Holding Up

10/31/2020

Matthew 17:20 “Faith as a grain of mustard seed…”

Yesterday’s verse was taken from the beginning of Hebrews 11, which is titled in my Bible as “Faith in Action.” It recounts how great men of the Old Testament – Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham – had deep and abiding faith in God. Chambers writes, “Faith in the Bible is faith in God against everything that contradicts Him—I will remain true to God’s character whatever He may do.” This was certainly true for these fathers of the faith. They faithfully lived for God regardless of their life situations, and to say they all experienced trials is an understatement. But what about me? How is my faith holding up during this time of unrest and global pandemic? Is it even the size of a mustard seed?

Chambers adds, “Faith by its very nature must be tried, and the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God’s character has to be cleared in our own minds. Faith in its actual working out has to go through spells of unsyllabled (not articulated) isolation.” If ever there was a time of extreme isolation, it is now. I know that in my own life, I have been experiencing what Chambers calls the “trusted silence”, where I cannot clearly hear God. It does not help that we are separated from in-person church services and fellowship because of Covid-19. There is also a (possible) looming civil and political tsunami heading our way. It all seems like too much to bear, but NOTHING is unbearable when you put your hope and faith in Almighty God, our Savior Jesus, and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. If I can refocus on the profound truths of the Bible, and how much God loves me, my faith will be able to weather any storm.

I was gifted two pieces of jewelry with mustard seeds embedded in them by some dear friends of mine. Both of these are reminders to me that even if my faith is as tiny as this seed, mountains can be moved. Well, there are currently many mountains surrounding us, trying to crush our hope and keep us in fear. Yet the smallest amount of faith in God will let us conquer any mountain that tries to destroy us. Take heart, dear reader, and hold onto devoted abiding faith in the Savior with all of your might. Never give up sharing the power of faith with others, and seek the strength and the peace that can only come from God.

Matthew 17:20 “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

 

Ya Gotta Have Faith

10/30/2020

Hebrews 11:6 “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”

Faith – firm belief in something for which there is no proof (Merriam-Webster)

So, how vital is faith to my life? It is like the air I breathe, for without it I am not truly alive. If I did not hold tightly onto the hope of the Gospel, or the teaching and wisdom of the Old Testament, I would be lost, for all a lack of faith brings is hopelessness. Currently, in this crazy year of 2020, more and more of us are having to believe and find hope in something or go mad.

Hebrews 11:1 is an often quoted verse: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” You can find this verse all over things like home décor and shirts, but is the meaning really internalized on a spiritual level? People have faith in all kinds of things: medicine, science, other people, technology, etc., often without being able to see or fully understanding. I cannot see a wireless connection, but when I use my computer or phone I know it is there.

Faith in God, however, is a vastly different kind of faith; it requires complete trust in Someone only known to me through scripture and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I cannot turn on a gadget or ingest a pill to prove that my God exists, although there certainly is the argument that He is the ultimate Creator, not just of the world but all that exists therein. We, after all, were created in His image, and it is men and women who have used their God given gifts and intellect to discover and create such wonders. Of course, some people “believe” that humans in fact have the capacity to reach godhood. This, again, is not something proven. In fact, I would argue many a cult leader that has tried actually disproves this notion.

There are also people who will argue that faith in a Savior of the world goes against common sense and reason, but it is no more unreasonable than anything else we put our faith in. The definition of faith, as seen above, speaks of there being no proof, but I would perhaps add the word “tangible” to that definition. My life is proof of a Heavenly Father, as I am sure yours is. There have been too many experiences in my life that would be unexplainable without acknowledging God’s existence. I have experienced healing, and seen healing in the lives of others as well. I have seen even the hardest hearts embittered against God change. I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so strongly in prayer that time seems to stand still. Do I have tangible proof that any of these things relate back to God? I do not. Could there be any other explanation? There cannot.

The heading in my Bible for the first part of Hebrews 11 is “Faith in Action.” Reading the accounts of great leaders of the faith, and that of the entire book of God breathed scripture, I would argue is also my proof. Many people who have interacted with the Holy Scriptures with the intent to disprove them actually turn to God, for this is how God speaks to us. It is where faith takes shape and becomes personal. Chambers writes, “To turn faith into a personal possession is a fight always, not sometimes. God brings us into circumstances in order to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make its object real. Until we know Jesus, God is a mere abstraction, we cannot have faith in Him; but immediately we hear Jesus say—‘He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father,’ we have something that is real, and faith is boundless. Faith is the whole man rightly related to God by the power of the Spirit of Jesus.”

Remember this truth about faith, dear reader, particularly during these difficult and uncertain times. People, ideals, philosophies, and things that we place our faith in will fail us, but putting faith in God never will.

 

Jarringly Real

 

10/29/2020

2 Corinthians 5:21 “He hath made Him to be sin for us…that we might be made the righteousness of God…”

Years ago, during a Sunday school class, the teacher gave a dramatized account of the crucifixion of Christ. I was in my mid-twenties, and it was the first time I had ever experienced this kind of thing before. I was taught about Jesus’ sacrifice in my youth, and I had seen all the movies that coved His birth, life, death, and resurrection, but I had never had anyone make it so jarringly real. This was a long time before The Passion of the Christ movie came out (which I have still not seen because of this initial experience). In a room full of adult Christians, this man tore the vail off of the “more gentle and sanitized” version of Christ’s sacrifice that I had known all my life, and it shook me to my core, forever changing me. The reaction I had was visceral and extreme. I was sobbing and shaking so badly that I could not stand. These sensations lasted for a long while after the class ended. This moment was the first time I was truly brought to the foot of the cross, looking up at my Savior, and trying to absorb the amount of love that it took to go through what He did. He loved me unto ridicule, torture, an unbearably painful and horrible death, and taking on my every sin. I would never experience the truth of the Atonement in the same way again. He suffered this for me.

Chambers writes, “We are acceptable with God not because we have obeyed, or because we have promised to give up things, but because of the death of Christ, and no other way.” There is nothing I can ever do by myself to become acceptable to God, other than confessing my sin and yielding to the power of Jesus’ sacrifice and saving grace. This is truly my most treasured gift, and I should not leave it on a shelf to collect dust like an old family heirloom.  I must instead carry it with me, holding onto it tightly with all of my might. It is a gift I should never be fearful of opening up and sharing with others. It is more precious than anything this world has to offer.

No matter what is happening in my life, or what my current circumstances, I will never lose this priceless gift.

 John 3:16 “For God so loved the word, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

 

A free Gift

 

10/28/2020

Romans 5:10 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

I am only able to be rightly related to God through one source, and that is Jesus Christ. His sacrifice is the way to the Father; it repairs the soul from the brokenness of sin. This mending came at an unimaginable cost, but has been offered as a free gift to you and me. All we must do is yield. Chambers writes, “We can be born again because of the Atonement of Our Lord. Sinful men and women can be changed into new creatures, not by their repentance or their belief, but by the marvelous work of God in Christ Jesus which is prior to all experience. The impregnable safety of justification and sanctification is God Himself.” All that needed to be done was accomplished through the Atonement. Amazing grace.

Go and Teach

10/27/2020

Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach [disciple] all nations.”

Right now in our country, many parents are teaching their children at home either full-time or part-time, depending on their town’s school districts response to Covid. This was not something that most parents thought they would be doing, but hey, it’s 2020, the year full of changes. Unless you have some sort of teaching background, you may feel unprepared and ill-equipped for such a task. (Actually, even some teachers I know felt this way as well.) They are doing their best, however, like we all are during this unusual time.

Parents of school-aged children are the people that came to mind when I read the verse above. Jesus, after His resurrection, charged His followers to go and teach all nations. This is known as The Great Commission. With all that they had witnessed and were now experiencing, this was probably an overwhelming thought. I would imagine they did not feel up to this monumental task. How in the world would they be able to teach all nations? They walked with, and heard, the words of Jesus first hand, but they were not Him. There are, however, comforting words for the disciples following the charge. Verses 19 & 20: “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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The only way such a thing could be possible is because Jesus would always be with them. He had taught them personally. They had also witnessed Jesus perform miracles, and beheld His death and resurrection. They could go and teach when charged because they had been taught by the Master, and they knew Him. Their risen Lord Jesus could do this monumental task through them.

Every Christian has the same calling, to disciple others. I may feel that I am not up to such an imperative calling in my humanity, but just like those original people who walked with Jesus, I am never alone. He teaches me through His Holy Word, and because I know Him, He will also be with me until the end of the age. If I am willing and bold, He will enable me to witness to others. The same Holy Spirit that flowed through them also flows through us.

Chambers would have us remember this: “Jesus Christ did not say—Go and save souls (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God), but—‘Go and teach,’ i.e., disciple, ‘all nations,’ and you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself.”

Deficient

10/26/2020

John 20:21 “As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.”

Chambers writes, “In missionary enterprise the great danger is that God’s call is effaced by the needs of people until human sympathy absolutely overwhelms the meaning of being sent by Jesus.”

I, as a believer and disciple of Christ, have the same mission as all believers before me; to share the Good News of the love and saving grace of Jesus with others. This should have always been my primary focus, but alas, it has not been. I have bent to the ways of the world and been timid in sharing this most important of messages. My lack of boldness was always based on how I may be perceived or if I may offend someone, but how can sharing the truth of the love and redemptive power of Jesus ever be offensive? If I am sharing the Gospel of Christ in the Spirit and in love, then I have nothing to fear. This most crucial of missions, dear reader, is one between a heavenly everlasting life and an eternity apart from God.

Tonight, I am feeling my deficiency very acutely. I have an extremely heavy heart.

 

Introspection

10/25/2020

1 Corinthians 9:22 “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

Chambers starts today’s devotional with, “A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s noble man or woman amid a crowd of ignoble things.” This statement hit me right between eyes. In our world today, there are so many ignoble things that it makes the head spin. How am I, in all this tumult and chaos, doing at being principled and moral? Do my actions and conversations reflect Jesus, or am I falling into despair, fear, and anger? I have noticed that even people of faith are allowing themselves to get pulled into some very alarming negativity. Chambers goes on, “Unless we have the right manner in our minds intellectually and in our hearts affectionately, we will be hustled out of usefulness for God.”

This morning, as part of the message from a series on 1 Peter, Pastor Brad spoke of guarding your mind by guarding what comes into it. Such an important thing for me, as a believer, to remember and meditate on daily. He asked us, the congregation, what kinds of things we “consume” during our free time. What do I give my time to, and does it glorify and honor God? Can people see Jesus’ love and mercy through me, or am I a poor ambassador for Him in this world?

Chambers adds that Paul’s entire heart and mind were consumed with what Jesus came to do: save our souls and repair the broken bridge to the Father. Paul never lost sight of this truth or his mission. Am I, like Paul, consumed with my Savior and the things of heaven, or am I consumed with earthly things? Am I a worker for God, and do I willingly surrender to Him working through me? I must ask myself in these tumultuous times, does my life glorify God? Am I using the freedom that I have found in Christ to be a slave to others?

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many people as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself are not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

Triumph

10/24/2020

2 Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.”

What does it mean to triumph in Christ? One answer I got when I did a mini-poll was, “To be victorious in the eyes of the Lord. When you have been given a challenge, you conquer it in a godly manner.” Another answer was, “You are following Christ’s commands and examples in your daily life.” I have to be honest: for me, I feel triumphant in Christ when He helps me keep it together during the day and not go into the spiral of OCD brain. If I am able to witness to someone, help someone, or comfort someone, it is even better. Spending extended time with Jesus in study and prayer is the ultimate triumph. If all three of these happen, it is a glorious trifecta of triumph in Christ.

Chambers speaks of triumph being in a person’s ability to be able to maintain God’s point of view. He writes, “The viewpoint to maintain is that we are here for one purpose only, viz., to be captives in the train of Christ’s triumphs.” Now that is a train in which I want to stay captive. He goes on, “We are not in God’s showroom, we are here to exhibit one thing—the absolute captivity of our lives to Jesus Christ.” That is all day, every day. I immediately feel ill-equipped for such a high task, but there I go again, starting to think it is something I need to do on my own. Will I never learn? It is not my triumph, but Jesus’ alone, and He is the one that leads me if I am obedient. I am never truly alone. I can share His triumph with all those around me by how I reflect Him in my life, no matter the circumstances. It should be evident that I am His disciple, a captive in His train of triumph, by my speech, actions, and thoughts. Even a judgmental eye roll can thwart my being surrendered to God’s viewpoint in the eyes of others.

Chambers puts it best when he writes, “It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory. The Victor ought to have got us so completely that it is His victory all the time, and we are more than conquerors through Him.” Jesus is my Victory.

New Creation

10/23/2020

2 Corinthians 5:17 “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away.”

If my yielding to Jesus is true, I have no choice but to change: I immediately become a new creation. However, there is still much growing to be done. I must gain a new understanding of both my life and those around me. I must not carry a single past prejudice forward into my relationship with Jesus because “old things are passed away.” My attentions and intentions must shift to be in total submission to my Savior. Chambers writes, “Instead of God being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately wiping them out. It is part of our moral education to have our prejudices run straight across by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.” As I have walked with Jesus these many years, I find Chambers’ words to be more and more grounding and true. The Holy Spirit is continually working in me, drawing me nearer to where God wants me to be. My thoughts and actions are increasingly more aligned with the Bible, the more time I spend in The Word and in prayer.

I know I have A LONG WAY to go, but I am grateful that God has brought me through situations on my journey where I had no other choice but to release and totally surrender to Him. These times are usually ones of trial and turmoil, but they are also the times where God is stretching and molding me. I cannot help but be changed. Although difficult times in my life could have made me bitter, knowing Jesus was there carried me through it all. Amazing grace!

We are living in a time of great division in our country because of prejudices in so many areas, frankly more than I can count. It is based mostly on fear and is not of God. He wants none of it. He wants us to love Him and love our neighbor. Doesn’t that sound easy? But alas it is not, because we are self-centered creatures. Chambers has a question along with advice: “How are we going to get the life that has no lust, no self-interests, no sensitiveness to pokes, the love that is not provoked, that thinketh no evil, that is always kind? The only way is by allowing not a bit of the old life to be left; but only simple perfect trust in God, such trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want Himself.” What would happen if we all did not seek blessing but only God Himself?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Unknown

 

10/22/2020

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit of Himself beareth witness with our spirit…”

For me, the unknown is often times unbearable. I guess this is true for most of us worriers. I don’t even like surprise parties if I am the recipient. We are, all of us, in this collective waiting period right now and a time of a vast unknown. Our daily lives have changed so much, and for some of us that included the loss of a loved one or a job due to Covid-19. True, these kinds of upheavals always occur, but usually not to this scale. Thankfully, Covid has not affected any of my family’s health, but it has affected some of their employment. My husband is in that category, as I have shared before. We have been waiting for about a month now for word about a very promising job that he interviewed for. He actually flew down to see them, during Covid, with an OCD afflicted wife, because they were so desperate to have him come. We were very hopeful…no, we were actually feeling pretty confident about him being offered the position. Since his in-person interview, he has been in weekly contact with the company and it had all been positive until this week. Suddenly, there was no communication at all. Silence!

Now, maneuvering the unknown is easier if you have a positive feeling about a situation, but once the questioning starts happening, it gets tough. We, of course, have been praying and seeking God’s will, but even our prayers start to get jumbled and murky. Hence my writing about the blue haze yesterday. So this evening, after contacting the company for a third time this week, my sweet hubby was told that they were passing on him right now. It was like someone poked a small hole in our very full balloon, But you know what? Instead of our balloon bursting, all the hole did was relieve the pressure. All we needed was an answer to regain balance. True, God was giving us an opportunity to practice patience, but when the pressure started to build, He gave us a release. Are we disappointed? Sure, but we know the God of creation loves us and has a plan. He will lead us exactly where He wants us to be if we stay prayerful, willing, obedient, and hopeful. We are in the palm of His hands.

Chambers writes, “If we try to make Him witness to our reason, it is no wonder we are in darkness and perplexity. Fling all overboard, trust in Him, and He will give the witness.”

Blue Haze

10/21/2020

Jude 20 “Building up yourselves on your most holy faith.”

Full disclosure, Dear Readers: I am having a bit of a blue day. This is something that is difficult for me to admit, because my prayer is to not get in the way of what God wants me to covey as I write. Most of the time, I pray that the words you find here are encouraging or challenging. Today, however, as I sit down with another blank page before me, I am weary. It could be that my mood is reflecting the weather; it is gray and drizzly. It could be that I am Covid weary; I mean, aren’t we all? Most of the time, however, I feel this way because of my overactive empathy gene, if there is such a thing. I feel people’s pain and suffering very acutely, particularly when people I care about are suffering. I am not doing so well in the “building up by faith” category that the verse above speaks about.

Chambers writes, “Most of us develop our Christianity along the line of our temperament, not along the line of God.” I know this has been true of my faith walk. So many times in my life, the emotions of fear, sadness, or worry have overshadowed my faith and hence brought me into the blue haze I am in now. Chambers says that these emotional impulses are checked by God, and I am feeling that as I write. Chambers adds, “Impulse needs to be trained into intuition by discipline. Discipleship is built on the supernatural grace of God.”

So, I need to bring these emotional pieces before the Lord and ask Him to wrap them in His grace. It is a process of being trained through recognition and obedience to my Savior, and it will never end this side of heaven.

I am, as always, a work in progress.

Jude 20 & 21, “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” (NIV)

 

Transaction

 

10/20/2020

1 Thessalonians 4:3 “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.”

Today Chambers poses the question, “Am I willing to be sanctified?” What does that truly mean in my life, and what would it affect? God is always willing to meet me there, so am I holding back? What does being made holy really mean? What does it look like? How does such a metaphysical thing, something so deeply related to God, actually happen?  Is this truly the desire of my heart, or am I too connected to the world to seek sanctification? It seems to me that having allegiance to one negates the other. I have to be in the world, but I do not have to be of the world.

Chambers says that sanctification is a transaction. It is not an equal transaction because I have nothing to offer. I must come to Jesus as a sinful pauper prepared to accept an undeserving gift by surrendering my will to Him. Chambers writes, “Receive Jesus Christ to be made sanctification to you in implicit faith, and the great marvel of the Atonement of Jesus will be made real in you. All that Jesus made possible is made mine by the free loving gift of God on the ground of what He performed, my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness), a holiness based on agonizing repentance and a sense of unspeakable shame and degradation; and also on the amazing realization that the love of God commended itself to me while I care nothing about Him, He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification.”

I have done nothing to deserve this amazing grace and boundless love. Yet nothing is expected of me but to come to Jesus in submission, repentance, and faith. This transaction is transformative and everlasting. Am I willing to leave my old self behind to become truly sanctified?

 

Soaked, Rooted, Grounded

 

10/19/2020

John 18:36 “My kingdom is not of this world.”

How often do I enter into the Word of God and prayer so fully that I can ignore the other things constantly pushing in on me? How much time do I set aside for God in my day? For most of us, it is not practical to be cloistered away from all the responsibilities of life, but do I ever allow myself to seek out extended uninterrupted time with my Savior? Even though life gets very busy, I can always find time to binge watch Property Brothers or enter into some other light pursuit that fritters away hours at a time. Aren’t we always being encouraged to find time to relax and do “self-care” so as to re-center? Is this inherently wrong? No, but what if I took some of that “extra” time to concentrate on my relationship with God? What if I made time with Jesus my self-care because it actually goes deeper into soul-care?

There is also the trap of being too busy for elongated time with God. This can even occur in ministry. I could be pouring out all my energy to others with every good intention, but have my well run dry because of a lack of time with Jesus. If I spend precious little time with Him, how will I know His will or be able to gain my strength from Him? Chambers writes, “You have no idea of where God is going to engineer your circumstances, no knowledge of what strain is going to be put on you either at home or abroad, and if you waste your time on overactive energies instead of getting into soak on the great fundamental truths of God’s Redemption, you will snap when the strain comes; but if time soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in God on the unpractical line, you will remain true to Him whatever happens.”

Soaked, rooted, and grounded, remaining true to God no matter what happens. Words that are so very crucial for such a time as this.

Love Is...and Love Is Not....

10/18/2020 

3 John 7 “For His name’s sake they went forth.”

God wants to be number one in my life, and He wants my actions towards others to reflect the love that I know through Him. Chambers writes, “Loyalty to Jesus Christ is the supernatural work of the Redemption wrought in me by the Holy Ghost Who shed abroad the love of God in my heart, and that love works efficaciously though me in contact with everyone I meet.” We cannot choose who we show love to, because God expects us to love everyone. This kind of love is often lost in the world today. Sure, we see people on the news or social media that do kind and loving things for those around them, but what we have mostly been fed is a steady diet of pervasive hatred and anger. Even people of faith have fallen into this snare of the evil one.

So, I encourage you, dear reader, to check yourself against the verses in 1 Corinthians 13, which is known as the Love Chapter. My husband and I do this periodically to see how we are doing in our relationship, but I have not really checked myself in light of how I am treating others. Do I walk in righteous indignation or extreme piety where others are concerned, and use the Bible as justification for such behavior? Am I able to listen to those who hold different opinions, and speak to them in love and compassion? Do “hot button” issues cause discord and separation from others? Am I loving out loud and reflecting the truth of Jesus’ love and grace for all? If I am not, this must change. I must seek forgiveness and guidance from my Savior. I must pursue wisdom. I must love others out loud with the same mercy and grace that I seek.

I remember a one frame comic I saw as a child. It featured two little kids, always started with “Love is...” and then filled in the remainder with different ways to show love. These were cute, but were more about what we would consider romantic love. Romantic love is ordained by God, but there is a higher love that we need to have for others. In 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, the model of love is laid out for us, and although often read at weddings, we are all called to express love to everyone around us. So, let us look at the original and sacred “Love is… and what Love is not…” and reflect upon how we are doing.

 

Love is…patient

Love is…kind

Love does not… envy

Love does not…. boast

Love is not… proud

Love is not… rude

Love is not…self-seeking

Love is not... easily angered

Love… keeps no record of wrongs

Love does not… delight in evil

Love…rejoices with the truth

Love always… protects

Love always… trusts

Love always… hopes

Love always… perseveres

Love never… fails

I could certainly be doing much better. How about you?

 

The Greatest Work

10 /17/2020

John 14:12 “And greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.”

There is always suffering in the world. Currently, however, it is deep and wide. I have people close to me who are suffering both personally and economically. Members of my own family are in this boat as well. One person I care about is struggling on many fronts, and I so badly want to help in some way. Alas, I cannot. It is a helpless feeling, being unable to offer anything other than a listening ear and prayer, although I know that prayer is the single most powerful thing I can offer to do. Encouraging others to pray about their circumstances is important as well. Chambers writes, “Prayer is the battle; it is a matter of indifference where you are. Whichever way God engineers circumstances, the duty is to pray.” I know many people are dutifully lifting up prayers during this time of collective turmoil.

Right now, even much of our Christian work has come to a screeching halt, for we are not able to operate in the world as we did less than a year ago. We are masked and socially distanced, not able to offer a hug or a visit as we try to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Even churches have had to get creative with how they minister to people. As a believer, without my regular programs to go to or outreach to be a part of, I am feeling quite useless. Chambers reminds me, however, that, “Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; it is the greater work.” So during this unusual and uncertain time, I must always remember this truth about prayer. It is the greatest work of every believer.

So let us all pray for our nation and our world.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (KJV)

 

Lean In

 

10/16/2020

Matthew 9:38 “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

Prayer. How important is it? Well, I would ask how important breathing is. It is concentrated time with God, and vital to my life. Does it take the form of worship, contrition, or petition? For me, it almost always is all of these. On some glorious occasions, however, it is just an outpouring of praise and thankfulness to my Savior. Chambers asks, “How many of us pray without respect of persons, and with respect to only one Person, Jesus Christ?”

My prayer time lately has been almost all petition regarding the tumultuous events that are happening, both personally and on a global scale. There is an overwhelming amount of issues that invade my time with Jesus. Just this morning, as my husband and I were praying together, we both felt “muddy” in our minds and spirits. I am sure we are not alone in this feeling. There is a weariness around almost everything right now. Yet nothing that is happening changes the truth of the Gospel. Nothing changers Jesus’ love and mercy. None of it changes who I am as a child of the Most High. When I become inundated with all the things I have no control over, this is when I must lean into my Savior even more. When I feel as if I am not doing enough, I must rest in Him. Chambers writes, “Our Lord calls to no special work: He calls to Himself. ‘Pray ye therefor the Lord of the harvest,’ and He will engineer circumstances and thrust you out.” When I truly come to Jesus and trust Him in all things, He will clear away the muddiness and show me the way.

Propitiation

Propitiation – the act of gaining or regaining favor or goodwill

                             Specifically : an atoning sacrifice (Merriam-Webster)

10/15/2020

1 John 2:2 “And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the world.”

I am tempted to just post the verse above, because what more could be said about this truth? However, I am reflecting on what Chambers has to say, and he once again is speaking of the missionary message. I believe we are all called to be missionaries. This does not mean God will send me to a foreign land or inner city, although I have great respect and admiration for those people who give their lives to God in such a fashion. My mission field, as is true for many of us, is right where I live: my neighborhood, workplace, children’s school, local organizations, social group, church, and anywhere God leads me. I could be doing missionary work while talking to a complete stranger on the street.

I used to be challenged by this call, because it used to be promoted as handing out tracts on the sidewalk periodically, or going door to door during an evangelizing event. I rarely participated in these affairs because I was very intimidated and ill-equipped. One crucial bit of information that was never fully spoken about in my experience is what Chambers writes here: “The missionary message is the limitless significance of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins, and the missionary is the one soaked in that revelation.”  The training was always about how to approach people, and how to share the gospel in script form, but there was no focus on preparation. Now that I am slightly more mature in my faith, I look at this verse and many others, as well as Chambers words, and I know that I need to be completely “soaked” in this truth; the truth at the heart of the Gospel. It is a wonderful thing to share my testimony with others, or how much God loves them, or Jesus’ miracles and profound teachings, because all of those are important. Yet, the single most critical fact to clearly share with others is that Jesus is the Atonement not just for some, but for all. Amazing grace.

 

Once a person yields to Jesus and repents of their sin they enter into a new life, and the old life is washed away. Nothing can steal an honest and true salvation, no past sin or person, for in Christ I am free.   

Therefore, Go.

10/14/2020

Matthew 28:18-19 “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and reach all nations.”

When I share gospel, I should not do it out of my own will or strength, nor could I if I tried. If I go about sharing God’s word this way I am bound to fail, because I would not be seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This may lead me down a path where I pervert the Word, or use it in a way that does not honor my Savior. God does not assist me; He gives me the charge to go and then equips me through His sovereignty. I must only be willing to be led, and God will do the rest. It is critical for me to stay in an attitude of focused prayer as well, always seeking the Holy Spirit’s words to clearly come though me. It is profoundly humbling when you have another person say to you “I felt the Spirit” through your words or care. I know for me, I oftentimes cannot even remember the moment or words that may have helped a person, and that is how I know I was not in the way. Alas, I cannot claim this frequently, but I am working on becoming a better vessel instead of a clanging symbol. When it does happen, however, I feel blessed deep in my soul.

This next point is critical if I am to be at all a productive servant for God. Chambers writes, “If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him for myself, and how to get alone with Him; I must take time to worship the Being Whose Name I bear.” Jesus sent His disciples out among the nations to preach the gospel. They had the benefit of walking with Jesus and learning directly from Him. From this time forward, the mission has never stopped. Jesus is still sending out His disciples. These words are eternally true. John 15:7-8, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.” Chambers writes of these verses, “That is the way to keep going in our personal lives. Where we are is a matter of indifference; God engineers the going.” It comforts me to know that I do not have to make that call or strategize a plan, for as long as I truly abide in God and His word, He will lead me, and I will prayerfully bear fruit that glorifies Him alone.  

 

Concentration

10/13/2020

Exodus 2:11 “Moses went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens.”

Moses saw the oppression of the Jewish people, his people. God had a job for Moses regarding this situation. Chambers writes, “In the beginning Moses realized that he was the man to deliver the people, but he had to be trained and disciplined by God first. He was right in the individual aspect, but he was not the man for the work until he had learned communion with God.”

God has something for each one of us to do, but we cannot possibly do that thing without Him. When we try to operate in our own strength, we lose sight of Him. Concentrating on God—going vertical—and the truth of His word is the single most important act any of us can do. All other focus is temporal and can divert us from Him. Sometimes He will lead us through the wilderness to wander a while, and sometimes He will meet us on the mountaintop. However, if we are always keeping our focus on Him, He will lead us exactly where we are meant to be. 

 

Into Sride

 

Randy, thank you for sharing your life with me these past 35 years. It certainly has been a roller-coaster, but there is no one I would rather hold on tight with – and to – on this crazy ride of life. You are my best friend yesterday, today, and always. I thank God for you every day, because I am so blessed to call you mine. Forever, for always, and no matter what.

10/12/2020

Genesis 5:24 “Enoch walked with God.”

Chambers writes, “The test of a man’s religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does in the ordinary times, when there is nothing tremendous or exciting on.” This is the true test of character and of faith.

Today, I want to talk about a man who loves the Lord and has the same godly character in all areas of his life: my husband Randy. He yielded to Jesus at a young age, but has had a varied and winding journey to the spiritual place he is now. Many people were there to mentor and guide him along the way, but there were others that let him down terribly. When he was a young man, the actions of these people sent him through a time of questioning his faith. Thankfully, that time was short lived, but it is why he adheres to the saying, “Keep your eyes on God and not on man.” He has relayed both this wisdom and his testimony to all of the youth we have ministered to over the years, and there have been many. He learned early on that others, in their humanity, will sin, and that we cannot allow this to affect our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He truly believes that the single most important thing he, or any of us, can do is to keep our hearts, minds, and souls set on Jesus. Chambers refers to this as “getting into the stride of God.” This, of course, takes a lifetime.

As I said, Randy’s walk with God has been quite a meandering journey, as it is with most of us. He has grown in the times of silences and trial. He has learned to seek wisdom and guidance from the Bible and the Holy Spirit through worship. He reaches out to those around him with encouragement, care, and prayer. He listens to all who need an ear. He cares for his family and loves us deeply. He loves out loud. His character holds strong and firm in times of drudgery, and in good times as well as trying ones. He has put God first in his life, with me at a distant second, and I am fully okay with that. He walks with God, and as his wife, I am blessed.

A Trusted Silence

10/11/2020

John 11:6 “When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days in the same place where he was.”

This blog post is an alternative to the current narrative of “silence is violence.” Silence can comfort during times of sorrow when there are no words to be said. It can accompany times of awe and wonder. It can communicate volumes. Often times, silence is extremely powerful, and this is certainly true when it comes to our relationship with God.

Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was very ill. Upon hearing the news, Jesus said that his illness would not end in death...”it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”(v.4) Then Jesus stayed where He was for two days before making the journey to where the sisters waited for Him. Those days of silence and waiting must have been very difficult as the women watched their brother slip away. They knew that Jesus could save their brother, but He did not come.

Chambers asks, “Has God trusted you with a silence—a silence that is big with meaning?” There have been times in my life when, although I prayed and prayed, I could not see or hear Jesus. Ten years ago, a battle started to rage in my life, and I was undone. An illness overtook me, and it affected those I hold most dear. I cried out to Jesus, and heard only silence. My family cried out to Jesus, and heard only silence. Until…one night during a weary time of prayer through tears and on our knees, my husband and I heard God. Our door was slightly ajar, the hall behind it dark, when we heard it slowly open. Although we could not see him, we assumed it was our son, the only other person in the house, and my husband told him we were praying. We both watched the door slowly close as we heard our son say, “It’s gonna be okay.” That moment had a calming effect on us both, and we continued to pray for God to help us. After we finished, my husband went down to apologize to our son for being abrupt when he was at the door, and thank him for checking in on us and his calming words. With a look of confusion our son said, “Dad, I have been in my room all evening, what you heard wasn’t me.” Ashen, my husband ascended the stairs and came to tell me what our son had said. He was perplexed and unnerved, but I was elated; I knew it was a message from God.

Shortly thereafter, things started to improve, but not until we were brought, on our knees, literally and figuratively, to a place of total brokenness and reliance on our Savior. Chambers puts it this way: “His silence is the sign that He is brining you into a marvelous understanding of Himself.” You see, even though we were believers, we were trying to fix what was happening in our own strength. We had begun relying on each other more than God, and our triple cord had unraveled. God showed us that, although we could and should love each other dearly, we needed to put Him first in all things. He was always there, we just needed to focus on Him more, and focus on my illness and each other less. I, and we, received a miraculous healing. Currently, we are experiencing a bit of a silence about an area of prayer. This also has brought us even closer and more reliant on our Lord. We petition in prayer, but our focus is on gratefulness and worship. Amazing grace!

So most of you know what happened with Lazarus. When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. The sister’s and all the people were mourning. When they told Jesus their bother had died, so did He.  John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” After they had brought Jesus to the tomb, Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away. Mary was concerned because of the time that had past. Jesus reminded her that if she believes, she will see the glory of God. Then the miracle occurred. Verses 41-44: “So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent Me.’ When He had said this, Jesus called out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’”

So, dear reader, although it’s difficult, be grateful for times of trusted silence, for out of it can come an even greater intimacy with Jesus. Take heart as well, for He will not stay silent forever. 

 

Five Minutes

 

10/10/20

Matthew 11:25 “I thank Thee, O Father…because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them unto babes.”

I do not need any special talent, advanced education, or wealth to have a relationship with Jesus. The world looks upon these things as precious and important, but Jesus only cares about my soul. I believe this is why salvation is made so easy to understand, although the price that the Savior paid for me is unfathomable. Once I yield to Him, I must remain obedient and walk in the light no matter what the world throws at me. Chambers cautions, “Turn away for one second out of obedience, and darkness and death are at work at once.” It is true that people can be so easily led astray if they are not focused on God. Obedience is something that the world seemingly is rejecting at the moment. It has become synonymous with weakness and conformity. There is an anarchist mindset currently prevailing in our country, and it is terribly destructive.

There are, however, areas of life where obedience must be practiced. My nephew, John, is currently in boot camp. It is an extremely difficult and trying time for anyone who chooses to enter the Armed Forces. I am happy to report that he is doing very well with all that is required of him,  and excelling in some areas. He, and all those around him, MUST be obedient in everything they are expected to do. His life right now is very restrictive, but there is a greater purpose to all of it. He is being stretched and molded into a soldier, into a person who will be able to protect our nation. I thank God for him and others like him, and pray for him every day. Our entire family is very proud of John.

In the same way, God has an expectation of all believers to be obedient in all things. Does that mean life is restrictive in some areas? Perhaps, but it is all for a greater purpose as well. Revelation comes through obedience. Chambers writes, “Obey God in the thing He shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. One reads tomes on the work of the Holy Spirit, when five minutes of drastic obedience would make things as clear as a sunbeam.” For what is happening both in the world and personally right now, I will take these wise words to heart.

Measure

 

10/9/2020

Romans 6:19 “Yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

To say that our country is a mess right now would be an understatement. There is a hatred and division that I have never experienced in my half-a-century-plus years. This has been brewing for a while, and Covid-19 certainly didn’t help the situation. So what am I to do when division even hits close to home? Chambers writes, “I cannot save and sanctify myself; I cannot atone for sin; I cannot redeem the world; I cannot make right what is wrong; pure what is impure, holy what is unholy. That is all the sovereign work of God. Have I faith in what Jesus Christ has done?” Does my faith factor into all of this ugliness? Do I rest in the truth of His perfect Atonement for all, even during such trying times? Is this what I proclaim while others argue and take sides on temporal matters? Chambers writes, “Measure every type of experience by our Lord Himself.” Certainly an appropriate thing to do during this tumultuous times.

This morning, my husband and I started reading the book of Proverbs, because we are looking for guidance and wisdom, and we will only do this through the word of God and prayer. Right now there are so many voices of hate and division. This is NOT of God. So, if I do as Chambers suggests and measure everything by my Lord, than I must to seek Him first. I will not bow to fear, for He tells me to fear not. I will not hate, for He tells me to love my neighbor. I will not judge, for He said that is for God alone to do. I will hold onto faith, hope, and love. I will do this knowing that the greatest is love, and I will continue to pray for our nation and our world. For I am foremost and always a servant of my God.