Piled Up Rubble

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “WE should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” Numbers 13:30

People like Caleb are an encouragement to the rest of us. They are faithful and loyal to God’s cause. They invite us into the realm of the supernatural, helping us to believe in our big God.

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end the way we would have hoped.

At the beginning of this account, God had instructed Moses to “send men to explore the land of Canaan,” a land He was gifting to the Israelites as a possession (13:1). I wrote about this passage four years ago in a blog called, Little Bitty Giants.

Twelve men (including Caleb) were chosen and accomplished the task at hand. Verse 31-33 reminds us of what happens in response to Caleb’s courageous plea.

“But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Now, the listeners were in despair! The next chapter continues the story.

“That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “…Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14:1-4)

This time around, as I wrote about these familiar verses, I wanted to concentrate on something different than before: They wanted a new leader, a captain to guide them safely home (how absurd, ungrateful and foolish!). What they really wanted now was someone who would be faithful to their own interests.

Yet, who would be the one to shield them and care for them now? Surely, Egypt wouldn’t even let them anywhere nearby.

(vs. 5-9) “Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, ‘The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.’ But the whole assembly talked about stoning them.”

Their arrogance piques my interest, a foolishness that feels to me like it was out of control. I try to imagine how Moses must have felt and all he had put into this calling! He had given his all.

God was the one with whom the plan had originated. HE was the only piece of the Canaan dilemma that warranted consideration. Whenever He spoke truth, He had proven Himself time and time again that His declarations would happen, if only they would believe. How many times must they learn this lesson?

What about us?

The believers pleaded with the others not to be afraid. The inhabitants of the land had zero chance of winning. It didn’t matter their size or skills. The PROTECTION of the people was gone! The Lord was with the Israelites.

But they refused to listen. Their wickedness was the last straw for God. Now they would be kept from entering the land and their children would enter instead. Caleb and Joshua were they only men who would step into Canaan out of all those people.

So, again, what about our own disbelief?

Our lack of trust worsens the situation. When we don’t follow God’s ways in trust, our paths will look like a junk yard of piled up rubble. It’s time we burn away our faithless thoughts and, in the power of our Lord, reset our minds on God.

Instead of searching for greener grass somewhere out there and clinging to our own way, we have faith and eyesight to see the green already in our lives. Everywhere we look around us, God can help us realize that He is working, right now in a mighty way.

Even little issues can bind us in lies and make us forget that greener grass comes at a dear price. But God can conquer our troubles according to His will. And when things don’t go our way, …we can STILL…trust Him. We can still see His place in our lives as the greenest grass we could possibly possess.

In our most wearisome disappointments, do we turn and seek a new leader?

We can all make a difference wherever we are to turn ourselves and others away from fear, rebellion and lies and, like Caleb, stand up for the Holy One of Israel, our Lord. We can have treasures of faith instead of mountains of rubble.

God, demolish the rubble in our lives. We want to express our undying gratitude for all the sacrifice, love and concern you pour out on us. May we never to take your love for granted. Open our eyes to see people, strategically placed in our lives whom you have energized and strengthened to draw us closer to you and who have grown our faith and trust in you. Help us to be thankful every day for what comes from your hand. Give us hearts that are open and true, for you are our great Leader. In Jesus name, Amen.

Set Free

But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Gen. 45:7

I close my eyes and try to picture myself in a corner of the room in which Joseph interacted with his brothers. Revealing himself to them must have been one of those moments one never forgets.

Verse 2 tells us he “wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.”

It is hard to simply wipe away tears of loneliness and distance from one’s family or friends from which one has been ripped away. The loud tears must have held all those long years of pain and suffering beyond Joseph’s ability to endure. Yet, perhaps the tears also held memories of his Faithful God!

God had never left him and apparently had prospered him
despite his harsh circumstances.

My eyes stay closed as I envision what thoughts must have gone through the minds of each brother. This strange man before them was speaking odd words that HE was their brother.

What?
How?

Their haunted memories (they may have tried to erase from their minds) perhaps held the long-ago, petty jealousy and mistreatment of Joseph. But now this moment may have driven the flooded thoughts to the surface. And here he was, the boy they had sold into slavery, ruler of all Egypt.

Confused?
Amazed?

They may have recalled the dreams Joseph had in the past of them bowing before him and then stayed stuck in moments of stunned silence and awe.

Yet here he was. Instead of revenge and death which they well deserved. They heard his voice speak words even more strange, “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

Tears ran down my face as I took it all in. And then my thoughts shifted.

Joseph had been chosen by God for purposes greater than their minds could fathom.

Why, oh why do I (we), like the brothers, settle for the slavery of jealousy of others in their God-given, God-purposed abilities. They are chosen for such a time as this!

Why can’t I be grateful and applaud what God is doing instead of selling others into slavery with my gossip, thoughts and even actions, especially those closest to me.

Father, my heart is teaching me to see your wonders for what they are in every person I meet. Set me free from the negatives I feel, and show me how to encourage, support and help others in their journeys. Teach me to intentionally lift them in prayer instead of grumbling in my spirit. Their task is likely not easy. Their burdens may be heavy. Help me to assist them well and honor their work with respect and reminders of your provision. Show me how to help them process their path, how to be willing to be last instead of first, even overlooked and unheard and to quietly and joyfully soar above my jealousies and go about my own work that you have called ME to do. In Jesus name, Amen.

It Happens!

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. Jeremiah 1:9

The other day I was visiting a friend. I listened as she told me about an encounter with a married couple who needed encouragement. Her words to them were remarkable. When I told her this, she said, “I don’t know where the words came from, but it wasn’t me.”

We both knew that God had put the words in her mouth.

It happens!

Somehow, things come out of our mouths, at just the right time to bless those around us. There is no praise we can take upon ourselves. The glory belongs to the Lord!

In Jeremiah’s case, however, the audience wasn’t receptive…at all! In spite of this, Jeremiah kept on the path God ordained him to take. Our audiences may not always be ready to hear our God-given words. Still we speak when we are called to speak.

Who knows, years from now that same person or group may remember our words and be willing to follow God’s call. Circumstances and people can change.

Never give up hope.

How does one know when God is nudging us to communicate His words?

For me, sometimes, the words flow freely. Later, I may not even remember what I said. It comes together so fast and feels right to my heart. The response from those who listen touches my heart and everything seems to fit into place.

Other times, conveying God’s words feels daunting and difficult. Visualizing the reaction ahead of time, I can pretty much imagine the results, and I don’t want the job! I want peace. I want people to like me. Confrontation or unhappy news is not my favorite thing. But I know I must go forward in obedience.

In this scenario, there is no doubt that God is with me through it all, and whatever happens next is in His hands. I speak the words and then let go. No arguing or defending. Just say it and leave the emotions and responses to God.

Certainly, Satan, God’s enemy, doesn’t like it when my only desire is to follow Christ. Many times, I will experience sleepless nights, restless days and even unreasonable sadness before or after an opportunity falls on me to speak.

Through the years, I’ve learned to go to my knees in prayer and to keep praying. My journey here is a battle. And I desire to be a good soldier in God’s army!

Because I am human, I make mistakes like crazy in the arena of hearing from God to speak. Caution tells me to be very careful. Just because words come to my mind or mouth, it doesn’t mean they are a direct prompting from the Lord. Weighing the situation and praying for wisdom and peace, helps.

Many times, however, I’ll receive a thought and then dismiss and forget about it (because I’m being ‘careful’). Later, the thought comes back, louder and clearer. About the third time, I figure: this is from God and I need to follow through no matter my feelings or hesitancies. Once the words are said or the actions are done, I let it go.

Father, working for you is pretty special. Your ways are always higher. My mind cannot even possibly come near fathoming the beautiful plans, designs or ideas encouraged and arranged by your hands. Working for you sets me on the front row seat to see things I would never have seen had I just gone my own way. Help me to recognize when you are putting words in my mouth to speak for you, and give me boldness to go forward, always in love. For you are a God of love. In Jesus name, Amen.

Shining in the Dark

…and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:3

In today’s verse, Isaiah comforts and encourages the exiles in Babylon.

Later, in Luke 4:16-21, Jesus, who attends the synagogue in Nazareth, quotes verses 1-2 and takes the words onto Himself by saying,

“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Verse 1 foretells the Lord’s anointing of Jesus and commissions Him to “bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captive and release from darkness for the prisoners…”

Today’s verse 3 continues these thoughts and can go deep into our hearts. The exiles had grieved in despair and loss, but God said He would trade all that, including the ashes (ashes were a symbol for mourning) for a beautiful crown, the oil of joy and the clothing of praise.

My own life has never been transported to a strange, foreign country with strange customs like the Israelites experienced. Yet, I grieve in other circumstances (foolish choices or not). This earth provides many losses and painful situations all through our journey here.

Yet, when I turn and place my eyes on the One True God, His gifts are good. I may weep for a season, but His presence sustains me. My crown, given to me because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, adorns my head in beauty. He supplies me with His ever-present Holy Spirit to anoint me with the oil of joy. And when all else fades into the background, except for my Savior, I find myself clothed in garments of praise. I see only my Lord.

Our Father cares for us, He wants us to be with Him eternally in Heaven. As we are willing, He moves us in His grace to a place of redemption (far from our sins). He gives us such riches in Christ that all the world can possess and then someday be with Him forever.

Isaiah goes on to say, “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”

In my city, down the road a bit, there used to be a tree; a huge oak tree that had been struck by lightning, perhaps as a young tree. A split could be seen down the middle. Yet, against all odds, the tree had grown in abundance and had thrived.

We would stand before her massive branches that spread out over a wide area and look up to see her brilliant green leaves. The trunk still showed the ugly scar of her earlier injury.

We related to her loss as part of life. Yet, we know we can rise again (like the beautiful tree) with God’s help and be a shade and beauty to those around us. Even with our impairments and wounds, the Almighty Father’s strength can conquer and bring seemingly impossible peace to our souls.

A few years ago, sadly, that tree was cut down along with several other trees so the land could sell for new development. Thinking back on this special tree, it used to remind me and several others of how WE can become a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. In our troubles, He provides us with all we need to SHINE for Him in a dark world.

Father, be our strength in our seasons of pain and discomfort. Bestow on our heads a crown of beauty and the oil of joy instead of the ashes of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. May we be called oaks of righteousness, planted by the LORD. May our roots go deep into the soil of your presence and power. May your splendor be displayed in our lives. Receive all the glory, Father. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind (Discernment Series #10)

My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion. Proverbs 3:21

Discretion is simply another word for discernment. We have been learning these lessons in order to develop a habit of making good and wise choices, and we are finding out how important it is to go to God for help.

A few weeks ago, I spoke about the wisdom of freezing in place to hear God’s voice leading us when He says, “I need you here!

In Luke 18:31, Jesus became urgent as He took the 12 disciples aside and told them what they were about to do. He even explained where and why. They didn’t understand any of it, but they went.

His sudden request to them gives us a great example of what the Lord, sometimes, does in our lives today. He says, “Let’s go!” We may not mentally understand His reasoning, but wisdom tells us to go to a deeper place of understanding and follow Him anyway, with all our hearts.

Our listening, discerning ears hear His voice. We freeze in place and shift our direction to obey His call. We do not let wisdom and understanding out of our sight. Sound judgment is worth clinging to. Discretion is fantastically beneficial for us to preserve in our hearts for a lifetime.

How might the discernment lessons we’ve learned so far help us to never let God’s wise ways leave our sight? Let’s bring it home by processing through a situation that may, very well, happen to you (in some form or another).

Imagine a married couple who love the Lord and one of them is seeking discernment about a problem in the social arena of their relationship. This person could be either the wife or husband, but for sake of time, I’m going to address the person as him).

As you listen to your friend’s story, you may compassionately relate and admit to yourself how easy it is when we’re in trouble to let wisdom and understanding disappear from our sight and mind. Our trials make it easy to let our minds dwell on blame and negative emotions, instead of preserving sound judgment and discretion.

Probably, the first temptation for this man may be to bad mouth and gossip about his wife, softly complaining, whether to friends, family or just internally. But this will not bring a solution, only more misery. He would be wise to strive for faithfulness and loyalty in marriage, even in times like these. (Note: Seeking help from a trusted friend, like you, or a counselor is not gossip!)

Your friend may explain that the issue has been repeatedly confronted to no avail, so now he is moved to passively listen to his chatty wife and never confront the issue again, which, if you think about it, wouldn’t be helpful in the long run. Her rude and inconsiderate desire to be center of attention in front of their peers truly is a problem in his mind!

What if you suggested to your friend that he freeze in place and listen for the Holy Spirit’s direction?

Perhaps God would whisper to him, “Build up your wife with kind words of encouragement and then softly and lovingly confront her.”

The Spirit may direct him to pray that someone else might be able to better reach her.  “Lord, provide someone my wife will listen to, or give me the right words to say.”

What else might the Spirit speak if the issue still isn’t resolved?

…To come to some sort of peace in the uncomfortable and embarrassing situation and let go of bitterness and resentment? To realize that, once the truth is consistently spoken in love, that is the best he can do and God’s will has been heeded?

There is so much rest in seeking and following God’s ways. If the friend doesn’t find a place of healing, the only other choice is to remain miserable and keep fighting. But, that seems to lead to self-pity and ruin.

In the meantime, here is a good question for your friend, “Why is this issue affecting you so much? Why are you so miserable? Is it fear of what other people think about you or your mate?“

Here are a few ways to address fear when it is keeping your friend from carrying out a decision of peace:

Love casts out fear – I John 4:18
God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear – II Tim 1:7

Your friend can learn to continue to love his mate and commit both of their reputations and approval of others to God. He can commit the social group and the group’s souls to God and include their own souls as well.

Consider all the lessons we’ve learned so far (on the Discernment Wheel) and how they would apply to this situation:

Is your friend able to overlook what other people think of him in his search for answers?
Is he willing to be misunderstood without needing to defend himself, yet pursuing and rightfully defending God’s truth.
Is he keeping open eyes and ears to hear that he might be wrong in his views or approach of his wife?
Is there an awareness that the Holy Spirit will, at times, require hard things from him?
Is he offering up prayers to God in order to know when to let go and start walking the obedient road of suffering?
Is he showing humility and contentment in these circumstances and a willingness to see what God is providing even in these tough times?
Does your friend know that his decisions may be made in obedience, but they will never be perfect, and perhaps not end in great results?
Does he know that such discernment isn’t an absence of fear, isn’t the right to use fear to settle for less or to ask for less from God?
Is there an awareness that in right decisions there may still be hunger, weariness or inconvenience, and not always a feeling safety or popularity?
Is he allowing the Holy Spirit to direct his decisions or is HE attempting to direct the Holy Spirit?
Is he wrongfully going his own way in arrogance and pride and calling that discernment?
Is he praying for patience, decisiveness, trust, faith?

These are only a few of the comments we can use in conversation with our friends when they are unsure of what to do in the hard times of struggle. Of course, we show our support, listening ears and understanding. But if they want to process their situation to get to a better place, pray that God will lead you.

Now, let’s add to last week’s Discernment Wheel (in blue circles) to refresh our memories.

Discernment is:

Acknowledging God
Reducing physical and spiritual clutter (dragon scales)
Sometimes revealed during mundane and boring moments (instead of glamour)
Serious business

Father, your ways are wonderful. I ask for your help that we would never allow wisdom and understanding out of our sight. When you give us direction, help us to stop what we’re doing and follow you. In our circumstances and in those of our loved ones, pour out your blessing of discretion to our souls. When we feel defeated and hurt lead us to the peaceful place of surrender in all our decisions. We want to always be moving closer to you and bringing others with us. Purify our hearts. In Jesus name, Amen.