Where to Take the Impossible

Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. Genesis 25:21 (New King James Version)

I have not faced the heartache of infertility but I have known some who have. The longing to have children and not be able to conceive can be excruciating for a couple going through it. They have no way of knowing if this will be a permanent situation for them or if eventually they will experience the joy of pregnancy and giving birth. It is a time when their longing is matched only by the fear of that longing not being fulfilled.

For Isaac and Rebekah, this uncertainty marked their first two decades as husband and wife. It was not a matter of simply giving it time. It was a matter of Rebekah being physically incapable of bearing a child. I cannot begin to imagine her sorrow during a time when a woman’s inability to conceive a child was viewed with such a social stigma. The impossibility of her situation made the sorrow all the deeper.

It was within this context that Isaac prayed to God on behalf of his wife…pleaded with God. Surely he recalled the account of God intervening for his mother when she was beyond the age of childbearing. His own conception came into the realm of what was physically impossible. Perhaps it was that piece of personal history that gave him the initiative, motivation, and confidence to pray for God to intervene once again. Isaac prayed, God granted his request, and Rebekah conceived. Impossibility is always the backdrop of every miracle and God Himself is the source of every miracle.

This is a biblical account that encourages my faith. Why? Because I know that I will face impossibilities from time to time and this reminds me where to take those impossibilities. Will God grant every request I bring to Him? No, but anytime He doesn’t will be met with grace and a fresh awareness that His ways and thoughts are higher than my own. His character is such that He always acts out of love and always does what is best for me. He knows my desires and needs in this life. I am free to bring those to Him and free to accept His answers to my prayers. Will God grant some of my requests? Absolutely! I have experienced such answers in the realm of finances, heart changes, job seeking, and various other arenas. Most recently I am witnessing His ability to shift my dependency off people and on to Himself. In my book THAT is something only He can do and impossible without Him.

Father, the examples of faith-walks in Scripture are numerous and lessons abound. Help me to live out of the truth of each. Amen.

What Faith Can Do - Kutless
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQp75TsnpSA

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Not Knowing Ahead of Time

Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” Numbers 20:12 (New King James Version)

Moses’ disobedience led to dire consequences. The disobedience? Failing to glorify God in the eyes of the nation of Israel. The consequences? Not being allowed to lead that nation into the promised land. Had Moses known this would be the case when God first called Him to be Israel’s leader he would not have been ready to hear it and most likely would have declined even taking the first step toward that leadership. But when the time came for Moses to see the later picture, God had brought him to the place of being ready for it. I am reviewing Bible characters in my mind and seeing that outside of Jesus Himself, none of them knew ahead of time the full scope of what they were getting into at the start of their journey. They were not told ahead of time but when they finally were told they had been fully prepared.

Several years ago, I accepted the invitation to join a friend in an accountability relationship. When I look back at what it was like at the start I am amazed at how much the Lord has transformed it over time. What it looks like now does not even resemble in the slightest what it looked like then. The reason for that is simple…..I would not have been able to handle knowing what was coming. The ground work had not been laid. Trust had not been established. God knew that and built that into the process. Over the course of several years I learned the necessity to be honest and I learned this was a safe person. In the beginning I needed lots of assurance and encouragement. I still do to a point. My emotions were fragile and my trust was shaky. They still are but not as much.

Yet, last night I experienced a confrontation of truth I needed to hear. While I was told I was wrong I was assured I was loved. I was given time to process what I had been told and time to let down my resistance to change my attitude. When it was all said and done, I experienced the joy of looking this individual in the eye and thanking her for nudging me to take a step toward emotional maturity. This morning I rejoice that God had me ready when it came time to know. He also had my friend ready to take the uncomfortable step of being the confronter. It is not a role she would have gladly embraced at the start. He graciously helped us both to turn a relationship corner and I trust Him to continue to do this time and time again……as He makes us ready.

Father, get me ready for each moment of truth and for each truth teller who will speak it. Amen.

Please Come - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcCkK_FW0mA

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

I Still Miss Her

In March of 2000, I sat in the balcony at my church and took in the fact that I would soon be facing my first Mothers' Day without my mom.

She had been killed in a car accident after suffering a heart attack the previous February. I still remember the profound ache and extraordinary loss that enveloped me. Physically I felt like someone had taken a piece of barbed wire and shoved it into my chest...then proceeded to twist it. My mom who was so full of life. The one with whom I could laugh the hardest. The one I took after in so many ways. The one with whom I enjoyed Christian fellowship for the last 14 years of her life. The one who over came her alcoholism but struggled with depression. The one who loved me and cheered me on in life. The one who adored my children. Gone. Heaven held her and I couldn't get to her.

It was that day in March when the Lord gave me a poem which I would like to share with all of you. Written with my mom in mind, I now dedicate it to all of you who have lost your mothers or know someone who has....whether years ago or recently. While my personal pain and sorrow have subsided and good memories have replaced them, my heart goes out to any who face a difficult Mothers' Day this year. God bless you and may His presence be your comfort.

I Still Miss Her

It seems like only yesterday
I sent a Mother’s Day card away.
I didn’t think it would be the last,
I signed it with love and mailed it fast.
Now that she has gone away,
It doesn’t feel like Mother’s Day.
There are no more chances to send a card,
To ship some flowers, to make a call.
There’s no more thanking her for all she’s done.
No more visits,
No more fun.
I cannot hug her or kiss her cheek.
I cannot even share a laugh.
It all too quickly became the past.
I took each visit with her for granted.
I thought there’d always be more to come.
The camera lies still now
From her use and mine.
All the pictures have been taken,
All the memories have been made.
All the words have been spoken,
All the letters have been mailed.
The thing I miss the most of all
Has got to be her voice
Whether on the telephone or talking face to face.
I’d wish for one more conversation either here or at her place.
I know I’ll see her again some day,
We’ll share the sights of heaven.
We’ll talk, we’ll laugh, we’ll hug,
We’ll kiss….it’ll be Mother’s Day once more.
But until then I’ll be a mom for Mother’s Day instead of
Being a daughter.


Pam Shattuck
March, 2000

I Sure Miss You - Crabb Family
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oet_Avo79CQ

I welcome your thoughts.

Upon What Does It Hinge?

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! Psalm 32:1 (New American Standard Bible)

David reveled in God’s forgiveness of his sins because he took God at His word that sin would and could be forgiven if brought to Him. In Old Testament times a sin offering was brought in the form of a lamb or goat and upon the shed blood of that sacrifice forgiveness was promised (Leviticus 4:20). Jesus Christ later became that sacrificial lamb on the cross of Calvary. It is His shed blood that becomes the premise for God’s forgiveness today (1 John 1:9).

So what exactly IS God’s forgiveness? It is a pardon. In legal terms it means the forgiveness of a crime and the cancellation of the relevant penalty. While we may still be subject to the earthly consequences of our sin, the eternal penalty in Hell is cancelled. It means when sin is forgiven it is no longer held against us and we are no longer viewed in light of that sin. It is gone!

If that be the case, why do so many of us live as if the sin is still hanging over our head and God is reluctant to actually give the forgiveness He has promised? I have been asking God that question this morning and He has been quick to bring the answer. It has to do with that upon which I think forgiveness hinges. God is letting me know that my own pre-conceived ideas are getting in the way of me receiving His extravagant offer. While He says the price has been paid and forgiveness will be extended each time I bring the sin to Him, I stand entangled in the following thoughts:

*God withholds forgiveness until I am no longer sinning in that area.

*God does not take my confession seriously because I still fail.

*I have no right to ask His forgiveness if I have not come to the place of victory over the sin.

*I am an exception to His grace because I am not sinless yet.

I was stunned at how much was hinging on my behavior. I am no different than the person who says they will come to Jesus for salvation when they get their life together. Sort of like the person who cleans the house before the maid shows up! God is helping me to see that His forgiveness is not contingent on how good I do afterwards. It fully rests on the payment that was made by Christ on the cross. I never have deserved it and never will deserve it apart from Christ’s sacrifice and God’s grace.

Father, I have been hesitant to take You at Your word, yet You have never withdrawn Your hands that offer such a gift as this! Change will come as a result of Your forgiveness not as a prerequisite for it. Amen.

What Sin? - Morgan Cryar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Wdzzx6-f4

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Serving Two Masters

No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely). Luke 16:13 (Amplified Bible)

Dare to take this verse further than the love of money and it will change your life. Serving two masters is done anytime something or someone is in competition with God for our heart. It could be money and it could also be relationships, job status, financial security, success, bitterness, refusal to forgive, prolonged grief, or any other person or thing we view as necessary for our own survival. Just as our minds can only think of one thing at a time, our hearts can only embrace one thing at a time. It is God or ____________ and each of us would do well to identify what is in the blank. If nothing comes to mind, ask God to reveal it to you. He is an expert at showing us the things to which we are blind.

I have often said, God does not reveal truths to us about ourselves to shame or condemn us but rather to heal, restore, and free us. If I have a master other than God that I am holding to and serving, my freedom will only come as I acknowledge it and release it. Depending on the strength of its hold on me the process of letting go may involve a lot of time. I am learning that the quicker I deal with it the quicker the freedom will come.

It is not easy to release what depicts security and value to us. That which we treasure in our heart and view as necessary for our life will be the hardest to relinquish. But unless we are willing to release our grip, our hold will be on the wrong source. I speak as one who has known the full impact of having my “second” master be a person, an attitude, a passion, a position, an addiction, and a loss. Yet none of those things could or should be to me what God desires to be to me.

None could say, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” None could love me with an everlasting love. None could die for my sins and secure a place in Heaven for me. None could create me with a purpose and move Heaven and Earth to bring about that purpose. None but God. When it is He whom I serve, He whom I love, He whom I am devoted to, and He whom I stand by I am in the right place in my life. That is when there is true peace, joy, and delight in living.

Father, You offer me so much when You offer me Yourself. Help me to choose You above all others every minute of every day. Be my only Master. Amen.

Be Thou My Vision - David Arkenstone: Celtic Hymns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMttnek4868

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

God's Way of Doing Things

Let all things be done decently and in order. I Corinthians 14:40 (King James Version)

I appreciate the fact that God leads by example. He faithfully demonstrates the very things He commands, demands, and expects of me. He is definitely not like many parents who say, “Do as I say, not as I do.” With God it is always “Do as I say and as I do!” I look back at the account of creation and I see things being done decently and in order with specific creation on specific days.

I am currently reading the book of Numbers and what started out as repetitive and seemingly boring details quickly gave way to seeing God set up tabernacle worship and the placement of His people in a decent and orderly fashion. When I look at the vast number of Israelites in the wilderness (over a million) I realize the necessity of God doing things decently and in order.

But the words of I Corinthians 15:40 are taking on a new dimension for me. I am resting in the fact that what God does in my life is being done decently and in order as well. His daily plan for me is being carried out with precision, dignity, and individuality. There is design and purpose in the things He has me do, the people He has me meet, and the way He interacts with me. I am gaining a new appreciation for the way He orchestrates my life…..one day at a time.

There is a sense of security and peace when I take in the words of Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD; and he delighteth in his way. The word ‘ordered’ comes from a Greek word that means to set up, establish, fix, prepare, direct, fashion, ordain, perfect, prepare, and provide. Talk about significance! Seeing God’s watchfulness and detailed ordering of my life is the reason I can then delight in His ways. It is a delight He revels in as well.

I may not always understand God’s choices for my life but in this truth I choose to live…..God is faithful, good, loving, attentive, involved, and in control. His Word is filled with examples of that! Nothing He does is haphazard or half-hearted. Who better to arrange my life than the very One who created and sustains life?


Father, I feel cared for by You! I joy in the fact that whatever You have planned for my day as well as my life will be done decently and in order. Thank you that I need never expect anything less! Amen.

Ppotter's Hand - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSyKUoCxFMU&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Confident and Specific

And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!” Esther 5:3 (New King James Version)

Four times King Ahasuerus (Xerxes), voiced these words to Queen Esther (Esther 5:3,6; 7:2; 9:12). He ruled over 127 provinces, so when he said, “Up to half the kingdom” it was an extravagant offer! Each time, Esther was ready with specific requests which she had thought through in advance. She stated those requests with confidence because of the king’s words to her. In essence, he was saying, “Ask and it will be given to you!” He wanted to know what was on her mind and he wanted to give her what she desired. What love and what risk! He had no idea what she was going to say and yet he made a radical promise….and KEPT it! Each and every time!

Jesus has spoken the same words to us. He said, “Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be opened on to you.” He also said, “Ask anything in my name, and it shall be given unto you.” But one of the differences between Ahasuerus and Jesus is that Jesus already knows what we plan to ask even before we ask it!

So I am asking myself this morning whether or not I approach Jesus with the same confidence as Esther approached Ahasuerus. Am I as specific? If not, why not? I believe my answer lies in the fact that I realize God does not always give me what I ask for. It is time to look at that aspect of prayer and see the reasons He would say, “No.”

I must embrace the truth that God is able to do ALL things and that His ways are above my ways. His “no” often means, it would not be good for me to have what I am asking Him for, He has a better plan, He desires to work in a different way, or He knows what is best. It can also mean there is sin that needs to be dealt with first. In the midst of it all, He invites me to trust Him with abandon and not depend on my own understanding. As I pray I must review the character and heart of God. If God’s denial of my request leaves me with thoughts of not being loved or cared for then I am buying into lies. The truth of the matter is that Jesus has invited me to ask and that gives me confidence. His sovereignty and wisdom gives me peace.

Having said this, let me also say that I believe Jesus intends and desires to do so much more than I dare to ask. I have to wonder what would happen if I received Christ’s words in the same way that Esther received Ahasuerus’ words. May I find out!

Father, help my prayers to be both confident and specific. There is much about prayer that still eludes me but I want to learn. Lord, teach me how to pray! Amen.

Draw Me Close - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgQJVfUQLho

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

God's Time Table

Noah was 600 years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth or land. Genesis 7:6 (Amplified Bible)

It is easy to read Scripture and forget the span of time that takes place from verse to verse or chapter to chapter. Whole lifetimes can be covered with just a sentence. One of the reasons we have stated ages in the Bible is to better understand the time frame that underscores the events. When we see that things did not usually happen instantaneously but rather over decades or even centuries of time in the days of Bible characters, we are better equipped to understand the possible years involved for the unfolding of God’s plan for us. It causes us to refocus our attention on God’s time table instead of our own.

From the time that Noah was told to build an ark for safety against a coming flood and the actual occurrence of the flood, 100 years had elapsed. While it would have been easy to grow discouraged and maybe even abandon the task, he stayed strong in his hope and his work. He did not let the slowness of the pace deter, distract, or disturb him. Trust involves walking by faith, living in God’s strength, and allowing Him to set the velocity of the steps.

There are numerous things I would like to see happen in my life. Spiritual growth and a deepened awareness of who God is, sit at the top of the list! But I know that two factors play into the progress on this journey….God’s predetermined time table and my willingness to cooperate. My desire is that I am farther along by this time next year but God Himself knows the actual distance that will be covered.

I also desire doors of opportunity to open and to be more confident and settled in my role within His kingdom work. Up to this point I feel that much of what He is doing in me is preparatory. Will this be a continued year of the same, or will I see His plan and purpose unfold and take place? I do not know but I know this….it continues to be according to His time table. It is imperative that I follow Noah’s example and stay strong in my hope and what God would have me do presently.

May I realize afresh that the process and progress of discovering God’s call on my life takes time and may I be in no more of a rush than the Designer of that call.

Father, Your time table takes precedence over my own…I yield. Amen.

In His Time - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-rGzx2OZk

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Where It Comes From

And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Judges 7:2 (New King James Version)

The reduction of Gideon’s army was for one purpose and one purpose only, to display Who was truly responsible for the forthcoming victory. God’s glory and the credit due Him can often be robbed when anyone but Him is seen as one’s helper, defender, deliverer, and sustainer. While He did use a small army for the battle against Midian, He made sure there was no way they would be able to give themselves the praise, thanks, or accolades for the victorious outcome. It may not have made sense to anyone but God but it was the only way for the people to see where their victory came from and Who gave them the victory. The impossibility of it was the backdrop for God’s work.

I can relate with God’s choice of methods when it comes to deliverance in my own life. This past week I have watched as God did in me what no one or nothing else could do. The domination of my emotions could not be experienced through reading books, talking to people, or following formulas. I could not muster up what it would take to walk in any semblance of freedom for an extended period of time. When I came to the end of myself and realized that all the avenues I “thought” would lead me to victory had failed to produce victory He brought the victory. It was so radical and so profound that I had no doubt it was His work of liberation.

He used some truths I had taken in from a number of sources and circumstances and I was aware of those things. But the result of actually experiencing freedom was all His doing and I am having no trouble giving Him the glory for it! He did not take negative emotions out of me nor did He remove the tendency I have toward wrong perceptions. What He did is show me that it is possible to not allow them to dominate and control me. They seem to have lost their effectiveness and power with me. Several scenarios played out this past weekend that would have normally evoked huge set backs for me without a single trigger taking place. I was able to take in the truth of each matter without the normal emotional feelings and responses getting in the way. Any who battle emotions will see why this is so huge for me! Any who have watched me struggle will rejoice along with me at what my God has done. I know that tests will come and failures will be experienced, but I now walk with confidence in the what God can and will do!

Father, You are incredible! Even in the midst of my own failures, fears, and doubts You brought about what seemed impossible for me. Praise You!!! Amen.

Mighty to Save - Laura Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYqogpLpC5Q

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Taking Matters Into Our Own Hands

Now there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to live temporarily, for the famine in the land was oppressive (intense and grievous). Genesis 12:10 (Amplified Bible)

What happens when we face shortages in our life? How do we go about getting our needs met and hearts satisfied? Each of us travels this life once and find within our journey our own times of famine. It may be a shortage of material things, friendships, health, opportunities, spiritual growth, or any number of things. It is in times of deprivation that we come to realize our true source and on whom we are depending.

I find it interesting that Genesis 12 shows Abram in obedience and worship until the famine hits. He obediently follows God’s command to leave his home and make his way to a land of promise. On at least two occasions he builds altars to the God who appeared to Him and he calls upon Him. The very things he did at the onset of his journey should have been his practice when the shortage hit. But instead, Abram came up with his own plan. He went his own direction. Egypt became his destination and lying became his form of protection. What I find missing in all of this was asking God what he should do and relying on God to be His shield of safety. After all, since God was the One who told him to go on this journey, wouldn’t God be the One to direct his steps along the way?

How easy it is to dissect our life into parts that include God and parts that exclude God. But that is not the way God desires for us to live. He wants us to learn from the mistakes of our Bible ancestors. Seeing where they went wrong should serve as a teacher to each of us. As we read an account in Scripture we should take note of when a person is acting out of pride, independence, anger, fear, or defiance and watch for the painful consequences to follow. How did their actions affect the people around them, what discomforts did they bring upon themselves, and what ultimate price did they end up paying?

Those are the things I want to avoid. And the only way to do that is by running my decisions, agendas, and ideas past our all wise and all knowing God. He has direction for me on this journey. He has not left me to fend for myself or take matters into my own hands.

Father, may I learn to turn to You more and more. You are all knowing and all wise…I am not. Be my instructor and guide for life. Amen.

You Are God Alone - Phillips, Craig, & Dean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xPzTSpbYmk

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Faith Redefined

But Naaman was furious and went away and said, Behold, I thought, he will surely come out to meet me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 2 Kings 5:11 (New American Standard Bible)

Expectations, perceptions, and preconceived ideas can do more to wreak havoc with our walk of faith than anything I know. I can very easily relate with Naaman. He has come to Samaria with a scenario playing out in his mind of what his own healing would look like. But upon arriving at Elisha’s house his ego, thoughts, and agenda all take a massive blow. What should have been a ‘done deal’ has become as muddy in his mind as the Jordan River itself. He cannot conceive of the fact that neither God nor Elisha are acting the way he thought they would or should. As he erupts in anger and storms off, he fails to realize that he is risking his own healing because of his own mindset.

As I read through 2 Kings I am struck by the fact that God is not limited in power or variety. He refuses to be put into an understandable, easy to grasp box! His ways and thoughts are far above my own and that has caused me to rethink and redefine my beliefs about faith. It is not a matter of me bringing my petitions before God and believing He will give me what I want, in the way I want it, and when I want it. My one-dimensional thinking of who God is and how God acts is presently going through a metamorphosis of great proportion.

While God certainly encourages and invites me to bring my requests, wishes, and desires to Him, I must keep in mind that He is still God and He is free to be good, loving, and right in how He responds to my prayers. His Word, His character, and His heart of love are the basis for when and how He chooses to intervene. Why would I want to limit Him to only operate in the way I THINK He should? Faith now becomes an act whereby I bring my requests to Him and then with childlike trust and expectancy watch to see what HIS choice is. If I allow this to be my heart’s desire, I will find that more times than not He will go above and beyond what I could imagine.

Father, let me take away the box in which I have spent years trying to get You to fit. Thank you for helping me to see where I have been limiting You. I now let go of my preconceived notions and am ready to embrace the truth about You. Amen.

You're Still God - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvclzwpAMxg

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Adversaries Amidst Advancement

For a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. I Corinthians 16:9 (New American Standard Bible)

Paul knew when God had opened a door of ministry for him in particular areas. He knew the work God would do through him would be effective and full of fruit. But he also knew adversaries would be present. He knew the enemy would not sit back and allow God’s work to continue unhindered. When I think of the Apostle Paul’s ministry I see it full of persecution, trials, hardships, and difficulties. None of this came as a surprise to him. It was all part of what was to be expected. Was he a doomsayer? No! He was a realist! He did not operate under the false idea of a trouble free life. His attitude was such that being in the center of God’s will often makes you the prime target of attack.

It is no different for us today. Many find that when they begin to walk with God in a fuller way, troubles just seem to appear out of no where. Our main adversary, the devil, hopes that his tactics will lead to discouragement and the eventual abandonment of our desire to link arms with God. He has a whole arsenal available to use against us: health issues, financial difficulties, losses, broken relationships, unexpected emergencies, peer pressure. He is hoping that the things we experience will cause us to view God as unloving and uncaring and the journey as too difficult and not worth it.

How gracious of God to forewarn us that attacks would come. His desire is that each episode would cause us to draw closer to Him, review truth, hold to Him tighter, and continue on in victory. When a season proves to be most difficult it eventually results in knowing God in a deeper way, gaining strength, and experiencing growth beyond what I had originally thought. Yes, the adversaries abound but God’s Word, God’s work, God’s presence, and God’s accomplishments abound even more. Those things I hunger for the most are brought about amidst the most trying circumstances but it is worth it!

Father, while I may see the enemies’ fingerprints all over the place, I also see Your fingerprints. I determine to keep my eyes on You. I refuse to allow any difficulty to malign Your character. With a renewed perspective I move forward! Amen.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp_PolBwjEw

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Going Beyond Listening

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22(New King James Version)

Change does not come from simply hearing the truth, reading about the truth, or being taught the truth. Change is the result of applying the truth we hear, read, or are taught. If we think otherwise, we are merely lying to ourselves. God, through, James urges us to do what the Bible says not just hear it.

I have spent the last number of years reading many books and listening to many good speakers and teachers. Taking in truth for me was as refreshing and as rejuvenating as water is for a thirsty person. I thirsted for truth and drank it in. While I can attest to some change occurring in my life, I know that much of my internal, emotional make up has seen little change. Why? Because when it came to applying the things I was learning I either didn’t apply it or I didn’t apply it for very long. Much like the student who wants to be taught but refuses to do the work. Much like the person who wants to lose weight but doesn’t practice day in and day out what is taught at the weight loss clinic.

I have had many teachers in my life….not just school teachers. Many have been willing to teach me the things they know and I want to know. But just like the saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink”, one can teach me many things but cannot make me apply it. Applying it has to be my choice and my doing.

I do not negate the work of God in my life when I speak of doing something. Part of His work in my life is brought about by practicing what I learn. Most of that practicing will take place away from the book I read or the person I listen to. It goes beyond the initial joy of learning to becoming a part of my life, for what I truly learn I will live.

Yesterday, God started my day with the thought of being friendly. Taking His word to heart set the course of my day and affected numerous interactions. It was reflected in my voice, my eyes, and my presence. It caused me to handle a sticky situation with wisdom and poise. It was enough to convince me that I want more of what I experienced. More of doing rather than just hearing.

Father, I marvel at You and all that You accomplish. You not only speak your word but You do your word. May I be more like You. Amen.

The Motions - Matthew West
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaHmiFaX_pk

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Friendship 101

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (King James Version)

There are times when I miss seeing the promise in a verse. I do not know how many times I have read today’s verse and walked away only seeing the conditional aspect of to have friends I must be friendly. Yet, this morning the promise calls out to me….. You WILL have friends if you show yourself friendly!!!!!! It is not saying that EVERY person I am friendly toward will in turn be my friend. But I will have friends if I live my life as a friendly person.

The question now is, “What is a friendly person?” I first must look to Scripture to begin answering that question. Proverbs 17:17 says a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Those two phrases are a wonderful starting place. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is a “how to” book on love. Therefore, if I am patient and kind and seeing the good in others, I WILL have friends. If I am not rude and self seeking, I WILL have friends. If I believe the best about others and am there for them in times of trouble, I WILL have friends. In myself these things do not always come naturally, but I am not on my own to muster them up. I have the Spirit of God living and working in me and therefore I have His fruit….the first being love! Here’s the exciting part! With time and nurturing, fruit grows!!!!! What is in me will grow as I cultivate and develop it.

The Bible is filled with example after example of love in action with the climax being laying ones life down for another. Bible characters show me self sacrifice, serving, coming along side, comforting, and giving, to name a few. As I read God’s Word, I can ask Him to help me take notice of the signs of friendship being displayed.

Then there are the real live examples that I see before me on a daily basis. I can watch and learn from them. Their smiles, kind words, hugs, listening ear, and warmth are tutors to me. Again, the Spirit of God is in me to help me do any of these things in times when I feel least like doing them.

I needed the truth of these thoughts this morning because although I have friends who are dear to me, I have insecurities that can block me from fully enjoying them or can get in the way of me being enjoyable to be around. I went to sleep last night asking God to show me how to begin changing so that the emotional battles no longer have such a hold on me. I woke this morning with the first of His words to me. BE FRIENDLY.

Father, I can tell when it is You doing the talking because You tell me what I would never come up with on my own. I take delight in the lesson You have given me this morning. I take Your hand as I now live it! Amen.

Good and Faithful Friend - Andi Rozier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py6FrhH-TGI&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Embedded Messages

You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married. And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; And you shall be called Sought Out, City Not Forsaken. Isaiah 62:4, 12 (New King James Version)

Two phrases stand out in this passage that are incredible for me to read and necessary for me to believe. They are “The Lord delights in you” and “You shall be called Sought Out.” For most of my Christian life I would have read this passage and thought of the words as only being spoken to and about the nation of Israel. Originally it was, but on this side of the cross any who are redeemed of the Lord can and should accept the words for themselves.

Some of us struggle with the concept of such acceptance because we limit our view of God to what we have experienced with people. We are stuck with a mindset that says we are undesirable, unwanted, unnoticed, forgotten, forsaken, and alone. We matter to no one. Lies? Yes. Believed anyway? Absolutely. We weren’t created with that message but it was written on our heart and mind at some point or at many points.

Yesterday was a day of connecting a present emotion with the same emotion from my past. Two things showed me the connection….identical emotion and identical reaction to the emotion. After spending the day battling feelings, God helped me to see that my primary emotion driven belief was one of not mattering to people. He then helped me to remember it was the way I felt in childhood when my parents would drink or be in bars. I remember having a sadness I never shared with others. I never talked about it. I didn’t tell my parents how I felt. I didn’t tell friends how I felt. I simply withdrew until a more pleasant experience happened. Now as an adult, when I experience that belief and sadness I default to withdrawal. It is natural for me but harmful for relationships. It prevents the very closeness for which I hunger.

As I see this pattern, my hope for freedom and change has to begin with what God says. As I learn to trust His words and allow them to take up residence in me, the aspects of my relationships with others will be effected for the good.

Father, may Your words speak louder than the lies embedded in me. Amen.

Your Love (Psalm 139) - Oslo Gospel Choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAZrV1pS2Ek&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

What an Offer!

For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (New King James Version)

If I were facing a difficulty, attempting something new, stepping away from my comfort zone, or feeling completely overwhelmed, and someone I looked up to, admired, and respected offered to help me, I would readily accept their help and walk with a bit more confidence and assurance. I would welcome not only their help but also their company. As a matter of fact, when I began this journey 7 years ago, I had someone do that very thing….walk with me and help me. It felt wonderful and yet it was temporary. There came a time when that help was no longer offered, available, or in a true sense, necessary. What did I learn from that? The helpers in our life are usually in our life for a specific time and need. When that time and need change so do the ones helping. That is comforting to me because I know God can be trusted to continue to cross my paths with His instruments of help.

Having said that, I am also aware that God Himself promises to walk with me and help me. How He longs for me to see that and rejoice in it even more than when people are helping me. Recently He asked me the question, “If certain individuals offered to be with you and help you, you would be thrilled beyond words. Why is it you do not respond the same to the offer of My presence and My help?” It was kind of question that stopped me in my tracks and forced me to admit the truth. The truth? Help from people can often seem more real, more present, and more desirable to me than God's help. That is NOT the way I want it to be, but nothing will change if I don’t see the reality of it in my life. Denying or hiding it will not help me to reverse that statement. I know this is not the way it is suppose to be but in reality that is exactly how it is.

I love God. I get excited when talking about God. I have a passion to know Him. Yet, I long for change in this area. Asking another person to help me is not my answer. I need God’s help with this one. He and He alone knows why I think the way I think about Him and my relationship with Him. He and He alone can bring me to the place of seeing Him above and beyond any person in my life….even the very ones He has used or presently uses in my life.

Father, may the truth and reality of You set me free! Amen.

Mighty to Save - Laura Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYqogpLpC5Q

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

All In God's Time

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (New American Standard Bible)

We live in a day when everything is ’instant’ and we so often want that to apply to God’s transforming work in us. We see God’s work in another believer’s life and want the same thing done in us. What we forget is that it took time for it to be evident in them and it will take time for it to be evident in us. Each of us have areas in our life that we long to see changed and transformed.

As a believer, God’s Spirit is at work in me. Time spent in the Word, praying, attending worship services, talking with other believers, listening to Christian music, reading rich books of faith, sitting under speakers, taking my thoughts captive, and speaking truth out loud all become the tools He uses to change me. I hold on to the hope that change is taking place. When I first started on this journey in the spring of 2004 I did not see a lot of change all at once. But over time I know the change has taken place and there is more to come. So I keep doing what I have been doing and trust God to use it to transform me from the inside out. I have the assurance that He will continue to renovate me in countless ways. There are times I would like Him to use some ‘Miracle Grow’ on me but in His wisdom He chooses not to do that. He wants the change to be deep and lasting.

Some of the things God is working on presently differ from what He was working on a year or so ago and some of the things are the same. From day to day, the lessons and learning vary and it is imperative that I take note of what the present day holds. It will entail heart choices, attacks from the enemy, circumstances that are out of my control, and any number of other things. This I know, though, God’s Spirit lives in me, God’s presence accompanies me, God’s hand holds me, God’s Word speaks to me, and God’s plans and purposes continue to be fulfilled for me.

Will I trust His ways? His heart? His timing? His hands? You bet! I spent three decades seeing what my ways, heart, timing, and hands could do. The results were pitiful. The growth was shallow. The change was minimal. Now I let Him be the Potter, the Builder, the Constructor of my soul. Is it ever painful? At times. Is it ever hard? Absolutely. Is it ever uncomfortable? Yes. But above all that it is worth it! Of that I am sure.

Father, growth without You is impossible. Daily mold me, make me, and shape me into the person You created me to be. It is all a matter of time…Your time! Amen.

In His Time - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-rGzx2OZk&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Enriched Living

That in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge…so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:5, 7, 8 (New American Standard Bible)

Have you ever read one of those lists that express who and what you are in Christ? I have and yet I can’t remember even one of them including the word enriched. It means to make rich, possess spiritual riches, and to be richly furnished. That is quite a list in itself! Yet due to our weaknesses and failures we can often feel more bankrupt than rich. Living more out of our lack than our supply.

I want to not only see myself as the spiritually rich person I am in Christ, but I want to live out of that richness. I want it to have a profound effect on the words I speak, the knowledge I possess, the wisdom I walk in, and the thoughts upon which I dwell. If my cash flow was limitless it would affect my life in big ways. In the spirit realm, I have a limitless “cash” flow and it is meant to affect my life as well.

In order to begin living the enriched life, I must be willing to have my spirit nurtured. How do I do that? By living connected to God every day… being aware of His presence, talking to Him about everything, asking for His help, seeking Him, obeying Him, and making Him my central focus. By sitting under the teaching of godly men and women, allowing them to enhance me with the truths God has taught them. By listening to Christian music that can stir me to tears as well as action. By taking in God’s Word and allowing it to take hold of me. By living in reliance upon and obedience to the Holy Spirit who lives in me. By daily placing myself under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ.

While there are many things I could add to that list, I feel a need to express one thing. For each of us, the contents of the things I mentioned are individualized. A spiritually enriched life is not a “one size fits all” formula. Just as we are unique individuals, God’s methods with us and for us are unique. We are not all called or expected to read the same books, sit under the same speakers, listen to the same music, or attend the same church. We must carve out our own walk with God and allow Him to show us how to do that. As one who so easily wants to copy others, that speaks loudly to me. I can only live richly as I learn to live distinctively as the person God created me to be. No comparisons. No competitions. No copies.

Father, you have enriched me in Christ. Direct my life in such a way that I see it, experience it, and know it daily! Amen.

I Am A Friend of God - Phillips, Craig, & Dean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMnMN08sv4k

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

In Need of What He Will Do

And Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. Exodus 14:13 (New King James Version)

Moses spoke these words to the children of Israel when they found themselves between the Red Sea and the advancement of their enemies. Their fear was born out of what seemed like limited options….to be drown in the waters or put to death by the hands of the Egyptians. Those were the only two scenarios that played out in their mind. God had led them out of Egypt and now the Red Sea stood between their future and their past. How they needed the instructions and hope. How we need it as well.

Each of us faces our own moments of feeling trapped between where we are going and where we have come from. We often feel fearful of failure or ruin. Unless we determine to stand in faith and believe to see the salvation of God for us, we too will see only the fragile scenarios that play out in our mind. Those scenarios are usually crafted from past experiences and we limit ourselves to the way things have always been. The very thing that the children of Israel feared was what at one time had them in bondage. Although they were actually free, their past experience still had a hold on them. It would continue to have a hold on them until they experienced God’s deliverance in profound ways. In like manner, our past will continue to have a hold on us until we experience God’s deliverance in a dramatic way.

I have never been in bondage to a person but I have been in bondage to my own emotions. God sees my fearful heart as I contemplate situations in my mind where I can all too easily do what I have always done. Those are my “Red Sea” moments. I have yet to pass through the waters and live in a new place in my life. The enemy of my soul is all too happy to remind me of past failures and stamp the words “impossible” over any thought that things can actually be different. I am not fearful of enemies over taking me but rather of my own emotions ruling me. It did not occur to the children of Israel that God could divide the Red Sea and lead them across on dry land and then destroy their enemies. At the present, I don’t know how God will get me past my own sea of emotions, but I am going to start by allowing the words Moses spoke to be spoken to me, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today.”

Father, I am out of options. Drained to the core. Show me the salvation You have for me. I stand in need of You today and I thank You for what You will accomplish. Amen.

I Need Thee Every Hour - Selah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIRJNgNSqok

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

The Avenue of Help

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high [and defend you]; Send you help from the sanctuary and support, refresh, and strengthen you from Zion. Psalm 20:1, 2 (Amplified Bible)

I cannot tell you the number of times I have read a verse and exclaimed, “Why didn’t I see that before?!” I am so use to David speaking of his help coming from the Lord that I can sometimes miss the avenue God chooses to send that help. I would expect today’s verse to read, “May God send you His help and strength.” But instead it states from where God is going to send the help and support. It will be coming from the sanctuary and from the city of Zion. God’s house and God’s city! Within both are His people.

Many have been the times God has chosen to use His people to deliver His help to those in need…..to me when I am in need. It is not a sign of weakness to accept that help but it is a sign of trouble to refuse it. I stand amazed each time I struggle through problems only to eventually find the answer from the wisdom and counsel of others. They are willing to help if I but ask. They have so much to offer if I am willing to receive.

With that said, I must also be aware of who God has actually placed in my life for that help. Receive the help, yes. Hold on to the one who helps as if they are the only one each and every time, no. I have had the joy of knowing some incredible women of faith in my nearly 40 years of being a Christian. If I had a personal wall of faith numerous portraits would be on that wall. Yet, many of them are no longer the helpers God is using presently. Their season of involvement in my life is a treasure of my past and they still hold a special place in my heart and mind. God used them to help shape me into the woman I am today. At times, I have wanted to still be helped by them, but it is clear God’s intentions are different for them as well as for me.

So when I face my own personal days of trouble it is God I must first look to and then I must perceive who it is He has purposefully placed in my life as the much needed helpers. They may not be in the picture at future moments, but for now I praise God for the treasures that they are.

Father, You have hand-picked the help You’ve sent…each and every time. I love You and I love them. Amen.

You Never Let Go - Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y83-vMeWc9E&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.