The Directive

9/30/2020

Colossians 1:24 “Who now rejoice in my suffering for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake.”

I needed to look up this part of scripture because I was confused by the verse as it stands alone. In the passage that this comes from, Paul is talking about becoming a servant of the church by God’s commission. In verses 28 and 29, Paul is speaking of this directive to proclaim the gospel of Christ. “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” Paul was not instructed to teach and proclaim the Good News without having access to the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit working in him. As believers, we have the same charge as Paul and access to the same power: that of Christ working in us.

Have I truly opened my spirit up to such a mission? Have I, in all honesty, said, “Send me Lord!” and taken that leap of faith fully open to God’s guidance and power? Do I live my life by the verse, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”? Philippians 4:13

In today’s study, Chambers speaks of how God prepares us to do His will. “This call has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but with being made broken bread and poured-out wine.” God brings us through difficult times to squeeze and mold us for His purpose; viz. sharing the gospel with others. He does this not for our benefit, but so we can bless others and share what His love and mercy have done in our lives. It is the greatest and most profound purpose and calling, to be used by Almighty God. Chambers writes, “Keep right with God and let Him do what He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children.”

In All Circumstances

 

9/29/2020

1 Corinthians 9:16 “For necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel!”

Preaching the gospel is my main purpose as a believer. Sharing the Good News with others every chance I get. Do I live out this purpose the way I am supposed to every day? Sadly, I do not. So I must ask myself the reason why. Am I stuck too much in the natural world that the spirit world becomes secondary? Chambers says, “We are apt to forget the mystical, supernatural touch of God.”

Have I experienced the supernatural in my journey with Jesus? Yes, I have had unexplainable occurrences happen over the years, moments that the Holy Spirit is so present that I experienced a touch or a voice that was not of this world. God certainly got my attention in those moments, so how can I put those aside in my everyday life? How can I forget about my supernatural connection with God while going through my day? If I focused on the truth of the gospel and the transforming nature of my relationship with Christ as tightly as I hold onto anxiety and fear, wouldn’t I be sharing this truth with everyone I meet? Chambers writes, “If you have been obliterating the great supernatural call of God in your life, take a review of your circumstances and see where God has not been first, but your ideas of service, or your temperamental abilities. If a man or woman is called of God, it does not matter how untoward circumstances are, every force that has been at work will tell for God’s purpose in the end.”

I pray, “Help me share the gospel boldly in this time of unrest and uncertainty dear Jesus. In all circumstances and occurrences in my life, may You be revealed. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

 

Annihilation

 9/28/2020

Mark 10:21 “One thing thou lackest…come, take up the cross, and follow me.”

In life, we all have our crosses to bear, but none of them can hold a candle to the tree that Jesus became a living sacrifice on. He gave His very life to become the bridge to the Father and save our souls. The most profound and amazing act of love and grace ever.

In this part of scripture, Jesus is telling a young rich man to give away all he has and follow Him. Jesus also wants us to give everything that holds us captive over to Him in an act of obedience and release. Chambers writes, “Our Lord never puts personal holiness to the fore when He calls a disciple; He puts absolute annihilation of my right to myself and identification with Himself—a relationship with Himself in which there is no other relationship.” Jesus doesn’t want ANYTHING in my life to come before Him. Anything. No person, possession, amount of money, ideal, or philosophy should be placed above my relationship with Him. This is something that I must check often in my walk, because those things can slowly creep back in if I am not vigilant and obedient.

The young wealthy man was unwilling to give up the riches which he held so dear, and lost out on the greatest of all riches: a relationship with the Savior. How about you, dear reader? What are you holding onto so tightly that it prevents you from following Jesus? All we need to be is willing, and He will bless. How can such a thing be when it seems impossible? Jesus tells the disciples in Mark 10:27, “…With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Look to God, dear reader, for guidance and strength.

Never Apologize

 

9/27/2020

Luke 9:57 “Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.”

I am at once very encouraged and also discouraged. Yesterday, there was a prayer march on Washington. Two different high profile faith leaders were moved to organize this event on the same day. It is the first event of this kind since Covid-19, the protests, and the ugly divisive political melee mixed together to form a toxic national stew.

There was a sea of believers on the Mall, praying alongside each other for healing in our land and a return to God. There was prayer for repentance, mercy, and for our government. There was prayer for people of God to rise up in truth and be heard. All of this was powerful and inspiring. Yet when I did some research on how the television media was covering the March, I could not find a single outlet that mentioned it at all. Therein lies my discouragement. Maybe there was coverage by the mainstream media, but I could not find it. I only found one article in a secular newspaper, The Washington Post. As my son so wisely said this evening when I was lamenting this, “It does not fit the current narrative.” Oh how right he is. The media wants the opposite of faith, they want us all to operate in the other f-word, fear. The media wants to manipulate our thinking, and hence puts forth a narrative to that end.

As I have stated before, some form of “fear not” is in the Bible 365 times. Coincidence? Of course it isn’t. God wants us to trust Him in all things, for He has already conquered the world. As believers, we have relinquished our voices in this din of hatred. We stay largely silent because it is easier, especially during this already difficult time. We often accept the insidious watering down and manipulation of God’s Holy Word. There has certainly been a slow boiling pot of acquiescence and silencing through the mantra of tolerance. As believers, we are called to love others with mercy and grace, not tolerate them. This also devalues the Gospel of Christ. Chambers writes, “Never apologize for your Lord. The words of the Lord hurt and offend until there is nothing left to hurt and offend. Jesus Christ has not tenderness whatsoever toward anything that is ultimately going to ruin a man in the service of God.” Again, these words may sound harsh, but there is eternal truth in them. Jesus became the bridge between man and God. People had no say in that transaction, it was a gift that was freely given. Hence when we accept that most precious of gifts, we accept all that comes with it, viz. honoring and adhering to the Holy Word of God.

For such a time as this, dear ones, let us not water down the word of God, but stand on it as a firm foundation. Let us not be manipulated or silenced by those who do not stand on faith, but let us rise up and be heard in truth and love. As I heard a speaker say yesterday during a live stream of the March, we are all only one heartbeat away from eternity. Let us use every one of the beats we have left for Jesus.

No Excuses

9/26/2020

Matthew 5:23 “If…thou rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee.”

This verse was also used by Chambers on September 24^th along with verse 24. Clearly he is trying to drive a point home. He writes that if in prayer the Holy Spirit tells me that I am not reconciled to another, then I must go to that person and make things right. In this and all things God calls me to do, I must be obedient. It is a difficult thing for sure, but God is clear on how my relationship should be with others. There is no room for anything but love if the Holy Spirit is truly within me. When I am convicted about anything, I must listen and act. No excuses. I am God’s and His alone.

Chambers reminds me to, “Never object to the intense sensitiveness of the Spirit of God in you when He is educating you down to the scruple.”

 

Stained

9/25/2020

Matthew 5:41 “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”

So many people I know are strained right now. Life is not an easy walk for anyone, but some have burdens that are unthinkable. One dear person I know is under so much strain that the only way they are holding together is by God’s grace. I recognize this because I have been there myself. Trusting in God and holding onto Him is the only way to peace.

There is always strain in our world, but right now in our country there is also struggle of every sort going on. Many have lost sight of one another and placed themselves in camps based on ideals and injury, and a cancel culture has been born. We have lost the ability to agree to disagree and we are losing the ability to love one another. Isn’t loving your neighbor what believers are called to do? Chambers writes, “Jesus Christ demands that there not be the slightest trace of resentment even suppressed in the heart of a disciple when he meets with tyranny and injustice.” Can I claim that I have not the “slightest trace” of affront or offense? Jesus was met with the worst that man could do, and He loved despite the injustice. If He is my model, am I not supposed to be different than those who do not know Jesus?

Others are watching. Will I reflect my Savior in word, deed, and thought, or will I be found wanting before my Lord? If I turn to Him in all things, He will help me withstand the strain.

 

Prepare

9/24/2020

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there thou rememberest that thy brother has ought against thee; leave there they gift before the alter, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

Am I prepared for sacrifice? My sister and I have had many conversations about the state of our country right now, and we agree that it could get worse before it gets better. I, however, always rest on hope. Over the past several years, we have also spoken about how we feel as if God is gearing us up for something. Little did we know what 2020 would bring. If things do get worse, am I truly prepared to do what God asks of me? Am I ready to sacrifice for Him in a way I never have before?

Chambers writes, “It is easy to imagine that we will get to a place where we are complete and ready, but preparation is not suddenly accomplished, it is a process steadily maintained.” I cannot get comfortable in my faith, ever. I should be growing closer and closer to my Savior every day though reading the Bible, spending time in prayer, worshiping throughout the day, and in service to others. Chambers says this about getting ready, “It is preparation and preparation.”

During this time of divisive political and social unrest, am I ready to love my neighbor as God calls me to? If I am not, will my offerings be acceptable to my Savior? I am here to fight every battle against the evil one but not against God’s children. My weapons are love, mercy, and His holy word. Will my conviction of living a Christ-like life hold firm though the coming storm? Am I prepared?

My Rock

 

9/23/2020

Luke 18:31 “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem.”

To say that 2020 has been a year of change would be an understatement. The very way we all live has changed dramatically. Masks, sanitizer, and social distancing are the norm for most people now. Travel has virtually come to a stop as well. I think it often feels like the movie Groundhog Day where I am, just living the same day over and over again. Hopefully, like the main character in that movie, I have used this time for personal growth through concentrating on my relationship with God. I guess, just like in the movie, that fact remains to be seen.

My family is undergoing change on so many levels. Today my husband had a job interview, which is wonderful. Unfortunately, he had to fly to another state….during Covid!!!!! The only place we have really gone since March has been to get groceries, and today he is taking 4 different planes to get there in back in one day. Well, this is certainly testing my nerves and encouraging me to LEAN into God’s protection. He thinks it went well, so hopefully it was worth the risk.

So during this time, even though everything normal has been altered, am I still able to move forward? Am I embracing the changes that lie ahead for my family? What about my purpose? Chambers writes, “In the natural life our ambitions alter as we develop; in the Christian life the goal is given at the beginning, the beginning and the end are the same, viz., Our Lord Himself. We start with Christ and we end with Him.” The truth is, that with all the craziness and adjustments, there is one everlasting and constant truth: God. Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior: my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” (NLT) There is profound comfort in these words for such a time as this.

Transforming Obedience

 

9/22/2020

 John 13:13 “Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for I am so.”

This verse comes from the part of scripture where Jesus washes His disciples’ feet. He was setting the example for them to be servants and carry on the mission of sharing the Gospel. They will not be forced to do so, as evidenced by the one who betrayed Him. Chambers writes, “Our Lord never enforces obedience; He does not take means to make me do what He wants. At certain times I wish God would master me and make me do the thing, but He will not; in other moods I wish He would leave me alone, but He does not.” Such truth. I have certainly felt both of these ways in my journey with God. Jesus puts the call into us for what we are meant to do, but it is our responsibility to actually do it. When the Holy Spirit impresses something upon my life, whether it is something I must release to God personally or it is something that I am compelled to do for another person, the only way it comes to pass is through obedience. Keeping my faith, walking with Jesus, and seeking Him in all things is the only way. All else, through any other means falls far short of the power we have when we are truly walking with God and doing His will.

Currently in our world, as it has always been, people need to turn to God in submission and obedience. My prayer during this time is that others will see Jesus in me. Being obedient to God leads to a life transformed.  

 

 

The Four P's

 

9/21/2020

 Isaiah 49:5 “And now, saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be His servant.”

 Prejudice – an adverse opinion or learning formed without just grounds before sufficient knowledge

 Parochial – having a limited or narrow outlook or scope

 Patriotism- love or devotion to one’s country

 Chambers always gets me thinking in a completely different way. As I have mentioned before, his study is not for the faint of heart, because it will challenge you down to your toes. Today’s entry is no exception. He writes, “The first thing that happens after we have realized our election to God in Christ Jesus is the destruction of our prejudices and our parochial notions and our patriotisms; we are turned into servants of God’s own purpose.” When we enter into a relationship with God, all these things should fall away. The first one is certainly negative, and does not leave room for loving your neighbor. The second may be a result of being overprotected by one’s family, but still can be harmful to the second greatest commandment. The third is not something that most people, especially Americans, would say is harmful or wrong at first. However, when it holds a higher place than God, or becomes a distraction from Him, it certainly can have the same effect. Our country is currently finding itself suffering from all of these ways of thinking. We have not just lost how to love our neighbor, but we have lost basic respect and civility. This is certainly not of God.

 I have been discouraged by the lack of loving, bold Christian voices in today’s world. Since Billy Graham’s passing, we have not had a true spiritual leader in this country, someone who speaks of salvation through Christ and the love and mercy of God; a national minister, if you will. What I have also been discouraged by is how vocal some believers are about the current political and civil situations that are occurring. Alas, a lot of what I hear and read on social media would not be considered “loving thy neighbor”. Instead of a faithful voice of truth, we have minions of division on every side. For me, it is heartbreaking.

 So now I will engage the forth P-word, Purpose - something set up as an object or end to be attained. Not just during this unusual and tumultuous time, but always, I as a believer, should be about God’s purpose. I was created to be His servant. I am not called to serve the things or ideals of this world, I am called to a heavenly purpose. 1) To love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. 2) To love my neighbor as myself. 3) To share the truth of the Gospel with others. 4) To do my best to live a Christ-like life that honors and brings glory to God.

 I truly believe, dear ones, that we are living in a time when we need to love stronger and louder than the hate, for love (God) conquers hate (Satan) every time.

Affinities

 

9/20/2020

Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am far from perfect. Boy am I imperfect, so how can I ever live up to this verse? It is from the section that Jesus was talking about loving your enemies. Now that is a tough one for sure. Jesus says in verses 44&45, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Really? Even those that cause me or someone I care about pain? Yup, that is what I have to do, for it is easy to love those who love me, but challenging to love those who don’t. Chambers writes, “In the spiritual life beware of walking according to natural affinities. Everyone has natural affinities; some people we like and others we do not like. We must never let those likes and dislikes rule in our Christian life. ‘If we walk in the light as God is in the light,’ God will give us communion with people for who we have no natural affinity.” Truth!!!!

I have had God bring me into relationships with people whom I have not had a single thing in common with. At the beginning, I could not even imagine developing a camaraderie with these people. This has happened with both believers and non-believers over the years. Sometimes these relationship turn out to be the most precious and fulfilling, often wrapped in the question, “Why are we friends again?” followed by laughter. Yes, when I have gotten out of my own way long enough to actually listen to God’s leading, beautiful things happen.

So I encourage you, dear ones, let in those people that God puts on your heart, even if – or maybe especially if – you have no affinity for them. You will be a blessing, and I can promise you will certainly be blessed.  

Script Change

 

9/19/2020

 

Luke 22:28 “Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations.”

The battle is REAL! Life, as very still as it is because of Covid-19, is also moving at the speed of light for many of us. Massive change has been a real part of the year 2020, onj both a global and personal scale. My family is going through change and transition as well, and it always brings with it growing pains, especially when the change is difficult. This, again, is true for so many people who have experienced loss, and sadly, there has been so much loss.

In my world, things are happening that could wind up being very positive, but they will certainly come with an emotional cost, and I am already feeling it. Temptation, during these changing times, seems to be very vivid. Chambers cautions, “Watch when God shifts your circumstances, and see whether you are going with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh and the devil.” For me currently, as I said, the battle is real.

The other day, as we were getting news about our possible transition, I told my husband that I was calmly freaking out. He looked at me oddly and said he had never heard anyone say that. It was odd, actually, because I was experiencing a peace at the same time my brain was going into overactive mode. As I have shared before, this is a classic OCD reaction. Ever since my husband lost his job, we have been praying and asking God to guide us, and we would follow His will for what is to come next. I was honest in that prayer, but ever since doors started closing in the areas that I wanted opened and opening in areas I had never considered, I have had that most-dreaded of all life questions rattling around in my mind: Why?

When I was ill and going through my dark night of the soul several years ago, my sister sent me the book When Life Doesn’t Go Your Way by Katrina Zeno. I have gifted it to many people over the years who are going through particularly difficult times. I recently shared it with dear friend who is currently undergoing a very tough situation. Just this morning, she offered me encouragement through prayer and reminded me that Zeno writes of life’s “script changes” and how they are a part of God’s plan for good. I am so grateful that she was led to share this truth with me this today, as I desperately needed to hear it. God’s timing is perfect. Zeno writes about the script we have for ourselves, and the script changes that God has. I understand this metaphor because my son is an actor as well as a writer. When a director or writer changes the script, it is his job to comply. This is always done to improve on the story.

And so it is with God. As the creator, when He changes my script, even if I think the story is going great, it is my job to trust Him, comply, and not fall into temptations of the world, flesh, or the devil. Just as a script change stretches and challenges and actor, so does a script change by my God. I must now put my full trust in him that the continuation of my story will be for good and His glory.

 

 

Persuasion

 

9/18/2020

 Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

 Jesus was tempted, but did not sin because of the temptation. Satan was His tempter just as he is ours. The lies and hollow promises he makes are to lure us into doing that which we should not. Lies such as, “you’re not going to hurt anyone,” or, “it’s not a big deal,” or, “no one will ever know,” are just the kind of thing the destroyer uses to turn temptation into sin. Chambers writes, “Satan does not tempt us to do wrong things; he tempts us in order to make us lose what God has put into us by regeneration, viz., the possibility of being of value to God.” This is a proper way to look at the situation, as the evil one’s only goal is to pull us away from God. It is the classic image of an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other whispering away in our ears.

 When I think of something in today’s society that is a temptation to almost everyone, it is technology. Whether it is the draw of a tablet, computer, phone, or television, the digital world’s attraction is undeniable. Is this in and of itself wrong? Certainly not, as there are many positive applications for these devices. There is, however, a dark underbelly to it as well, and not just the obvious ones of inappropriate images and language. There is also giving your mind and soul over, bowing to the digital god. Spending hours and hours on Facebook, YouTube, Amazon, or a hundred other things. Allowing the media to infiltrate your thinking. It is a slow boiling pot for sure, for no one starts out addicted to anything; it is a gradual process of acceptance. I wonder if there has ever been such a powerful tool for the evil one to tempt and distract us with. If we are not ardently focused on God’s will through prayer and His Holy Word, temptation will likely overtake us.

 I will experience temptation, but when it occurs, who will I listen to?

The Lure

 

9/17/2020

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.”

Temptation comes to all of us in life. For me, it is usually in the form of chocolate, ice cream, or HGTV. I am not a very exciting person. Could any of these become sins in my life? Yes, all of them could if done to excess, but I am blessed to not struggle with temptations that could cause myself or others harm. The lure of that which entices us as humans is not sin, but how we react to it can be.

Chambers writes these strong words: “Temptation yielded to is lust deified, and it is proof that it was timidity that prevented the sin before.” This is where the wrestling between the flesh and the spirit comes in. With all temptation comes the voice of the destroyer, assuring me it is fine to enter into that which I should not. If, however, I am yielding and surrendering to God, it is His voice I hear guiding me against that which can turn to sin. There is nothing that I bring to our Savior in my human condition that He does not understand. Chambers has these encouraging words taken from Hebrews, “God does not save us from temptations; He succours us in the midst of them.” I must find my strength in Jesus.

Hebrews 2:18 “For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” (ESV)

Uninterrupted

6/16/2020

Matthew 6:6 “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret.”

Why am I motivated to pray? Does my prayer life revolve around petition always, or am I seeking a deeper relationship with God? I have to admit that in my young Christian life, I did a lot of the “ask” kind of praying. It would always start with, “God please _____________.” Much of my prayer time concentrated on intercession as it does now, but it was not about growing in faith or seeking God’s will for my life. I was not reading the Bible faithfully at that time either. I was, however, very “churched”. I was involved in so many ministries and activities that I think I must have subconsciously believed I was growing closer to God through service. Nope, all I did was become part of the 10% worker-bee group. I was not a very good example to those I was trying to minister to. If there was a position that needed filled, my husband and I were always the ones to step up. This, of course, caused massive burnout. We were squeezing out what little we actually had, and we were not getting fed. We certainly were not looking for that spiritual nourishment ourselves. Although we did devotions in fits and starts, we were not consistent in any way. I think that at that time, we were counting on the church services to give us all we needed. Truly the underdeveloped walk of an immature Christian.

One piece of wisdom that my husband always imparted to the kids (mostly teens) that we were teaching was to, “Keep their eyes on God and not on man, because man will disappoint you, but God never will.” (Unfortunately, my husband learned this lesson the hard way long ago, by being terribly let down by his youth leaders.) Today I read a similar thought in Chambers’ writing, although his was built around the idea of not having a showy faith to impress others. Still, wise and valuable council. It is reflective of the verse above about praying in secret. This is not to hide the fact that we pray, but to not make a show of that time we spend with God where we come into the presence of our Heavenly Father. There is nothing more powerful to me than my quiet alone time with God, where I can just pour out my heart and be still and listen. Corporate prayer is also a needed and valuable part of worship, and a time we can learn about the needs of our church body. Then I can bring those needs back into my alone time with God and intercede for them as well. Chambers writes, “Get into an inner chamber in which to pray where no one knows you are praying, shut the door and talk to God in secret. Have no other motive than to know your Father in heaven. It is impossible to conduct your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer.” I guess I would say it was impossible for me to conduct my life as a disciple successfully without quiet time in worship. Prayer at absolutely any point is wonderful, but for me, the uninterrupted time I spend with God is the most precious time of all.

Renounce

9/15/2020

2 Corinthians 4:2 “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty.”

Renounce – formally declare one’s abandonment of a claim, right, or possession

We all have things that we hide from others. It could be something from the past, or even just a thought we have had. Nothing, however, is hidden from God. That being said, am I honest with Him about everything? Do I live my life so transparently that no one can claim they see hypocrisy in me? Am I who God wants me to be even when only He is watching, or do I have a pious façade? Verse 2 in its entirety says, “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways, we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”

Chambers writes, “Is there a thought in your heart about anyone which you would not like to be dragged into the light? Renounce it as soon as it springs up; renounce the whole thing until there is no hidden thing of any dishonesty or craftiness about you.” Even a thought that is hidden from others can harm your soul; I know it has mine. I have struggled for years with forgiveness towards a person in my life. I ask God for His help in this area, but honestly, what I need to do is renounce my negative thoughts and release the pain to Jesus. How can I stand for forgiveness and claim its healing power if I cannot myself finally forgive? If Jesus forgave those who put Him to death, shouldn’t I finally be able to forgive a decade’s old injury?

Chambers encourages, “Maintain a continual watchfulness so that nothing which you would be ashamed arises in your life.” This is wonderful council, because harboring negativity is like having a spiritual cancer. It ravages your soul until you can no longer hide it from the world around you, for thoughts become words, and words become actions. I need to renounce all within me that does not glorify my Lord.

I am, as always, a work in progress.

Simplicity

9/14/2020

2 Corinthians 11:3 “The simplicity that is in Christ.”

Right now in our world, nothing seems simple. Covid-19 alone has made even a quick trip to the store fraught with fear and stress. We need to make sure we are following all kinds of safety protocols that were unthinkable a mere 8 months ago. Add to that the massive fires that are burning, hurricanes, crime, social unrest, political craziness, and record unemployment, and we have a super stew of difficulty/chaos/bedlam to say the least. So what is simple anymore? Well, the verse tells us there is simplicity in Christ. It seems, at some point during this storm surge, that our minds are on everything but Jesus. Verse 3 in its entirety Paul writes, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty (sic) so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” True, nothing about 2020 is subtle, but it certainly could be drawing us away from that simplicity, and Satan will use it all to confuse and thwart us.

Chambers writes, “The tiniest thing we allow in our lives that is not under the control of the Holy Spirit is quite sufficient to account for spiritual muddle, and all the thinking we like to spend on it will never make it clear.” Both the large and the small issues of life MUST be brought to Jesus, so that the Holy Spirit can guide and bring peace. I may never receive complete understanding, but I can, even during this time of turmoil, have a true and abiding simple faith in my Savior. The more often I draw nearer to my God, the more I will be able to rest in Him, like any child rests in the arms of their loving father.

Lord, help me, through all the chaos, to come to You and be an example for others of the simplicity that is in Christ.

Devotion of Surrender

9/13/2020

John 17:4 “I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.”

Jesus carried out His Father’s will, always even unto a brutal death and the deeper pain of taking on the sin of the world. I am, as a believer, supposed to reflect the character of Jesus in my own life. Have I even come close to doing all that God has called me to do in my life? Sadly, no. Have I excused away those moments when I feel moved to act if God is asking me to go into an uncomfortable situation or speak boldly in faith? Sadly, yes. One commonality for my failure in both of these areas is not being willing to surrender all to God, and believe that no matter what is asked of me, He will give me the strength to complete it. Surrendering to God’s will is an act that I must do over and over again, so the pride of self-reliance does not get in the way. Chambers writes, “Surrender is not the surrender of the external life, but of the will; when that is done, all is done.” “God never crushes a man’s will into surrender, He never beseeches him, He waits until the man yields up his will to Him.” God sees, and He waits.

Chambers writes about three areas of surrender: Surrender for Deliverance, Surrender for Devotion, and Surrender for Death. This is our entire life walking with God. We start with salvation, where we yield our very life to God and profess our sin before our Savior. Then we must continue to yield to God throughout this journey of life, and become completely devoted to the Holy Word and God’s will. Surrender for death is a dying to self, and aligning with Jesus so closely that nothing else in the world can hold any sway for you. I see this as also having peace with your physical death and going home to be with Jesus. Again, nothing this world offers should mean more to us than that. Until then, however, we must be diligent in our devotion to God’s will and His way.

I am, as always, a work in progress.


I Surrender All 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtuRB4VhN_A

State of Confusion

9/12/2020

Matthew 20:22 “Ye know not what ye ask.”

Have you ever been seeking God’s will and direction in a situation, but all you have is confusion? Right now, this is what my family is experiencing. This year has been, well, 2020, and it has brought with it all manner of upset and turmoil everywhere. For many, including my family, there has been financial challenges, as well as isolation and boredom. We have missed our church family and our blood family. There have been missed opportunities and canceled plans. Unfortunately, no one knows when life will get back to normal. Along with all of this uncertainty, my husband is trying to figure out his next step in his career. Does he strike out on his own and take the risk, or accept a job and play it safe? This has just multiplied our confusion ten-fold.

 Just for context, we relocated five years ago when my husband got a new job opportunity, and he fully planned on retiring from the company he was with. Our only son, who is an author and artist, decided to relocate with us. We found a perfect house that we love, with two separate living areas, a beautiful garden (where my all my pictures for this blog are taken), and a huge garage workshop that my husband has always dreamed of. God led us to a wonderfully loving church family. I found a job with a literacy organization, which is something I am very passionate about. Also, our son finally realized his goal of becoming a published author. We felt blessed beyond measure. Then 2020 happened, and in July my husband lost his job like so many others have.

We are so thankful for the time that we have been able to spend together during this “restructuring” of our lives, but the confusion of which path to take is always present. Even though we are reading our Bibles, praying together, interceding for others, and fully trusting in God’s provision, clarity still eludes us. Chambers writes, “There are times in spiritual life when there is confusion, and it is not way out to say that there ought not to be confusion. It is not a question of right and wrong, but a question of God taking you by a way which in the meantime you do not understand, and it is only going through the confusion that you will get at what God wants.”

So we will wait, continue to pray, and trust that this time of confusion brings about the very thing that will glorify God. We will, through it all, walk in faith and hope. 

While I'm Waiting - John Waller (Sorry about the song link not working again. Please copy and paste)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gjXBMC8-oM

Going the Distance

9/11/2020

John 13:14 “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

Every year, this date hits me and brings me back to that horrible day when my country was viciously attacked. Hate is the most destructive thing in this world, and is a motivator for far too many people. We are experiencing hate and conflict right now in our country, with division and infighting in so many areas. Even the church is not immune to such discord. It is truly heartbreaking to see how far we have devolved since we all pulled together after that awful day 19 years ago. There was no “yours” or “mine”, but “ours”. We came together as a nation and mourned, supported, loved, and helped one another. Why does something traumatic have to happen before we can really love and appreciate one another? Why can’t we see each other all as children of God? In this time of insulation, anger, and fear, where has love for our neighbor gone?

Chambers writes, “The things that Jesus did were of the most menial and commonplace order, and this is an indication that it takes all God’s power in me to do the most commonplace things His way.” Jesus washed His disciples’ feet as an example to us that nothing should be too small or menial for us to do, especially for another person. Why, then, is kindness so difficult? Why is love so difficult? I am not being asked to wash the feet of my neighbor, but would I if I were asked? Would I feel it was an act that is beneath me? If it was not beneath my Savior, the lowliest task should never be below me. What is God calling me to do now, in this moment in time? What is He asking of all of His children?

Chambers writes, “We have to go the ‘second mile’ with God. Some of us get played out in the first ten yards, because God compels us to go where we cannot see the way, and we say—‘I will wait till I get nearer the big crisis.’ If we do not do the running steadily in the little ways, we shall do nothing in the crisis.” In this current crisis, have I gassed out in the first ten yards, or will I allow God to help me go the distance for Him?

He Sees Me

9/10/2020

John 1:48 “When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.”

God sees me wherever I am. No matter my circumstances or where I am in my journey, He sees me. The question is, am I aware of this at every moment? I can hide nothing from Him, so why don’t I behave like He is in the room with me at all times? Do I put on my Christian face and attitude when I am with others, but fall apart when I am alone? How do I do when the storms of life come? Do I stand on the Rock in full faith? Chambers writes, “We imagine we would be all right if a big crisis arose; but the big crisis will only reveal the stuff we are made of, it will not put anything into us.”

When the biggest crisis of my life came, I failed miserably. I was going to church regularly, serving in ministry, and wearing my crosses proudly, but as they say, my faith was a mile wide and an inch deep. My relationship with Jesus at the time was certainly that of a friend, confidant, and merciful Savior, but He did not hold the most important place in my life. It was not until I was brought to a place of complete weakness that He took the scales from my eyes and I knew He saw me; in all of my distress and through my illness, He was there waiting for me. I was shattered into a million little pieces, and God was the only one who could put me back together. I needed to learn how to rest in Him, submit all, and abandon self. I began walking with Jesus every minute of every day. I had to, because I could not find my way out of the darkness without Him. Chambers writes, “The private relationship of worshipping God is the great essential of fitness.” Just like the importance of focusing of physical fitness, I needed to concentrate on my spiritual health as well. Prayer, study, and releasing all to God healed me because He saw me, and was waiting. God allowed the storm to stretch me and help me grow in my relationship with Him, and I will forever be humbled by and grateful for His love and mercy.

Take heart dear one, for He sees you too.

The God Who Sees – Kathie Lee Gifford & Nicole C. Mullen (A little longer than my usual song choices, but worth your time. I could not get the link to work, so you will have to copy and paste from here. I encourage you to listen and worship.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz81dIfwf4Y

Spiritual Weapons

9/9/2020

2 Corinthians 10:5 “Bringing into capacity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

We are living in an uncertain and volatile time. What is happening is not unprecedented in the annals of history, as there have been many periods that have seen raging pandemics, political turmoil, and social unrest. Most of us, however, have never experienced this kind of disturbance in our everyday lives. The world all around us is changing in so many ways, so how does that affect the infallible, unchanging Holy Word of God? How are we, as Christians, supposed to maneuver this world? The same way believers have done for centuries: by following what the Word of God says, no matter the consequences. We must not, however, pervert any part of the Bible to suit our own outlook or philosophies, or water down its truth to conform in any way. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretense that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I find comfort in these verses even though they speak of fighting, as I am an extreme pacifist. However, knowing the Sword and the Shield that come from God are the most powerful weapons against evil gives me peace. No scheme of man can change this truth, as long as I am obedient to the Word. Nothing I do should be impulsive; rather, I should be prudently, earnestly, and fervently seeking the will of God through prayer and His word. Chambers writes, “We are apt to forget that a man is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation; he is committed to Jesus Christ’s view of God, of the world, of sin and the devil, and this will mean that he must recognize the responsibility of being transformed by the renewing of his mind.”

It is not just my duty to be committed to my Savior for His gift of salvation, but it is also something I will do the rest of my days with gratitude and joy.

 Note: I realize that I added these verses several days ago also, but they are worth repeating because they are what we need to go into battle. 

Ephesians 6:8-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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 the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 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.

Alien

9/8/2020

2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imagination and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.”

Once we yield to Jesus, we are supposed to be aliens upon the earth, because the world no longer should hold anything for us. 1 Peter 2:11 (NIV) “Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul.” I, for one, have yet to totally abandon the draw of certain things in this world and release them to my Savior. Chambers writes, “It is only when God has altered our disposition and we have entered into the experience of sanctification that the fight begins. The conflict is along the line of turning our natural life into a spiritual life, and this is never done easily, nor does God intend it to be done easily.” He goes on to say that we develop a spiritual character by a series of moral choices. This can only be truly accomplished by seeking the leading and power of the Holy Spirit in submission to God. It is a never-ending war between the soul and our human frailty. We can always explain away our behavior or actions by human justification: I was hurt, they were doing something wrong, I needed this or that, I just wanted to have a little fun, I didn’t realize, or even, I was just trying to help. Whenever I find myself using an excuse as an explanation or defense for not being in line with the Word of God, I must at once repent and ask for mercy. I have an obligation as a believer to vigilance in my faithfulness and relationship with Jesus. Chambers writes, “We can either go back and make ourselves of no account in the Kingdom of God, or we can determinedly demolish these things and let Jesus bring another son to glory.”

River

9/7/2020

John 4:14 “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water.”

Every so often, I check myself against two important parts of the Bible: The Fruit of the Spirit and the Love Chapter (Galatians 5:22&23 and 1 Corinthians 13). I read them and see if I am living up to these two standards God has put before me. Sometimes, I feel like I do pretty well, and sometimes I don’t do so well. When I am doing daily devotions, praying, and focusing on God, these attributes come much easier than when I am going through a time of spiritual drought. Chambers writes, “We are to be centers through which Jesus can flow as rivers of living water in blessing to everything. Some of us are like the Dead Sea, always taking in but never giving out, because we are not rightly related to the Lord Jesus.” Being in a place of spiritual withdrawal, for any reason, certainly does not produce a flow of the Spirit through me. When I get caught up in the tempest that rages all around, without leaning into my relationship with Jesus, I can become fearful, angry, argumentative, or sad. These emotions and actions do not line up with being full of the Spirit. My lack of focus on Jesus will neutralize me and leave me open to Satan’s evil schemes. This is why I must stay vigilant and watchful.

However, I should never fear the Spirit flowing from me or worry that I am not enough, because Jesus does not call the equipped, He equips the called. The more I die to self, and the more internal real estate I surrender to God, the more He will fill me with His Spirit. The more I am filled with His Spirit, the more the fruit of the Spirit will pour from me and unto others. This is a constant battle for which I need the Armor of God. Satan wants nothing less than my destruction, but God wants me to walk boldly and courageously as His disciple. This can only happen because of Jesus’ unending mercy and grace. Like a mighty river, I pray the Holy Spirit constantly flows from me with clarity and power.

Holy Water – We The Kingdom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0xhhG1Hyos