For This Purpose

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:16

God is the speaker in this verse, and He is speaking to Pharoah through Moses. God starts the conversation with an eye-opening statement: For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth.

In other words, the Lord could have in one breath simply annihilated them and have been done with it. The Israelites would have been free to go, period.

But freeing His people wasn’t the only point. God wanted Pharoah to know, really know who He was. God was combating Egypt’s beloved false gods whom they were following and to whom they were bowing. 

Instead of wiping Pharoah and the rest of the Egyptians off the face of the earth, God chose Pharoah (inside the hardness of his heart) to exhibit His power and His name, to Pharoah and to all inhabitants of all the world.

Wow!

God is capable of using good men, and He is capable of using those who are wicked and stand against Him. He can use them for His purposes.

As my mind meditated on these things, I wonder at all the times God could have done good things for people that I love. He could have healed, delivered, provided and blessed them. He could have fixed their marriages or financial situations. Yet, none of these circumstances (in my viewpoint) turned out well.

I also think of evil men and women on earth that God could have blocked, brought down, ruined and destroyed the work of their hands. Yet, they thrive and carry on with their plots and plans.

Sometimes, we look up into the heavens and cry out, “God, why didn’t you show up?”

It makes no sense to us. Obviously, the story should have ended this or that way. But life requires of us to “make the most of the cards with which we are dealt!”

However, when I read today’s passage, something in me sighs with a little more understanding. God is never out to hurt or harm us. He is always in our corner, more than we know.

Whatever the outcome of our stories, He is for us, not against us. But more than anything else, our Almighty, Sufficient God is doing something bigger than what looks to us like healing or delivering us. He is out to let the world know who He is, and that endeavor may include providing for us in ways we don’t see as good. He wants His name proclaimed to all the earth, and He wants the peoples of the earth to leave the gods they have poorly chosen and choose to bow down to Him alone.

We are happier people when we follow His ways.

We may not be able to put all the pieces together for our “unanswered” prayers, but we can know, without a doubt, that God is with us. He will never leave us. And He is accomplishing His purposes for the work that needs to be done in His Kingdom.

Whatever part we play in it all, it is to His glory.

I’ve heard these words before: “God chose you for this difficult time to make you stronger” or “because you are strong enough to take it.” 

I’ve never liked those words. They sound dismissive and unfeeling.

Yet, in the light of today’s verse, I am honestly looking a little deeper at these statements in wonder and awe.

Father, there are so many hurting people, and I’m sad to hear what they’re going through. It hurts my heart. I pray and pray for you to come and bring healing and help in these situations. Right now, you seem so far away. Yet, I believe you are God. You are the only God. I believe you are good and you are kind. I believe you are working in all of our lives. We may not know why these bad things are happening, but we put our trust deeply in you and your promises to be with us always even to the end of all things. May we yet praise you with our lips and keep our eyes on you. Let your purposes shine through our darkness. In Jesus name, Amen.

Peach Orchard Hearts

Satan takes away the word that was sown in them. Mark 4:15

The surrounding crowd in Mark 4 received a story, a parable, about a farmer who scattered seeds in a field. Some of the seed fell on trodden ground where hungry, pecking birds could easily fill their bellies. This, Jesus told the disciples later, was like people whose ears were open, at first, but Satan came (like a ravenous bird) to TAKE away the precious word sown in them.

Some of the seed fell on rocky earth which received it with joy, but the rocks prevented a strong root system. When trouble or persecution came because of the word, these type people quickly fell away. They may have sprung up super fast into the Christian faith, only to be scorched by the sun (trials).

In both the first and second soil, the seed was short-lived.

Other seed fell among thorns. Jesus explained that these people readily heard the word, but anxiety and worry about the future, deception of money and possessions and the gluttonous desire for earthy (not heavenly) things, came in, not to take the word, but to choke it out, making these troubled souls poor, droopy and non-productive regarding the word within them. They were distracted, void of what would have given them and others around them…life!

Other seed, however, fell deep into the rich, fertile dirt. This represented people whose hearts were ready to hear the word and accept it, growing and multiplying its crop many times over.

I want to believe that we would always be the greatest soil for the word to dwell!

Yet, at any given time, the fruit we produce clues us in on just what kind of soil we are.

Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Matt. 7:17-18

What makes my soul fruitful? In the spring, if I were to take a stroll through a healthy orchard of peach trees, my eyes would be dazzled by the beautiful pink blossoms and fresh new green leaves. In the summer, I would find juicy, plump peaches ready for harvesting. There would be no doubt from the evidence at hand that the crop is fulfilling the purpose for which it was intended.

The passage mentions several things that sabotage the word from being profoundly planted and then intensely emblazoned on the hearts of others. A person may have a hard heart or shallow roots. He may be easily distracted (from the word), not only by his troubles, but by alluring riches or strong, ungodly desires, all of which undermine him as a child of God. Furthermore, the bad fruit of his choices affect everyone around him. His orchard consists of sickly, diseased and needy trees.

As I read the story of the sower and the seed, my heart skipped a beat, and my ears opened wide to listen! Taking it all in, such conviction filled my soul.

In Jeremiah 20:9, we read, “But if I say, ‘I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

No matter how hard life got for the prophet, Jeremiah, he had to speak the word of God (even if his audience refused to listen and it seemed like he had NO fruit. Jeremiah lived the fruit of obedience). He HAD to speak the word of God. The word was planted so deep within him.

I, too, want the word to be planted so deep within me that the first thought I have in any situation or crisis, is the name of Jesus, the praise and worship of the Father and speaking or exemplifying His riches, His peace and His love to everyone around me.

God’s word grows in me like a seed grows into a plant. Words like, “love one another (I John 4:7)” or “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Eph. 4:32)” come to my mind.

Yet, why is it so hard to respond in love, to show compassion and to forgive?

When I am not doing so, I am not growing. Nor am I producing fruit in those around me.

The Bible says in John 12:24, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

When a person dies to himself, something happens to those with which he interacts. They see the person’s humility and his willingness to give of himself. In exchange, lives are reborn, rippling out in a glorious light to the whole world.

Lord, your word says that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus – Phil. 4:7. We want your word to remain intact deep within our hearts. Thank you for your peace that keeps us ever in your presence. In Jesus name, Amen.

Satan’s Best God’s Best (Discernment Series #8)

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. Eph. 6:12

Last week, we ended our study discussing the times we have prepared and thought through our decisions, but we still don’t know what to do. We learned how standing still and firm and waiting on God is wise.

In addition, we become aware of the possibility that for some decisions, we may be under attack from the enemy of God. Maybe the confusion in our hearts isn’t necessarily about the situation we think we need to figure out as much as a fight with the principalities of darkness as seen in today’s verse.

For a moment, take a closer look at what happened to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46).

When Jesus was on His face before the Father, begging God to take away the cross and find another way, He was in agony, maybe because of the imagined pain and torture that was to come or perhaps because He because He would be separated from His Father when He was made sin.

If we go back to the three temptations of Jesus in Matthew 4, we learn from Jesus that quoting scripture was a useful tactic against Satan. And, indeed, the devil left for a more opportune time!

Were the awful moments Jesus spent in the garden the more opportune time? Was Jesus not only dealing with His human emotions of anguish but also with the BEST Satan had to offer! After all, Jesus was about to obey His Father and choose death on a cross in order to save the world. He was on the right track.

Jesus profoundly felt what we feel today in our hardest trials and in our obedience when we’re on the right track. He was not only betrayed by one of His own men, He was abandoned by His disciples who fell asleep when He needed them. He knew the suffering that was coming. There was much spiritual warfare! Jesus didn’t want to go through with this call, and He was battling Satan. Yet, when all was said and done, Jesus got up from His lonely, agonizing prayers and boldly went to the cross. Somewhere in that span of time, Jesus made the decision to follow His Father’s will, which was His Father’s Best!

We tend to make our decisions from our negative emotions and even from our well-meaning wills. We scurry and fill the space with noise (which does nothing for the Father or His Kingdom).

But wait, I must remember that God has me. I turn to Him! I am His vessel. I stick close to God and choose self-control. I must sacrifice my will and go forward in the deepest places of my soul, even when Satan is putting his (heavy) best on my back.

I freeze in place, so to speak, as, once again, I hear God’s voice, “I need you here!” No matter what is going on in the confusion of my heart, I step forward and obey. He will help me fulfill His command or He will help me be still and wait. Either way, following God and His best is my desire.

Another point about the mystery of what to do in times of unsureness is to learn the wisdom of not being too hasty in making a decision. Think about the following truths the next time you are tempted to rush into a choice.

All through the years of walking with Jesus, Judas had been greedy for money, and here at the end of Jesus’ time on earth, the Bible says that Judas had the influence of Satan in his heart to move him to betray the Christ. Part of me wonders why Judas seemed genuinely perplexed after his deed was done, that the guards took his Lord to court to intentionally kill him. Did he wonder why this was happening? The fact that Judas hung himself makes me think that maybe he was regretful of what he had done, but could he also have been in shock?

Is it possible that he acted in haste to bring about his own perspective of the Kingdom of God? Perhaps, he thought he could force Jesus into taking His authority on earth, now!

Maybe all of this was going on in his mind and maybe not. But, how different is that possibility than when we try to force God to do our will in a hurried rush to make our decisions?

If Judas had lived on, he would have seen the beautiful, beyond-this-world kingdom, that Jesus so magnificently brought about thought His death. God’s will (His best) was Jesus’ sacrifice on a cross so the whole world could have eternal life.

When I am seeking God’s will, yet am having to wait on His timing in my decisions, I look for a ‘cross’ and a resurrection. For example, instead of believing the lie that I have to yell at people to get my point across (which is an intentional decision), how about putting to death my flesh and letting Jesus shine to the world through my smile and goodwill and through my kind, but firm words expressing the truths of my heart, spoken in love.

The cross in me says I will have moments or seasons of sacrifice. The resurrection in me speaks of new birth and new capabilities to soar on eagles wings with my Father’s strength.

Hopefully, my decisions will not be made in haste (just because I’m tired of waiting for an answer from God). The resurrection will work in me as I come to Him in prayer, and because I trust that God knows what my future holds. He knows what He wants me to do.

Here are the additions to the Discernment Wheel from last week (a few were added last week by accident):

*Stand firm
*Be still
*Rejoice always
*Pray constantly
*Give thanks in everything

Father, when the enemy is near, keep me close to your heart and help me to fix my gaze on you. When I still don’t know what to do, help me not to rush into my decisions, but remain peaceful in your presence. May your will be done in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thriving Through Giving

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. Prov. 28:27

It takes a selfless soul to notice people in dire straits and a noble soul to do something about it. A man, considerate of others is a man who thrives. His kindness is well-known.

He has pity and refreshes the downcast. His generosity is comforting as he supplies money, food and clothing (or whatever needs arise) for those God puts in front of him. Such a man has ways that are humble. Giving to others brings him joy. His life is enriched and blessed by God.

The poor, essentially, can be anyone less fortunate in means, nourishment or attire. When a need presents itself and comes to mind, it is probably the Holy Spirit prompting the giver to have courage to give.

Today’s verse says that the one who gives to the poor will lack nothing. Yet, I know some who give generously, but still lack so many things.

Lacking nothing doesn’t mean that the giver has everything he desires. It means that his heart is so fixed on the giving that he doesn’t realize his need as much as he did before he gave. The giving, in a sense, helps him to thrive in deeper ways than in the physical world.

The opposite sort of man doesn’t care about anyone but himself and those closest to him. He pretends that suffering doesn’t exist and looks away or feels disgusted at want. His neglect of the poor causes God’s eyes to turn away from him.

Hopefully life will teach this man what really matters, and he will learn the art of giving of himself and of his means to those in need.

There are times when we’re on the receiving end of the blessings, and the humbling aspect of the event moves us to refuse what we’re offered.

For example, I’ve had days in which my spirit was sad (poor) and someone with a glad heart offered to share with me her strength and courage.

Another time, someone with the gift of time came to sit with me as I mourned a loss.

Today, an old friend, dear to my husband and I, took the time to hear our life stories. He weaved together some truths we had never seen before. We were brought into a clearer and deeper understanding of ourselves, which broadened the way for our ministries to grow. Areas of our lives in which we had unknowingly struggled and been ‘poor’ received such amazing light and truth.

It is hard to receive from others when we are used to presenting ourselves as ‘having it altogether.’

Never turn down these gifts. They bless the giver as much as they bless the receiver, if only we would humble ourselves, open our hearts and freely experience the compassion of another soul.

Father, giver of all that is good, show us from YOUR heart how to be generous and kind to those around us in such desperate need. Open our eyes to those in want. Give us compassionate hearts. In Jesus name, Amen.

Trust Versus Greed

The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper. Prov. 28:25

The moment I read today’s verse a truth jumped out at me I had never thought of before. I was both perplexed and fascinated.

Out of all the reasons people have conflict, the matter of greed piqued my interest.

Greed stirs up conflict? Greed over what?

That’s when it occurred to me, we can be greedy for someone’s time or energy (over-emphasizing our own needs). We become greedy to win quarrels or to be known as superior, intelligent or wise. We’re greedy over whose property belongs to whom or, of course, over money, power and beauty.

Such greed stirs up conflict. It makes sense, doesn’t it?

I did a word search and found that the word conflict means a prolonged quarrel or fight, a battle, war, disagreement, competition, rivalry, strife, struggle or contention.

One who is greedy or thinks too highly of himself often finds his relationships to be in turmoil. He will constantly compete for the highest place. He will be overbearing, impatient and pushy. He covets the best and most of everything, but his desires never really seem to be met since he is always seeking after more.

In reading today’s proverb, the opposite of greed, which is trust, was also a mystery to me.

I would have thought that the opposite of greed would have been generosity. However, when one trusts in God, instead of his own desires, he is moved to be more generous and moved not to care so much about having those things.

When trust (not greed) is a person’s motive for his actions, his life tends to be more easygoing and better equipped for the hard times. He is happier and more comfortable with himself. He takes responsibility for his part and can then take a deep breath and leave everything in the Lord’s hands. He depends on God for his needs.

The one who trusts in God is satisfied with His presence. Therefore, he has no need to grab and win a competition with others. He is peaceful in life and easily contented. He sees abundance all around him because his heart is more able to receive God’s blessings. His faith increases at every turn of the road.

And all of this is good.

Father, give me a trusting heart in you. Move me from greed and contention to a better understanding of who you are and what you are already providing. Make me a peacemaker and solid in my stance on seeking contentment in this life and in my relationships. In Jesus name, Amen.

Always Tremble

Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. (Prov. 28:14)

Searching for the word tremble in the Bible, I found that most of these verses refer to a fear of earthly things. They say things like, “Do NOT tremble” or “Do NOT fear,” though it is what mankind is prone to do. Many times, that kind of fear can drive us into terrible decisions. Choices made from fear are typically counterintuitive in the long run. Some of the verses, however, point the reader TOWARD an emotion of fear in which the trembling is about being in the presence of God. The fear is not fright, it is awe, along with a healthy respect for His will and keeping ourselves free from sin.

Last year, my husband and I dealt with a leaky roof in a house recently purchased and were waiting on roofers to fix it. This brought my husband to a place of vigilance about the possibility of other problems. In a heavy rain, he would go down to the basement or up into the attic with a flashlight and point its bright rays at the walls and rafters to reveal any weakness in the foundation or any sign of moisture.

Likewise, in today’s verse, the “blessed one” keeps a constant watch for sin in his life. He is ever vigilant, shining God’s flashlight (The Word) on his heart to reveal what could be hidden. He knows sin is nothing to ignore or pretend is not there. He trembles (a healthy fear) in the face of sin and seeks God to rescue him from any sign of decay and rot in his bones.

The blessed one trembles with fear at the perils of taking the wrong roads of life because it is destructive to his soul. Perhaps trials, pain or discomfort naturally frighten him, but not as much as his dread of the stronghold of sin. He has a working conscience and is sorry for any waywardness that comes about. He has experienced sin’s consequences and knows the more peaceful joy of the straight path. He is in the habit of alerting himself to temptation, and when that comes he is armed. He falls on his face before a Holy God and begs for His help, knowing he cannot resist evil alone. The blessed one is someone who not only has a heathy respect for the cleansing place God plays in all areas of his life, but also balances that with a humble love and wholehearted, fervent desire to please Him.

Right now, if I trembled before God what would that mean? How might that change me each moment of my day? What would I do next because of this trembling?

To tremble (a Holy, wondrous humility and bowing down before God and His ways) means there has to be some sense of caring, wonder and regard for the One before whom I tremble, not a forced submission, but an exalting of His Holy Name, a supreme surrender and a reverent quietness in His presence. The trembling would not necessarily be a literal body-shaking experience, though sometimes, that is possible along with chills down my spine or some other extraordinary phenomena. The trembling would be more of a shaking from within, an earthquake of the soul, one that instead of causing disaster would bring order and peace. It would be a movement towards a Loving God.

This fear or shaking up is absolutely THE key to thriving in a good life. Healthy fear keeps one close to the Father. There can be no apathy or disconnect when an attitude of worship pervades the one who is coming before The Mighty One Enthroned On High.

Always trembling means that my awe would be a normal part of life. I would train myself to be in a constant reverent state of mind, cognizant of God’s presence in every situation, realizing that such an attitude would shelter me from harm and strengthen my increasingly accurate perspective of a Holy Father. My desire would be for the Lord of Hosts above all else. It wouldn’t shock me when unexpectant troubles showed up. My focus would stay on the Father. In the act or state of mind of trembling before God, I could not be hardened of heart. There would be no lack of passion for God and His ways. There would be a belief that my own God-led choices would, in fact, be best for all concerned.

To make today’s verse practical, here are a few ideas:

*I tremble before God by accepting what food is before me, repeating to myself that it is enough, and it is what God is providing for me now (instead of complaining and allowing myself to bow [and tremble] before food).
*Fear of what people think of me is a common giant to face. A good reputation (She’s pretty cool!) matters. What if my friend or spouse leaves or walks away? The fear of abandonment is real and can motivate bad decisions. But, God is the greatest reality more than any of these fears. Bowing down before Him and not people moves me to better priorities.
*Trembling at my trials (earthly situations) is common as well. Yet, how much more must I learn from what frightens me and turn that energy of fear towards my Creator. I state my anxious case to the One who knows me (and the situation) better than I do. Trembling before Him brings comfort and peace IN the situation that causes me stress.
*In the face of necessary confrontations that are too big for me, I tremble before GOD because He can handle my circumstance in a mighty way, whereas, ‘I’ can only see the impossible.
*Death (the worst fear on earth) has been conquered by Jesus Christ. Therefore, I tremble before God. Victory has already been won. I claim this more when I set my fears before HIM.
*Trembling in the presence of God includes trembling before His truth. What does HE want for and from me today? My decisions aren’t based on what ‘I’ wish for or on my fear of what could happen if I follow His call. They are based on a willingness to allow the trembling to spur me on to what is right.
*Sometimes, I put my fear and awe towards fame, power, money, political parties, diet, intellect or credentials rather than in the supreme reality of God’s wisdom and knowledge. Our own expertise and understanding is valuable and needed in today’s world (as God-given talents), but not ALL answers sit on the shoulders of our most learned men and women, who hopefully always tremble before a Holy God as they give counsel. Therefore, though I gain advice from those I trust and those who are more knowledgeable than I (because having many counselors is wise), my ultimate source to the answers I seek is addressed as I tremble before God (who leads me to the right counselors).
*When we process each other’s views, a certain superior air calls us to the circle of our own kind or of those we seek support for our stance (as we converse about those who don’t think like us). Yet, we give our awe, respect and trembling to God first, even more than like-minded family or friends (tribes or clans or parties)? When my chattering criticism of the other side gains my greatest energy and attention, I am distracted inside the multitude of tribal words from trembling before a God who leads me to humility and love.

Truly, the opposite of trembling before God seems to be a hardness of heart which can be prompted by a desire for the pleasures of sin or a self-reliance (having so much that one forgets his need of God). His quiet time with the Father and meeting with His church begins to fade away. He isn’t as alert to the luring aspects of temptation and can be caught in sin before he realizes what’s happening. Sometimes the hardness is a result of not getting what he wants out of life. In his mind, he has prayed but ‘to no avail.’ A low-grade anger takes him over and he slowly slips away into a numbing apathy and refusal to acknowledge God’s glorious presence.

The hardened man doesn’t heed his conscience anymore. He no longer listens to wise counsel or learns from sin’s consequences of the past. He doesn’t admit the wrongs he’s done and doesn’t feel remorse. Though God lovingly pursues him, he is adamantly oblivious. When sin’s consequences come, his tactic is to blame others. Scapegoats are his hobbies. All he’s out for is himself. He is his own god and others around him are coerced into agreeing with his views of life. Little does he know that he is missing out on a good life by submitting his all and trembling before The Almighty God and not himself.

An example of trembling in the Bible is Job. After the worst possible calamities, it would have been understandable for Job to harden his heart! Why instead did he worship (Job 1:20-22)? He was an upright and blameless man, but even more than that, he was a man with a big God (even though his entire world caved in). Job grieved and cried out and got angry, but his greatest habit (that overrode all else) was to tremble before God. His Maker was the One he turned to in his distress, as did King David (The Psalms) and many other Biblical examples. We can learn from these precious stories of how trembling before God brings a blessing.

Lord, we tremble before you in the midst of much turmoil and unrest. As we bow in awe of YOU, help our fears not to get in the way of what you want to accomplish with your power and might. Help the fears we have towards our circumstances not to be the overriding emotion, but our respect and adoration of you. Teach us in our new habit of trembling before you to trust and have faith. Show us your power, Oh God. We believe; help our unbelief. We tremble; help our lack of such trembling in your presence. You have said in your word so many times not to be afraid. Help us instead to tremble before you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Heaven Comes to Earth

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. Prov. 27:23-24

In today’s world this verse would basically be saying: Give attention to more than money itself or inherited power, which are both fleeting. Wealth can be lost, robbed or misused, and power isn’t necessarily passed on to the next generation. There are more secure investments in this life than money and authority that aren’t as easily devastated.

Certainly, our eyes are fixed on what is eternal (in the spiritual realm of Heaven), even while we pass through this life. But Heaven comes to earth in today’s verse. Solomon points his readers, once again, to godly wisdom for what to do while we’re here on earth. It is in our best interest to spend our time and energy wisely by investing in more lasting endeavors than what is easily lost.

Back in Bible days, they supported themselves through agricultural pursuits. Of course, owning land and cattle wasn’t the perfect investment, in any way, but it was a pretty solid undertaking that fed and clothed their families.   

Neither my husband nor I own large property or sheep. The management of our home is my responsibility, while he pours out his hardworking hours in the business world. My household supervision plus his salary support us, all of which falls into the not-promised- tomorrow category.

How in this day and time am I supposed to apply this verse to myself? What lasting, earthly endeavors generally meet my basic need for food, shelter and clothing? How about the firm aspects of prayer, hard work, frugality, thriftiness, good planning, generosity, creativity, contentment and joy, to name a few?

Praying to God for my daily bread puts me in communion with Him, and I have faith that He will provide the necessities of life. Hard work is a must. Attributes of frugality and thriftiness help one to wisely think through purchases and, therefore, have enough for the essentials, more than one who mindlessly spends. Good planning helps one to better maneuver through life as well. Generosity to those in need is blessed by God (spiritually or financially). Creativity and contentment, when money is scarce, are wonderful, strong tools to have at one’s disposal. And when the joy of the Lord is one’s strength and foundation for all of life, having little isn’t the end of the world. One’s fullness is in Christ and the deepest needs are met.

For a broader meaning of “knowing the condition of my flocks and giving careful attention to my herds,” I must absolutely know what my ‘work’ entails (whatever it may be) and fully understand my role. By the help and grace of God, how am I to wisely keep running things smoothly? Some workers walk the halls of their building. They know the people who work for them and whom it is they work for. What an honor it is for him to pray for these people, which puts the worker in a right frame of mind for the projects ahead.

If a worker must delegate tasks, he never assumes the work is done. The buck stops at where he stands. Somehow he oversees his workers without smothering or micro-managing.

Whatever job a worker faces daily, he must do it well and with diligence, willing to go the distance it takes. Likewise, he must know his own soul well.

Taking “full care of the flocks” can also mean listening to advice, evaluations and warnings about his work and being willing to hear comments about ways to improve.

Father, Heaven comes to earth when, while we still have breath, we apply the principles of your word to our lives. As I move forward in relationships and daily tasks, help me to deeply know the hearts of those around me, the extent of work I am called to do and the pulse of my own heart as well. When I am tired, give me strength. When I am unsure, point me to a better way. When my priorities are backwards, set me on the straight path. Help me to have a clear mind and heart. In Jesus name, Amen.

Shining His Glory

Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider. Proverbs 27:13

Last week, we weeded our gardens and found a mess of easy and difficult roots to pull. This week, imagine going back over the more healthy plants and giving a careful eye to the deeper issues surrounding any stunted growth. Pull back the decaying leaves and notice baby shoots from good foliage underneath trying hard to spread their new green growth. Trim the old to allow the new to come forth.

One way to do this is to heed the verses in Prov. 27. For today’s verse, imagine a man who irresponsibly and rashly loans money to a stranger. This is not the kind of person with whom I want to do business. There are those who would borrow as much as they could, and then make excuses to repay.

We must make room for new growth in our lives by wisely refusing to make deals with those who lend money to wasters. Foolish lending is harmful to the borrower, to the lender and to his family. The lack of carefulness in taking on another’s debt is foolish, and warns of the likelihood of further bad judgments in the future (lost credibility). I would have little confidence in the success of any agreement between two such souls.

When Proverbs was written, a man would take the garment of a person who owed him money (his garment was what kept him warm). The lender did this as a pledge for his security (a way to make sure the debtor paid him back). Doing so would promote wisdom in his decisions and would keep himself and his family from being wiped out.

I know a wise man who, years ago, carefully lent money to two people, but his dealings with each were different. The first man borrowed only $5.00, but the wise man constantly hounded him to pay it back. The second man borrowed $100.00, yet as the weeks went by, the wise man said nothing about payment. When asked about this, he said concerning the first man, “He is a freeloader, lazy and wasteful who conveniently ‘forgets’ to pay even the smallest debt.” Of the second man, he said, “I have no doubt he will pay back what he borrowed.“

It takes time to learn how to be a responsible lender. A reckless lender must come to understand his foolishness of loaning to imprudent people. But WHY would anyone supply careless strangers with their own hard earned resources? I might never be this stupid, but the reasons behind the actions may be something to which I can better relate.

Perhaps the lender imagines himself popular and approved by the people that hang on him for their overflow of needs. Maybe he sees himself as a rich benefactor or even a Christ-like giver who can brag on his ability to give away so much. He cares what people think of him. That matters more than truly caring about those he lends to. It matters more to him than the desire to do what is best for the other person and not just what feels good.

There are times when I foolishly compromise and give away something of myself for the sake of my reputation or approval. In so doing, I am not thriving at all and they aren’t either.

Then there are the situations in which a person continues to take on other people’s loads (thinking they are ‘serving’ them in godly obedience). In reality, they are enabling bad habits.

Perhaps this lender is simply too tired from listening to the stranger’s pleas for help, which makes it hard to do the right thing, even though he intellectually knows it will not end well.

Such struggles remind me of the tired mom whose weariness prevents her from disciplining her kids, the hungry eater who indulges in just one more bite of food to calm his mind, the restless person who sits in a funk all day unable to lift a finger to do his work because his circumstances have robbed him of joy, or the out-of-control dad who falls for anger every time he gets riled up because anger and impatience are easier than taking the time to truly assess the situation in a level-headed manner.

All of these wrong choices are dangerous and dumb. The proverb is a warning for me about foolishness and how I must run from such responses and dealings.

What about my own foolishness? What pearls do I throw before swine (Matt. 7:6)? How do I toss away my talents on what is not good soil (Matt. 13:1-13)?

During the week, I had a day in which I was so weary I fell into sleepy ways: ‘just get through the day as best you can.’ I felt impatient for my problems to be solved and for the pesky projects or decisions of others to be over, as if these answers could have any control over easing my life or bettering me as a child of God. So, with my downhearted attitude I allowed the day to take me over. I foolishly gave in. So many things were drowning my desire and ability to get up and move for Christ. I needed to stop entertaining or giving into strangers (the enemies inside my head) that were pulling me into their wrong choices. I felt lulled into laziness, like I was taking my power (God’s power to act) and giving it to another.

At one moment, I finally regrouped, chose wisdom and declared Jesus as Lord. I prayed for the world and all others who were under attack from Satan and his cohorts. Within a few days the feelings dissipated and one week later there was not one struggle in the spiritual realm, though my current circumstances continued.

If my goal is to thrive in the life I live for the Father, I must stay on track with how He wants me to live, how He wants me to spend my time and who He wants me to join hands with. His reasons for what I do may have nothing to do with approval or popularity or even bad days of restless weariness. It may have more to do with His energy and power to move me forward in obedience, in tough love for the unhealthy borrower or in simple trust that He will provide the energy I need to be selfless.

Selflessness is a great word that reminds me to steer away from the need for approval from others (because I don’t want selfishness in my heart). When I praise God, it takes my mind off of self. Praising is an effective tool against the enemy and can set me back on my feet in power, even when God seems to be pushing me beyond myself.

But, doesn’t God want me to be me? What about who He made to be?

Whatever circumstances I feel are preventing my ‘personhood‘ from evolving, I use them to let God shine through me and make me stronger than ever before in what He is calling me to do for that moment (perhaps different than what my personality was made for or perhaps fanning the flames of my personality to be further used by Him IN the circumstance). In other words, if I was made loud and outgoing, and a situation came up that made me feel stifled, I could square my shoulders and use it to cheer others around me instead of complaining that the circumstance was hindering my ‘talents!’ If I was created shy and reflective and was in a situation that gave me very little space for myself, I could use it to put into practice what I had learned in previous quiet times. I could let God’s truths come alive in these moments. He can work throughout all of it and use it to shine His glory.

Father, help me to thrive to the glory of your name. Teach me how to think before I make rash decisions. Help me to come to you and pray about my choices that have to do with others. Show me how to refuse to do what is foolish. May my life be a way for you to shine your glory. In Jesus name, Amen.

Abundance of Wisdom

Proverbs 3:13-18 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

Continuing more of the verse begun last week, look at how valuable wisdom is. It is an asset worth searching for, as if you were searching for gold. Look hard for it. Give it your passion, time and energy.

Wisdom is valuable, but you must find it. Wisdom is personified as ‘she’ and is more profitable than gold or silver and more precious than rubies. Think about how a man finds a woman and falls in love. This pursuit is intentional.

A person can find all sorts of other things: fear, doubt, division, foolishness.

My mind cannot possibly come up with anything worth having that is greater than wisdom, certainly not negative pursuits, which lead to loss.

Wisdom yields better returns than that.

“Riches and honor” are found in wisdom, says today’s verse. We need money to sustain our lives. And giving money to others is a service to be admired. Yet collecting and having wisdom is more valuable than filling up with “gold and silver.” Learning for ourselves and teaching wisdom to others the practical use of money is good.

I have noticed that if I have money and things, my mind tends to tell me to lean on that and not God. My flesh says to my heart, “Money will provide whatever you want and need.”

No.

Wisdom is better and leads me to the greatest riches found in Christ.

The possession of money makes me think I can do anything I want with no self-discipline or restraint and that it will fill me.

No.

Wisdom teaches me what is much better.

Father, nothing on earth compares to your wisdom. With her, I’m completely surrounded in true wealth, overflowing in abundant riches. She brings me such a pleasant life and such peace. Help me to pursue her like I pursue nothing else. In Jesus name, Amen.

My Last Penny

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).

Last week, I didn’t realize there was one tiny verse that I left out. And it has been a shining light for me, far more than the first part of this passage.

Learning to seek the deeper meaning of the verses I read, I’ve discovered bigger barns in my life that have to do with more than simply possessions.

Being rich toward God matters in our lives that we give Him.

Here are a few places I need to improve in my richness toward God:

1. I store negatives of life in my mind and forget to praise Him.
2. I internalize what makes me unhappy; it becomes about my hurt versus my trust in God.
3. My hunger for food overrides my hunger for God.
4. Thinking about tomorrow’s finances grabs my attention versus my faith that God will provide.
5. The small irritations of life become so big, it blinds me to the more important things I should be doing for God’s kingdom.
6. I have become hooked on the next episode of certain shows. I anticipate the next story versus my anticipation of God’s next powerful act in my life.
7. MY life matters more than justice and kindness in the things that matter most to God…the least of these.
8. I store up bad moods and allow the enemy to rule over me and fail to give to His people in love.
9. The opposite of storing up in barns can still be harmful. For example: NOT putting away any savings or planning for my life is procrastination. I’ll just wait until tomorrow to start my retirement, my diet or exercise. I’ll stay up late and watch a movie again tonight because I’m lonely. I say, “I will eventually get around to giving up this habit.” I say, “I’m trusting God,” but really I’m being foolish by not counting the cost of how these things eat into my soul. In the end I become a burden to others. This isn’t richness toward God either.
10. I store up insensitivities, offenses, grudges, self-pity, sadness, overwhelming feelings, emotions and forget that God made me strong and mighty in the land. He is my richness, my power, my ability to obey the impossible. I can give to God when I rely on His power, when I surrender all. I can do all things through Christ.

Father, I give my last penny, like the widow in the Bible, in my extravagant love for others. May my life be rich toward you, Lord Jesus. Help me move from self to surrender. May it be to me as you have said. God, I could list all my wants and this page wouldn’t be enough. It all leaves me, however, in a void. My heart knows who to turn to and it’s not any of these things. It’s you, Lord. I give my desire for all I desire to you. I repent of my wayward focus by finding new ways to live by your word. You are my all in all. In Jesus name, Amen.

Redefining Greed

“Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).

When I think of the word greed, I think in terms of money and things. My day began with this verse, and it drove my mind to all sorts of other possibilities about which to ponder.

What is the definition of greed? It means wanting more than I need.

When I looked up the actual meaning, I found that greed is a selfish desire for things.

Yet, my husband desires to get us a big dog in our current season of life. I desire to finish my 12 year book project. A desire is simply a desire. There’s nothing wrong with having wishes and wants. Our desires, if counted, could be as many as the stars in the sky.

But when the desire becomes a demand or a mad pursuit at the expense of others, then it becomes selfish and wrong. It becomes greed.

Certainly, some would designate a person as greedy if they put away savings for a car, a house, college or retirement. But, the responsibility for planning our lives doesn’t qualify as greed.

Instead, the object of greed captures our minds and spirits and consumes our attention away from God.

Jesus said that our lives are not about the abundance of what we possess. So, what does life consist of?

Anything that distracts me from my Father and brings out my deepest negative emotions is greed. To the extent that I cling to people and things is the extent of how lost I am in greediness. For what do I fight the most? For what do I turn the saddest and most angry?

Truly, my desires and wishes may be revealed to those around me who typically fulfill them. However, not all my wishes are granted, nor do all my dreams come true. It is in these times of want that my true colors are shown for what they are.

Am I content OR am I needy and withering?
Am I able to continue my service to those who come empty handed to me or who withhold my needs OR do I grumble and retaliate with my own gifts to withhold?
Do I allow their lack to ruin my day and then sulk in the corner OR am I solid in the overabundance of God?
Is my desire a demand I feel I deserve OR a request to lay at God’s feet and leave it with Him in joy.

These questions have been good to ask of myself. I seek the answers from the Holy Spirit who directs and guides my heart.

Father, I lay open my life before you. I look up at the stars and see the beautiful gifts you have already given to me in abundance. My life consists of you, Almighty God! If there be any greed in my life, show me and uproot it from me. Help my hands to cling to you alone and to open to serve whomever you bring me. 

“Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25).

Stolen and Returned

And Jesus…was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil…And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”…And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”…And Jesus answered him, “It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:1-13).

Usually when you hear of someone being robbed, you think of material possessions such as jewelry, gold or money. Yet there are more valuable things that can be stolen from you than riches.

Last week, I asked myself, “What property has Satan taken from me? What is he trying to steal from me, now? To whom shall I turn to get back?”
I thought about all through the week, and it was eye-opening.

He’s trying to steal my peace, sleep, patience, time, joy, positive thoughts, attention, and on and on with another page full of important possessions.

I thought about Jesus and how He was tempted by Satan at the very beginning of His ministry (John 4:1-13) and how armed and ready Jesus was. He recognized Satan’s plan of attack every single time.

Jesus met Satan’s temptations with solid scripture and a refusal to go his way, even though the way may have seemed normal or practical or right.

This ability to see the enemy and combat his every move had to have been ingrained in Jesus from an early age. In the years to come, you can see how much time He spent at the dawn of day, pouring out His heart and listening to His Father and not to any other voice.

That quiet time sustained Him throughout the day. A lifetime of training preceded this season of attack. The Holy Spirit whom He had just received after His baptism was also with Jesus to help Him.

How might I ingrain this same guarding of my heart and not give into the devil’s schemes?

The writing of these blogs is one way for me. It is my way to process and heal through life’s struggles (and share with others my findings). It is my way to seek the Lord’s face always!

Psalm 105:3-4 says, “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”

In order to keep my eyes on the Lord, I know that I must identify the enemy in my life. I must become aware of how he is pursuing me so I can fight him. What is he up to? What light is he portraying that is blinding me to sin.

I must also know that God is more powerful than anyone else. I don’t give up just because I have an enemy. However, I am keenly aware that Satan is out to trick me and will never stop.

Satan left Jesus for a more opportune time, perhaps thinking that at some point Jesus would become vulnerable and weak.

That “time” happened the night before the cross. Jesus suffered mightily in temptation. Nothing in Him wanted to go through what He was about to experience. Have you ever survived a season of severe temptation?

In the end, everything was given over to the Father. All things were placed at His Father’s feet in trust. Remarkable!

Jesus has gone before me and shown me the way to rise above Satan’s lures.

Sometime during the week, my thoughts pivoted, and I began to ponder how God wants to bless me more than how Satan wants to bring me down. How has Satan robbed me is good to ask every now and then. But, I don’t need this to swallow up all my time.

I began to ask different questions:

What gifts has God given me? How is He attempting to bless me right now? When I feel robbed, what is He doing in my life? What have I been blind to or have refused to receive from His hand because I wanted something else of this earth?

As we can feel robbed of material possessions, we also tend to FEEL blessed only when things are given to us. But, blessings come in so many other forms.

I sat down every morning this week and listed God’s gifts to me: His mercy, quiet, rest, peace and health, vacation from trials of the past, love surrounding me, God Himself, my friends’ hugs, naps, a loving husband and family, and the daily opportunity to lean on a mighty God.

All these things bless me, but this list (that is really a mile longer than I have time) doesn’t mean that my life is perfect. Everyone has struggles with which to face. I’m not immune from struggles just because I count my blessings and reveal them in a blog post. But, remembering who God is and seeking His presence in my struggles helps me to realign my thoughts and clears my vision for the reality of truth in my life.

There may be 1000 temptations and snares, yet my Father is STILL blessing me and helping me stay fixed on Him. Seeking how He is present is marvelously uplifting.

Stop for a moment and pay attention to what methods Satan is using to distract you. Sit for a while before the Father and notice how HE is right there with you, giving you breath and showing you the way out of temptation.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (I Cor. 10:13).

Notice the verse is talking about temptation and not struggles. There are times when I will be pushed beyond my limit in suffering on this earth. What is the reason for this?

“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God…” (II Cor. 1:8-9).

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body” (II Cor. 4:8-12).

God is powerful and strong. I am not. He is the One to whom I turn for all I need.

Oh Lord, help me to lay everything at your feet and trust that you have my life. Reveal to me the times I must say, “Get behind me, Satan!” Thank you for staying with me throughout each temptation and never leaving me alone. Open my eyes to your blessings all around me. Your presence is the greatest blessing of my life. Thank you for returning in abundance all things that have been stolen from me by giving me grace and mercy through Jesus’ blood. I bow to you in Jesus’ name, Amen.