Perfect Love

"Such love has no fear,

because perfect love expels all fear.

If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment,

and this shows that we have not fully experienced

his perfect love." 

I John 4:18 NLT

There are so many things in this world that can draw me into a state of fear.  I often fear what may happen in the future, what people might be thinking, or how someone may react.  Fear is a common human emotion, but it can cripple and render a believer helpless. So common is fear that you might be surprised at the men of faith who experienced periods of fear in their lives.

Sinking  Peter, along with the disciples of Jesus, had just experienced the miracle of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fish to feed a crowd of five thousand.  Jesus retreated to a place of solitude as the rest of the group crossed the lake in a boat.  As Jesus later walked on water toward them, they were all gripped with fear, but Jesus reassured them:  “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) Immediately, Peter asked Jesus to confirm his identity by asking him, a mere human, to walk on water!  When Jesus said, "Come," Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on water.  But as soon as he turned his focus from the one he loved, toward the threatening waves, he began to sink.  As Jesus reached out to pull Peter up, He asked, “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (verse 31)

Run for your life  Elijah was one of the greatest men of faith, proclaiming a period of drought which would only end at his word, healing a widow's son, and boldly showing God's power against 450 prophets of Baal.  After these amazing feats of faith, Elijah fled for fear of losing his life at the hand of the evil and powerful Jezebel, wife of Ahab the king of Judah,. (I Kings 18-19) 

Deception  Abraham, the chosen father of many nations who couragously left the land of his father and obediently traveled to a land he did not know, was plagued with fear at times.  He claimed his wife Sarah to be his sister out of fear that the reigning king of the region would kill Abraham and claim her as his own.  And he did this not once, but twice! (Genesis 12, 20)

Panic  How did these men of great faith who had witnessed mighty acts of God fall into a state of panic, driving them to sink, run and deceive?  They were human just like me and you.  No one is immune to fear, but we do not have to be ruled by fear.

Faith  There is a saying of unknown origin that goes, "Fear knocked at the door.  Faith answered.  No one was there."  Faith is an antidote to fear.  Peter sank when he took his eyes off Jesus and instead focused on the threat of danger all around him. He began to doubt that Jesus could enable him to walk on water and started to instead believe that the waves would overtake him.  This is how I many times feel in life when I forget that Jesus can deliver me from the cares of this world.   I can ward off fear by choosing to trust in Jesus.

Love  Sometimes I fear what others will do to me, or think of me, because I know only too well the state of the human heart.  But love is an antidote to fear.  Fear is based on a faulty understanding of God's love.  When I truly grasp, "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that (I) may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God,"  (Ephesians 3:18b-19) then I will not fear.  I can ward off fear by choosing to rest in the completeness of God's love instead of wallowing in the shallowness of my own feeble humanity.

Choice  Fear is inevitable, but I do not have to let it rule my life.  Instead, I can choose to keep my eyes on Jesus, and seek to comprehend the abundance of God's love.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will not let fear rule my life.

Where am I afraid to follow Jesus?

In what ways do I let fear cripple me?

Sacrificial Giving

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect,

go, sell your possessions and give to the poor,

and you will have treasure in heaven.

Then come, follow me.”

Matthew 19:21

When most Americans think of "sacrifice," we think of giving up dessert or going without cable TV for a day.  But sacrifice is more than that.  "Sacrifice" is defined as the surrender of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.  If I look at everything God has put into my care in light of this definition, is there anything higher or more important than God and His calling on my life?  Or, putting it another way, do I love my stuff, my time or my family more than I love God?

Obedience  When God puts something on my heart, I can choose to obey, or to not obey.  The choice I make illustrates where God stands on my list of priorities.  Jesus put God first as demonstrated by His choice to obey God no matter the cost.  He was "obedient to death—
even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8b)  What am I willing to give up in order to obey God?  My reputation?  My house?  My family?  My life?

Cost  David would not give a sacrifice that didn't cost him anything. After he had foolishly taken a census of his men to know the might of his army, putting his trust not in the Lord but in the number of his troops, God punished him with a plague on his people.  Then He ordered David to go to the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite and build an altar to the Lord there.  When Araunah offered to give the land for the altar to him, David refused.  He said, "I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” (I Chronicles 21:24b)  David knew the importance of giving a sacrifice that cost him something.  What am I willing to give that costs me something?

The Least of These  When was the last time I paid any attention to the homeless man draped across the park bench, or the eyes of the scruffy-looking child who lives up the street and is always hanging around outside, or the desperation of the drug addict who can't seem to get his life together?  Jesus taught that at the end of time, when He is sitting on his glorious throne and all the nations are gathered before Him, He will separate His sheep from the goats, or those who followed Him from those who didn't follow Him.  From among His followers, He invites them to take the inheritance, the kingdom prepared since the creation of the world.  Then He thanks them for feeding, clothing and giving Him something to drink when He was in need.  Confused, the believers' questions are answered when Jesus said, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."  (Matthew 25:40)  What am I doing to care for the forgettables: those who are easy to ignore in our society?

Love  Sacrificial giving is the idea of giving time, resources or talents that cost me something.  It is not easy, but it is a true act of love.  As Jesus taught His disciples, love is our hallmark.  He said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can look for ways to give sacrificially.

How am I ignoring those around me who need a dose of God's love?

Where am I holding on to things, or time,  that could be used by someone who needs it more than I do?

Stealing Praise

“I am the LORD; that is my name!
   I will not yield my glory to another
   or my praise to idols."

Isaiah 42:8

No one can argue that Oprah is an influential woman.  Many turn to her for guidance and advice, even if its only to learn about her latest "favorite thing", or to know what they should read while on vacation. Her position as advisor to the people only makes the following that much more alarming.  America's favorite girlfriend and talk show host has long been promoting a worldview that is counter to a Christ-centered belief, and she advocates more of a self-centered spirituality.  Back in her late 20s, Oprah started to question her Christian beliefs and the idea that God is a jealous God, a God who expects to be first in our lives, above all things.  She was sitting in church, listening to a sermon, and she thought,  "How can this God who is all loving and all powerful, why would God be jealous of me?"*   Completely misunderstanding the character of God, she then left the faith of her childhood and began a quest of New Age spirituality.

Influence  What makes this so alarming is that Oprah is trusted by so many.  I wouldn't be surprised if she is responsible for leading more people away from the truth of the gospel than any other person in history.  But why are we so willing to accept her ungodly philosophy?  Maybe we don't really understand the character of God for ourselves.  What does it mean for God to be a jealous God?

God is not jealous of me.  Rather, He is jealous for me.  We find this teaching smack in the center of the second commandment, where God is commanding us to hold nothing in importance above Him.  "You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods."  (Exodus 20:5 NLT)   He is a God who expects to be given his proper place above all things.  He deserves to have the first place in my affections, my thoughts, my agenda and in the way I spend my time.  

God needs nothing from me.  He has a plan and doesn't need me to carry it out.  Mordecai knew this characteristic of God, as he illustrated when advising his niece, Queen Esther.  The Jewish people were in danger of being annihilated at the hand of the evil Hamman.  And Esther, as the wife of the King, was in a position to do something about it.  So he said to her, ". . . if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)  In other words, if Esther didn't step up to the plate, God's plan would still go forth but Esther would not be a part of that plan.  God did not need Esther to carry out His plan.  And He does not need you and me, either. 

God's plan is all about Him.  When the people of Israel were held in bondage under Pharaoh in Egypt, God's plan was to use Moses to release them from their misery.  God used plagues and miracles in the process of releasing them from slavery and leading them toward the promised land.  Many times He stated the reason for these shows of power were so that, "you may know that the earth is the Lord's" (Exodus 9:29) or that, " you may know that I am the Lord." (Exodus 10:2) Years later, under the reign of Ahab, the evil king of Israel, God was all about bring glory to His name.  Ahab was given a chance to see this truth when God sent a prophet to deliver a message of military success so that, "you will know that I am the Lord." (I Kings 20:13).  Everything God does is to draw attention to His might, power and glory. Who am I, the created being, to steal glory from the Creator, even in thinking that it was my hard work or cleverness that brought about my success?   

All Good is From God, Not from Me!  If this world is all about God, created for God and by God, why do I have such a hard time giving God the glory and honor which is rightfully His?   I am quick to take the credit or accept compliments and praise for all kinds of good things in my life, thus stealing praise from God.  It is easy to believe others' compliments instead of giving credit where credit is due.  I must remember that, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." (James 1:17a)

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I would let nothing steal praise away from the Lord my God.

Where am I taking credit for something that God did in my life?

How am I putting other things, thoughts or activities in a position of higher importance, above God?

*Oprah's quote from:  http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Finding-Your-Spiritual-Path-Webcast-Transcript/6#ixzz1ezwxWdMH

Soaring

The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom. 

 He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-30

The wind whistles through my ears and blows several strands of hair into my face, distracting me from my mission.  I readjust my grip, sending tiny pebbles and dust falling into my eyes.  I don't know if I can hold on any longer.  Drops of sweat form on my forehead and my heart beats faster as I feel my fingers slip from their place on the cold, hard stone.  I'm losing my grip . . .

In  life, I sometimes feel like I'm barely holding onto the edge of a cliff, dangling thousands of feet in the air making every effort to keep from falling.  If only I can hold on for just another day, I think, then I know things will get better.  That's when the truth of Isaiah 40 is most needed.  My God does not grow weary and He will give me strength if I only give Him a chance.  Who is this God that I should put my faith in Him?

My Creator  The One True God is the One who created me along with everything in this world. He knows me intimately because, "(His) hands made me and formed me."  (Psalm 119:73)  When I was growing up, my dad built our house, garage and barn.  Since he placed every beam and floor joist, he knew the strengths and weaknesses of our home better than anyone else.  This is how God is with me.  I can trust Him because He made me!

Everlasting  The Lord our God has no beginning or end.  He is not bound by time as we are.  As Moses prayed to God,"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:2)  This is a God who I can count on because He is a God ". . .who is, and who was, and who is to come." (Revelation 1:8)  I can trust Him because He will always be there!

Understanding  There are so many times when I feel like no one understands me.  I try to explain my point of view, or describe what is happening in my heart, but words cannot adequately describe my thoughts and feelings.  God, however, knows and understands!  David expressed God's intimate understanding of me in one of my favorite Psalms. 

"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up.  

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. 

You know everything I do.

You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord."

(Psalm 139:1-4, NLT)

I can trust Him because He fully understands me.

Fall  When I feel I cannot hold on any longer, I need to let go and fall into the arms of the One who created me, who will always be there to catch me, and who intimately knows and understands me.  He will not let me fall.  In fact, in His arms. . . I will soar!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will stop trying to hold on, and let my God carry me.

Where am I refusing to let God in?

How am I holding myself and others back by trying to do things myself, instead of letting God?

Thanksgiving

I will praise God’s name in song
   and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

Giving Thanks  The turkey is roasting, the side dishes are awaiting their turn in the oven, the pies are resting, lined up in a row on the counter, the table is set and the guest are arriving.  This will be the scene in most American homes today as we celebrate a day in which we give thanks for the abundance of our lives.  But most of the time, my focus is on the feast and spending time with those gathered around the table.  Today, I want to give thanks for my God, who is merciful and gracious enough to give me another day.

His Love  Paul's prayer for the believers at Ephesus was that they, ". . . being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:18-19)  The love my Lord and Savior has for me is beyond my comprehension.  Today, I give thanks to my God who loves me this much! 

His Sovereignty  I love the imagery of Isaiah 43, with the thought that God will be with us when we pass through the waters, and the rivers will not sweep over us.  What a comfort to know the One who controls the universe is keeping us in such a way!  This passage ends with a statement of his absolute sovereignty.  " 'You are my witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand.   When I act, who can reverse it?' " (Isaiah 43:12b-13)  Today, I give thanks to my God who is in complete control.

The Cross My life would not be the same without my relationship with my Creator through faith in Jesus Christ.  There is no greater love that can be shown than how Jesus chose to die a horrible death on a Roman cross in order that I can be made righteous in the eyes of a Holy God.  Astounding!  I cannot fathom this kind of love, nor can I properly thank Him for this gift of salvation.  Songwriters Ian Eskelen and Chris Megert describe Christ's work on the cross in these lyrics of "Battle," performed by Chris August. 

There’s a battle between good and evil
And it’s raging inside of me
There’s a struggle - it’s God and the devil
It’s Love against the Enemy


Life’s a fight of wrong and right
That’s tearing me apart
Oh but what the cross has done
Yeah the world will try to battle for my heart
But the war is already won

Today, I give thanks to my God who has already won the battle between good and evil.  Thank you to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

As I begin this day of cooking, eating and celebrating, I pray that my heart will be inclined toward a loving, sovereign, redemptive God.

Living Hope

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
   his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
    "therefore I will hope in him."

Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)

Have Mercy!  Remember the childhood game of "Mercy," where two players would face each other, grasp hands with palms together and push with all their might, trying to force the other's wrist back?  When the pain became unbearable, a player would declare defeat by yelling, "Mercy" and hope their opponent would let go, thus relieving the pain.  Unfortunately, children (or adults for that matter) do not always have compassion for those under their power and would sometimes continue the pressure, thus prolonging the pain.  There were some kids everyone knew to stay away from when it came to playing Mercy!

Give Thanks Thankfully, the Lord our God does not have this same characteristic.  He is a God of mercy, many times not giving what we deserve, or withholding punishment we have earned.  In this season of Thanksgiving, I want to give thanks for our God of mercy.

His Mercy is Great  David knew well of God's mercy as he had received it countless times.  Later in his reign,  David made the mistake of taking a census to see how many troops he possessed, forgetting what he had believed as a lad with five smooth stones and a sling standing foolishly against a giant. At that time, when Saul told him how absurd it was for a mere boy to go against the mighty warrior of Goliath, David proclaimed, "The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1Samuel 17:37)  After the census incident, David confessed his foolishness of depending on the might of his army instead of his God, and the Lord gave him three options for punishment.  Either his people would suffer three years of famine, he would run from his enemies for three months, or there would be three days of plagues in the land.  David replied, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” (2 Samuel 24:14)  David knew the Lord is a God of mercy and would rather put himself into God's hands rather than mans'. 

Mercy is His  The Israelites experienced the mercy of God many times while wandering in the desert.  They were described by God as a "stiff-necked people," constantly turning away from Him and to their own wicked ways.  On one particular occasion, when Moses returned from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, the people were worshipping a golden calf and God's anger burned against them, desiring to kill the entire nation of Israel and start over with Moses.  God relented, for His own namesake and to preserve His promise, and instead punished them with a plague for their sin.  Then, He reminded Moses that,"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (Exodus 33:19) Mercy belongs to God, and only He decides when He uses it.  I must always remember that I live in a constant state of being at God's mercy.

Mercy Brings Hope   The greatest act of mercy God ever committed was in sending His Son to die on the cross, taking the punishment we deserve for our sins.  The apostle Peter understood this well, as evidenced by the opening lines of his first letter to the believers scattered throughout the land during the time of the early church.  He wrote, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade." (1 Peter 1:3-4)  We now have the hope of heaven and a relationship with a holy God thanks to this great act of mercy!

Mercy of a Loving God  I can never thank God enough for the mercy He has shown me.  I like how English poet, lawyer and priest John Donne described the mercy of God.  "We are God's tenants here, and yet here he, our landlord, pays us rents-not yearly, nor quarterly, but hourly and quarterly; every minute he renews his mercy."  Everything we hold dear; our life, health, family, friends, are all due to God's great mercies!

As I begin this day and prepare for Thanksgiving, it is my prayer that I can keep God's mercies fresh in my mind, retaining a spirit of thankfulness throughout the day.

Where have I held an attitude of entitlement, expecting mercy where it is not mine to assume?

How have I been unmerciful to others?

Open the Door

Here I am!

I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelation 3:20

"Ding, Dong!"

"Oh, no!  They're here already. . .why are they early?  We're not ready yet!  Quick, everyone, finish tidying up and I'll stall them at the door.  Somebody put the dogs in the room.  Oh, and don't forget to check the bathroom!  Go!"

Has this ever happened to you?  You're running late in preparing for dinner guests and then they show up before the appointed time!  This is kind of how I can feel about Jesus.  He is waiting at the door for me to invite Him into my life, but I am busy scurrying around trying to make myself presentable before I let Him in.  But the key to being a good hostess is not in impressing my guests with a clean home and wonderful cooking, but in welcoming them into my life as it is and helping them to feel as part of the family.  The focus is on the guest, not on the hostess.   How can I let Jesus in now, and not wait until it may be too late?

Be Thankful  The Westminister Shorter Catechism states that the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.  Paul instructs in I Corinthians 10:31 to take part in life with a spirit of thankfulness in all things.  "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  As I go through the mundane parts of my life, if I make Jesus my focus and my reason for doing all that I do, my attitude will change from one of fear and restlessness, to one of satisfaction and contentment.  I am here for God, He is not here for me!

Be Accepting  Jesus does not expect me to make myself presentable before I allow Him into my life.  He know me well, as He demonstrated when He met the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4).  He knew every detail of her life, but He loved her anyway! It is the same with me and you.   In fact, ". . . God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  Jesus did not wait until I was halfway there before He sacrificially gave His life to make me presentable before a Holy God.  No!  He did all the redemptive work for me, all I do is accept.  He knows my sin better than I do, but He loves me just as I am.  All that's left for me to do is let Him love me!

Be Purposeful  Today is the day to let Jesus into my life, to live alongside of me.  None of us are guaranteed tomorrow!  God's Word found in James 4:14 reminds us that, ". . . you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."  Since we don't know how long we have here, we should make the most of every opportunity. (Ephesians 5:15-16) 

Perhaps Benjamin Glover and Jeffrey Thomas Pardo said it best in the song they penned for Mandisa called, "Waiting for Tomorrow*." 

Maybe tomorrow we'll start over
Maybe tomorrow I will finally change my ways
Said the same things yesterday
Don't know why I'm so afraid
To let you in
To let you win
To let you have all of me

Can't spend my whole life wastin'
Everything I know I've been given
'Cause you've made for so much more than
Sittin' on the side lines
I don't wanna look back and wonder
If good enough could've been better

Everyday's a day to start over
So, why am I waiting for tomorrow

Maybe today I'll start believing
That you're mercy is really
As real as you say it is
It doesn't matter who I used to be
It only matters that I've been set free
You rescued me you're changing meJesus take everything

Oh, I'm makin this my moment now
To grab the hand that's reachin down to save me You saved me
And I'm makin this my moment now
To grab the hand that's reachin down to save me You saved me

I'm gonna grab the hand that's reachin down
And I'm not gonna wait until tomorrow
Oh, tomorrow

Do I have caution tape around the door of my heart?  You and I cannot afford to wait any longer to let Jesus into our lives.  What are we waiting for?

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will let Jesus into every part of my life and not attempt to hide anything from Him.

What am I trying to make presentable before showing it to Jesus?

How am I withholding parts of my life out of fear of what Jesus will think, forgetting that He loves me as I am?

* Lyrics from http://www.absolutelyrics.com/lyrics/view/mandisa/waiting_for_tomorrow

Looking For Love

Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:12-13

I think we've all seen the t-shirts, steering wheel covers, and other items emblazoned with the script, "Love Kills Slowly."  Humans have a low view of love, mostly using the word to describe a romantic passion between a man and a woman.  The pattern of this world is that I give my heart to a man. Inevitably the man will hurt me and I will die a little each time until the final blow comes when that "love" leaves me for another.  Then the process starts over, killing me slowly over time.  But if we want to know what real love is, we must look to God because God is love!  (1 John 4:8)

Undying  God's brand of love does not tear us down and kill us over time because His kind of love is perfect and holy.  Real love is not a feeling, but an unselfish concern for others and, ". . . love builds up." (I Corinthians 8:1)  When we try to love, or be loved, the human way, we will always be disappointed.  God, however, will never let us down in this same way.  I can trust Him with my heart!  The Apostle Paul understood this kind of love as evidenced by the following . "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)  God's love can be counted on!

Sacrificial  Love involves some kind of personal sacrifice because, by definition, it is other-centered.  When we love someone as Christ has loved us, that means we do whatever is in their best interest.  That could mean risking my life by running into a burning building to save a stranger, or to take the time to help my husband even when I have a million other things to do. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice by taking the punishment for our sins when He died on the cross so that our relationship with God could be restored.  

Servant-like Loving others the way God loves us means we will get dirty.  Before Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples, he performed an extraordinary act. He removed his outer garments, bent down on the floor, and washed his friends' feet.  During this time period, washing one's feet was a lowly task left to the servants.  But Jesus demonstrated a servant's heart in his willingness to lower himself to perform this act of love.

Do I look for love in all the wrong places?  I need look no further than God, who will completely fulfill my need for love, freeing me to love others the way He loves me.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can love others as God has loved me. 

Where am I stingy with my time, resources and talents?

How do I elevate my desires above the needs of those God has placed around me?

The Great Adviser

Who is like the LORD our God,
   the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look
   on the heavens and the earth?

 He raises the poor from the dust
   and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes,
   with the princes of his people.
He settles the childless woman in her home
   as a happy mother of children.

Psalm 113:5-9

Dr Phil, Oprah, Dear Abby, mother, father, best friend, self-help books, therapist, pastor. . . There are many sources for advice, encouragement and help in this world, but there is no one like our God!

God is Sovereign   When I need to make a decision, its easy to get caught up in asking for advice from many people.  While it is true that, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed," (Proverbs 15:22) it doesn't mean my main source of advice should be human. "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps." (Proverbs 16:9)  God is sovereign, and if I want to know the plan He has for my life, I must go to Him!  (Jeremiah 29:11)

God is Omniscient    When I am down, there is nothing that feels better than a bit of encouragement from a friend, or a stranger for that matter.  But when I make God my main source for lifting me up when I feel down, I will never be disappointed.  Job found this out the hard way when he turned to his friends for encouragement in a time of great trial in his life when he lost his family, his wealth and his health.  His friends started out supporting him, but in the end they blamed it all on him, saying that God must be punishing Job for some unconfessed sin.  Not very encouraging!  But when God spoke, He began to put everything in perspective by asking, "Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?"  (Job 38:4)  In the end, God was not pleased with Job's friends for they did not speak the truth about Him.  (Job 42:9) Listen to the message God sent to Balak through Balaam, "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act?  Does he promise and not fulfill?"  (Number 23:19) There is no better source of encouragement than our God who always knows what to say, and will never speak the wrong thing!

God is our Help   I remember driving down the road with my four young daughters some years ago and suddenly feeling the tell-tale "bump" of a flat tire.  The first thing I did was call AAA to come and help me.  How many times do I turn to other sources but never call on God?  "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)  I will never forget the feeling of helplessness when a 6.8 earthquake hit Washington state back in 2001.  As my daughters and I huddled in the hallway for an excruciatingly long 48 seconds, we cried out to God, knowing there was no one else who could help us. There is no one like our God!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will remember to acknowledge God in all my ways.

Where am I turning to others before seeking counsel from the Lord?

When do I trust in my own resources instead of on the one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills?  

God's Will or My Will?

"Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness."

Genesis 15:6 

Obedience could be defined as, "doing what you're told."  Most children find this a challenge, especially when a parent tells the child to clean their room, or to do some other despised chore.  Obedience is hard when it goes against the child's own will. 

It is the same with me in my relationship to my heavenly Father.  Obedience begins with Him.  He burdens my heart with a thing and I then have a choice.  Either I do what He is telling me to do, or I do not do what He is telling me to do.  In other words, either I obey or I disobey.  Its easy to obey when its something I feel comfortable doing, but what about when it goes against my own plans, my desires, or my comfort level? A prayer of philosopher and theologian Augustine's sums it up beautifully. "O Lord, grant that I may do thy will as if it were my will, so that thou mayest do my will as if it were thy will." 

Temper Tantrum  Obedience boils down to a surrender of the wills; my will for my Lord's will. We've all witnessed a battle of the wills between a 2-year-old and her parent.  Many times this ends up with the child throwing a temper tantrum because the child does not want to surrender her desire to eat some candy, for example, even though her mom said, "No."  Unfortunately, I have not completely outgrown the use of this tactic.  I remember when my husband and I were scouting out the area to which God had directed us to move.  As we searched for accommodations, we came across a house that had just been framed up in a new community.  The houses seemed too close together and there were no trees except the tiny ones the builders planted in front of each completed home.  I hated it and I decided I didn't want to live here.  Problem was, I knew this was where God wanted us.  So. . . I threw a tantrum.  I ranted and raved to God, but something happened as I surrendered my will for His.  A peace flooded my spirit and now, 6 years later, our backyard is filled with trees!  God isn't callous toward our feelings, but He is unyielding regarding His plan. 

Defiance   Obedience shows who, or what, is my lord.  When Abraham believed God at His word and then did what God said to do, He was showing who was Lord of his life.  He clearly had placed God in that position.  When Moses was presented with a mission in Exodus 3-4, however, he had many concerns and questions.  God addressed every one and eased Moses' mind.  But when Moses revealed his uncertainty regarding his own ability to speak what God had commanded him to speak to Pharaoh and asked God to send someone else, ". . .the Lord's anger burned against him. . ."(Exodus 4:14)  Moses lost the chance to speak to the leader of Egypt and witness God's power in his life.  Instead, Aaron was given the job to do.  Putting his own insecurities above God's plan revealed that God was not truly Lord of Moses' life. 

Actions Speak Louder   Obedience is followed by blessing.  It is easy to equate blessing with material wealth or gifts.  But God is not as concerned with our physical comfort, but in our spiritual health.  We are made right with God through faith, and obedience is the manifestation of our faith.  It is said that, "Talk is cheap."  Anyone can say, I trust God," but obedience shows that I trust God. When I trust God, I am showing that I believe He will do as He has promised and that God is a God who keeps His promises.  Our righteousness is a direct result of God's character.  He is able to justify the ungodly, and when I believe that, He credits my account with the blessing of righteousness (Romans 4). 

Obedience is a surrendering of the wills, shows who is first in my life, and is followed by a blessing from a God who keeps His promises. 

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can exchange my will for God's and willingly obey.

Where am I letting my fears become my god?

How can I better trust God and let Him get His way in my life?

"When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,  saying, 'I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.' And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised."

Hebrews 6:13-15 

Courageous

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

There is a powerful movie recently released called, "Courageous," which is a kind of call-to-action for fathers.  But the message, and the song of the same name, is a call to each one of us who follows Christ.  As you read some of the words of the Casting Crowns song*, think of it in light of 2 Timothy 1:7, and as it applies to our position as light in a dark world.

We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chains
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous

We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we're watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away

Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of our hearts cry
We will serve the Lord

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall

We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
Let the men of God arise

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

In the Fight  God did not give us a timid spirit, yet it is so easy to be a watcher in this culture of political correctness that is hostile to the Christian worldview.  But we are not called to be spectators, standing on the sidelines as our culture crumbles around us.  We are called to be in the fight, salt and light in a lost world.  How can we break free from our timidity and embrace the power, love and self-discipline that is within us?

Stay in Jesus   In the American culture, it is dangerously easy to do things on our own.  But Jesus was clear in His teaching of how to live a fruitful life in a world that hates us.  He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)  If we are to have any hope of accomplishing any Kingdom work in our neighborhoods, workplaces, or schools, we must follow Jesus closely. We cannot make an impact in our culture in our own strength.   If it is not Jesus doing the work through us, it does not count. 

Stand Firm   After giving a preview of things to come in eternity, Paul exhorts us to, ". . . stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."  (I Corinthians 15:58)  Knowing that the sacrifices made here will not be in vain gives us strength and courage to lovingly take a stand for the Truth.  We are called to love, but love does not back down.  Rather, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (I Corinthians 13:6-7)  Don't give up! 

Spotlight the Kingdom   As we witness all the evil around us, it is easy to get drawn into a campaign to change the world.  But that is not our role.  God is the One who changes hearts and lives.  We are to live our lives in such a way that those around us are profoundly affected when coming into contact with us.  As we focus on God's Kingdom, He goes about drawing the hearts of those who are being salted by our lives.  It is more of a roundabout change that occurs, not as direct result of us working to change our coworkers, neighbors and friends, but in God working through us. 

Real Change  When we draw on God's power, love and self-discipline in order to answer His calling in our lives, He will work to change the world around us.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will stay true to Jesus and the principles He has taught me.

Where have I compromised God's teachings in my life?

How have I allowed the world around me to influence the way I think, act or speak?  Am I willing to be courageous in this area?


 
*lyrics for Courageous from  http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=683

Let Love Rule

 "But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.  Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.  But whoever loves God is known by God."

I Corinthians 8:1b-3

Hypocrisy  The rickety station wagon plastered with "Jesus" bumper stickers cut me off and pulled into the parking lot in front of me.  As the driver eased to a stop in front of the curb, I watched in curiosity.  A tall, thin man climbed out and briskly walked into the gym. Later, I was surprised to see this same man take my elliptical as I quickly ran to the restroom in the middle of my workout.  "Oh, I'm sorry, was this yours?"  he asked as he continued his training.  I retrieved my water bottle, book and towel and mumbled something about finding another machine.  Before leaving the gym that day, his voice stood out among the clanks of the weights.  "Oh yeah, reading the Word is so important.  I make sure and do that every morning." 

All the Right Things  The scenario described above illustrates the importance of knowing God.  I can know the Bible like the back of my hand, attend church regularly, take advantage of every Bible study offered, and listen to sermons on the radio in my spare time, but if I don't know God, it just serves to puff me up with importance.

Hollow  I remember seeing the most delicious-looking pastry sitting on the serving plate in the dining room of the hotel we stayed at when we first arrived in Germany for a 3-year tour of duty.  I carefully chose the delectable donut and placed it on my plate.  As I bit into it, I was saddened to find out that it wasn't at all what I had first though, but was actually hollow and quite empty of filling.  Disappointed, I left the pathetic thing on my plate and finished the rest of my breakfast.

Empty Shell  Knowledge of God's Word apart from God Himself does this to me.  I become this empty shell of a person who thinks I know all, yet am completely oblivious to how my actions affect those around me.  Kind of like the guy at the gym.  So how do I avoid this dangerous trap? 

Spend Time with God  One of the greatest areas of frustration in my life is when I am not able to spend time with my husband.  I love him and want to enjoy his company.  But many times the busyness of life competes with this time and I find my love growing cold.  We have to make a conscious effort to cultivate our relationship.  It is the same with God.  To know Him, I must spend time with Him in quiet meditation, honest conversation, and healthy study of His Word with a sensitivity to His leading as I read. 

Cultivate a Love for God  It is easy to get caught up in the religion of Christianity, learning all the rules, lingo, and traditions but forgetting the most important thing: Love.  "We love because he first loved us." (I John 4:19)  Love does not come naturally in my flesh, but it is born out of my connection to God, who is love (see verse 16).   As a follower of Christ, I have love dwelling within me, but it can so easily be suppressed.  It is kind of like the beautiful roses growing in the flower bed on the side of my house.  They need constant care and protection against the danger of pests, diseases or lack of water. Similarly, I must take care to cultivate my love relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, guarding against legalism, pride, selfish ambition and all those things that elevate myself about my God.

God's Perspective   I remember sitting on my neighbors porch and marveling at how different my house looked to me from another viewpoint.  Its the same with God.  He sees things differently than I do, and if I want to love others, I need to be able to see them from His viewpoint.  I have my sinful attitudes, prejudices,and beliefs that cloud my viewpoint.  If I really want God's love to flow through me, I have to ask God for His perspective.  When I yield my will to His, He allows me to see people the way He sees them and I become compassionate, caring and kind.  When I place my agenda above God's,  I see people from my own perspective and I become irritable, impatient and harsh. 

Spending time with God, cultivating my love relationship my Him, and seeing things from His perspective is what will guard my heart against the hollowness of mere learning.  Love is the key, as it serves to build up the body of Christ, while knowledge solely puffs me up as an individual. 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can let the love of God rule in my life and be known by Him.

Where am I taking pride in the knowledge of scripture yet not letting the Truth of it change me?

What parts of my life are getting in the way of my love relationship with Jesus?

Withering Grass

"The grass withers and the flowers fall,
   but the word of our God endures forever."

Isaiah 40:8

Skeleton Trees Greek philosopher Heraclitus is known to have said, "Nothing endures but change."  Nowhere is this more apparent than in the fall garden.  In the past week I have raked leaves that have turned a flaming crimson or vibrant golden tree into a naked skeleton.  I pulled up once fertile tomato plants that wilted with the first frost of the season.  Gone were the fragrant basil and the climbing vines. Colossal Elephant Ears which once stood watch over our yard now bow to the ground in defeat.  Our garden is readying itself for winter just as our lives are in a constant state of flux.  It sometimes seems that change is the only thing we can count on.

Circle of Life  We are like these trees and plants because our life goes through a predictable cycle. Many a man has worked his whole life to leave a legacy, only to be forgotten once he is gone.  As important and impactful as we think we are, we are all like grass; here today and gone tomorrow, with another blade ready to take our place the moment we wither into the earth. 

A Life of Significance  If we base our lives on the significance of ourselves, we are fooling ourselves.   But if we ground ourselves in God's Word, which does not change, we will live a life of significance, pleasing to God.

Heart in Check  When we base our life on God's Word, our heart will never be allowed to stray into selfish territory.  As scripture teaches in Hebrews 4:12, ". . .the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Living by God's Word means we will never rest in our sin but will be convicted to submit to our Lord Jesus Christ.

God's Ruler  God's Word is not wishy washy.  We know where we stand when we compare our thoughts, deeds and words to His standard.  God posed a revealing questions through the prophet Jeremiah.  "Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29) Measuring our life against the ruler of God's Word will always give us an accurate assessment.

Useful   God's Word is not just a collection of wise thoughts, poetic writings and historical works.  It is, ". . .God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2Timothy 3:16)  When we are open to the instruction, admonition, discipline, and preparation offered in scripture, we will be ready to do all that God has "prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will allow God's unchanging Word to bring about a powerful transformation in my ever-changing life.

Where am I not taking God at His Word?

How am I depending upon man's shifting opinions or beliefs instead of upon God's infallible Word?

My Treasure

"The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
   the world, and all who live in it."

Psalm 24:1

House

Car

Clothes

Bank Accounts

Toys

Furniture

Electronics

Books

Decorations

Toiletries

This is a partial list of the stuff I own.  Even though my husband and I bought each item with our own money, can I really call it "mine"?  In light of Psalm 24, it all belongs to the Lord.  If I look a little deeper, I will even find that I belong to the Lord as well.

Good, Better, Best  How does the truth of Psalm 24 affect the way I hold onto the things in my list?  As Randy Alcorn said in his book, Money, Possessions, and Eternity, "When you came to Christ you surrendered the title to your life.  You belong to God, not to yourself."  God is calling each one of us to view our possessions as belonging to Him.  In light of this truth, I should be constantly reassessing my "stuff" and asking Him how He wants me to use it.  Is there a better use of the resources God has given me?  The world is full of suffering.  As followers of Christ, it is our calling to deliver the message of hope that is found in the gospel "to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)  How am I using the resources God placed in my hands to best fulfill that calling? 

Clenched Hands  I have heard that we are to hold our possessions with an open hand.  I often say I don't care about my stuff, but if I'm honest with myself, my heart is often like the rich young man who went away sad when Jesus told him to sell all he had and come and follow Him.  (Luke 18:22)  How can I unclench my hands?

Steward  One way is to adopt the attitude like that of Christ Jesus.(Philippians 2:5-8)  Even though He is God and could have righfully expected the very best, he instead made himself nothing and took on the nature of a servant.  Keeping in mind that a servant owns nothing of his own, this challenges me to change the way I view my stuff.  Instead of thinking of it as "mine," I can think of it as belonging to my Master and I am simply the steward.  

Change my Focus  Another help to loosen my grip would be to adopt the way the rest of creation lives.  As Jesus taught in Matthew 6, birds and flowers do not possess anything, but they lack for nothing.  As believers, we glorify God best when we rely on Him for our needs.  We look just like the world who has no hope when we do like them and,  "run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:32-33)  When I focus on God and His Kingdom, He will provide what little "stuff" I need.

My Heart   It is often said that the state of our heart is revealed by how we choose to spend our money.  How I view my stuff reveals what is important to me as Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  What I value determines where my heart will reside. 

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will hold all I have lightly and be willing to give it away without a second thought. 

Which of the possessions God has entrusted into my care would I have a hard time giving away?

Where does my heart reveal a pride of ownership?

My Ways Are Higher

 



“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

The Discussion
"No!  That movie is not good for you and I'm not giving you permission to go see it!"
"But Mom! All of my friends are going and if I tell them you won't let me go, they're going to be mad at me."
"My answer is still 'No.'  You're just going to have to trust me on this, Honey.  Believe me. . .you'll thank me for this later."
"Arrrgggghhh!"

Why?   I have always had a strong desire to understand why things happen, or to comprehend the motivations that drive someone to do something.  I can analyze a thing to death until I've studied all possible angles and viewpoints.  This can be helpful when thinking back on a hurtful conversation and understanding where I went wrong, but it runs counter to a faith relationship with my Father.

Understanding God's Character    Part of faith is following without understanding.  It's as if God is saying, "If I say jump, I want you to jump!"  It speaks to my understanding of God's sovereignty and power.  To trust Him in a thing, is to say, "I know you have a purpose here, and even though it seems wrong to me, I will trust you in Your plan."  It was like when the prophet Jeremiah assured God's people, who were in exile at the time, that God knew of their predicament and that He knew what He is was doing and, in fact, that their situation was all a part of a greater plan.  Read Jeremiah 29:10-14:


 This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Full Circle  God's plan would bring His people full circle, back to their homes in Jersualem after a period of time.   It was as if God were saying, "You're just going to have to trust me on this.  Believe me. . . you'll thank me for this later."

Acceptance  If I were one of the exiles, I'd probably analyze my situation, trying to understand the purpose for my plight.  But showing my faith in God would mean that I would accept where God has placed me, and would live for Him there.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I would accept the situations in which God has placed me, and trust in His plan for my life.

Where am I trying to understand instead of simply trusting in the goodness, lovingkindness and sovereignty of God?