kingdom of heaven. For some it has been a long difficult journey; one that has been filled with heartache and suffering. Some are still making the journey but the anticipation of the reward is worth the wait in getting there. Still others are nearing the end of their journey and the anticipation of seeing their Heavenly Father increases with every passing day.
In the Webster’s Dictionary the word anticipation is defined as a pleasurable expectation or wishing with confidence of fulfillment.
I love the way that God weaves those moments into our lives that give us a glimpse into His nature. He has such a wonderfully marvelous way of letting us see His heart through the windows of our everyday lives.
In Romans 8:18-21 Paul wrote “That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.” ( The Message) Can you see it, God holds nothing back when we come to Him. Just as I held nothing back when I finally saw my son, the laughter and the tears of joy. God holds nothing back when we come to Him either for the first time or when we see Him face to face. There is an excited expectancy that all of heaven is involved in. Whether we face difficult times or good times there is to be a joyful expectancy as we wait for “what is coming next” and our reward is made complete in Him. At that moment God Himself will hold nothing back as you finally meet Him face to face!
Last summer my husband, along with my parents, and I made a trip to see my son who lives in South Dakota. I had not seen him in a year because we live several hundred miles away from him. The night before the trip I was busy preparing for trip, packing and getting snacks and drinks to take along for the trip (you would think I was moving for all the stuff I took along). It was going to be a long trip that would take us about 20 hours. We had decided that we would make the trip non-stop, stopping only long enough for small breaks and to get something to eat. The anticipation of the trip prevented me from sleeping much that night before we left because I knew that within a short time I would see my son and I was so excited. Halfway into the trip we were beginning to feel the exhaustion of the long ride. We had played cards, watched movies, tried to sleep some but after 12 hours on the road we were getting tired. Jim and my father were doing most of the driving while my mother and I were the tag team keeping the men awake. While I was resting in the back of the van I heard my husband and my father discussing the possibility of stopping for the remainder of the night and getting up early the next day to finish the trip. I quickly rose from my semi-slumber and rebuked them for the very idea that we should not continue on as planned. How could they even think such a thing? I was on a mission to get to South Dakota in the shortest time possible. I wanted to see my son. They quickly dismissed the idea and we continued on.
All along the trip my son would call to find out our progress and what time we expected to arrive. He was just as excited about the visit as I was. When we arrived at our hotel my son met us there and we hugged and laughed and, of course, I cried. The journey was complete and the reward was seeing my son in the flesh.
God sees our coming to Him in much the same way. The anticipation mounts and when we finally arrive God is waiting to receive us with open arms. All of heaven is rejoicing upon our arrival. Can you picture in your mind the scene unfold as God receives a child into the Kingdom of heaven. For some it has been a long difficult journey; one that has been filled with heartache and suffering. Some are still making the journey but the anticipation of the reward is worth the wait in getting there. Still others are nearing the end of their journey and the anticipation of seeing their Heavenly Father increases with every passing day.
In the Webster’s Dictionary the word anticipation is defined as a pleasurable expectation or wishing with confidence of fulfillment.
I love the way that God weaves those moments into our lives that give us a glimpse into His nature. He has such a wonderfully marvelous way of letting us see His heart through the windows of our everyday lives.
In Romans 8:18-21 Paul wrote “That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.” ( The Message) Can you see it, God holds nothing back when we come to Him. Just as I held nothing back when I finally saw my son, the laughter and the tears of joy. God holds nothing back when we come to Him either for the first time or when we see Him face to face. There is an excited expectancy that all of heaven is involved in. Whether we face difficult times or good times there is to be a joyful expectancy as we wait for “what is coming next” and our reward is made complete in Him. At that moment God Himself will hold nothing back as you finally meet Him face to face!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Just When I Need Him Most
“Come all you are weary…..and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Jesus beacons those who are tired and weary to come unto Him and find rest. I don’t know where you are and how that speaks to you but it speaks volumes to me.
Life has a way of making us tired. Tired physically, emotionally and spiritually. There are days when we are energized and moving mountains seems well within our reach and then there are the days where we are unable to focus on even the simplest of tasks. The days we are weary are the days when Jesus meets us right where we are and says “here I am, let me take this burden from you.” For some Christians letting go of those burdens is as easy as breathing, for others it is almost impossible to let them go.
Recently I found myself in the midst of some dark and gloomy days, both emotionally and spiritually. I had a really hard time finding words to pray and my emotions were running on empty. I was at a crossroad looking at both directions seeing possibilities down each path and trying to decide which road was the best. I had family and friends trying to help me with my decision, advising, sharing their thoughts and opinions about what I needed to do until one day I realized that I couldn’t stand there looking down that road any longer. Jesus came along side and reminded me that my focus needed to be on Him not on me. I couldn’t move down the road until I had made a decision which road to take and the only voice I needed to hear was His. It was at that moment that God intervene and the answer came. It was a quiet whisper and a peace came over me, not so that I noticed it immediately, but my heart was no longer in turmoil over my decision. I was able to look down the road with confidence that my decision was the right one.
Jesus walks the road of decision with us. Never pushing but gently leading us down the road that we need to travel. He sees our heavy hearts and he grieves when we grieve and He hurts when we hurt. Like a good parent He wants to take the burdens we bear and take them away. So many times I have heard my earthly father say to me, “I wish I could take this burden away from you”. Why would he say that, because he loves me that much. How many times have I prayed over my own children, knowing that their burdens were great and that I could not make them lighter or less painful, they needed Jesus to help them through those difficult times. More than the love my earthly father gives is the love of my heavenly father. God in his infinite wisdom sends us what we need, just when we need it most.
I have a dear pastor friend who recently lost his wife to cancer. They had been married for over 50 years. So great was his loss that you could feel his pain in the words he spoke and the words he wrote. Those of us who love him watched as he struggled to make sense of his loss, why this, why now. But one thing we also witnessed and are witnessing is the healing power of Jesus Christ. Jesus called him to lay down the burden of his wife’s death, and though it was a difficult thing for him to do, he has placed the burden of his pain upon the strong and able shoulders of his Lord. Just like my friend, in my weakness, I need Jesus to walk along side me and lift
my burdens. Some times He will carry them all by himself. That is just like Him. Other times He will simply walk along side of us and share the burden with us. That too is just like Him. He knows exactly what we need from Him. We don’t respond to every life situation the same and our needs are different for every situation that we are facing. God knows that. We just need to be willing to accept His offer of help.
“Come all you are weary…..and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Jesus beacons those who are tired and weary to come unto Him and find rest. I don’t know where you are and how that speaks to you but it speaks volumes to me.
Life has a way of making us tired. Tired physically, emotionally and spiritually. There are days when we are energized and moving mountains seems well within our reach and then there are the days where we are unable to focus on even the simplest of tasks. The days we are weary are the days when Jesus meets us right where we are and says “here I am, let me take this burden from you.” For some Christians letting go of those burdens is as easy as breathing, for others it is almost impossible to let them go.
Recently I found myself in the midst of some dark and gloomy days, both emotionally and spiritually. I had a really hard time finding words to pray and my emotions were running on empty. I was at a crossroad looking at both directions seeing possibilities down each path and trying to decide which road was the best. I had family and friends trying to help me with my decision, advising, sharing their thoughts and opinions about what I needed to do until one day I realized that I couldn’t stand there looking down that road any longer. Jesus came along side and reminded me that my focus needed to be on Him not on me. I couldn’t move down the road until I had made a decision which road to take and the only voice I needed to hear was His. It was at that moment that God intervene and the answer came. It was a quiet whisper and a peace came over me, not so that I noticed it immediately, but my heart was no longer in turmoil over my decision. I was able to look down the road with confidence that my decision was the right one.
Jesus walks the road of decision with us. Never pushing but gently leading us down the road that we need to travel. He sees our heavy hearts and he grieves when we grieve and He hurts when we hurt. Like a good parent He wants to take the burdens we bear and take them away. So many times I have heard my earthly father say to me, “I wish I could take this burden away from you”. Why would he say that, because he loves me that much. How many times have I prayed over my own children, knowing that their burdens were great and that I could not make them lighter or less painful, they needed Jesus to help them through those difficult times. More than the love my earthly father gives is the love of my heavenly father. God in his infinite wisdom sends us what we need, just when we need it most.
I have a dear pastor friend who recently lost his wife to cancer. They had been married for over 50 years. So great was his loss that you could feel his pain in the words he spoke and the words he wrote. Those of us who love him watched as he struggled to make sense of his loss, why this, why now. But one thing we also witnessed and are witnessing is the healing power of Jesus Christ. Jesus called him to lay down the burden of his wife’s death, and though it was a difficult thing for him to do, he has placed the burden of his pain upon the strong and able shoulders of his Lord. Just like my friend, in my weakness, I need Jesus to walk along side me and lift
my burdens. Some times He will carry them all by himself. That is just like Him. Other times He will simply walk along side of us and share the burden with us. That too is just like Him. He knows exactly what we need from Him. We don’t respond to every life situation the same and our needs are different for every situation that we are facing. God knows that. We just need to be willing to accept His offer of help.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Are You Jesus?
A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. The convention lasted all week, and all the salesmen had assuredtheir wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner.
As they hurried to the airport to catch their return flight, they rushed down the airport's corridor with their briefcases in hand. In their rush, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.
Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all continued running so they would make their plane. All but one.
He stopped after running a few more yards, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did.
The 16 year old girl running the apple cart was totally blind. She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of the apples had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"
She nodded through her tears.
He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister....."
He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.
She continued, "Are you Jesus?"
He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"
Sometimes the world looks at us and asks the question "Are You Jesus?" Not literally but figuratively. Do we reflect the attitudes and character of Jesus so much so that people who see us will see Jesus because he lives in us.
There will be days when life just comes at us and we have a hard time living what we believe. I have days like that. That is when I have to ask for God's grace and His mercy because I am afraid that on those days people aren't going to ask "Are you Jesus". The encouraing word in all of this is that God sees and understands that there are going to be moments of disappointment. Moments of hurt and heartache. Moments of failure. Keep the faith. Keep pressing on. You ARE Jesus to so many who need to see Him through you.
As they hurried to the airport to catch their return flight, they rushed down the airport's corridor with their briefcases in hand. In their rush, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.
Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all continued running so they would make their plane. All but one.
He stopped after running a few more yards, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did.
The 16 year old girl running the apple cart was totally blind. She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of the apples had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"
She nodded through her tears.
He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister....."
He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.
She continued, "Are you Jesus?"
He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"
Sometimes the world looks at us and asks the question "Are You Jesus?" Not literally but figuratively. Do we reflect the attitudes and character of Jesus so much so that people who see us will see Jesus because he lives in us.
There will be days when life just comes at us and we have a hard time living what we believe. I have days like that. That is when I have to ask for God's grace and His mercy because I am afraid that on those days people aren't going to ask "Are you Jesus". The encouraing word in all of this is that God sees and understands that there are going to be moments of disappointment. Moments of hurt and heartache. Moments of failure. Keep the faith. Keep pressing on. You ARE Jesus to so many who need to see Him through you.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Dressed for Battle
Danny received the call from his commanding officer to gather his gear and be ready to board the plane in one hour. Danny was a soldier but he hated the thought of going into battle. Worst of all he hated the gear he had to put on every time he walked out of his home, a tent, in the middle of the desert. But, Danny knew that he was expected to be prepared so he grabbed his duffle bag and began to place the items that he was required to take with him in the bag.
He always kept this uniform pressed and ready, hanging by the door for just such a moment as this. His shoes were polished and neatly placed next to his uniform. His weapons were polished as well and were so clean and shiny that he was sure his commander would be impressed with such care. His belt had a shiny brass buckle on it and he remembered how long it took him to get that buckle to shine.
Danny placed all the things he was supposed to carry; his helmet, his weapons, his bullet proof vest, his boots, and his uniform into his bag. He took one last look around the room and grabbed the bag and headed out the door. Setting on Danny’s desk was his Bible, but Danny didn’t think he would have much time to read that on the battlefield so he didn’t bother to put in it his bag.
Once Danny and the other members of his troop reached their destination Danny’s commanding officer usher them into the tent and gave them their orders. Danny was going to have to guard the perimeters of the compound where they were staying for the next few months. The other men who had been there for several weeks were given some time off. So Danny dressed in his battle fatigues, put on his helmet and his vest, put his weapons over his shoulder and around his waist and headed out of the tent for his duties of guarding the base. Danny took his job very seriously and the first night he was wide awake hearing every sound that was made out in the distance. He knew that the men here were counting on him to protect them from the enemy.
Several nights passed and Danny was growing tired of the monotonous walk hour after hour around the perimeters of the compound and every time he had to put on his uniform he grew tired of wearing all those heavy jackets. The hot boots and long sleeves on his uniform, not to mention the bullet proof vest, and oh the weapons must have weighed 50 pounds at least. Danny began to think, “I’ve been out here walking this fence row for days and haven’t seen one thing.” So the next evening Danny decided that he wasn’t going to wear that hot and heavy bullet proof vest. And just as he suspected nothing happened. So again, Danny’s thoughts turned to his uniform. “I hate these heavy weapons. I think I will just leave them back in the tent and if I see something I can always get back to my tent and get my weapons, no problem.” This went on for several more days and Danny was feeling pretty secure. He had been out there for over two weeks now and nothing has happened and no one even knew he was out of uniform. It was late and everyone was asleep anyway.
Suddenly Danny heard something in the distance. He stopped to listen, but nothing. He thought to himself “ I’m beginning to hear things”. Then there it was again but it was so far way he reassured himself that nothing was there and he just continued to pace back and forth along the fence. Within just seconds Danny was overtaken by the enemy. He reached for his weapons but they weren’t there. The enemy had overtaken him by surprise. As he struggled with them he fell and he hit is head hard and was knocked unconscious. When Danny woke up the first person he saw was his commander. He felt horribly ashamed. He was afraid to ask what happened.
His commander pulled up a chair and sat down next to Danny’s bed in the infirmary. “Danny, he said, I have something to tell you.” and he reached over to touch Danny’s arm. Danny could barely hold back the tears. What had he done? His commander went on. “Danny, while you were guarding the perimeters of the compound I was watching you. You didn’t know that I was there but I was. Night after night I watched you begin to let down your guard and I watched the enemy getting closer and closer. I saw the enemy attack you and when that time came I was there, you don’t remember it but I took care of you and you are alive today because I was watching over you.” Your fellow soldiers came to your rescue as well and they were able to keep the enemy from taking over the compound.
Danny could not control the tears as the weight of what he had done over took him. He felt the pain in his chest and looked to see that his wounds had been bandaged, he was going to be alright. But suddenly he realized that not only had he taken off his protective clothing and laid down his weapons but he had also left the one weapon of defense that he needed most laying on the dresser in his bedroom. His Bible. Danny’s commander had allowed him to experience physical pain from disobeying His commands by not being adequately protected but Danny also experienced spiritual pain by leaving behind his weapons of battle for a spiritual warfare. Danny knew there were consequences to his actions and he couldn’t believe that his commander wasn’t there to take him to jail for what he had done. He put everyone there in harms way and he knew that he would have to pay for that decision. But, his commander leaned forward and told Danny. “Don’t worry everything has been taken care of, I have paid for your mistake. Danny’s heart was overjoyed. He had been set free from the penalty of death for his actions and his commander had taken care of everything. But why? Why had he done that. Danny knew that he deserved to be punished for his actions so why did is commander take the wrap for him. Because the commanding officer was Danny’s father.
You see God commands us to be prepared for battle and to wear the proper clothing and have the proper weapons, but when the time comes for us to do battle he is not going to force us to wear those weapons of war. He leaves that decision up to us. He is there watching but he doesn’t interfere with our decisions to disobey. He does however, watch over us and keep us safe from the enemy. Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the full amour of God so that we can stand firm against the schemes of the devil. If we do not wear the proper protective clothing in the battle then the enemy, Satan, can sneak up on us and take us captive. Thankfully we have a heavenly Father who is watching over us as dress for battle and even when we leave off some of the armor He is able to keep us from becoming a statistic of war. He will not always keep us from harm sometime He will let the darts penetrate those areas that we have left vulnerable to attack. But He is there to help us up and to keep the enemy from destroying us because he is our Father and He loves us that much.
We cannot begin to know to what lengths Satan will go to destroy us, but greater lengths does our Heavenly Father go so SAVE US!
My prayer is that you will be blessed and dressed (for the battle belongs to the Lord)
He always kept this uniform pressed and ready, hanging by the door for just such a moment as this. His shoes were polished and neatly placed next to his uniform. His weapons were polished as well and were so clean and shiny that he was sure his commander would be impressed with such care. His belt had a shiny brass buckle on it and he remembered how long it took him to get that buckle to shine.
Danny placed all the things he was supposed to carry; his helmet, his weapons, his bullet proof vest, his boots, and his uniform into his bag. He took one last look around the room and grabbed the bag and headed out the door. Setting on Danny’s desk was his Bible, but Danny didn’t think he would have much time to read that on the battlefield so he didn’t bother to put in it his bag.
Once Danny and the other members of his troop reached their destination Danny’s commanding officer usher them into the tent and gave them their orders. Danny was going to have to guard the perimeters of the compound where they were staying for the next few months. The other men who had been there for several weeks were given some time off. So Danny dressed in his battle fatigues, put on his helmet and his vest, put his weapons over his shoulder and around his waist and headed out of the tent for his duties of guarding the base. Danny took his job very seriously and the first night he was wide awake hearing every sound that was made out in the distance. He knew that the men here were counting on him to protect them from the enemy.
Several nights passed and Danny was growing tired of the monotonous walk hour after hour around the perimeters of the compound and every time he had to put on his uniform he grew tired of wearing all those heavy jackets. The hot boots and long sleeves on his uniform, not to mention the bullet proof vest, and oh the weapons must have weighed 50 pounds at least. Danny began to think, “I’ve been out here walking this fence row for days and haven’t seen one thing.” So the next evening Danny decided that he wasn’t going to wear that hot and heavy bullet proof vest. And just as he suspected nothing happened. So again, Danny’s thoughts turned to his uniform. “I hate these heavy weapons. I think I will just leave them back in the tent and if I see something I can always get back to my tent and get my weapons, no problem.” This went on for several more days and Danny was feeling pretty secure. He had been out there for over two weeks now and nothing has happened and no one even knew he was out of uniform. It was late and everyone was asleep anyway.
Suddenly Danny heard something in the distance. He stopped to listen, but nothing. He thought to himself “ I’m beginning to hear things”. Then there it was again but it was so far way he reassured himself that nothing was there and he just continued to pace back and forth along the fence. Within just seconds Danny was overtaken by the enemy. He reached for his weapons but they weren’t there. The enemy had overtaken him by surprise. As he struggled with them he fell and he hit is head hard and was knocked unconscious. When Danny woke up the first person he saw was his commander. He felt horribly ashamed. He was afraid to ask what happened.
His commander pulled up a chair and sat down next to Danny’s bed in the infirmary. “Danny, he said, I have something to tell you.” and he reached over to touch Danny’s arm. Danny could barely hold back the tears. What had he done? His commander went on. “Danny, while you were guarding the perimeters of the compound I was watching you. You didn’t know that I was there but I was. Night after night I watched you begin to let down your guard and I watched the enemy getting closer and closer. I saw the enemy attack you and when that time came I was there, you don’t remember it but I took care of you and you are alive today because I was watching over you.” Your fellow soldiers came to your rescue as well and they were able to keep the enemy from taking over the compound.
Danny could not control the tears as the weight of what he had done over took him. He felt the pain in his chest and looked to see that his wounds had been bandaged, he was going to be alright. But suddenly he realized that not only had he taken off his protective clothing and laid down his weapons but he had also left the one weapon of defense that he needed most laying on the dresser in his bedroom. His Bible. Danny’s commander had allowed him to experience physical pain from disobeying His commands by not being adequately protected but Danny also experienced spiritual pain by leaving behind his weapons of battle for a spiritual warfare. Danny knew there were consequences to his actions and he couldn’t believe that his commander wasn’t there to take him to jail for what he had done. He put everyone there in harms way and he knew that he would have to pay for that decision. But, his commander leaned forward and told Danny. “Don’t worry everything has been taken care of, I have paid for your mistake. Danny’s heart was overjoyed. He had been set free from the penalty of death for his actions and his commander had taken care of everything. But why? Why had he done that. Danny knew that he deserved to be punished for his actions so why did is commander take the wrap for him. Because the commanding officer was Danny’s father.
You see God commands us to be prepared for battle and to wear the proper clothing and have the proper weapons, but when the time comes for us to do battle he is not going to force us to wear those weapons of war. He leaves that decision up to us. He is there watching but he doesn’t interfere with our decisions to disobey. He does however, watch over us and keep us safe from the enemy. Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the full amour of God so that we can stand firm against the schemes of the devil. If we do not wear the proper protective clothing in the battle then the enemy, Satan, can sneak up on us and take us captive. Thankfully we have a heavenly Father who is watching over us as dress for battle and even when we leave off some of the armor He is able to keep us from becoming a statistic of war. He will not always keep us from harm sometime He will let the darts penetrate those areas that we have left vulnerable to attack. But He is there to help us up and to keep the enemy from destroying us because he is our Father and He loves us that much.
We cannot begin to know to what lengths Satan will go to destroy us, but greater lengths does our Heavenly Father go so SAVE US!
My prayer is that you will be blessed and dressed (for the battle belongs to the Lord)
Monday, February 16, 2009
God's Timing
God’s Timing- February 16, 2009
Have you ever had news that just drew the breath right out of the air and when it was all over you found yourself asking God “why now”. I had news today that left me doing just that. While I thought that God’s timing and mine seemed to be heading down the same path the news that was shared with me today left me wondering if I had misread or misinterpreted God’s timing. With tear-filled eyes I decided that I needed to get away for a few minutes to process the information and have a moment with the Lord. So I got in my car and headed to Wal-Mart, I needed to pick up some items there and it was a good excuse to leave the office.
It was lunch time when I returned from my errand and so I popped my lunch into the microwave and over lunch tried to reconcile the information I had received. There was no way. I couldn’t. It just didn’t make sense. How could God have let this happen? I hadn’t been at my computer for most of the morning. Only long enough to weed through the funk mail in my folder. But when I returned from lunch and opened my inbox there it was. An email that simply said “God’s Timing”. Okay I’m intrigued so I read it. There is was in black and white the words I have heard 100 times, no a 1000 times. Our timing is not God’s. In the paragraphs that followed those words were a reminder. Yes, I have read stories upon stories about God’s timing not being the same as ours but while I knew in my head the truth about those words I was having a problem getting them into my heart.
As I read the devotion the author reminded me that God’s timing is perfect. God had called David to be the King long before he ever took the throne. (Twenty years to be exact.) He was going to take David into the wilderness, literally, hiding in a cave for fear that Saul was going to kill him. You know that he must have asked God many times during those years “when”. “Did you not call me and anoint me as King? If so, why is it taking so long?” Do you think that God was confused about David’s call? No, none of us would because we know the end of the story. But, in the midst of our questions God provides us a glimpse into His time table. What David did not know was that God was positioning him to take the throne at the proper time. We can see now in the pages of history. Like David God positioned another biblical character to become queen and to be the one who would save her people, Esther. God’s timing in her life took years as well.
Ok, I understand that. It takes years sometimes for God’s purpose to be revealed. Although I am saddened and confused it really does come down to trusting God. Do I believe that God is who he said he is? Do I believe that God can do what He said he will do? Do I believe that God has a purpose and a plan to prosper and not to harm? The answer to those questions is yes. Yes I believe. But, I don’t understand. I still have questions. I still wait on the Lord for answers but I have to believe that God does not do anything in vain. His plan is perfect. His will is made known to those who truly seek Him. I still have questions and I think that’s okay. But, I know he has the answers and I will trust that the plans he has for me are good and I will yield to the higher power on this one.
Have you ever had news that just drew the breath right out of the air and when it was all over you found yourself asking God “why now”. I had news today that left me doing just that. While I thought that God’s timing and mine seemed to be heading down the same path the news that was shared with me today left me wondering if I had misread or misinterpreted God’s timing. With tear-filled eyes I decided that I needed to get away for a few minutes to process the information and have a moment with the Lord. So I got in my car and headed to Wal-Mart, I needed to pick up some items there and it was a good excuse to leave the office.
It was lunch time when I returned from my errand and so I popped my lunch into the microwave and over lunch tried to reconcile the information I had received. There was no way. I couldn’t. It just didn’t make sense. How could God have let this happen? I hadn’t been at my computer for most of the morning. Only long enough to weed through the funk mail in my folder. But when I returned from lunch and opened my inbox there it was. An email that simply said “God’s Timing”. Okay I’m intrigued so I read it. There is was in black and white the words I have heard 100 times, no a 1000 times. Our timing is not God’s. In the paragraphs that followed those words were a reminder. Yes, I have read stories upon stories about God’s timing not being the same as ours but while I knew in my head the truth about those words I was having a problem getting them into my heart.
As I read the devotion the author reminded me that God’s timing is perfect. God had called David to be the King long before he ever took the throne. (Twenty years to be exact.) He was going to take David into the wilderness, literally, hiding in a cave for fear that Saul was going to kill him. You know that he must have asked God many times during those years “when”. “Did you not call me and anoint me as King? If so, why is it taking so long?” Do you think that God was confused about David’s call? No, none of us would because we know the end of the story. But, in the midst of our questions God provides us a glimpse into His time table. What David did not know was that God was positioning him to take the throne at the proper time. We can see now in the pages of history. Like David God positioned another biblical character to become queen and to be the one who would save her people, Esther. God’s timing in her life took years as well.
Ok, I understand that. It takes years sometimes for God’s purpose to be revealed. Although I am saddened and confused it really does come down to trusting God. Do I believe that God is who he said he is? Do I believe that God can do what He said he will do? Do I believe that God has a purpose and a plan to prosper and not to harm? The answer to those questions is yes. Yes I believe. But, I don’t understand. I still have questions. I still wait on the Lord for answers but I have to believe that God does not do anything in vain. His plan is perfect. His will is made known to those who truly seek Him. I still have questions and I think that’s okay. But, I know he has the answers and I will trust that the plans he has for me are good and I will yield to the higher power on this one.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
ROSES ARE RED- February 12, 2009
Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you. I remember that little nursery rhyme from my childhood and even shared it with my own children as they were growing up. That little rhyme hit me like a ton of bricks as I recall harsh words and ugly actions towards others. There are days when I get up and I feel anything but sweet. The world has interrupted my fairytale dream of how life is supposed to be and I am left with a choice to make. Will I be kind and loving or will I be mean-spirited and hateful. My fears and anxieties over my own inadequacies flood my mind. My inability to make everyone happy crowds into my thoughts and squeezes the life out of me. I want to scream! Ever feel like that?
Do you ever think that life has given you anything but a fairytale? I know that I do. As little girls we watched Cinderella and Snow White and saw as their lives were transformed from ordinary to extraordinary. They were beautiful and sweet, kind and gentle young ladies who endured harsh realities in their fairytale life but in the end they were rescued from those unloving families and saved by the prince. One thing those fairytale princesses had in common, they were beautiful inside and out. Who wouldn’t love someone like that? Who wouldn’t want to be her? But they are just fairytale lives.
Everyday we have a choice to make. God has looked past the all the make-up and jewelry and fine dress and sees what is on the inside of our hearts. We can choose to live life thinking that God loves me just the way I am and do nothing to change or we can purpose in our hearts that God loves me just the way I am but His desire is that I become just like Him. I can choose to be angry or I can choose to laugh. I can choose to love or I can choose to hate. I can choose to rejoice or I can choose sorrow. I can choose bitterness or I can choose forgiveness. Through all of these things God has given me the ability to choose. The wonderful thing about all of these choices is that God has said if you want to make the right choice, here is what you need to do. “ I have written several wonderful books for you to read. I have put them all in one volume and it’s called the Bible. Have you ever read it?” Do you want to read a love story, try my book on called the Song of Solomon? Do you want a book about parenting, I have one called Proverbs. Do you like mysteries? I have several of those in there. I heard you like the story of Cinderella, but I have a real life story of a young girl names Esther who became a queen.”
Ouch! That hurts. Jesus set before us a wonderful example to live by. His life is not a fairytale, it is truth and beauty and grace and mercy and joy and gladness and love. God loves me unconditionally. Warts and all but he has said that we can be “transformed by the renewing of our minds”. Women love stories of transformation. We are drawn to them. We love movies and TV shows about Cinderella lives. We love seeing the girl rescued by the handsome prince. We love the stories of taking a less than beautiful girl and transforming her into and exquisite and beautiful woman. We love to watch HGTV and Extreme Makeover because secretly we want to be the one who is getting the makeover!
God listens when I complain about the unfairness of life, and how I deserve better. Then he gently reminds me that I have a choice to make and only He and I can work on this. It is not my family’s responsibility to make me happy. It is not my boss or co-workers responsibility to make me happy. It is mine. I can change the way I think. I can renew my mind. The Message Bible reads this way; So here's what I want you to do,(so practical) God helping you: (I cannot do it alone) Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering ( that just about covers everything). Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to (and accepting of) your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Embrace what God does for you. He changes you from the inside out and then you really sweet as sugar!
Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you. I remember that little nursery rhyme from my childhood and even shared it with my own children as they were growing up. That little rhyme hit me like a ton of bricks as I recall harsh words and ugly actions towards others. There are days when I get up and I feel anything but sweet. The world has interrupted my fairytale dream of how life is supposed to be and I am left with a choice to make. Will I be kind and loving or will I be mean-spirited and hateful. My fears and anxieties over my own inadequacies flood my mind. My inability to make everyone happy crowds into my thoughts and squeezes the life out of me. I want to scream! Ever feel like that?
Do you ever think that life has given you anything but a fairytale? I know that I do. As little girls we watched Cinderella and Snow White and saw as their lives were transformed from ordinary to extraordinary. They were beautiful and sweet, kind and gentle young ladies who endured harsh realities in their fairytale life but in the end they were rescued from those unloving families and saved by the prince. One thing those fairytale princesses had in common, they were beautiful inside and out. Who wouldn’t love someone like that? Who wouldn’t want to be her? But they are just fairytale lives.
Everyday we have a choice to make. God has looked past the all the make-up and jewelry and fine dress and sees what is on the inside of our hearts. We can choose to live life thinking that God loves me just the way I am and do nothing to change or we can purpose in our hearts that God loves me just the way I am but His desire is that I become just like Him. I can choose to be angry or I can choose to laugh. I can choose to love or I can choose to hate. I can choose to rejoice or I can choose sorrow. I can choose bitterness or I can choose forgiveness. Through all of these things God has given me the ability to choose. The wonderful thing about all of these choices is that God has said if you want to make the right choice, here is what you need to do. “ I have written several wonderful books for you to read. I have put them all in one volume and it’s called the Bible. Have you ever read it?” Do you want to read a love story, try my book on called the Song of Solomon? Do you want a book about parenting, I have one called Proverbs. Do you like mysteries? I have several of those in there. I heard you like the story of Cinderella, but I have a real life story of a young girl names Esther who became a queen.”
Ouch! That hurts. Jesus set before us a wonderful example to live by. His life is not a fairytale, it is truth and beauty and grace and mercy and joy and gladness and love. God loves me unconditionally. Warts and all but he has said that we can be “transformed by the renewing of our minds”. Women love stories of transformation. We are drawn to them. We love movies and TV shows about Cinderella lives. We love seeing the girl rescued by the handsome prince. We love the stories of taking a less than beautiful girl and transforming her into and exquisite and beautiful woman. We love to watch HGTV and Extreme Makeover because secretly we want to be the one who is getting the makeover!
God listens when I complain about the unfairness of life, and how I deserve better. Then he gently reminds me that I have a choice to make and only He and I can work on this. It is not my family’s responsibility to make me happy. It is not my boss or co-workers responsibility to make me happy. It is mine. I can change the way I think. I can renew my mind. The Message Bible reads this way; So here's what I want you to do,(so practical) God helping you: (I cannot do it alone) Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering ( that just about covers everything). Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to (and accepting of) your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Embrace what God does for you. He changes you from the inside out and then you really sweet as sugar!
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