Treasure

1/31/2020

Romans 1:1 "Separated unto the gospel."

When we become believers, there is a separation that takes place between the self and the world. We are no longer to look to our own strength, but to the strength we can only get from God. We care not for things of this world or our own desires, but only the will of our Heavenly Father. We proclaim the saving power of the Gospel with our every breath to all, for it becomes our sole purpose. Redemption becomes our only Reality.

Sigh, I fear I have frequently failed Jesus in this way. I have too often kept the Gospel hidden, like a treasure map that is too dangerous to be shared with others. The world was no place for me to disclose such a truth without disdain; I did not feel safe. Oh, ye of little faith. I did not trust God enough to use me because it would have been too difficult. What if those I love rejected or mocked me? What if I came off like a zealot? Didn’t I have to tread lightly with the Gospel, as to not be associated with preconceived notions of Christians that are often featured in the media as judgmental or worse? No, that would not be a proper witness for my God. I decided I would show my faith through love alone. That, I’m afraid, is not enough, for I must share with others the source of that love and the truth therein. I must trust God in all and with all.

Chambers says, “Paul is unconscious of himself, he is recklessly abandoned, separated by God for one purpose – to proclaim the Gospel of God.”

My daily prayer is to grow in boldness and for God to use me. I will never know the full consequence of my fear and timidity about sharing the Good News, and that is something which I have asked God’s forgiveness. I do know, now, that the desire of my heart is to be recklessly abandoned to one purpose; sharing the amazing love and saving grace of Jesus. I long to share the Gospel, a map to The Treasure beyond compare.

As always, I am a work in progress.

I Am Not Ashamed - The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AStr4gfQGTM

Speak

1/30/2020

1 Samuel 3:15 “And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.”

“Shall I tell “Eli” what God has shown to me? That is where the dilemma of obedience comes in. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences - I must shield “Eli,” the best people we know; but if you try to prevent the suffering in another life, it will prove an obstruction between you and God.”

I try to listen to the voice of God in every circumstance in my life…well, I do now. Boy, did it take a while for me to get here. I must confess that sometimes, Satan still pushes just the right buttons to send me into confusion or a fear mindset. It is a constant battle, but the closer I draw to Jesus, the easier the battle becomes, and I can hear His voice saying, “Do you trust me?” and “Fear not my dear child.” My relationship with Jesus takes time, focus, and obedience. I do not want to give into Satan’s lies or schemes. Most of all, I do not want to be used by him for anything! When I am not walking closely with my Lord, it is too easy to fall into the traps he sets. I do not want him to use me to hurt the ones I love most, and that has happened more times than I care to remember. He is a subtle liar.

Conversely, if I am aligned with the Holy Spirit and seeking God’s will, there may be times what I say causes someone pain. However, if I speak Biblical truths in love, the pain is at a soul level, and one that, with prayer and deeper understanding, can bring growth, hope, and healing.

 My deepest desire is to be used by God alone for His Kingdom, and not to shield my “Eli’s” from the truth of God’s word because it may be difficult to hear; for it has been my sword and my shield and has saved me. I want to always be in the habit of saying “Speak Lord.” and then be still enough to make time to listen.

The Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwsvqVmFV6Y

On Course

1/29/2020

Acts 26:15 “Who art Thou, Lord?”

“God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions.” Oswald Chambers

Has God spoken to me through my circumstances? Yes, absolutely. Do I always listen to Him? Sadly, no. Have I enthusiastically tried to do things for Him, or obsessively fix things around me in my own strength? Most certainly. Does it work? In the moment it may seem to, but afterwards I always recognize that it could have been handled in a much better way. Is doing anything under my own might and in my own will the best or smartest way to go? Not a chance.

I tried serving God out of my own resolve instead of accessing the power of the Holy Spirit. I do not recommend such service, for if not seeking God, you are only seeking to please yourself and keep up appearances. This can cause you to very easily go off course, and bring others with you. Heaven forbid! Seeking with the will of God and yielding to His Almighty Power in all you do will not lead you astray, no matter how strong internal or external forces may be.

Chambers says, “If I have done my duty and yet have hurt Him in doing it, I may be sure it was not my duty, because it has not fostered the meek and quiet spirit, but the spirit of self-satisfaction. We imagine whatever is unpleasant is our duty! It that anything like the Spirit of our Lord, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O My God.’ “

When we walk in the light of Jesus’ love and grace, and beseech the Holy Spirit to fill our souls, our lives will be salt and light to others. Our service to Him will our delight.

Don't Go It Alone

1/28/2020

Acts 26:14 “Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou Me?”

“Am I set on my own way for God? We are never free from this snare until we are brought into the experience of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. Obstinacy and self-will always a stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit.” Oswald Chambers

I have been involved in ministry, in one form or another, for over thirty years. Anytime I was asked to serve, I usually did. In my early Christian walk, I did not pray about these decisions; I just filled the holes where needed. I also did not have regular daily devotions, but had more of a fits-and-starts approach to my time in God’s word and in prayer. I was mostly serving blindly. I had a willing spirit (well, most of the time), but I was not truly prepared to teach. Oh sure, I would plan a lesson or familiarize myself with the prepackaged unit being taught, but I relied on myself without seeking the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit. I am ashamed to admit that this period of underdeveloped faith lasted for many years. I did all of these things out of my love for Jesus, while not seeking His leading or His will. Being in ministry during this time often left me frustrated and exhausted. I rarely felt uplifted or excited after a time of teaching or serving, and I experienced burnout quickly, although no one would have been able to tell. Jesus was in the mix for sure, but was not my Leader. No, I took on that role. Once again, self-will reigned supreme. 

Then, almost a decade ago, I was stopped cold while I entered a period of profound darkness. My faith was tested on every level and I felt totally lost, but God was always there, waiting for me to fully release control to Him. I am very thankful for that time of deep struggle, because it led me to a place of complete submission and reliance on my Heavenly Father. There was nowhere else for me to go but vertical. I started to seek Him in all things, and to pray in every situation. I was slowly developing a freedom in my spirit to share my faith with those around me. I began journaling and digging deeper into God’s Word. God was teaching me that I needed to die to self every day, and I am so grateful. This may sound counterintuitive in today’s world, but releasing all to Him set me free.

Today, I start my daily prayer time with gratitude. I thank God for the rich blessings in my life, chief of which is the saving grace of Jesus’ sacrifice. I thank Him for every new day, and for every breath I take. It is powerful to concentrate on breathing while quietly in prayer, to realize that I am a vapor, and God is in control of every breath I take. I am always overwhelmed that the Creator of the universe listens to me, and that I can come to Him with everything. I feel so small and humbled to my core meditating on His majesty and love for me, and yet I feel closer to Him than anyone.

When I serve now, I do so with a saturation of prayer and a heart open to the Holy Spirit, and instead of frustration and exhaustion I feel exhilarated. Amazing grace how sweet the sound!

Hills and Valleys - Tauren Wells

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iDuZv_5MQk

Sound and Fury

1/27/2020

Matthew 6:25 “Take no thought of your life.”

Every day, there are a multitude of distractions that try to divert us from what God is doing in our lives. Often times, the din and darkness of this world are so overwhelming that it blurs our vision and drowns out that still small voice of the Holy Spirit inside us. There is so much to fear and worry about. Chambers says, “It is one steady encroachment all the time, and unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the standard against it, these things will come in like a flood.”

Unfortunately, the concerns of this life can draw us away from God instead of toward Him. We try to do things in our own strength, and get in the way of what He is doing for us. Can’t He, in His infinite wisdom and almighty power, do more than we can ever hope to do? Isn’t it more effective to trust in Jesus and follow His leading, than to blindly travel through life on our own? God does not want us to worry about anything. Matthew 6:27 “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to his life?” Jesus knows our circumstances, all of them, and wants us to trust Him always and in all ways.

The more we focus on and grow stronger in our relationship with God, the more He frees our spirits of worry and fear, and brings us peace.

I will Fear No More - The Afters 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMmmbJlWhtk 

He Cares

1/26/2020

Matthew 6:30

"If God so clothe the grass of the field...shall He not much more clothe you?"

How much do I let the cares of the world confuse and cloud my mind and soul? There always seem to be personal concerns and even bigger societal ones. We live in a difficult age to manage without stress or fear. All I ever seem to see on the news is violence, slander, and hatred with very little positive ever coming through. We are attached to our devices where everything that happens, either personal or in the world, is available continuously. In this kind of environment, how can we possibly find peace or joy? We look to what others have and feel discontented with our own lives. Social media gives us a warped sense of the world as well. We worry about our families, finances, homes, and jobs. We often do not feel there are enough hours in the day to do all that is expected of us, let alone try to fit in quiet time with God. Most people I know are weary. This world of ours pushes in tight and leaves us frustrated and exhausted. We oftentimes pray prayers of desperate pleading (“Help me Lord, Please!”) instead of gratitude (”Thank you Lord!”). I know I have. Is our worry taking up the space of our faith?

In Matthew 6: 25-30 Jesus teaches, ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life. ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

It is a simple lesson of trusting God with your life, for He cares about you over all of creation. AMAZING! Faith is as magnificent in its simplicity as it is in its profoundness. I have witnessed such amazing faith in people who are going through such unimaginable trials; it is a beautiful and inspiring thing to see. God can give you the peace that passes all understanding if you seek and trust in Him for everything.

Chambers says, “A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us if we are not simple. How are we going to be simple with the simplicity of Jesus? By receiving His Holy Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, obeying Him as He brings the word of God, and life will become amazingly simple.”

I know that He Cares - John Butler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vb9B4M_RjM

Make Room

1/25/2020

Galatians 1:15

“But when it pleased God…”

Sadly, in today’s world, much of society tries to make God small or non-existent. There is a push towards self-empowerment, and although God may factor into some self-help movements, He rarely seems to be the center of those programs. Many people believe in some sort of Higher Power, with a focus on nature or the supernatural. In an April 2019 Gallop Poll, it was reported that church attendance in the West was at an all-time low. Also, most public displays connected to faith are being expunged. Some people are very vocal in their mistrust of people of faith, because they have experienced hatred through prejudice or judgement. At times, God’s people stay silent so as not to align themselves with such hatred, only freely speaking of their faith in places of like-minded safety. We are living in an age where people try placing God into a beautiful box with a bow that may get opened once in a while. What a sad time. The truth is that God’s power and majesty cannot be contained; it is everlasting and eternal. The same God that spoke to Moses and led His people out of Egypt, healed the sick and raised the dead, the God of the Old and New Testament, Creator of the Universe and Savior of the world, is the same God for now and forever.

In the past eight years I have grown in my walk with the Lord. He pulled me up from the depths of despair, and healed my brokenness. I have been trying to listen to Him more fully and stay open to His leading, but as Chambers asks in today’s lesson, do I give Him “elbow room?” Am I open to the Holy Spirit’s leading without getting in the way? Do I look for God in limited ways? Is my expectation high but my participation low? Am I connected and open enough to be surprised by what God does? Do I make room for Him? Do I live a life of expectancy? Is my faith open, vibrant, and alive enough to truly believe that God may break in at any moment? Do I get in the way? I know that I have many, many times in the past. My deepest prayer is not to put God in that pretty box with a bow, or to project this in my witness. My desire is for a connection with the full spectrum of His power and glory, and to reflect that to others. I pray to be still and be ready.

Chambers says, “Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him…However much we may know God, the great lesson is to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way.”

Good, Good Father - Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfJrxvVnmkE

Be Thou My Vision

1/24/2020

Acts 26:16

“I have appeared unto thee for this purpose.”

God calls us all to be witnesses to His glory and saving grace. He gives us all different gifts to be used for this purpose. His church is a colorful tapestry of uniqueness, with a myriad of areas for ministry. I have been blessed by so many believers who have answered the call to share His love, both through powerful prayer and practical means. The Holy Spirit shines in these lovely servants of Jesus.

 If you seek God’s leading in your life, you must be prepared to do His will, and there is no greater blessing than to be used by Him. As Jesus did for Paul, He will give you a vision, a knowing in your spirit. Being obedient to a vision God has given you is not always easy, however. It is able to draw from every resource God has given. He may ask for you to share your time, talent, and possibly finances, but this sharing will never turn up void; God will bring blessing every time.

Before 2020 began, I was grappling with a restless spirit, and feeling like I had no focus in my spiritual walk. I was attending church, doing devotions, and praying, but I didn’t have a clear area of ministry. I prayed for God to help me be bolder in my corner of the world for Him. My husband and I were on our second reading through My Utmost for His Highest, and having wonderfully deep insights and discussions. I heard the still small voice inside me say, “Maybe you should begin to write about what you are learning.” I, of course, did not feel equal to the task, but also couldn’t shake the “vision” I was having. I continued to pray about this draw I was feeling, but told no one. Then on New Year’s Eve, while talking about plans for the New Year, my son said, “Hey Mom, I think you should start a blog about My Utmost for His Highest.” My mouth literally fell open and I was speechless, which if you know me is extremely rare. CONFIRMATION! Oh my, I was bowled over by the strength of the Holy Spirit among us in that moment. Even though I felt fully unworthy, I knew, if this is what God wanted me to do, He would guide me and give me the words. I took my self-doubt and offered it up to Him, understanding I had to fully trust Him on this new journey. This is day 24. I was not feeling well today, and wasn’t clear on what to write, but as soon as I sat at my computer, as it has been every day, the words just started pouring out. All I needed to do is trust Him.  To God be the glory.

Chambers says, “Verse 16 is immensely commanding, ‘To make thee a minister and a witness.’ There is nothing there apart from the personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not a cause.”

Focus

1/23/2020

2 Corinthians 3:18

“We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same.”

Sometimes, I am as easily distracted as a cat chasing a light on the floor. I can be in the middle of something, almost anything really, and if my phone jingles, in that moment, the other thing no longer seems to matter. Even if someone asks me if I am paying attention, all I can usually manage is an insincere “Yeah, just a second.” Sigh. What is so critically important that I leave a person or task without my full attention? The majority of the time, nothing.

Then there are times the issues of life swirl around me and occupy most of my mental and physical energy. I give my attention to worry, or scurry around doing, going, and fixing; often living in a completely distracted state. It is exhausting.

I started thinking about how doing anything of true importance takes the discipline of complete concentration; during these times, being distracted for even a moment could bring about disaster. If someone is distracted, for example, while driving a vehicle, caring for an infant, or performing surgery, the results could be fatal.

Our relationship with God is the most critically important thing in life. He deserves nothing less than our undivided attention. Do we get distracted by the busyness of life and lose our concentration on Him? Do our times of worship, devotion, and prayer suffer because of invading thoughts? I know this has certainly happened to me. Just this morning, my husband shared with me that he couldn’t focus while in prayer. His mind was wandering to work, family, ministry, etc. and not in a prayerful way. Satan loves when our minds are clouded and our spiritual connection is dimmed.  

In today’s lesson, Chambers declares that we need to concentrate on our relationship with God without distraction, seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit, so that we can be transformed; making our lives a mirror. Chambers says, “The golden rule for your life and mine is this concentrated keeping of the life open towards God… We have to maintain ourselves in the place of beholding, keeping the life absolutely spiritual all through. Never be hurried out of the relationship of abiding in Him. ”

In the book Your Best Destiny, Wintley Phipps calls every believer to resemble, reveal, and reflect the character of God. A tall order for sure, and one that can only hope to be achieved though concentrated devotion and, “beholding as in a glass, the glory of the Lord.”

Going Vertical

1/22/2020
Isaiah 45:22

Most people who know me have heard me use the words, "I'm going vertical." I am not sure where I picked this up, but I have been saying it for a long time. When people ask me where I gain inspiration, strength, hope, or comfort from, I tell them, "I go vertical." It is my short-hand for saying that I pray and look to my Heavenly Father for all things. I have a very cute sign in my office with Snoopy and Woodstock sitting together, heads turned skyward, which says, "Keep looking up, that is the secret to life." This idea is metaphorical, of course, for God is not in any specific direction; He is everywhere. 

I have always gone vertical when I am going through a trial or someone I know needs lifting up. I tend to hang on to God tightly at those time, but do I hold on in times of prosperity as well? Do I lift my voice in thanksgiving for the blessings in my life? Do I "go vertical" and praise the name of Jesus my Redeemer for saving my soul every day? Do I enter each morning with a prayer of thanksgiving for living to see another day? For me, this can only happen through focus and intentionality.

    

Isaiah 45:22 "Look unto Me, and be ye saved." This is written in present tense. Really think about that for a moment. 

Chambers says, "Rouse yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter if there are a hundred and one things that press, resolutely excluded them all and look to Him. 'Look unto Me' and salvation is, the moment you look."

I Will Look Up - Elevation Worship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jtMOTYCnno

Still

1/21/2020

Jeremiah 2:2

Ah, the blush of new love. We enter into a relationship with someone, and all we want to do is spend time in that person’s presence. We want to give them our best and protect them at all cost. We want everyone around us to see all the wonderful attributes we see in the person we love. We want our family and friends to love and accept our special person into the fold. We do everything we can to fiercely protect that their reputation and put them in the best possible light. Then, over time, we become comfortable. We get used to that person always being there, loving us and forgiving us, and sometimes even take them for granted.

Is this true of my relationship with God? Have I grown used to His love, how He is always there when I need Him, and knowing He will always forgive me? Do I take these things for granted?

Or, is my love still strong? Do I want to be with Him every day? Do I want everyone I know to love and accept Him like I do? Does how I live my life reflect my love for Him?

Chambers asks, “How much kindness have I shown Him this past week? Have I been kind to His reputation in my life?”

Renewed

1/20/2020

John 3:3

“Being born again from above is a perennial, perpetual and eternal beginning; a freshness all the time in thinking and in talking and in living, the continual surprise of the life of God.” Oswald Chambers

Most of my Christian life was lived in two dimensions, flat and often lifeless. I was involved in ministry and doing a lot, but much of that “work” for God was done under my own steam. I busied myself for Him, but I was rarely still enough to listen and truly connect with the Holy Spirit. My thinking, talking, and living seemed to honor God outwardly, but I was stale in my walk. The fire I had in the beginning grew dim, and I never even really noticed, until…

It took the weight of a storm to uncover how dried up my walk actually was. I needed to hear God and feel His presence in my life, but I had forgotten that my relationship with Him was a two way street. I had become complacent in my walk, my fire for Him had become but an ember, and – like the frog in the slow boiling pot – I didn’t even notice. How could this be when I had been going to church and involved in ministry all of my adult life? I had become stale in my walk, or as one minister put it “puke in a pew”, lukewarm and useless. I know that is not a lovely image, but it was strong enough that it stuck with me.

I needed to repent of my self-sufficiency and pride, and release to Him all I had been holding onto so tightly. I needed to get out of the way and trust fully in Him to restore my body, mind, and soul. Truth be told, at that time, I was hanging on to Him with all I had.

I started to prioritize my relationship with God and sought to be in His presence daily with study, prayer, and worship. My desire for connection with Him grew and grew and a freshness entered my soul. He had always been there, of course, and was waiting for me to be still, and I finally was.

Now my faith walk is three dimensional; full of depth, color, and sound. I thirst for the Holy Spirit to be present and apparent in my life. I am now, and will always be, a work in progress.

Out of the Darkness and Into the Light

1/19/2020

Genesis 15:12

“There is a darkness which comes from excess of light, and then is the time to listen.” Oswald Chambers

Have you ever been woken up from a sound sleep by someone throwing open the curtains and letting the brilliant morning sun shine in on you, making you cover your head? Or maybe you were in a pitch black room when suddenly every light gets turned on at once, forcing you to squeeze your eyes shut. Sometimes the setting sun comes through your car windshield at just the right angle, and suddenly you cannot see a thing. These times bring an excess of light that creates darkness, and sometimes it is easier to adjust to that light than others.

Times of darkness in our lives, “a dark night of the soul” as Father Henry Nouwen put it, leave us lost. Often times we look outside of our relationship with God for help, when this is exactly the time to be seeking Him only. I know this was true for me. I looked for peace and answers in books, from my family and friends, from doctors, and the internet (I would not recommend that!), and anywhere else in this world I could think of. I was putting my confidence in everything but God. My mind and body were in a torrent that I had no control over, and my world moved from darkness to black. During this time I prayed, of course, and asked God “why” all the time, but what I didn’t do was listen. I was not still in His presence. It wasn’t until the darkness overtook me fully that I finally cried out, “Jesus take ALL of it, I need only You.” That’s when the light of God’s healing began, and it was so brilliant it blinded me.

I could not see in the of the light of God’s Holy Majesty, but I finally was able to listen. I yielded control fully to Him, and He led me slowly out of the darkness and into the light of His abounding grace, healing, and love. I found His purpose for that time of silence, and also a deeper, truer, and bolder faith than I had ever had before. It was in the light of who He is, that I could finally find freedom.

I Am – Mark Schultz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-HIKxnSZSA

Competition

1/18/2020

John 20:28

Chambers says, “Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ.”

What in my life competes with my full devotion to Jesus? He wants all of me for Himself. Does this mean I need to stop everything I am doing: being a spouse, parent, employee, friend, and devote myself totally to reading God’s word and prayer? Does even the work I do in ministry compete with my relationship with Jesus? Do I find myself only wanting to soak in the Gospel message of Jesus’ love, and the blessings of my Heavenly Father for my benefit alone?

My life should reflect my love for and trust in Jesus. In all I do my relationship with Him should be evident in every interaction. Even the most menial task I should do with joy and thanksgiving. To prioritize my quiet time with Jesus, no matter how much time that may be. That I try to be still and listen. That Jesus becomes number one in my life above all else. I am called to squeeze out every last drop that I have for His glory alone. 

Chambers says, “We should be pouring out now, spending to the last limit, not drawing on Him to satisfy us.” 

Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Everything You Do - Steven Curtis Chapman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEqdDdvFXZ0

Humble Servant

1/17/2020
Galatians 1: 15-16

Chambers says, "Service is the overflow of superbounding devotion; but, profoundly speaking, there is no call to that, it is my own little actual bit and is the echo of my identification with the nature of God. Service is a natural part of my life. To serve God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and I serve Him in the ordinary ways of life out of devotion to Him."

Today would have been my mom's 90th birthday. She went to be with the Lord a little over two years ago. Five years before that, she suffered a massive debilitating stroke. The doctors gave her six months to live, but she shattered their predictions and lived five more years. God still had things for her to do even in her brokenness.

This time for her was unbelievably hard, yet an amazing time of divine grace. She could have done nothing but complain, but she did not. She could have given up, but she did not. She could have been angry, but she was not. No, this woman of deep faith and conviction became a beacon of God's love to everyone around her. She served God in a more powerful way than she had ever done before. She was generous and loving always with a deep and devoted faith, but in her infirmity and brokenness she shined.

Like anyone, she would sometimes get down, but she never stayed there for long. She instead was grateful to everyone who cared for her even when they unknowingly inflicted pain, and that was an everyday occurrence. She'd smile easily, her sparking blue eyes shining as bright as the stars. Mom told every person who entered her world during that time about the love of Jesus, and all He had done for her. Talk about a powerful witness. After I found out, months after the stroke, that every time she was dressed or moved it was excruciating, I asked her why she never told anyone. She said very gently to me, "If Jesus could suffer what He did for me, I can suffer this and offer it up to Him." Oh my heart! She would also say, "It could be worse, I still have my mind." Miraculous grace! That is how she lived her last five years on Earth, in service to God as a natural part of her life and the relationship she had with Him. It was the most beautiful and humbling thing I had ever witnessed. Serving God to her was as natural as breathing, and she did until her last breath. I know when she entered Heaven she heard, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

Thank you mom,  for teaching me about the saving grace and immeasurable love of Jesus. Love you always and forever. ❤❤❤❤
My Mom's Favorite

Let There Be Peace On Earth
Written by - Jill Jackson Miller      Vocals by- Vince Gill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_DxNpW1kHQ

Called

1/16/2020
Isaiah 6:8

My dad was a sailor, and although many people feel a connection to the sea, he was called by it. It became a part of him; he was attuned to and truly understood the nature of its beauty and awesome power. For my dad, the call of the sea was both difficult and glorious, a place of both longing for what he left behind, and peace and tranquility for his soul.

Being called by God can often be difficult as well, but it is always glorious. We too often miss what we leave behind, yet are brought to a peace only found in Him.

When we are called to a life of service for God, we connect to His nature. We are welcomed into a relationship with the awesome power of the Creator, and our souls and lives are eternally changed.  We need to listen to Him fully through His Holy Word, and pray for our spirits to be aligned and attuned with His alone; this is the greatest gift. Chambers says, "To be brought into the zone of the call of God is to be profoundly altered."

Oceans - Hillsong United
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBJJJkiRukY

White Funeral

1/15/2020
Romans 6:4

Chambers calls the burial of the old self entire sanctification, a "white funeral... the resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ".

I did not truly have my "white funeral" until I went through a dark night of the soul; a trauma so extreme it almost broke me and tested my faith like never before. I had to be stripped of pride and willfulness before I could die to self. Even though I was a believer, it was not until I almost lost everything that I was truly ready to give my whole self completely over to God, and put my life in His care alone. I began to walk with Him every minute of every day, and felt the power of the Holy Spirit more present than I ever had before. That "white funeral" changed me forever.

Chambers says, "Are you willing to go through that 'white funeral' now? Do you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth? The amount of agreement depends on you."

Psalm 30

God of all My Days - Casting Crowns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYkZE8AogDE

Send Me.

1/14/2020
Isaiah 6:8

Would I have said "send me" if I was Isaiah? Do I say it in my own walk now?

Chambers says, "Whether or not I hear God's call depends upon the state of my ears; and what I hear depends on my disposition. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ whereby their disposition has been altered and their ears unstopped, and they hear the still small voice questioning all the time, 'Who will go for us?' "

Has my disposition been altered? Do I let the noise and business of life drown out the still small voice? Do I listen when God wants to send me? Have my ears been unstopped?

My deepest prayer is to be salt and light; to seek out the Holy Spirit's leading every day. To follow the path every believer is called to, sharing the love of God and the redemptive power of Jesus as The Atonement for sin.

Matthew 28:16-20 

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Alone With God

1/13/2020

Mark 4:10

Chambers says, " When God gets us alone by affliction, heartbreak, or temptation, by disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted affection, by broken friendship, or by new friendship - when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are dumbfounded, and cannot ask one question, then He begins to expound."

Who has not been in a place of brokenness at one or more points in their lives, either through self-infliction or circumstances? Several years ago, I was so alone, and in a place of such utter desperation and fear, that all I could hear was the noise of my own mind; and it drowned out the voice of God. It was an awful time of deep pain for not only me but my family as well. Even with the best intentions, no one could save me from this terrible place but God. When "self" was stripped totally away, and I was about to fall over the edge of despair, God called to my soul to totally trust Him. He revealed to me that, in my stubbornness, I was always questioning every situation and trying to control too many things. I was a tying to make things "right" the way I thought they should be. I was also carrying around deep pain of the past like a matched set of luggage everywhere I went. The burden became too great, and as I was falling over the cliff into oblivion, God caught me. He began to teach me the lesson of release. He taught me that the only way to healing was to release all of the things I was trying to, but could not, control to Him. Baby steps was all I was able to take at first, but God met me right where I was. Every day, I released one more part of the monster inside my mind to Him, and every day I felt more of God's strength and peace enter my soul. 

Release has now become a part of my worship, and I am continually learning to fully trust God in all things. I no longer let the "fussy" things of life control me, instead I release and look for the lesson. 

Chambers says, "Jesus can expound nothing until we get through all the noisy questions of the head and are alone with Him."

Oh My Soul - Casting Crowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn5aq54yu8A

Pride and Conceit

1/12/2020
Mark 4:34

Just like fear and faith cannot reside together, neither can faith reside with pride or conceit. When we accept Jesus, we need to submit to Him fully. This should bring humility, but often times we still struggle with the pride of self.  We grow in spiritual understanding slowly, and often times get in the way of His work in our lives. We must release to Him complete control and trust Him in all things; for He knows us far better than we know ourselves. The only way for us to know Him, though, is through His Holy Word and quiet times of prayer; to seek the leading and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

Often times, I have tried to go it alone in the world without seeking Him first; this is where pride enters in. Pride and conceit must be confessed and released to Him fully.

Chambers says, "Wherever there is any element of pride or of conceit, Jesus cannot expound a thing."

So Long Self - Mercy Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJtKdjaH2nY

The Cost of Obedience

1/11/2020
Luke 23:26

Is there a cost in being obedient to God?  In my early faith walk, I was looking for answers, and started finding them outside my home church. For the first time, I started reading the Bible beyond the usual prescribed Sunday readings. I started considering another denomination as well. The shift had begun. When I yielded to Jesus, and asked Him to forgive me and be my Savior, there was a cost to others; in particular my mother. She was very a deeply devout and spiritual woman, and a wonderful example of faithfulness. It concerned her when I left the church I was raised in to follow a different faith path. It also concerned other members of my family. What I was moving towards was not familiar to them. I was becoming a "Bible Thumper" as one of them put it. There were other relationships that also suffered at the time because my priorities began to change. I had begun to walk a different path that took me away from things of the world. This bred nothing but confusion.

When God becomes your number one priority, those that are on a different path often struggle with the "why". My mother sought council about my spiritual direction and prayed for me. She was afraid for my soul. It wasn't until several years later that she started on her own path of a deepening faith. We both reached a place where we totally submitted to God, but arrived at that place in very different ways. In the beginning I had to pray, obey, and not get in His way. Although I know it initially caused my mother pain, in the end we both grew closer to God and each other. To God be the glory. 

Chambers says, "Whereas if we obey God, He will look after those that have been pressed into the consequences of our obedience. We have simply to obey and leave all consequences to Him."

To Receive

1/10/2020
Acts 26:8


The saving grace of Jesus as The Atonement is more real to me than anything else. That I can turn to Him and walk with Him every minute of every day is the most profound blessing and truth of my life. Nothing other than yielding to Him and accepting that most precious of gifts allows this truth to permeate the soul. To live my life for Him, and in love and service to others, is all that matters for me. I am a work in progress.

Chambers says, "In sanctification the regenerated soul deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself with God's interests in other men."

Note: This post was originally published on 1/10/2020. It somehow disappeared and needed to be re-posted. My apologies. 

Search All of Me

1/9/2020
1 Thessalonians 5:23


God search me out. How many times have I actually prayed that? How many of us want God to truly search us out to the deepest  depths of our souls? To ask Him to reveal those dark corners that we choose ourselves to ignore. We easily pray for others and ask for forgiveness for our sins, but do we really enter so deeply into communion with God that we truly submit all to Him? In our humanity, we often times hide those deeper sin areas of our lives from people. We put on a spiritual skin that is acceptable in the sight of others, but peal that skin away when we are alone with only our God watching...only. He is the creator of all and knows all, yet we convince ourselves somehow that certain actions or thoughts are hidden as long as no one can see the truth of our hearts, but He always sees. We can hide those deep sinful valleys from even those closest to us, but we can never hide them from our Heavenly Father. 

Chambers says, "Cleansing from sin is to the very heights and depths of our spirit, if we will keep in the light as God is in the light, and the very Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirits."

Sacrifice

1/8/2020
Genesis 22:9


Merriam Webster's defines sacrifice as: 
 1. an act of offering to a deity something precious   
 2. destruction or  surrender of something for the sake of                           something (someone ) else
 3. to suffer a loss, give up, renounce, injure, or destroy for an ideal
    or belief                                                                                                                         
Sacrifice is uncomfortable. Whether you are sacrificing something big like: willingly becoming a soldier during a time of war, donating a kidney to a person in need, sharing your home with someone who has no place of their own; or something small like: skipping your favorite team's championship game to help a friend, writing a check for your child's tuition, not eating your favorite foods while on a diet, or giving your seat up to someone on a crowded commuter train. Sacrifice always carries with it some level of pain.

In Genesis 22, Abraham is asked to do what is, to me, the unthinkable: sacrifice the most precious thing to him, his son Isaac. In this account, we do not read about Abraham's torment regarding this decision or about him questioning what is being asked of him by God. We see a demonstration of complete faithfulness. Abraham is prepared to give something more precious than his own life, because God asked him to do so.

 v.11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. v.12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy" he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

Because of his faithfulness, God blesses Abraham.

v. 17 I will surly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

God asks us for a sacrifice as well. He asks us to sacrifice our connection to, and love of worldly pursuits for Him. He asks us to accept Jesus, His one and only Son who became the ultimate sacrifice for all, as The Atonement for our sin. He asks us to accept this gift freely.

When we enter into a relationship with God where we surrender our will to Him, we can become a living sacrifice for His Kingdom. As our relationship with Him deepens, the things the world may view as a sacrifice for this relationship become distant reflections in the rear view mirror as we travel closer to God, His grace, and His purpose for our lives.