Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 12

Day 12

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: “The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of our nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:14-22

Application: I believe we could sit in this one passage for a full twelve weeks. There is such great richness in it, beyond what we even see on the surface. We miss the contextual information the first century church would have had when they read this letter. Briefly, from what I’ve learned there is a lot in this letter referring to the geographical location and culture of the city of Laodicea. As He often does, the Lord uses specifics to an individual or group to personalize His message. Laodicea had no good water source, where one nearby city had hot springs known for their healing properties and another a fresh, cold water source known for its purity. Hot and cold aren’t opposites here, but equally beneficial. Lukewarm, on the other hand, is useless, as is lukewarm faith. Also, Laodicea had thriving cloth and eye ointment industries. Yet, Jesus calls them naked and blind. How often do we have what we need physically yet miss out on what we need spiritually? In each of these cases the Lord uses what would be familiar to the hearers of this letter to get their attention. He does the same with us. But even more so, He uses His Word.

One of the sentences in this passage that sticks out to me is: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Could it be that when we are most self-sufficient, we are most spiritually deficient? There is not a direct link between financial wealth and lack of faith, but there is often a correlation. Remember the “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” passage. Why is there such a connection? Because when we experience success on our own, we tend to lose our dependence on God. But the truth is, we couldn’t do one thing without Him. There’s no way for us to even cause ourselves to continue breathing or our heart to keep beating if the Lord does not sustain us. Much less get out of bed and work. Yet we take these things for granted and give ourselves entirely too much credit. Granted, there is choice involved in what we do and how we spend our time and talents, but it is God alone who gives us our time and talents. We tend to forget that we have a thousand reasons to praise Him each and every day. Every breath and heartbeat are cause for worshipping the Lord.

Oh, that we would be on fire for God, desire to be filled with His presence, seek to do His will, and be a vessel to bring Him glory every day! That we would share the cool, refreshing, revitalizing truth of the Living Water with others wherever we are. That we would spend more time clothing ourselves with His righteousness than we spend on our physical clothes. That we would focus our eyes on Him and see as He sees. And what He wants us to see. That we would open ourselves and even welcome the loving discipline of the Lord. That we would be zealous and repent and open the door when He calls out to us. Oh, to experience the indescribable presence of the holy, Lord Almighty! This is the call He makes each and every day.

Prayer: Lord, let me not forget what you have been teaching me through Your Word. Plant it deep into my mind and heart and transform me by it. Help me to always evaluate my works according to the fruit they produce for Your Kingdom. Stoke the fire in my heart for the Gospel and embolden me to live in such a way to bring glory to You every day. Give me the wisdom, power, and steadfastness to conquer in this world and one day sit with You on Your throne, to ever bring glory and honor and praise to Your name.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

What temperature am I? Do I burn for Jesus and bring healing? Do I pour out the cool, refreshing Water on others with my words and actions?

In what ways do I place confidence in myself and my abilities instead of in God?

Where is my greatest spiritual need?

In what areas or my life and/or ministry could I see more clearly?

Lord, help me not to shrink back from Your discipline, but embrace it as You mature my faith and multiply my fruit.

What can I change to hear God’s voice more?

How can I praise God and bring Him more glory today?

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 10

Day 10

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not spoiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:1-6

Application: Five out of the seven letters to the specific churches found at the beginning of Revelation begin with these words: “I know your works…” In previous letters, and in the next one, these words are followed by encouragement. In this and the last letter, however, these words are meant to cut straight to the heart of the readers. There is no comfort in being reminded that God knows everything when we are dead inside.

I cringe at the thought of taking these words too lightly. Of passing over them briefly without allowing God to use His Word to examine my heart. During the last nine weeks, there have been many opportunities for you and I to open ourselves before the Lord and have Him purge what needs to be excised and plant what needs to be nurtured. Yet, He is not done. There is no plateau in a relationship with God. There are always deeper issues to be dug into and higher places to go. This is such an opportunity.

Throughout many sermons I’ve listened to and discussions I’ve participated in, the question of how we do church and how it compares to the biblical model for the Church seems to continue to come up. People have various preferences and desires for worship style, location, programs, preaching style, and discipleship. We tend to base our opinions on our backgrounds, education, church experience, and perceived successes or failures. However, this scripture gives us a perfect opportunity to examine how we “do” church – both individually and corporately.

That a church can have a phenomenal reputation yet be dead to Kingdom works should raise an alarm in us. It is much easier to look upon other church bodies, other denominations, other people and point out how they are lacking in spiritual fruit and growth. It is much more difficult to turn our gaze inward and be willing to sacrifice any beloved church ministry or way of doing church. This is the very problem Jesus constantly pointed out in the Pharisees and Sadducees: they knew the scripture and followed the letter of the law while neglecting the heart of the law – to love God and people. They most likely had a reputation of being alive within the larger church, but Jesus called them whitewashed tombs. They were dead inside.

Could it be that we are more like them than we’re comfortable considering? Could we be clinging to a way of doing church more than God’s vision for us being the church? Could we be pushing the Gospel aside to have great programs? Could we be failing to make disciples because we’re too focused on feeding ourselves? Could we be missing the leading of the Holy Spirit because we’re following rules and regulations according to human teachings? Could we be forgetting the ends of the earth because of being too comfortable at home? Could we be missing out on the best God has for us for the good that is before us?

Let us be a people who hears what the Lord is saying to us and stay alert to who He wants us to be.

Prayer: Oh, God! Wake me up! Strengthen me! Let You be my greatest love and the Gospel be my greatest mission. Make me uncomfortable. Reveal to me if I’m dead in my works. I forego any reputation I have with anyone other than You. Teach me to walk in Your ways of righteousness. Remind me that bringing glory to Your name by living a holy life and sharing Your salvation with others is why I am here. It doesn’t matter what that looks like. Make me who You desire me to be. Use the unique gifts, talents, and abilities You’ve given me to bring glory, honor, and praise to Your name. Thank You, Jesus for confessing my name before the Father. Let me respond to the worthiness You poured out on me by grace through faith by letting go of everything that doesn’t expand Your Kingdom.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

In what areas or ways have I placed too much importance or emphasis on my reputation in the world?

What works am I putting my efforts into might God be asking me to give up or alter?

Lord, by the power of Your Spirit, help me remember the grace I received and Gospel I heard through Your Word.

Where might my preferences and perceptions of how church is to be done be hindering the spread of the Gospel?

How can I be more focused on who God desires the church to be rather than what I think the church should do?

Lord God, I praise You for writing my name in the book of life.

Father, what are You saying that You want me to hear today?

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 6

Day 6

Scripture focus: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.”

Revelation 2:1-7

Application: God knows. And He sees. This is great encouragement! Often we labor in our faith and feel like no one recognizes our effort. Most of life isn’t made up of the great events or works that are seen by others, but in the daily “hard work and…patient endurance.” No human sees when we get up early to spend time with God. Often no person sees when we sacrifice time or money or pleasure to feed into someone else’s life. Going to work and completing our tasks with excellence usually is expected and not praised. There’s seldom reward for cooking meals, mowing the lawn, washing clothes, cleaning house, changing the oil, changing a diaper. These are tasks that make up the dailyness of life and we do because they need to be done. However, God sees it all and knows the things we do. He sees us volunteer in the nursery. He knows when we get to church early to greet people. He observes us when we meet with and encourage another believer who is struggling. He is watching when we gather in small groups to pray over and discuss decisions for our faith family. He is not absent when we make a pot of coffee, sweep a floor, or give a hug. God knows all the ways we serve people. When we refuse to compromise His standards for the world’s values. When we hold fast to His truth in a corrupt and capitulating culture. None of this escapes His notice.

Neither does our motivation and heart for our works. It is easy to get wrapped up in our life routines of work, school, parenting, grandparenting, running around, and serving and lose our love for God and people. We slip into a mode of survival instead of victorious living. We fall out of loving God and others with a passionate love. A love that comes first and foremost and serves as the impetus for the things we do. Have we, have I, forgotten to love God as I did at first? You know what a “love at first” is like: passionate, joyful, willing, energizing, enthusiastic, all-encompassing. When we first recognize God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness, we are compelled and excited to love Him back, spend time with Him, share His love with others, and are empowered to love them well. As time moves on and the everydayness of life creeps in, it can crowd out and dampen the flames of our love for God and others. Yet, we are still working. In our own strength. According to our own ideas. For our own purposes.

But God.

He desires our hearts. Our love. Our complete devotion to Him, reliance on His strength, surrender to His ways, and focus on His purposes. And out of that love and devotion the fruit His Spirit will then blossom and feed our everyday labors.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the reminder that You see. You see my works. You see when I don’t give up. You see when I stand up for You. You see how I labor when no one else does. You know my heart. Thank You that Your steadfast love endures forever and that You continually call me to love You first. Show me where my love has waned. Reveal to me where my works and labors have thrown water on the fire of my love for You. Continue to call me to spend time with You, to dwell in You, abide in You. Shower me with Your love so I can in return love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, body, and spirit. Overflow my heart with Your love in order to enable me to love others around me well. To love them in such a way that’s best for them: for their good and Your glory. Give me ears to hear Your Holy Spirit and understand. I praise You for the victory You give in this life and the fruit of eternal life You have prepared for me in the next. To Your name be all honor and praise and glory. Amen.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

Lord, help me to remember that You see and know all and that my works and labors are to be done unto You.

Am I examining the claims made by all who call themselves Christians and evaluating them based on God’s Word?

Have I fallen from loving God first with a first kind of love?

Of what is God calling me to repent?

Jesus, never let me forget that You command an army of angels and walk amongst Your church. You are here with us and have unfathomable power!

What are the “works” the Lord wants me to do? What are some “works” that He may be calling me to lay down or let go?

Almighty God, thank You for preparing my heart to hear Your Spirit. Prepare it every day and help me to have understanding of Your Word.

New Series! Let's Dig into Revelation

Hello! After a long hiatus. I do hope to pick back up on the "How to Love Your Neighbor" series I ran last summer. Building a house, including great amounts of painting, learning to lay tile and hardwood floors, and moving kept me occupied for the last eight months. For now, however, I'm going to run a prayer devotional series based on Revelation. I hope it's a blessing to you and helps you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Introduction
I’m one of those people who has read parts of Revelation on occasion, not really understanding a lot of it. I even once read through the entirety of the Bible in thirty days…until I got to the last book, and fizzled out. However, I’ve recently been listening to a teaching series on Revelation which has opened up this section of scripture in a whole new way.

The first focus from this teaching series was to examine what Jesus says about Himself in Revelation. As I began going through verse by verse looking at how the Lord reveals Himself I was amazingly blessed.

As we go through the next twelve weeks, seeking what direction God has for our faith family, we will be using God’s revelation through the first few chapters of this specific book to focus on two things:

 (1)  Who God is

 (2) How God is calling us to live

Each week will have a scripture focus, a devotional commentary giving thoughts on application, and a prayer. There will also be a daily question we can ask and pray over as we reread the focal scripture each day. I pray you will be overwhelmed by God’s presence, mercy, grace, and love and be drawn closer to Him than ever before.

How to Love Your Neighbor - Part 1

Who's my neighbor?

Welcome to this new series on my blog! I'm so glad you're here and hope you'll take a  moment to say
"hi." This new series is simply inspired by God and some questions I believe He prompted me to ask myself. My brain is always going, and this time I'm actually getting some of these thoughts down on paper (er, computer). I hope they are a blessing to you and draw you closer to the Lord.

Who is my neighbor? And how do I love them? Click to tweet

This question - who is my neighbor - was asked by a lawyer to Jesus. He was trying to justify himself to the Lord. (Notice how this never worked? Wait. Don't we do the same? Gulp. Okay, moving on.)

The man wanted to know who he was supposed to love. He was looking to earn his way into heaven and seemed okay with the greatest commandments of loving God and loving his neighbor. But I'm guessing he felt his neighbor didn't include EVERYONE.

I've always wondered about Jesus' answer to this quesion - who is my neighbor. He tells a story about a man beaten and robbed, who ignored the injured man, and who helped him. Then Jesus asks, "Who do you think proved to be a neighbor?" (paraphrased) It seems like Jesus would have focused on the man that needed help in being the neighbor to love, but instead, he shifts the focus to the Samaritan (who would have been abhored by a Jewish person) - the person doing the loving action.

While the lawyer was trying to find out who he needed to love, Jesus pointed him to the fact that when we love, we become a neighbor. However, another thought struck me as I mulled over this lesson. The neighbor in need of love (the man beaten and robbed) was a stranger. The Samaritan "just happened" to cross paths with him. And chose to take notice of him. Chose to help him. To love him as he loved himself. To love him radically.

To love our neighbor as ourself means to love them radically. But who is our neighbor? Click to tweet

Does that mean we are to love everyone who crosses our paths? Yes.

That means we are to love our spouse - radically.

Love our children - radically.

Love our in-laws - radically.

Love our extended family - radically.

Love our actual neighbors - radically.

Love the grocery store clerk - radically.

Love our pastors - radically.

Love our coworkers - radically.

Love those we go to church with - radically.

Get the picture? I am getting it, and if I'm completely honest, it scares me. Because I know how very far short I fall of this.

I do love the people in my life, but usually in easy ways that don't really cost me anything. I'm not really good at stopping my progress, pausing my agenda, noticing the needy person on the ground and loving them radically. Loving them in a way that costs me. Costs me my comfort. Costs me my schedule. Costs me emotional investment.

I don't do this well. But the goal of this journey, of digging into this question of how to love my neighbor, is to do it better. To get my flesh under submission and surrender to God. To not only think about doing radically loving things, but to actually do them.

Now that we know that everyone who crosses our path in this life is our neighbor, next we will examine what it means to love them radically.

I hope you'll join me on this journey! I look forward to hearing what God reveals to you and works in your life as you pursue Him and living His way.

What does it look like to pursue God and live His way? Click to tweet

God brings us to His Safety

But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
Acts 27:43-44

I've been reading through Acts the last several months, slowly, taking only a chapter or section at a time. It's been truly amazing! What God reveals of Himself in the faithful telling of the early Jesus followers. The miracles He performed. The power He gave. The love, justice, and callings. It's been such a blessing!

I may go back and look over my notes (I've been reading with some friends and we share our thoughts and lessons God's teaching us) and share some from previous chapters, but as I sat down today to write, the last couple of verses from chapter 27 came forward.

In chapter 27, Paul is being transported to Italy as a prisoner. He's spent somewhere between 2-3 years in prison already, and now he's making a treacherous trip via ship. We can only imagine the discomforts of traveling on a cargo ship with almost 300 people 2000 years ago. For weeks. In a storm for days.

I'm sure the passengers and crew were weary. Tired. Scared. And ready to give up.

We don't have to experience those exact conditions to feel the same way. There are a variety of life circumstances that bring us to the end of our rope. During these times, it's hard to remember that God is still sovereign and He is still with us.

Like Paul did.

During the whole retelling of this journey by Luke (which seems to be a firsthand account, since much of it is written using "we") it never seems that Paul loses his cool. He doesn't seem frightened at all. Actually, he seems full of confidence. There is only one place this kind of confidence comes from - from a most intimate relationship with the Lord.

By truly living in a way in which every single detail of your life is surrendered to the Lord, as I believe Paul did.

We can too. Because living surrendered means we trust that God will bring us safely to shore. That He'll sustain us through the storm. That our life is really His, not ours.

Paul had this calmness even though he faced possible death once he reached his destination. This is because he knew He belonged to God and owed God his very life. God provided temporary safety for the boat passengers and crew after the ship ran aground, and He will do the same for us.

But the most important safety God brings us to is eternal safety. If we can keep our eyes fixed on that, we will experience the same peace Paul did despite any storm that comes our way.

Religion or Relationship?

Jesus never called us to be good people. When we attempt to live a life good enough to be worthy of the calling of Jesus (or, more detrimental, when we attempt to be good enough to earn our salvation) we are like the rich young man who was so close, but missed eternal life because he thought it depended on his actions.

We are also telling Jesus that He is not enough. His living a perfect life is not enough. His sacrificial death on the cross taking the full punishment for our sins is not enough. His resurrection revealing the power and glory of God is not enough. His free offering of grace, mercy, and forgiveness is not enough. His fulfilled promise of indwelling us with the very Spirit of the Lord, Creator, and Sustainer of the universe is not enough.

It sounds good to say that we are good. That we follow the rules. However, this causes some major problems (other than the main problem of essentially slapping Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in the face).

One of those problems is rebellion. Remember, some people embrace rules. Others fight them with every ounce of energy they have. They rebel, run, and live reckless lives because rules are not enough. The church trying to be perceived as good and reigning down judgment on those perceived as bad have kept many, many people away from the kingdom.

Another problem that’s created is an atmosphere of “how much can I get away with.” When rules are clear and people believe they just have to follow the rules, there are going to be many who want to know how far they can go and still stay within the technicalities of the rule. They will push boundaries and limits just far enough to still be “good.” This mentality is dangerous because if something isn’t found on the list of rules, it must be okay. Or it’ll be okay until someone decides otherwise and I’ll still be “good” because I didn’t break a “rule.”

I’m reminded of when a certain artificial sweetener was released. This is the mentality I had. It was a great replacement for those other artificial sweeteners that studies had shown could have adverse effects. I’d use it until they found something wrong with it. And they eventually did. I’ll never know how much damage I did to my body by ingesting that substance for a period of years in ignorance.

A rules oriented way of thinking lead to the same problem. We will still be looking out for our own interests and changing our actions only, not our hearts.

So, if God’s desire isn’t for us to be good, as we’ve seen in scripture and other examples, then what does He want from us?

The answer is much, much more difficult than a black and white list of do’s and don’t.

What God wants is for us to be totally and completely surrender our very life and every aspect of it.

#transformed

A Closer Walk

Do you ever feel like there's something holding you back from a closer walk with the Lord? I think everyone I know on the journey of faith has felt a barrier at some point. I most certainly have.

As I've moved along my journey, I've seen a variety of things inhibit digging deeper in my faith, growing more mature, and becoming more intimate with Jesus. One of those things is our very own sin. Another can be life challenges. Ignorance of Biblical truth is yet another. And one that I've noticed more and more is deceptions:

* About what the Bible actually says
* About who God really is
* About our standing without faith
* About what faith adds to our lives
* About how our relationship with God is to impact our lives

When we're talking about eternity, these things are essential. Yet, even those of us who have entered into a relationship with God through faith in Jesus can also be deceived and robbed of an authentic, vibrant, abundant life here on earth. We can also miss the great blessing of sharing the gospel with and seeing others come to faith.

This particular adventure and endeavor is to tackle many of the myths that Christians have integrated into our thinking. These myths negatively affect our faith walk and by busting them, we will also bust down barriers to drawing deeper in our relationship with the Lord.

A bit scary, but better than the best roller coaster or vacation in the world, it will lead to peace, joy, and transformation that will outshine the sun.

The Lord is Always Working

Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.
Habakkuk 1:5

I have been living in a holding pattern for almost two yeasr now. The details are unimportant, because they change from month to month, year to year, and person to person. What doesn't change is God.

The Lord continues to use the situation I'm in to lean into my faith in Him, His goodness, and His plans.

One morning when I woke up, I heard the Lord direct me to the book of Habakkuk. As I lay in bed starting to wake up I listened to the words of this prophet and the Lord's response. And He spoke to me.

My situation is not one of violence, iniquity, and destruction, but it is one of things not getting done as they should (or as I'd like them). The similarity is others are not doing what they should and I'm being affected.

As Habakkuk did, I have cried out to the Lord. I have begged, pleaded, and quite frankly, whined. 

In His great graciousness He has not chastised me. Neither, however, has He given me what I want when I want it. What He has done is say almost the same thing He said to Habakkuk:

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.

For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."

It is a reminder that the Lord is always working. Even when things don't go our way. Even when they don't seem just or fair. Even when we can't see Him working. He is. Always.

And I am so grateful. Because He knows so much more than me. And is so much more good and righteous than me.


I may get frustrated and impatient at times, but then I will choose to trust in the Lord and His plan. That is true surrendered living.

A New View of Heaven

Water … as clear as crystal.

These words entice me. You see, I live in a neighborhood on the Chickahominy River. It’s a little known river where some very famous events took place. Anyone familiar with the story of John Smith, John Rolfe, & Pocahontas?

I’m not sure what the river looked like 400 years ago, but now the Chickahominy can be described as anything but crystal clear. It’s one of those bodies of water where your feet disappear when you dangle your legs off the dock. So when I hear about crystal clear water, I perk up.

Some of you may be thinking, pool. Ever opened your eyes in a pool that appears to be crystal clear? I bet your eyes paid for it.

No, these words are found in a verse in Revelation and are used to describe the river of life in heaven.

My perspective on heaven used to go something like this: Heaven sounds great with its streets of gold, flowing rivers, and chorus of angels, but for now I’m enjoying life here on earth. I relish the good food, making memories, and learning new things. There are also many things I look forward to. Growing old gracefully, traveling outside the south quarter of the U.S., and becoming a grandmother. Heaven sounds nice, I thought, but if it’s all right with you God, I’d rather keep having fun here.

Then, when I was 32 years old, I was diagnosed with type-1 Diabetes. I was angry and didn’t understand. Didn’t God love me? Hadn’t I grown closer to Him over the years and learned to be obedient to Him?

Since then God has used my diagnosis to help open my eyes to a Biblical view of heaven and a heart’s aching to be there. A diagnosis of a chronic illness is often seen as a curse. While it is part of living in a cursed world, it can also be something God can work for my good and His glory. And He has.

I no longer think of heaven as a nice place to go after I’ve worked as hard as I can to avoid going there as long as I can.

Now, to me, heaven means no more daily insulin shots, being mindful of every single bite I eat, exhaustion from sugar highs and weakness from sugar lows.

A perfect heaven free from all death, mourning, crying, and pain sounds marvelous. Living in God’s holy presence and not having to battle with sin sounds divine. A city that shines like a precious jewel, gates made of pearl and streets of gold. Now that’s something a girl can get excited about!

And the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. I bet my feet won’t disappear in that.

We often want things to be perfect and easy here on earth. But I now know that He’s called me not just to enjoy this life and its earthly pleasures. No, He desires that I look with longing towards the home He has prepared for me, to show others His glory through faith in His Son, and to let Him work through me while I’m here. Part of that is allowing me to experience a tiny portion of the suffering that millions experience from hunger, disease, persecution, chronic pain, and heartache.

Overcoming Fear

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Fear is sin. True or not?

Fear grips many people in their lives. Whether it's a heritage of fear passed down through generations, fear that comes from personal experiences, of fear that is a result of the world we live in. You may ask, "How can I not live in fear? Have you looked around lately?"

God tells His people over and over throughout scripture not to fear.

When Joshua is about to lead the Isaelites into the battle of their lives, the Lord tells Him to be strong and couragous several times. The tool God gives Joshua? His law, telling Joshua to meditate on it day and night. {Joshua 1:6-9}

David declares in Psalm 3:6 that he "will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against" him. Why? Because the Lord sustains. (v.5)

Another Psalmist tells us, "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." (46:2-3) What comes before the "therefore"? "God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble." (46:1)

Romans 8:15 tells us that we have not received "a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

I could go on and on, but I think the picture is clear. God commands us not to fear anything outside Him. And the fear of God is a reverent awe of His perfect nature.

So, if we're commanded not to fear, why are so many in this world, including those who believe in God through His Son Jesus, gripped with fear? Because our flesh sees what's right in front of us and our imaginations tend to take on a life of their own. A heritage of fear is not easily dismissed and real dangers are not easy to ignore. And Satan knows that if he can trap us in fear, he renders us ineffective for the gospel.

But don't let even fear of fear grip you! Don't think, but I can't overcome it, I don't know how to not fear, it's my nature. Remember, Satan is the chief of all liars and encourages us to believe lies. If God says, "do not fear," then it is possible, through Him, to not be gripped by fear. Therefore, in a sense it's true: you cannot in yourself escape the grip of fear. But in Christ, nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:6, Mark 10:27, John 18:27) and nothing can separate us from the love of God! (Romans 8:38-39)

What are we to do, then?
We are to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and...run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith..."

We are to meditate on God's Word and believe every bit of it.

We are to "know and rely on the love God has for us." (1 John 4:16a)

We are to sometimes do it afraid, swallowing our fear, holding our hand out for Jesus to guide us, and keep our eyes fixed on Him!

It is hard to admit that fear is sin if you've been gripped by fear your whole life, or even just since surviving some major catastrophe in life. It feels natural and we've been fed the lie that things that are natural can't be bad nor do we have any control over them. But God's word is more trustworthy than our ideas and other human words. And if God says that fear is a lack of trusting in Him, and not believing His word is a sin, then it is so. In that, however, He also provides the way through and out of it. We simply have to walk with Him step-by-step, day-by-day, and, sometimes, minute-by-minute.

Meditation

May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. Psalm 104:34

Did you knwo that ht ethoughts we roll over in our minds, the conversations we review or practice, and what we tell ourselves are meditations? It's true. And scary.

I remember a time in my life when I never thought about my thoughts. They flittered through my mind as freely as butterflies in an expansive field. Then I learned that God cared about my thoughts. And He wanted me to be careful about my thoughts.

Even if no one else knows the callous, judgemental, selfish thoughts I have, He does.

And He knows my heart's desire to squash every sinful thought. He has even provided a way for me to do it.

While I haven't figured out the trick to preventing these thoughts, I have learned to replace them. As I fill up on God's word thorugh Bible reading, study, and memorization, I gain more and more weapons to stop negative thoughts and lies and replace them with Truth.

It is a constant battle, but one that becomes easier over time. With my willingness and God's faithfulness, my meditations will become pleasing to Him!

Earnest Thirst

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my sould thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1

Recently, I was blessed to be able to participate in a simulcast of David Pratt's Secret Church. An amazing, godly, on-fire, teacher of the Word, David's main message throughout his works is: All to God, all for God, all in God.

Being exposed to David's teachings in snippets at church previously, reading his book Radical, and having participated in the most recent Secret Church, I am asking myself a few questions.

Psalm 63:1 is a verse I've had copied on an index card for a long time and have recited and memorized. But, do I really live it? Have I ever earnestly sought God? Does my soul thirst for Him and my body long for Him? Have I ever been in a dry and weary land, where I could learn to depend on God completely?

I'm not sure. I've had some difficult times. I've had some times of sorrow and discomfort. I've had seasons of mild depression. And many will say that this verse refers to spiritual dryness. Which, I suppose can be true.

But as I hear David Platt talk about the persecuted church around the world (and read other biographies of persecuted Christians) I wonder. Do I really know what it means to completely rely on God for my very breath and sustenance? No, not really.

I don't want to lose everything to have to learn to live this verse. But, God, I'm now sure, wants me to be willing to give up everything for Him. He doesn't want to be the first thing in my life. He wants to be the only thing in my life.

One way to do that is to immerse myself in His Word, which is a journey I will start in earnest tomorrow. What have I missed in His Word? I'm sure I won't catch it all in the next 40 days (my current commitment to focusing on scripture), but I am sure that if I seek Him earnestly and thirst and long for Him, that I won't miss the most important thing in the Bible: God Himself.

Care to come along? Choose to commit a day, a week, a month, or 40 days to reading nothing (outside of work commitments) other than scripture. No matter where God wants to take you and me, I'm willing to go because I know if nothing else it will be closer to Him.

Moms Working Together for God

to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited. Titus 2:5 (RSV)

This verse continues from the previous one about the things that older women are supposed to teach the younger women. By proxy, this means that the older women are expected to exhibit these characteristics, too.

I am sure that many reading this verse cringe at the phrase "submissive to their husbands." This is, in part, due to the lies we've been fed and eaten ravenously about what submission means. The other part of this is our flesh desiring to be selfish and independent of anyone else. However, we are commanded time and time again to be submissive to our husbands (Eph. 5:22, 24; Col. 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1, 5.) We are not the only ones told to submit, though. Slaves are told to submit to their masters, masters are told to submit to God, children are told to submit to their parents, and all belivers are told to submit to each other out of reverence to Christ. So, women are not the only ones told to submit.

Secondly, submission does not mean being a doormat. Submission means exhibiting the characteristics described in the beginning of the verse: sensible, chase, domestic, kind. It doesn't mean take a beating, put up with emotional abuse or blackmail, or think of yourself as less worthy in God's eyes. It means to maintain a relationship with your husband by being self-controlled, pure, busy at home, and kind (NIV.)

Trust me, these characteristics are harder to learn for some people, especially naturally dependent, strong-willed personalities like mine. But, as God has convicted me about my attitude and lack of submission to His will and encouraged me to be a kinder, gentler wife, I've been the one to benefit. And, as the last portion of this verse says (as well a the other verses that talk about being submissive), it is all to make sure that God is glorified - that I don't do anything to bring discredit to His name. It is true of how I treat my husband, how I treat my children, how I treat my extended family, and how I treat my friends. That is why I need God to help teach me these lessons on a constant basis.

Moms Working Together

and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, Titus 2:4

Have you ever thought about having to learn to love your husband and children? Or that we as women have a responsibility to each other? According to this one verse, we do.

Titus 2 focuses on conduct as Christians and mirrors many other verses in many other books of the Bible. Romans 12:16 tells us to live in harmony with one another, Romans 15:7 tells us to accept one another, 1 Corinthians 1:10 tells us to agree with one another, 2 Corinthians 13:11 tells us to encourage one another. When we train each other to love our families, we do each of these.

So what does that mean, practically speaking? First, it means talking positively about your husband and children. This doesn't mean that you can never be honest or get support for things you're struggling with, but it means loving them with words even when they're not around.

It also means being willing to spend time with other moms. Life can get crazy quickly and is very busy, but spending time with other moms (older ones to learn from, ones in the same life stage to share with, and younger ones to pass on lessons to) is essential to healthy, balanced living. It may mean joining a ladies Bible Study, play groups, MOPS group, etc. It may mean inviting another mom over for lunch, going out for coffee after the kids going to bed. However it happens, time spent is relationship built.

Teaching also involves listening. Often, we learn by talking things out and just having someone to bounce things off of. Being that sounding board, the one who calls and never gives up, the friend who cares, teaches love - to our girlfriends, and to us.

New Beginnings

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23

It seems appropriate to talk about new beginnings at the start of a new year, however, God has reminded me that we have an opportunity to make a new beginning each day. And boy, am I glad!

I don't know about others, but it seems that I struggle with doing the right things, exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit of God, on a daily basis. No matter how much prayer I put into it, how much time I spend in Bible reading/study, no matter how much praise music I listen to, I constantly fall short. Now, on the days I do have my quiet prayer/Bible study time and turn up some inspirational music, I notice improvement. But I don't experience perfection.

I'm reminded through scripture that I'm not the only one, though. Romans 3:23 tells us that ALL fall short. I'm glad that I'm not alone. But I'm more grateful that God has redeemed me from being a slave to the sin that reaches out to ensnare me and delivers me through His Son. Through Him, I am more than a conquerer. Which means that I don't give up. I continue to keep my eyes fixed on Him and rely on Him to help me discipline my flesh and practice making holy choices instead of fleshly ones.

And He gives me that option every day! I've made some new beginnings and gotten back to some disciplines I've let slip, with the new year motivating me. But there are still others I need to work on. As I start the process (again), I will continue to remind myself that I can't, but He CAN!

Merry Christmas to All Moms

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Luke 2:1-21

More on the Wise Men

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:12

Does God every change your planned course? He's done it to me more times than I can count. When I was nineteen, He pulled the rug out from under my plans on who I intended to marry and the college I planned to go to attend until graduation. He moved me across the country, within a year also changed what degree I aimed for, and introduced me to a wonderful man about a week after I swore off dating(who, by the way, is now my husband of almost 9 years.)

He had me wait way longer to get married than I desired, called me to stay at home full time after having my second child (after having earned a Master's Degree and starting my career, which I never planned to leave,) and gave me a whole new career path just before I turned thirty.

Those are only a sampling of the big things in which God's changed my planned course. There have been many small things along the way, also.

The wise men listened to God about changing their planned course. Having found and honored the Christ child, they packed up to head home. However, God had made it clear to them in a dream that Herod wasn't the trustworthy, honoring God type of guy and they needed to avoid him like the plague. It's like the wasp's nest that makes me go around the fort outside, instead of underneath it.

We don't know exactly how long the Wise Men's journey was, but most think it took them quite a while. Surely they had come the most direct route and, to avoid Herod, had to take a much longer route home. Sometimes, that's how God has me do things, too.

I'd much rather accomplish things the quick and easy way, but He knows me best and has greater rewards in store for me when I take His route. I learn more along the way. I appreciate the hard work and challenges that others face. And, I'm sure, a time or two, I've avoided a situation that could have been detrimental to me or someone else.

I don't always like to change course. I used to dig my heels in and resist change with all my might. God has taught me (you tell me whether I'm a fast or slow learner from the many examples above) that if I'm leaving Him in the driver's seat, the destination will be well worth the trip getting there. Now, I only get my feathers ruffled temporarily before moving on. I hope one day, I can fully submit, and be completely willing to travel whatever route God calls me to. Even if it's different than the one I had planned.