Ultimate Reward

12/31/2020

Isaiah 52:12 “The God of Israel will be your reward.”

“On this site, I will post a daily reflection from My Utmost for His Highest for the year 2020 in its entirety; for 20/20 means one has perfect vision. My prayer is that together, God will open our eyes so that we can see Him more clearly than ever before.” 1/1/2020 ~ L. Collins

Little did I know that when I wrote those words in my first blog post of 2020, we would all be where we are today. The concept of 20/20 being perfect vision was a thought about spiritual growth coming into focus and seeing God more clearly in all we do. Well, for me at least, this year certainly accomplished that; for the trauma we have all collectively experienced has drawn me closer to God than I have ever been before. I am blessed by those of you who have come on this journey with me, and also sought rest and shelter in the loving arms of our Savior. It has been a year that none of us will ever forget, and my prayer today is that we will carry the lessons learned with us as God writes them on the walls of our hearts.

Today, Chambers broke down his study into three sections, and I will be following that model for you.

 

Security from Yesterday. 

We all have things that we regret from our past. Decisions made that turned out not to be the right ones for which we carry guilt or remorse; Roads walked down that took us in a direction that was not edifying or of God, and could have been dangerous; Sins that may haunt us even today. Thankfully, God was in the past with us, and He will work out those areas in us for good if we let Him. When we release all to Him, He will help us make our mess our message. Chambers writes, “But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them in order to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual culture for the future. God reminds us of our past lest we get into a shallow security in the present.” God does not want us to be trapped by our past, He wants us to submit all to Him; for only in Him will we find our lessons, redemption, and freedom.

 

Security for Tomorrow

There is a quote on a plaque in my house that reads, “Do not worry about tomorrow because God is already there.” To say that worry is plaguing our land right now just as much as Covid-19 would be an understatement. As this year draws to a close, we will not see a light switch effect of all being right with the world tomorrow. We will have the same battles that we have today, and the human condition will not change: people will still get sick, have their hearts broken, lose their jobs, and fracture their relationships. There will also be blessings, however: weddings, babies being born, people getting their dream jobs, love blossoming, people recovering from illness, people getting engaged, new friendships forged, graduations, and best of all, people yielding to Jesus as their Savior. In all of it, everything that the future holds, God is already there. Chambers writes, “He will watch lest things will trip us up again into like failure, as they assuredly would do if He were not our reward.” We do not have to worry about what has been or what is to come, because the Creator of the universe is for us. “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 (NIV)

 

Security for Today

How many times have you heard someone say “the present is a gift”? Probably a lot. We hear it, but do we really honor how deep a meaning it really has? Every day that I draw breathe is another day that God has gifted me with, and I am grateful. No matter my current circumstances, as long as I am alive, I can reach others for Christ. As I have shared before, my mother did this the last five years of her life while bedridden. She did not let a day go by without letting someone around her know that they were loved. This, and her deep faithfulness, are legacies I pray I will be able to continue. Life – especially right now – can be daunting for sure, but as long as we are alive, we can and should live for our God. Every day I have the choice to walk in joy, faith, and love. Every day, I can start with a clean slate because I am a redeemed child of the Most High. Every day, I can share the Gospel message with others. Every day, I can do My Utmost for His Highest. We can all do this, as Chambers writes, “…with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us.”

 In closing, it has been an honor to reflect on the wisdom of Oswald Chambers’ words, and to have the Holy Spirit guide me on this journey. More times than not, I would sit down to write not knowing if what came out even made any sense, or I would often not even remember clearly what I had written. I always felt that my writing time every night was anointed, and that I was truly guided by the Holy Spirit. To say that I feel overwhelmed and humbled by this is a drastic understatement, yet words fail me for how grateful I am for this time with my God. If I can give you all one encouragement, it is to listen and act when God gives you a vision. Your obedience will be mightily blessed. As I read the verse Chambers used above, I cannot help but know deep down that “the God of Israel is my reward.”

 

 

Waring: Construction Ahead

12/30/2020

Psalm 87:7 “All my fresh springs shall be in Thee.”

“Our Lord never patches up our natural virtues, He remakes the whole man on the inside.”

                                                                                ~Oswald Chambers

The story of the Winchester Mansion is one of intrigue and confusion. It was built by Sarah Winchester, the heir of the Winchester rifle fortune. In 1886, she took an eight room farmhouse in San Hose, California, and had construction crews continuously build onto it until her death in 1922. By that time, it had become a 24,000 square foot rambling, confusing place with many eccentricities, such as doors that lead to nowhere and stairways that end at walls. There are many theories, which I will not go into here, about why Sarah spent so much time and money building this beautiful yet highly quirky anomaly. I will, however, say that when I consider the above Chambers’ quote, I think of how long God has had me under construction, and just like Sarah’s house, I also have many quirks. I now understand that God, thankfully, will use those quirks, and they are not something I need to be ashamed of or even afraid of. After all, it is through my brokenness and healing, and through my scars, that I am used by God. I cannot even pretend to be a perfect person, because there is no such thing. I just need to trust God in all of my frailty, and with all of my peculiarities, to use me in any way He sees fit.

It has taken God decades to get me where I am today, and I know He certainly is not finished with me yet. There is so much of my “natural” self He is revealing to me that is not yet submitted to Him. Again, I am still under construction. I must come to a place where the daily freshness of my soul comes from the spring of living water. The more I rely fully on my Savior, the more I am renewed each day. Chambers writes, “But as we bring every bit of our bodily life into harmony with the new life which God has put in us, He will exhibit in us the virtues that were characteristically of the Lord Jesus.” To reflect my Savior and share the Good News of the Gospel is the greatest calling I could ever have. I am so looking forward to the next stage of soul level construction my Lord has for me. To God be the glory forever and ever.

 

“And every virtue we posses

Is His alone”

                                                            ~Oswald Chambers                                         

For more information about the Winchester House, go here: https://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/sarahs-story/

Give My All

12/29/2020

John 6:66 “For that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”

“When God gives a vision by His Spirit through His word of what He wants, and your mind and soul thrill to it, if you do not walk in the light of that vision, you will sink into servitude to a point of view which Our Lord never had. Disobedience in mind to the heavenly vision will make you a slave to points of view that are alien to Jesus Christ.”  

                                                                                ~Oswald Chambers

As I draw near to the end of a year of daily writing, I find myself deeply reflective of the journey I have been on. I must admit that in the past, I did not always follow the visions that I had received from God. I would oftentimes run whatever the vision happened to be past someone I knew, and if it did not get the excited reaction that I was feeling, it would drift away from my grasp like a vapor. This would happen because I was putting too much focus on other people’s opinions, and none on following God’s call in my life. If I did not get some sort of confirmation from someone else, I would question the vision. Also, if I did not get someone to join me, I would question my ability to accomplish what God was asking of me alone. I have wasted so much time questioning myself and not fully trusting in God to give me the abilities I needed to accomplish what He asked of me. Thankfully, God never gave up on me.

Over the past couple of weeks, some people have asked what is next for me, and if I am going to continue writing on this platform daily. I do not yet have an answer for them, because I have not gotten a further vision of what comes next. I am, however, excited for the next (pardon the pun) chapter in my journey with God. All I know is that I want to honor Him with all I do and continue to grow closer to Him every day. This is my most fervent prayer. If another vision comes, I will welcome it fully and trust God to provide the strength to endure all that is asked of me. This is not the end for me, nor should I rest on the accomplishment of this year, for it belongs to God.

The verse above refers to people who were following Jesus, but when He began to say things that were too difficult for them to abide by, they left. The twelve stayed, but at one point when things turned desperate, they deserted Him as well. After Christ’s resurrection, they finally understood what He had been trying to teach them, and (other than Judas) they followed Him and preached to others for the rest of their lives, and also eventually paid the ultimate price for the sake of the Gospel. The Christian life is not about comfort or ease, it is about following Jesus no matter the cost. It is about sharing the Good News of the gospel, even when it is hard. It is about submitting to God’s will for my life, even when I do not understand or feel up for what is being asked of me. Nothing my Savior did was outside the will of the Father, and nothing He endured was easy, but He endured what He did for me. Why, then, should I not be as willing to give my life for Him?

 

Endless Conversion

12/28/2020

Matthew 18:3 “Except ye be converted, and become as little children…”

Walking through this life with faith in God requires a continuous turning to Him. If I take my focus off of my Savior, self-interests will begin to creep in, and that mindset is not where I should be. I need to seek Jesus daily and submit all areas of my life to Him. Being a Christian is not a title or a “one and done” deal. It is true that after confessing my sin and yielding to Jesus, I am redeemed for all eternity because of His sacrifice, but that is not the end of my journey. Chambers writes, “Our natural life must not rule, God must rule in us.” I must be open to God working in my life every day by nonstop submission. I must grow in my faith through daily worship. I must read God’s Holy Word and humbly come before Him in prayer. I must seek His will for my life, and follow the purpose of every believer: to share the Good News of the Gospel. I must love God with all my mind, my heart, my soul, and my strength, and love my neighbor. I must model my life after Jesus’ life and reflect Him to others, always offering love and grace. My conversion must be living and active always.

For many years, I lived a lukewarm kind of Christian life. The kind that worships on Sundays and is involved in all forms of ministry, but had very little fire or depth. I was living an outwardly appropriate life for God, but I was not on fire for Him. I was like a zombie Christian walking aimlessly and purposelessly through my days. I was overly concerned with the opinions of those around me, and I was only brave enough to share the Gospel with fellow believers. Well, what good is that? It is safe, for sure, but it does not further the Kingdom of Heaven. It was not until I was led through the darkness that my “conversion” became a daily event in my life. Chambers calls this the “continuous conversion”, which he encourages us to pursue “all the days of our lives.”

I am so grateful that God taught me so much during my time of personal turmoil, and He continues to teach me as long as my spirit remains open to Him. I never again want to be someone with a tepid faith; I want to continue to be enthusiastically on fire for my God. My desire is always to have a heart as open as a child’s is to my Savior. (Miss Clara, here I come!)

 

 

Double Battle

Jeremiah 4:1 “If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord…”

“The battle is lost or won in the secret places of the will before God, never first in the external world.”                                                                                                                ~Oswald Chambers

We think that our battle starts externally because of all the things of this world that push in on us, and how Satan uses the things of this world to draw us away from God. It is true that we are in a battle, and this year has made that fact very evident. We are battling globally against the same little insidious enemy. However, in actuality, we have always been fighting against the same enemy, and the battleground is our very soul. God calls us to Him and Satan tries to lure us away with every weapon in his arsenal. There is only one way to resist the darkness that he brings, and that is to yield to the Savior and walk with Almighty God, seeking Him in all things through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Chambers writes, “Nothing has any power over the man who has fought out the battle before God and won there.” This refers to the battle of the soul through the submission of my will; once yielded, I am free through the gift of His mercy.

In scripture we are told, “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 (ESV)

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 (ESV)

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (ESV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 (ESV)

Chambers writes, “I must get the thing settled between myself and God, in the secret places of my soul where no stranger intermeddles, and then I can go forth with certainty that the battle is won.” This is the battle for my very soul. Once I truly yield to Jesus and ask for forgiveness for my sins, I am saved, and the internal battle is finished; yet Satan never wavers and the external battle rages on. The effects of this can also be a continued internal struggle with sin. Now is the time for armor.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:1-18 (NIV)

 

Illumination

 

12/26/2020

1 John 1:7 “If we walk in the light, as Jesus is in the light…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

I am so grateful for forgiveness. I am grateful when it is extended to me, and I am grateful that I am able to extend it to others, for forgiveness brings freedom and healing. Sometimes we forgive others that are never remorseful, because all that is created from a grudge is continued suffering on the part of the one who carries the resentment.

There is, however, no more transforming forgiveness than the one that we are able to seek only through the Atonement. This forgiveness, bought with the blood of our Savior, is extended to all people throughout all time, we only need to yield to Him and accept this gift freely to become truly free. It is only through the cross of Christ that we can be redeemed. Chambers writes this about the verse above: “This does not refer to conscious sin only, but to the tremendously profound understanding of sin which only the Holy Ghost in me realizes. 

This passage also speaks about walking in the light. 1 John 1:5-8 (NIV) “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” How then, can we walk in the darkness if we are redeemed through the blood of Christ? I am a sinner who has been forgiven; because of this, I should always be seeking the light. Darkness will try to draw me in, but in the name of Jesus I must flee from it. I must always seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and be sensitive to God’s leading; He will never lead me into darkness, for He is light. Chambers writes, “To walk in the light means that everything that is of the darkness drives me closer into the center of the light.” I should never compromise with the darkness of this world no matter how unaffected I think I may be, for darkness breeds darkness. I also should never hide the light that comes from my Lord, for just one candle can vanquish the most profound darkness.

 

A Personal Bethlehem

 

12/25/2020

Isaiah 7:14 “Behold, a virgin shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Again, as in yesterday’s blog post, I would recommend reading the whole of Chambers’ writing for December 25, as it is very powerful. The verse above he uses from Isaiah is a prophecy of Jesus’ birth, the Messiah that the Hebrew people were waiting for. It is just one of many that can be found that pertain to Jesus.

For many people in today’s world, Jesus’ birth is either not a focus of their Christmas celebration, or not a part of it at all. With everything that gets attention during this time, it seems the world has given itself over to the secular idea of Christmas. This is very sad indeed. I will say for my family, Covid-19 – and all that has been a result of this unusual year – has refocused us on what is truly important. This includes our celebration of Christmas. We did our traditional decorating, baking, watching old movies set at Christmas time, and hanging colorful lights outside. We decided collectively, however, not to exchange gifts with one another (although my two sisters sent us something for under the tree), and instead focus on the meaning of Christmas and spending time together. I must admit, having always been blessed with an abundance at this time of year, I was a little worried about how it would actually feel when the day arrived. I can say with all honesty and joy, however, that this Christmas was the most emotionally and spiritually profound one I have ever had. Our family read John 3:1-21 together, which was a perfect passage for the true gift of what we actually celebrate today. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Chambers writes, “Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He is a Being Who cannot be accounted for by the human race at all. He is not man becoming God, but God incarnate” The King of Kings, who was born in the most humble of places, had come, and it was only the beginning. Just as Jesus came into the world, so it is that He can come into my life in a personal, profound, and transformative way. Chambers asks, “Have I allowed my life to become a ‘Bethlehem’ for the Son of God?” Do I have room in my life for Him? Yielding to Him alone is the only path to redemption, mercy, grace, and peace. He is the only way to spiritual rebirth.

Merry Christmas, dear reader. May God bless you richly in faith, hope, and love.

The Most Secure Thing

12/24/2020

Colossians 3:3 “Your life is hid with Christ in God.”

“We talk as if it were the most precarious thing to live the sanctified life; it is the most secure thing, because it has Almighty God behind it.”

                                                                                                ~Oswald Chambers

When I am reading a non-fiction book, I tend to mark my personal copies up quite a bit. I do this most often when reading devotionals, because they have so much wisdom in them. While looking at today’s chapter of My Utmost, I had to smile because almost the entire passage has an underline, star, brackets, or notations in the margins. It is just jam-packed with good stuff. As I have mentioned before, this is my third time through this particular study. If you do not yet own a copy, I would HIGLY recommend purchasing one. It is not easy, for the faint of heart, or for someone who is looking for Victory Preaching, but it is just so full of wisdom and challenges. 

The quote above was the one I had underlined and put a star next to. It struck me just as hard today as it did when I first made those marks in my copy. The thought, or worse yet, talking point, that being a Christian and surrendering to Jesus is difficult is something I have heard countless times over the years. Not only non-believers say this, but some Christians do as well. We talk about attack and persecution. We make the decision to follow God’s law instead of what society tells us we should do, and feel judged or mocked because of our faith. Sometimes in “unsafe” situations, we hide our light to protect ourselves. I ask about these actions: to what end? If we are truly surrendered to our Savior, then we should fear no one, not even Satan himself, because our security is in Almighty God. This fact alone should give us immeasurable peace.

I wish I could just copy the entirety of today’s study, but instead I will leave you with two additional powerful quotes from Chambers. The first is: “When you really see Jesus, I defy you to doubt Him. When He says—‘Let not you heart be troubled,’ if you see Him I defy you to trouble your mind, it is a moral impossibility to doubt when He is there.” As long as we stay in personal contact with Jesus, we cannot help but know He is there. It was exactly this way when I was recovering from my illness; I was no longer searching for where I thought He should be, He was just there because I opened myself fully to release and surrender. The second is more of a passage: “His words are real. ‘My peace I give unto you’: it is a peace all over from the crown of the head to the sole of the feet, and irrepressible confidence. ‘Your life is hid with Christ in God’ and the imperturbable peace of Jesus Christ is imparted to you.” My last note in the margin is, “faith breeds peace of mind and soul.” I know this has been a lasting truth of my life, and it can be for yours as well if your seek God first in all things.

Again, if you do not yet own My Utmost for His Highest, I strongly recommend getting your hands on a copy. You will not be disappointed.

The Best Life

12/23/2020

Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There is someone very dear to me that does not like any form of recognition given to him. He shines when he is on stage, and afterward is lauded by everyone. One newspaper reviewer wrote he was “The sun which all of the other planets (actors) orbit.” Pretty high praise. Ever since he was young and started to perform, however, he was uncomfortable with his notices, always preferring to draw attention to the cast as a whole. Even when he played the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, and had his “Disney moment” with all the children who approached him, he still remained humble and gracious. Even now, as he continues to use the gifts that God has given him, he does not seek glory. He truly is living his life on the path that God has placed him on. Is it an easy path? Goodness no, but it is one that he is secure and joyful on. He is also grateful.

I have never received the accolades that this man has, although I believe I would be uncomfortable with them as well. I have, however, received some very kind and supportive words around the daily writing I do here. When this happens, I feel humbled and grateful as well, because I feel God has been truly guiding me throughout this journey. My response to any praise bestowed on me is always to say, “To God be the glory.” This statement rolls off my tongue and out of my fingers with such ease that I do not even have to think about how to react; I know the purpose of my sitting here writing at this exact moment is to glorify my Savior. Nothing else I do, nothing at all, is as important to me as venerating my God and sharing the good news of the Gospel. Galatians 6:14 in the NIV translation reads, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Chambers writes, “Every now and again, Our Lord lets us see what we would be like if we were not for Himself: it is a justification of what He said—‘Without Me ye can do nothing.’ That is why the bedrock of Christianity is personal, passionate devotion to the Lord Jesus.” I have known myself without an ardent devotion to Jesus, and I have known myself enthusiastically dedicated to Him. I can say with 100% certainty that a life devoted to Jesus and not the world is the best life.

The Hole

 Dedicated to those of you who faithfully prayed for me while I was in the darkness; may God bless you all.

12/22/2020

John 6:44 “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him.”

“When God draws me, the issue of my own will comes in at once—will I react to the revelation which God gives—will I come to Him?”

                                                                    ~Oswald Chambers

As I’m sure many have you have already heard, we are born with a hole in us that only God can fill. There is, in our human existence, always a searching on our journey, a desire in us that needs to be satiated. We can, of course, find some fulfillment in many areas through education, career, personal relationships, talents, etc. These, however, are all temporal finite ways to quench the hunger we have inside.

Have you ever noticed that many of the most successful people in the world are also miserably unhappy? They may have absolutely everything this world can offer them, yet the hole remains. There have been many entertainers, captains of industry, writers, artists, etc. whose inability to fill that hole causes them to do the unthinkable: at the height of their careers, they take their own lives. As I sit here, many of these sad stories fill my mind. We know there are many mitigating factors to why these tragic events occur, most of which have to do with mental illness of some sort.

I struggle in this terribly painful area as well, as I have shared before. I often think about how blessed I am that I yielded to God before I had my breakdown several years ago. I truly believe I would have self-medicated in some way to try to ease my raging mind. I know that can be a very slippery slope, especially for someone who may have a predisposition to alcohol usage. God saved me from that horrible fate, though, because even in my darkest times I knew He was still there. I had, even if it was dim and far from my reach, the light of hope inside of me. It was the light of my Savior that drew me out of the darkness.

During that time, I wrestled with God for sure, and certainly asked Him “why?” a lot. I was His child, so why was I suffering? How could that happen to me? I was hurting those around me and hurting my witness for Him. I was, I believed, a failure through and through. I felt wholly unworthy. I now know that God allowed that time in my life to occur so He could teach me. I was not walking with Him as I should, because I was distracted by the business of life and being drawn away by external things. I was holding onto deep pain and guilt. I was – and this is very difficult for me to admit –a lukewarm Christian at best. I was not on fire for God, and even though others may have believed I was by my actions, He knew better. I needed to surrender FULLY to Him or, as I feared at the time, disappear into oblivion. Now I know that would have never happened because He was cradling me in His arms the entire time. Jesus had truly, in a very tangible sense of the word, saved me. My hole is now completely filled. This is why I proclaim Him so loudly, because everyone needs Him. He is the only way out of the darkness of this world.

“There must be a surrender of the will, not a surrender to persuasive power, a deliberate launching forth on God and on what He says until I am no longer confident in what I have done, I am confident only in God.”

                                                         ~Oswald Chambers

 

Freely Given

12/21/2020

1 Corinthians 2:12 “We have received…the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

This evening, a celestial event happened that has not occurred in approximately 800 years. It is known as the Christmas Star or The Star of Bethlehem. It is actually when Saturn and Jupiter will appear so close together that they will look like one bright glorious star. Alas, it was a cloudy evening where we live, so we could not view it. Interestingly enough, this event is also taking place on the night of the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year…which is not a bad thing in 2020. This day is historically celebrated by the pagan community. I have, however, seen many Facebook posts on my home feed today wishing everyone a Happy Winter Solstice. This is not something that I have any memory of in my youth or young adulthood. Either I was terribly sheltered, or this day has taken on new meaning in our current world. Sadly, as people move more toward the secular and away from traditional faith, there are many things replacing a relationship with Jesus. Even at a time of the year that is one of the most Holy for Christians, the birth of Christ no longer seems to be the focus.

As I often do, because I am an NIV girl, I am going to share its translation of the verse above. “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” It is through the Holy Spirit that we, even in our finite human capacity, can understand and receive the gift of Salvation which only comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This most precious of gifts, given over 2000 years ago, was not seen by any living person, yet through faith we know the truth of its transcendent power. This freely given gift was born in Bethlehem and died at Calvary. This gift, given at greatest cost, is within the grasp of every human being. No work need be done to earn it, and no amount to be paid on our end, for the price has already been paid for us by the Savior. All I need to do is recognize that I am a sinner and yield to Jesus as Lord of my life, and I am redeemed. Chambers writes, “When I am born again, the Spirit of God takes me right out of myself and my experiences, and identifies me with Jesus Christ.”

So, why speak of the Crucifixion at Christmas time? Well, because the two are intrinsically connected. My favorite ornament that hangs on our tree depicts an evergreen tree on one side and a cross on the other. Yesterday, I wrote about really experiencing Christmas Carols in a new way this year. I would like to leave you with this one that has touched me with its message, beauty, and truth. Read it slowly dear one, and let its exquisite words wash over you in a new way.

 

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With th’angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav'n adored,
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris'n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

                                                Charles Wesley 1739 

                                                                               

 

Unwavering Certainty

12/20/2020

John 12:32 “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men to Me.”

My heart bleeds for this world. When I see hatred or pain, I feel it down deep in my soul. Satan is certainly on a brutal attack right now. There is currently so much fear in our world, and I know personally how crippling fear can be. It is wearying, even for people of faith. So, how are we to respond? What are God’s people to do? The verse says it all: if Jesus is lifted up, people will be drawn to Him. People can turn from Jesus, but it is difficult to ignore Him, even though there has been a secular attack on the true meaning of Christmas. If we continue to be quiet, however, it will only be a matter of time before Christ truly is taken out of Christmas.

I have, probably for the first time in my life, started actually listening to Christmas carols. I have known many of them for years, of course, but I have never REALLY listened to them. I have never sung them with purpose, I suppose, always just concentrating on trying to get my singing voice to somehow not offend those around me (not something I am proud of, for sure). There are many more contemporary Christmas songs that, year after year, bring tears to my eyes because of the beautiful stories they tell, but carols never truly resonated with me. This year, however, has been different. I have been listening as they are sung by people who do not claim Jesus as Lord. This hits me deeply, as these people sing about the coming of the Savior of the word, and I wonder if they, too, are just singing pretty “holiday” songs. I mean even many Jewish vocalists have released Christmas albums over the years. After all, Christmas is big business. Sigh.

This year, because of everything that is happening in our lives right now, our family has chosen to release the material part of Christmas and focus solely on the birth of our Savior and all that it means; for it means everything and is just the beginning. So what is the purpose of it all? What is my purpose, and what can I bring to the lives of those around me, not just this Christmas season, but always? Chambers writes, “The thing that remains and deepens is the worker’s simple relationship to Jesus Christ; his usefulness to God depends on that and that alone.”

So, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, I pray that my gift to others is that I am able to share my simple faith; that I can encourage those around me in the love and light of Christ; that the beautiful carols of old will stir the hearts of people as they have mine; that I will lift up the name of Jesus through my words and actions;  and this Christmas, one in which we are all experiencing some form of uncertainty, we will be able to find unwavering certainty in Christ. 

 

The Sword

 12/19/2020

Matthew 10:34 “I come not to send peace, but a sword.”

I am just finishing up a book by Lisa Bevere called Girls With Swords: How to Carry Your Cross like a Hero. It is written for woman, but I have wound up sharing a lot of its wisdom with my husband. The way she breaks down the parts of a sword and fencing techniques into actions that we can take as believers is fascinating. It has helped me visualize how to become bolder in my walk with Jesus; for boldness has now become my calling. I am weary of a secular word that wants to keep God’s people quiet.  “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33

It is interesting to me that Chambers’ study uses this verse a mere week before Christmas day. Matthew 10:34 in the NIV reads, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” During this time, we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. Christmas is all about The Gift, about joy, and about peace, so why use this verse? This Gift was born for all mankind, but many do not accept this precious Gift. We get in our own way and refuse to give up or release the areas of our lives that are not of God.

This is where the sword comes into the battle. The evil one does not want our focus and attention to be on Christ, even during the Christmas season. He diverts us as we fall into the many secular trappings of this time. We refuse to look internally and release that which destroys us to Almighty God. Chambers writes, “People want the blessings of God, but they will not stand the thing that goes straight to the quick.” The very thing in us that the sword needs to cut out, we refuse to release. Hence the cycle continues.

 Our message, as believers, must always start and end with the Sword of Truth, which is the Word of God, during Christmas and all the year through. Peace without Christ is a hollow peace, and one that will not last. I will leave you with these profound words from Chambers, “Thousands of people are happy without God in this world. If I was happy and moral until Jesus came, why did He come? Because that kind of happiness and peace is on a wrong level; Jesus Christ came to send a sword through every peace that is not based on a personal relationship that is not based on Himself.”

Loyal Soul

12/18/2020

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”

Suffering is part of every earthly journey. No one escapes it, nor can they avoid it. Suffering is just a fact of life. This was not the way God intended for the existence of His creation, but we are sinful creatures and do not obey Him as we should. Human connection was all but broken with Almighty God until the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus reconnected us to Him. Redemption is a gift that is freely given through the most profound act of love that there has ever been.

Right now, we are all experiencing a collective trauma globally. I know I have prayed and prayed for a miracle, but that has not come. So, knowing that God is allowing this to occur, I now pray for the lessons He wants me to learn to be branded on my heart and soul – that this time will be one of growth not just for me, but for all people. I pray that we will remember to count every blessing and forevermore lead with love and kindness; that money, career advancement, and possessions will become less of a focus than our loved ones and neighbors; that we will look at all people, regardless of perceived differences, as beloved children of the Most High; that we can get past our differences and the ugly divisiveness to walk the walk, and actually live in accordance with the teachings and model of our Savior; that, as believers, we will shed all judgement of others and boldly share the Good News of the Gospel.

Even though God allows suffering in our lives, He, as the verse above states, always works things together for good. It may not be the “good” that we think is best for us, but it is always the perfect will of God. We must trust Him in all circumstances, no matter how frightened, fragile, or frail we may feel.  Like Paul, we must learn to be content in all, no matter the situation we find ourselves in, for God is always with us. Chambers writes, “It is only the loyal soul who believes that God engineers circumstances.” When I keep going to God with all that is on my heart and trust in Him completely, I may not immediately see what He is doing, but I eventually will. I will also be able to see that His timing is always perfect, even if I am experiencing an extended time of silence and waiting. These are the times He is refining me, and for that I am so very grateful. This refining is also working things together for good. Being loyal in faith to Jesus Christ is my purpose no matter what, for He saved my soul. I need to keep my heart, mind and soul set on Him and be willing to have Him use everything I am and everything I have experienced for His honor and glory. 

 

The Need

12/17/2020

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him.”

All people need the truth of the Good News of the Gospel. Yet it seems that in today’s world, a person’s own viewpoint has taken precedence over the Word of God. Very rarely do people hold up their own standards to the standards of the Most High. Even people who have been raised with the truth somehow do not accept it entirely anymore, instead twisting and perverting its perfection to fit their own beliefs. Chambers writes this on the subject: “The majority of people have their morality well within their own grasp, they have no sense of need of the Gospel.” He wrote these words almost one hundred years ago before educational elitism, political correctness, or cancel culture existed. I have heard a lot of people say that they believe in sending positive energy your way, which has replaced saying “I will pray for you”. They speak of tolerance instead of love. Many focus on what they have instead of what they can give to others. They thrive on division and power instead of community and peace.  People have become cold and blind to God’s Word. They feel they do not need redemption, for personal choice now reigns supreme.  

If all I do is share my own testimony, it may not translate to another person. They may recognize that I have overcome certain struggles in my life, but my story may awaken nothing in them. The true power of the Gospel is the redemptive power and love of Jesus. Chambers writes, “If once Jesus Christ is lifted up, the Spirit of God will create a conscious need of Him. Behind preaching of the Gospel is the creative Redemption of God at work in the souls of men.” All I need to do is share the truth of the Gospel with others, and then God moves their souls. Knowing this, shouldn’t it be easier for me to be bold in the darkness of our present world? After all, who do I belong to? I belong to the same God who has saved me and given me new life and eternal hope and joy. Why wouldn’t I want all people to know this beautiful truth?

Only God can satisfy the deep need in a person’s life.

 

 

Armor Firm and Secure

 Thirty-three years ago I received the biggest blessing of my life; my son was born. He has continued to be a source of inspiration and joy for me. I am so proud of the faithful, kind, loving man he is. Love you RGC. Happy Birthday.

 

12/16/2020

Ephesians 6:13, 18 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God…praying always.”

Today, Chambers is speaking about wrestling with God. Some people do this for sure, many literally. When I was ill, I had more than a few moments when I wrestled with God, often in my times of prayer. I asked “why” of God a lot, because I could not yet see what He was teaching me though my suffering. I needed to come to a place of complete surrender to Jesus first, and release everything to Him. This took time. I certainly did not have the Armor of God firmly in place at that time. Instead, it was sitting in a corner, battered and rusting.

Chambers writes, “God’s order is unchangeable; His permissive will is that which we must wrestle before Him. It is our action to the permissive will of God that enables us to get at His order, ‘All things work together for good to them that love God’—to those who remain true to God’s order, to His calling in Christ Jesus.” God will work all things together for good, even if He temporarily leaves me in a time of silence. I just need to remain faithful.

There is someone in my life who has remained true to God’s order. My son is, and has always been, faithful to God in his life. He has never had a time of backsliding or turning away from Jesus; even during times of struggle and strife, his faith remains secure. He walked faithfully by my side when I was ill, and he took care of both me and his father when we were so broken that we could not care for ourselves. He protected us from others and always held us up in prayer in his humble and quiet way. When I was in recovery, he was my cheerleader, always encouraging me to keep moving forward. God used my son to show me His love and care for me. Amazing grace.

This kind and loving man also – again in his humble and quiet way – has continued to support not only me and my husband, but many others as well. God has granted him deep and powerful gifts. He has prayed for God to guide his path, and has been led down an unusual course for his life, yet he remains faithful. He has never left his armor in the corner of a room to collect dust. It may have its dings, but it is firm and secure. This fact has truly been the biggest blessing of my life. My son has been in a prolonged time of waiting on God, but he has not given up or given in. To God be the glory. He will, I believe very soon, understand the path he is on and see a miraculous blessing manifested for his faithfulness. 

Awesome Responsibility

 

12/15/2020

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Sharing the truth of God’s word is an awesome responsibility, but it is certainly not something I must take on alone. It is something I actually should not take on alone. When I am walking with God and earnestly seeking the Holy Spirit, my words will be guided.  Chambers writes, “Try to state to yourself what you feel is implicitly God’s truth, and you give God the chance to pass it on to someone else through you.” I cannot even imagine a more powerful blessing. Today, I was sharing with a friend my goal is to be the “crazy Bible lady” who is not at all timid to share the word of truth in faith and love with everyone I see. Just the thought of this brings such joy to my heart. In these verse, Timothy is giving advice about the power of words. “Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:14-15 (NIV)

Words can be either healing and loving or hateful and divisive. As a believer, my words should never cause actually injury, and even the most difficult truths must be spoken with compassion and love. When Christ spoke to sinners, He always did so in love and understanding. Since He is my model for all things in life, I need to do so as well. An unbeliever is largely unaware of the truth, or is fighting desperately against it; either way, I should always speak truth to them with love, empathy, consideration, and kindness. Chambers writes. “The author who benefits you most is not the one who tells you something you did not know before, but the one who gives expression to the truth that has been dumbly struggling in you for utterance.”

 

His Peace

 

12/14/2020

John 14:27 “Peace I leave you, My peace I give unto you…Let not your heart be troubled.”

There is a commercial for an audio version of the Bible in which James Earl Jones reads John 14:1: “Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me also.” Every time I hear this verse now, I hear his powerfully deep and calming voice. Jesus said these words to comfort his disciples because He was preparing to leave them. They were confused still, but Jesus gave them hope and a promise. He knew what they were feeling and He knew that things were about to get worse. In verse 27, Jesus says once again, “Let not your hearts be troubled.”

I find these word especially comforting during this time of such turmoil and uncertainty. I read all of John 14, like I read most of the Gospels, as though Jesus is speaking directly to me; after all, isn’t He? He wants me, just as He wanted His disciples, to trust in Him completely. If I am focused on the storm that rages around me, and all the things that can illicit fear, my heart will surely be troubled. However, if I focus on my Savior knowing He is the One Who can bring me comfort in these trying times, indeed my heart will not be troubled. Chambers writes, “Whenever you obey God, His seal is always that of peace, the witness of an unfathomable peace, which is not natural, but the peace if Jesus.”

May the peace of Jesus be with you, dear reader, now and always.

Devoted Plea

12/13/2020

Luke 18:1 “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

Prayer can take on many forms. There are formal prayers, there are worshipful prayers, there are silent prayers, there are meek and bold prayers, there are public and private prayers, there are prayers with hands lifted high or prayers with heads bowed on the knees, there are tearful prayers of the brokenhearted, there are joyful prayers of the fulfilled, there are prayers of despair and prayers of praise, there are personal prayers and prayers of intercession for others; and I am sure there are many other forms that I haven’t even thought of. No matter how we come to God in prayer, He always listens. He even hears prayers from the deepest part of our hearts.

I was raised praying in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Recently my pastor has been closing Sunday service prayers this way as well, and it feels familiar and right to me. The Blessed Holy Trinity is one of the Christian faith’s mysteries, and I cannot, with my puny human mind, begin to understand the astounding awe of my God. I can, however, submit to Him and find mercy and saving grace through my Savior’s atoning sacrifice. I am also able to seek the Holy Spirit because of what Jesus did for me on the Cross. Does the power of being able to come before the Creator of the universe humble and astonish me? Indeed it does, and I am often brought to an unutterable place of tears because of the power of the Holy Spirit filling a church, a gathering of believers, or a room where only I reside. To know that Jesus is my best friend and loves me more than anyone ever could is another mystery to me.  Even in my weaknesses and failure, He loves me nonetheless. Amazing grace.

I am able to come before my Lord to intercede for others. I feel burdened for those in pain or in need, and I feel humbled and honored to be able to lift them up to Almighty God. However, my deepest and most important intercessory prayer is for those directly around me, and even those globally who I do not fully know, to come to the foot of the Cross, seek forgiveness, and yield to Jesus as their Savior. With intercessory prayer, Chambers tells me to remember this: “The thing to watch in intercession is that no soul is patched up: a soul must get through into contact with the life of God. Think of the number of souls God has brought about our path and we have dropped them.” This is truly a sobering thought and one that I must admit to doing. Again, my most important and profound purpose is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. I must live the truth of faith, speak the truth of faith, and pray the truth of faith to be true in the hearts, minds, and souls of others. 

 

Known

12/12/2020

John 17:22 “That they may be one, even as we are one.”

Have you ever said to anyone, “I know you better than you know yourself”? I certainly have. I must say, it feels a bit arrogant to admit that. What I truly believe, when I am not being uppity, is that there is no way I can actually know everything about a person. I would say that I know my husband better than I know anyone else, but there are things that, after 35 years of marriage, are still being revealed to me. Granted, many times these things are deep and painful, but it goes to prove that you never honestly know everything about a person.

There is someone who knows us better than we know ourselves, and that is God. He knows how we will react before we do, what we think, before we think it, and what path we will go down before we take it. This is true for all people. As a believer, I am able to search God’s Word and seek His will for my life as I journey. The more I give myself over to Him by faith and submission, the more I will change internally, and my outward personality will change as well. Chambers writes, “If you give up your right to yourself to God, the real true nature of your personality answers to God straight away.” There is no hiding anything from my Creator. Chambers adds, “Jesus Christ emancipates the personality, and the individual is transfigured; the transfiguring element is love, personal devotion to Jesus Christ.” My individuality should never take precedent over my relationship with my Savior, because it is only the husk of my personal life in Him.

(Again, I am sorry the direct links to the songs do not work with the blog page update. Worth the copy and paste, though.)

Fully Known – Tauren Wells

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xckDgX8xNfg&list=RD0TrKXehB0pg&index=5