Standing Guard

He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23

Like a sentinel keeping guard over a prisoner or a valuable treasure we are commanded to guard many things in our life. This morning Scripture reminds me to guard my soul, my mouth, my foot, my heart, my mind, and the doors of my mouth. This implies protection, watchfulness, attentiveness, safety, and preservation. If I were guarding a prisoner it would be to keep him from escaping. But if I am guarding a valuable treasure it would be to insure it from being taken. In a sense, today’s verse has both these ideas. There are certain things I do not want to escape from my mouth and there is a protectiveness against my mouth being taken captive by wrong usage. So what are the things God would have me guard my mouth and tongue against? From what do I want to keep my mouth from doing? Here are some things that come to mind.

Gossip! Saying those things that are not true, kind, or necessary about other people. Gossip serves one purpose and one person only. It’s purpose is to destroy another person’s character and reputation. It poisons the thoughts of a person against another. It inflicts unnecessary pain and suffering in an individuals life. Often it is done to bolster ones sense of superiority and an attempt to gain acceptance. Oh, that we would see the seriousness and repercussions of our words against another individual.

Lying! Saying those things that are untrue, incomplete, exaggerated, or inaccurate. Many times it serves the purpose of avoiding self disclosure and facing of consequences. It is a form of hiding for self protection. Based in fear and pride it has a shaky foundation at best. It breaks trust and security with the very ones with whom we seek build relationship.

Inappropriate talk! Whether it is foul language, filthy jokes, suggestive innuendos, racial slurs, or taking God’s name in vain it is imperative that we do not let it become a part of our speech in private or public. Along with these would be negative talk, angry words, and words of unbelief. May God help us to be on guard today!

Father, words really do live. May I be one to use life giving words to others and myself. I take my charge seriously and look to You for daily instruction, guidance, discernment, and help. Amen.

Speaking From the Heart

For his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. Luke 6:45 NASB

For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 NIV

For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45 KJV

Our heart (the seat of our emotions, feelings, and motives) can be filled, overflowing, and abundant with many things. Luke reminds me this morning that the contents of my heart will be revealed in the things I say and the way I say them. If I listen long enough to the speech of another individual I can begin to detect what is in their heart. I am not talking about sporadic conversation here and there but rather the theme of their words over a long period of time. Our words are like an ex-ray machine that expose the condition of our heart. The things I fill my mind with, the values I treasure in my heart, and those things I hold dearest in life are the very things I will spend the most time talking about.

So often, we as Christians have no trouble identifying bad language, cursing, and swearing as indications of a heart problem. But God wants us to realize negative talk, gossip, lying, bragging, people bashing, and even words filled with worry, despair, and disbelief reveal what’s in a heart as well. Whereas a heart full of praise, gratitude, respect, and godliness will also be seen in what comes out of our mouth.

David knew the connection of his heart and mouth so well that he prayed that the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart would be acceptable to God. He also asked God to set a watch over his mouth to guard what was being said.

So how does a person fill their heart with the right things? By guarding the things they see, hear, read, and think about. For the heart is filled up with the things we feed upon, spend the most time doing, and what we are passionate about. Change what you are taking in and it will begin to have an effect on what is being “treasured up” in your heart. And if you are like me, you will find there are certain areas you struggle to master because you are so drawn to them. In that case, it is imperative that we ask God to change the appetite of our heart.

Father, may You show me any area that needs to change in my heart as well as in my conversations. May I not legitimize, excuse, or hold tightly anything You disclose to me that needs to be discarded. Amen.

Some Listened and Some Walked Away

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her? How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Luke 13:34

Closed hearts. Disinterested responses. Refusal to listen. Resistance to the truth. Of all the people Jesus spoke to and came into contact with during His three year ministry in this world, how many came to know Him as their personal Savior? I dare say the percentage that walked away from Him outnumbered those who embraced Him. Fewer listened and took His messages in than received His words for themselves. If this was the case when Jesus was standing among them, face to face, it should not surprise me when the same thing happens today. I have often been encouraged by Jesus’ conversations with people. Here are a few things I have learned from Him.

He allowed people to approach Him with questions. When He gave answers, He allowed them the freedom to accept what He said or to walk away from Him. He used no high pressure, arm twisting tactics. I often wonder what happened to those people after they left Him. Did they go home, digest His words, and later return to Him? It is seldom that people respond the first time they hear the Gospel. May God bring to our minds the number of times it took for us to hear and then respond to Him.

Jesus knew how to personalize His message with each person. To Nicodemus He spoke of rebirth. To the woman at the well He spoke of living water. To the rich young ruler He spoke of sacrifice. To His adversaries He spoke of heart issues. I too must ask God to give me discernment and variety when I am talking to individuals about Him. Often I have found that during a conversation certain thoughts will come to mind. I am learning to simply open my mouth and share what God is giving me at that moment.

Jesus desired people to come to Him but left the choice with them. I too must realize the choice is theirs. I am simply a vessel God can use in the process of someone coming to know Him. The bottom line is that God is always the One who tends to their hearts. I simply sow the seeds.

Father, You never gave up on me. Help me to not give up on the ones with whom I tell about You. Your desire lives in me! Amen.

Show and Tell

While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them. Luke 4:40 (New American Standard Bible)

It had been a long day for Jesus. He preached in the synagogue, cast a demon out of a man, and healed Simon’s mother-in-law of a high fever. Now as evening approached people were making their way to the house where Jesus was at for what appears to be a late night or all night healing service. Since it was the Sabbath, the law forbade people from traveling great distances until after sunset. As word spread, Jesus’ popularity grew and the demands on His time and for His powers grew as well. In an age of no radio, television, computers, etc…. news of Jesus was spread via word of mouth. But people didn’t just talk about what Jesus was doing. They put feet to their words and brought others to Jesus for healing.

I see a pattern for personal evangelism here. Even in this age of mass communication God still intends for word of Him to spread via word of mouth. While some come to know Him via a religious program on television or radio many are still finding Christ because an individual took the time to verbally tell them about Him. Many times it is not just one individual that does the telling, it is many! As we share Christ we must realize we are somewhere in the long line of others who are sharing Him as well. It is imperative that we see the value of this sharing even if we don’t always see the end result.

I am convinced it is the Spirit of God who does much of the work in bringing a person to Christ and He uses many means to do it. Before that person ever comes to know the Lord there is much heart preparation that takes place. Each person has particular needs in their life that God will use to draw them to Himself. Along with that He will use the words and actions of His children as seeds in their life that need time to grow.

If God has you involved in the lives of people who don’t yet know Him personally, you are an instrument He plans to use. Each of us must realize that our life speaks volumes long before the words leave our mouth. We must not underestimate the effect our lives (when touched and empowered by God) have on the people around us.

Father, help me to live in such a way that my actions add credibility to what I tell others about You. I trust You for the harvest! Amen.

Settling the Unsettled Issues

How long will you hesitate between two opinions? I Kings 18:21

This question has been on my mind since yesterday. Elijah is asking a question to the nation Israel in regards to whom they are choosing to worship. But the question is multi layered for me. For I know all too well the frustration that comes when issues are unsettled in my mind. James says it is like being driven by the waves and tossed. The tossing of our souls can be draining.
I have found it does not work to base my beliefs on any issue according to public opinion or my own emotions. It is too unsettling.

As a young Christian I really wanted to know how to live my Christian life. I wanted to know what I should and should not be doing. This entailed what I should believe, how I should act, where I should go, how I should dress, etc… I would have been more than happy to be given a list of does and don’ts on paper. But since that wasn’t an option I learned to watch people and listen. What they said and did became my basis for what I said and did. It felt safe. If it worked for them it would work for me. I need guidelines as a teenager and examples abounded within my church. Someone once told me to let God and His Word guide me in this area, but that seemed too hard. It was easier for me to just let people be my teachers.

What I did not realize as a teenager and continued to miss as an adult was that in looking to people to define my Christian life for me I was missing out on a necessary aspect of my relationship with God. It is His intent that I look to Him to give me direction and guidance in the daily decisions I must make. Those things I accept or reject in my life need to be based on what God says. Sometimes Scripture is very clear on an issue and sometimes we have basic principles to go by. But it is not always clear cut and there is much variety in the body of Christ. A former pastor of mine once said the Christian life is like a housing addition. Each house is built to code but then there is room for variety in the design and final look of the house.

That is what I was missing in my connection with God. When it comes to an issue that is not an absolute command in Scripture I need to be able to go to Him directly and allow Him to help me make up my mind.

Father, You have always been there waiting for me to turn to You, to ask You, to seek You, to follow You, to know You. I now do that! Amen.

Setting the Record Straight

Thus you shall say to Hezekiah king of Judah, Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you saying, Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 2 Kings 19:10

I am astounded that someone would say such words against God. In the previous chapter the people of Judah were told not to let Hezekiah deceive them about being delivered from the hands of their enemies. I wasn’t as surprised that time because there are times people can deceive us. I have heard too many stories of elderly people losing their life savings to a swindler, fraudulent deals over the internet, salesmen misrepresenting their products with false claims, and children under the influence of a child molester. My mind still reels from the stories of deception from the likes of Jim Jones, David Koresh, and numerous cult figures. It is hard enough to be deceived by someone who is deceived himself, but it is even more tragic to be deceived by someone who knowingly lies to you.

But for these words to be spoken against God is to malign His character. Bringing into question the character of God is as old as the garden of Eden when the serpent asks Eve, “Hath God said?” And then when she answers, he is wretched enough to cast doubt on what God did say. Now it is the king of Assyria saying such things. Like a ventriloquist act, both the serpent and this king are mouth pieces for the king of deception himself, Satan. I can almost hear the hissing as he spews out his verbal venom. But there is a principle at work here that cannot be altered. A lie can never become truth and truth can never become a lie.

God is Truth and His Word is trustworthy. On that I can rely! On that I must rely! The Bible is a book that has been given to us to reveal the character of God. If a person reads it all the way through they will see a God who keeps His word. He says what He means and He means what He says. He has already set the record straight on how we got here, why we are here, and where we will spend eternity. If this were not all based on truth nothing would really matter. But it is based on truth and the only way to get people to doubt it is to use deception.

Father, may I always desire to know the truth about You. For You are the foundation of everything I build my life upon. Outside of You and Your Word I am a sitting duck for deception, lies, and confusion. Amen.

Seeing the Real Me

Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children. Ephesians 5:1 (King James Version)

Relationships have always fulfilled two purposes for me. I looked for people to give me significance and for them to reshape the person I could not accept in myself. I did not like who I was, what I had become, or what I had to offer anyone. It was easier to look at something someone else had (be it personality, voice, talent, or taste) and imitate that in my own life. If I could be like them, sound like them, talk like them, or appear like them I believed I could replace myself with them. I believed if I could somehow possess what they had and it would bring me the satisfaction and peace.

It might be as simple as choosing something they would choose. I can remember in high school looking up to a young couple in our church. We went to the Dairy Queen one day. They ordered Slushies so I ordered one as well. Never mind the fact that I preferred shakes and ice cream sundaes. If I was having what they had, it made me more like them and I no longer had to settle for being me.

If I liked someone’s voice and expressions I would begin to replace mine with theirs. Writing styles, hand jesters, facial expressions, and body language were the things I could duplicate and hence avoid living my life as myself.

But it is all futile. It doesn’t work. Taking on another person’s character traits only covers up what is still there. It is like a poorly dressed, homeless person putting expensive clothes over his own. His clothes are still there. My true self is still the only one I have. I can deny it, cover it up, try to replace it, and even forget about it. But the truth is that it is and always will be who I am. And there is so much I lose in the process.

I lose the ability to enjoy the person God created me to be. I lose the gift of myself God desires me to be to others. I lose fellowship with God and others because I don’t come to them as myself. I wear the mask, parade the garments, and pretend to be someone else. I use the people in my life to form a cocoon to crawl into. It may feel safe but it is confining and it is a prison to hide in.

Father, peel back the layers I have encased myself in until all that is left is the real me. Convince me there will be joy, pleasure, excitement, and abundant life waiting for me when I allow You to reveal my true self. Amen.

Seeing My Own Blindness

The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. Luke 6:7

What we are looking for and expecting to find is what we will usually end up seeing. If we have suspicious thoughts, the actions of another person will (unknown to them) be interpreted according to our preconceived ideas. Many times, our own way of thinking blinds us to the truth of ourselves, others, and even God.

The scribes and Pharisees were masters at looking for ways to criticize Jesus and eventually have reason to put Him to death. They were driven by hatred, jealousy, and self righteousness. A miracle could be right in front of their faces and all they could see was their interpretation of the law being broken. A proof of Jesus’ deity was seen as one more reason to condemn and reject Him. No wonder Jesus referred to them as blind guides. The very ones who should have recognized Him because of their history with Scripture were missing Him completely.

This morning I am reminded of a time not long ago when I lived with a blindness due to my own mindset. I had a very narrow view of God and an even more restricted view of His working in other people’s lives. Bible versions, music preferences, denominational choices, selective interpretation of Scripture, and numerous other issues became my criteria for how I judged my own and other people’s walk with God. Within that “box” I chose to live, I found a lot of emptiness, judgmental attitudes, and an indescribable distance from a God I barely knew. It wasn’t until I became desperate enough to know God that I could see the truth of my own blindness. The changes abound!

If Jesus lived among those who eyed Him with suspicion and condemnation, I can be sure I will too. It is imperative then that I continue to walk in the truth and allow God to define my Christian life for me.

Father, there is a blindness that only You can heal. For some it is because they don’t know Christ. For others it is in spite of the fact that they know Christ. Peel away any layers that still limit my vision of You. Amen.

Responding to God's Graciousness

A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” Luke 7:41-42

A Pharisee named Simon is about to get a wake up call. He has invited Jesus into His home only to be appalled at a sinful woman’s display of emotion. He is uncomfortable with her tears. He is appalled that Jesus would even allow this woman near Him let alone to touch him. The only way he knew how to treat those he considered sinful was to distance himself from them emotionally, physically, and socially. Forgiveness was handed out only upon earning it through enough “make up for it” behavior. But Jesus is about to probe Simon’s heart so he will consider his own condition.

Jesus uses a parable that would be easily understood. Financial obligation with no means to repay. The debts are not equal…not by a long shot. My Bible notes say that a denarii was worth about a day’s wages. So to personalize this, think of what you make in a day. In this parable, one person owed about two years worth of income and the other about two months. Now even though their debts are different, their inability to repay the loan is equal. We are not given the reason for their inability to pay and it really doesn’t matter at this point. The moneylender graciously forgives them both. Can you imagine that happening in a bank today?

Humanly speaking we would answer His question in the same way Simon did. Which loved more? The one who had been forgiven more. What we fail to see though, is that BOTH were graciously forgiven. If they both would digest the truth of that they would both be filled with love and gratitude. So often we compare the depths of our sins with another person instead of the depth of forgiveness granted to us. The magnitude of our sin often helps us to realize the magnitude of God’s forgiveness.

What Jesus wants Simon to understand and in turn for us to understand, is that it is not the NUMBER of forgiven sins that produces a love for Him. It is a full realization of His gracious forgiveness. When we see that we in fact are the debtor who cannot pay we open ourselves up to the full realization that this woman had. May we fully grasp His graciousness to us!

Father, I revel in Your gracious forgiveness of my sin. May I be as expressive in my appreciation as this woman was. Others may called it extreme, I call it radically appropriate! Amen.

Removing and Replacing

And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son. Genesis 30:24

It is interesting to look into the life of Joseph. He was born into a family of strife, rejection, and competition. He had a mother and step-mother who were at odds. His mother, Rachel, is the one loved by her husband but is barren. In that culture it was more socially unacceptable to be barren than unloved. Her marriage followed a seven year wait only to have her sister given in her place. Imagine spending your first years of marriage as the second wife. And then to watch your sister conceive time and time again. Then your handmaidens. Although loved, grief and loneliness came from an aching heart. No other experience for me topped the ability to bear children. It is hard to rejoice with even friends when they are having children and you are unable to conceive yet. But imagine being in a marriage where your sister is the one conceiving.

What a precious verse that says “God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.” He touched the very part of her that had been her thorn. After Joseph’s birth she said, “God hath taken away my reproach.” Her shame and disgrace. What a picture of salvation! A limitless God reaching down to a limited person and removing our shame and disgrace of sin. He adopts us as His child and begins touching the areas of our lives that have wounds, disappointments, heartaches, etc… He brings purpose to our life.

Joseph was not born into the most ideal of families. He would not revel in the closeness of siblings. He would face many years of seeming to be under the control of other people’s choices for him. But none the less his life remains a stunning picture of God’s involvement, protection, and favor. God defined him, equipped him, blessed him, and prospered him. I belong to the same God!

Father, may I look back and see all You have done for me so far. I trust You with today and every tomorrow. Amen.

Redirecting My Focus

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31

Behind everything I do and say there are motives and agendas. The Holy Spirit desires to shine the light of truth on the corners of my soul to reveal to me how far removed from this verse I often live out my days. What I see I can either deny and pretend it doesn’t exist. Or I can admit it, repent of it, take it to the cross for cleansing, and allow God to transform me.

God is putting His finger on an area in my life this morning that actually hinders me from doing all things for His glory. It happens every time I seek the approval, recognition, acceptance, and respect of my peers over that of my heavenly Father. I read an Oswald Chamber’s quote in the Daily Bread this morning that is speaking volumes to me. He said, “A beautiful saint may be a hindrance if he does not present Jesus Christ but only what Christ has done for him; he will leave the impression--’what a fine character that man is!’--that is not being a true friend of the Bridegroom; I am increasing all the time, He is not.”

When I see that aspect in myself I have to fall on my face before God and ask Him to forgive me and change me! I find it too easy to be impressed with myself or another person rather than with the God who is working in each of us. He is the Potter and so often I am focused on the clay He is molding. I hear a speaker and I walk away thinking of and talking about how great the speaker was rather than the One the message was about. I can become enamored with musicians, authors, actors, significant people, and anyone else who stands out to me when all the time God is not the One being glorified.

So I ask myself this morning, who has my attention? Who am I focused on? Who am I really watching and wanting to pattern my life after? Who is the center of my life? If it is not God, THAT needs to change. But it is a change that can only come about as He works in me.

Father, I don’t like this side of me so I am bringing it to You for Your transforming touch. May You be preeminent in my thoughts and my life. May I no longer give Your place away to another person or myself. Amen.

Proactive and Passionate About It

He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities, and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19

God's proactive response to our sin is so amazing. The story of the prodigal son when he returns home is a picture of us each time we return to God. The father pictures the heart of God so well. He has been waiting for the son, runs to meet him, enfolds him with arms of compassion, and lavishes goodness on him. I see that scene magnified in the first part of Micah 7:19. We have a heavenly Father who always turns again and has compassion on us. It is in His heart to respond and demonstrate such love.

Too often, on a human scale, I fail to give or receive such a response to offenses, hurts, and injustices. May His Spirit transform me into a person with a heart for forgiveness like His.
But the second part of the verse displays God's proaction toward our actual sin. The KJV says he "subdues" our iniquities (wickedness). I often think of subdue to mean bring under control or to over take something. But it also means to tread down, to conquer. God's love for me is directly opposite of His hatred for sin. He stomps all over it and then casts it into the sea. The depths of the sea....the deepest part. Like a ball hit out of the field, sin is "out of here"....GONE!!!!

He separates my sin from me. While I receive His loving embrace, my sin gets the boot. For years I thought God could only see me through the grid of my sin, failure, and depravity. This verse is one way He is fixing my picture of Him.

Father, You are so much more loving than I ever hoped You could be! May I never get over Your compassion, mercy, and love! Amen.

Our Mission Statement

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Luke 4:18

This was Jesus’ mission statement and as believers it should be ours as well. The same Spirit that was upon Him indwells each one of us who know Him as our Savior. His anointing is our anointing. His message is our message. His audience is our audience.

Sometimes we read a word and our one track mind gets one picture. But when I look the words up and see the original meanings to them my picture is suddenly enlarged and personalized. Each has a depth that cause me to sit up and take notice.

Poor goes beyond extreme lack of money. It refers to the person in distress with a sense of very little worth or value. It is the person who has been so beaten down in their spirit that they find it hard to face another day. They are emotionally and spiritually bankrupt.

Captives are prisoners. They are taken, held, bound, and confined against their own will. They are controlled by people, circumstances, addictions, generational bents. Escape is out of the question because they cannot imagine freedom nor do they possess the energy to even attempt it.

The blind not only refers to those with the inability to see clearly with their eyes but those who cannot understand with their mind. Their vision is clouded and they are unable to receive light. The external and internal worlds can be shrouded in darkness.

The bruised are those who have been crushed, injured, wounded, and disabled. Traumas can be brought about in various ways by a wide variety of people in our life. It always amazes me that the very people who recognize the physical affects of ill treatment are hesitant to acknowledge where they have been wounded in their spirit.

This morning I realize that I need God to open my eyes to those around me who live their lives with such characteristics. I am struck by the realization that they can be found outside as well as within the church. Their only hope is Jesus. May they know Him!

Father, You want to set us all free. Help me to walk in that freedom and to help others find it as well. Amen.

Oh, Yes, He Knows!

Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:39

A tender scene unfolded in the home of a Pharisee named Simon. While Jesus was in his home for a meal, a women with a sordid reputation came in, stood behind Him, and began weeping. With her tears she washed His feet, with her hair she dried His feet, with her lips she kissed His feet and with her perfume she anointed His feet. It would be a scene that would be unforgettable to say the least. But Simon’s own heart is revealed as He not only questions who Jesus is but can’t seem to get past his judgmental opinion of this woman. He judged her according to her past sin instead of her present state of worship. He did not realize that his perception and opinion of this woman were polar opposites to Jesus’ reaction to her.

He mistakenly thought the only reason Jesus did not treat her with disdain, rejection, and harshness was because He didn’t really know what kind of woman she was. The truth of the matter is, Jesus knew her from the time she was formed in her mother’s womb. He was witness to every moment of her life. Her tears, hands, kisses, and hair could touch Him now because her heart had already been touched by Him. If it had been Simon’s feet she was washing he would have made her feel shame and humiliation. But Jesus valued her, forgave her, and accepted her.
Jesus also had known Simon from the time he was formed in his mother’s womb. He was witness to every moment of his life as well. Simon’s attitude shows that he had yet to come to Jesus as the sinner he was and be so taken by the forgiveness of God that he would dare to do something radical out of appreciation. He was busy condemning this woman so that he would not have to face the issues of his own heart. He had yet to learn the truth that man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart.

Do you have someone like that in your life who refuses to see or admit your cherished position in Christ? Do you ever find yourself being like Simon? May we learn to walk in truth and in love.

Father, You know me through and through. May the thought of Your love, forgiveness, and acceptance of me give me an extreme worship of You. Amen.

Not Meant to be Duplicated

Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, before the God of Jacob, Who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of water. Psalm 114:7,8

Mention the word “change” to people and it can conjure up many thoughts in their minds. If the change is for good we love it! But if the change is uncomfortable we cringe. That is usually because we are looking at the effect of the change and how it makes us feel rather than the bigger picture of God’s involvement in our life. Change comes when we realize these things are happening for us rather than to us.

Today’s verse made me realize a number of truths in regards to God’s involvement in my life. God stands poised with unique provisions for my quandaries. There were many times in the wilderness when God’s people had no choice but to turn to Him for help. The lack of water caused thirst. The thirst cause them to cry out. Their cry for help caused God to act! He brought water from a rock! Twice! Not just a trickle but a gushing stream. When hungry, He blanketed the ground with manna for forty years. When entering and leaving the wilderness He provided a dry path through large bodies of water. His power was displayed not limited by their situations.

But I am also realizing how seldom God duplicates His acts of provision and kindness. His provision of water from a rock was not duplicated in later years. It was for that time alone. It is imperative that I see He operates the same way in my life. At one time, my husband and I taught in Christian schools. That was God’s way of providing for our financial needs. While our employment has changed, God’s ability to provide has not! At one time, God allowed me to be mentored by an incredible person. What happened? God knew it was time to be nudged out of her nest and for me to learn to find my security, growth, and faith in Him. God is not locked into a system whereby He cannot altar my friendships, employment, comfort zones, health, or anything else that affects my internal or external world. If I fail to see the changes are from Him, I will stunt my own spiritual growth, fail to experience relationship with Him, and miss what He graciously wants to give to me. It is time to trust Him!

Father, I keep looking for duplicate acts and You keep showing me You have better plans. Thank you for the faithful and unique provisions of the past, present, and future. I trust Your ways above my own! Amen.

Not Everyone Will See It

But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Luke 13:14 (New American Standard Bible)

A woman has just been healed of a horrible 18 year spirit inflicted ailment in which she could not stand straight up. What should have been a time of rejoicing and praising God for such a miracle quickly turned to indignation by a synagogue official. Many of Jesus’ miracles were met with the same anger and disapproval by the church leaders of that day. The very ones, who should have been the most in tune with who Jesus was, opposed Him at every turn. Not only did they try to discredit Him but they often attempted to shame or attack the ones He healed.

A man who was blind from birth was healed by Jesus and the result was that he was put out of the synagogue. In our day we would call that being excommunicated. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead the religious leaders sought to have Lazarus put to death because they were so enraged over Jesus’ miraculous works. Again I am struck by the fact that this came from church leaders!

I can’t help but think of times in history when heinous things were done in the name of religion. The Spanish Inquisition comes to mind. Even in the early days of our nation’s history when we were but 13 colonies, many of the colonies had religious freedom that was only available if the people came into conformity with the “state church” so to speak. That was the very reason many of them left England to begin with.

Two and a half years ago I saw first hand what it was like to come against the acceptable and expected standards of a church. Up until that point I would have told you I had never experienced attacks of any kind from within the body of Christ. I never knew what it was like to have my walk with God come into question by the very ones I worshiped with. I have since learned there are times we may be called upon to actually choose Christ over a church. Was it comfortable? No! But I am here to tell you it was necessary in order grow into a more intimate, personal relationship with my heavenly Father. Not only was it necessary, it was worth it!

Father, not everyone will understand Your work in my life. You have given me what others cannot take away. I follow You! Amen.

No More Double Payments

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. Isaiah 53:6

I never had the experience of watching someone else take a spanking in my place as a child. I well remember the fear that gripped me as I awaited the inevitable. I can only imagine the relief that would have been mine had a sibling stepped forward and said, “I’ll take the punishment for you.” At the same time it would have changed something in me to see him experience pain I deserved.

I can think of a number of times a replacement would have been welcomed ~ sentences to write, recesses lost, speeding tickets to pay, consequences of unwise choices, etc…. I think of countless prisoners who would be amazed if someone could and would take their place in prison. Or if a person on death row had someone to take their place.

These are just earthly situations but if they happened it would be astounding. How much more I marvel over God causing my sin to fall on Jesus at the cross. He not only took the punishment, He took the blame for it all. But do I live as if that is true? The answer is yes if after I confess my sin to Him I walk in the freedom and realization of His forgiveness. But the answer is no if I continue to self condemn, carry guilt, and live with remorse and regret. And the answer is no if I do that to others in their sin and ill treatment of me.

I am not allowed to carry and hold on to anything that He already took upon Himself at the cross. Otherwise I am like the creditor who continues to demand payment for something that has already been paid in full.

When I am wronged or when I do wrong, may God help me to see that it has been paid for. Christ already bore it on the cross. May I release it to Him so I can once again walk with the freedom and joy He desires for me.

Father, show me when I am carrying the very things Jesus already carried. May those things no longer get paid for twice. Amen.