God's Greatest Concern

How is it you are sleeping? Get up, call on your God. Perhaps your God will be concerned about us so that we will not perish. Jonah 1:6

This captain speaks words to Jonah which are a sermon in themselves. If I had to phrase it in my own language I would say, “How can you ignore our plight? If you don’t care, maybe your God does!” Two verses come to mind because of his last statement. I Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you. And John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Both verses become powerful when we slip our own name into them. There is no “perhaps” about it. As a believer, I know to use the word “since” or “because” in front of a statement that refers to God’s concern. God is concerned and God has gone to great lengths to ensure that we do not perish. Where we spend eternity is the deepest concern of God’s heart.

This life is short and full of hardships. The past couple of days with the heartbreaking news of school shootings has caused us all to see that we really do live in a fallen, depraved, cursed world. The present war in Iraq remains a reminder of that as well. Watching loved ones suffer with different forms of disease and illness has a way of filling us with sorrow. Each of us have areas in our life that bring us face to face with pain, loss, and heartache. Taking all of that into account, I am reminded of the words someone spoke which are so true. For those who know Christ, this world is the closest thing to hell they will ever experience. For those who do not know Christ, this world is the closest thing to Heaven they will ever experience.

As believers, we have the privilege of letting others know the truth about what lies beyond this life. Our God does care and He has made a way for us to spend eternity with Him. While He desires that no one will perish, He leaves the choice to each individual. Ultimately we must do the same. Our main task is to live it before them, speak it to them, and allow God to work in their heart. Only He can bring them to the place where they are ready to listen.

Father, help me not to be asleep like Jonah when it comes to souls. May my life and words speak volumes of Your concern for mankind. Amen.

Selective Speech

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

For years I would look at this verse and see a good guard for my conversations. It was warning me about what to say and what not to say to the people in my life. In a nutshell, I was to build others up not tear them down. This morning God is nudging me to apply the same truths to myself. He is prompting me to examine my own speech toward myself. How gracious are my words that I speak to myself? How hard am I being on myself? How many put downs am I directing toward myself?

I spent this past weekend with a dear friend. We hadn’t seen each other for over 23 years! How amazing that our conversation could pick up right where we had left off. Much was discussed, savored, and taken in. Much was shared on a deep heart level. Issues abounded….answers were given. At moments, laughter erupted. At other moments we could be close to tears. But one thing that stands out in my mind as I review our conversation is how both of us could be so hard on ourselves. We both found ourselves telling the other to not speak negative words about ourselves. This morning God is letting me know I still need to take heed to that admonition. Even now I can hear my friend say, “Don’t talk like that!” I have determined it is time to test my words before they are voiced.

Here are the questions I need to ask myself before the words leave my mouth. Am I about to speak the truth? What are the thoughts that are feeding the words? Will the things I am about to say encourage me or discourage me? Will the words bring life or death to my spirit? Who would delight the most in what I am about to say….God or Satan? Which words need to be cleansed by the blood of Christ, given over to Him, and saturated with Scripture? When I finish saying what I am about to say will I proceed to dance with joy or live with a feeling of gloom? Will I be filled with a sense of delight or disgust? There are many more questions but my point is this, I have a choice! May I proceed to apply today’s verse to myself as well as others to whom I am speaking.

Father, sometimes I feel shaky in my ability to speak the right words. If nothing else escapes my mouth today may it be praise to You. Don’t let me waste any words. I yield my tongue to You. Amen.

Plainly Said and Still Missed

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly. Mark 8:31,32

I marvel that Jesus was so precise in the things He shared with His disciples and yet they missed it! They could not see the meanings behind His words. Therefore, when those things He told them ahead of time began to happen, they were filled with fear, confusion, and misunderstanding. Truth had been presented to them but they were unable to take it in, due to preconceived ideas, unreceptive hearts, and their own personal agendas. They thought Jesus had come to overthrow the Roman government and set up an earthly kingdom. Words like suffer, rejected, killed, and resurrection did not quite fit their picture! However, once all these things came to pass and God’s Spirit took up residence in them, their eyes were opened and they could exclaim, “Now I see!” Life would never be the same for them from that point on.

I have had things plainly told to me and still missed what was being said. Even with the Holy Spirit in me and the complete Word of God before me I was not getting the message. Have you ever lived your Christian life knowing you are on the right track but sensing something is still missing….something is still wrong? This past week has been filled with eye-opening moments for me. Allow me to share just two truths that became clear to me.

God opened my understanding to the fact that if I live my life desiring to be anyone other than myself I will miss what He has intended for me. Out of my own sense of worthlessness and self loathing, I found it safer to just be someone other than who I am. God gently let me know I was settling for less and missing what He desired to do in me. Idolatry, camouflaging, and pretending actually closed the door to what I was really craving.

He also showed me that taking in truth about Him is not the same as living in relationship with Him. He wants a personal, intimate relationship with me and that is what we are now cultivating.

Father, it has taken two and a half years for the first drops of truth to get from my head to my heart. I marvel and I weep. Praise You! Amen.

Idols of the Heart

Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts. Ezekiel 14:3

Worship begins in our heart. Not the heart that pumps blood through our veins but the seat of our will, emotions, and intellect. The very center of our identity. The bedrock of who we really are. I was struck when I read today’s verse that God did not mention the shrines the idols were in or the shelves on which they were displayed. He got right to the point and said they were setting up the idols in their hearts.

It causes me to stop and ask myself what I am setting up in my heart. I am learning that not all idols are made of wood. Whether it is in an atmosphere of religious worship or everyday life God has been teaching me that an idol is anything or anyone I give my heart to in place of Himself. It is anything or anyone I turn to instead of turning to Him. It is anything or anyone I rely upon to do for me what only He can do.

I spoke in a women’s Sunday school class yesterday. During the course of the lesson I let them know relationships have always been important to me. God has graciously allowed me to cross paths and hearts with some incredible people. Each one was brought into my life as a gift from my heavenly Father. But so often because of heart issues and unresolved hurts and disappointments I looked to the relationships to fix me, heal me, change me, and comfort me. In my own way I was looking to individuals to perform some major heart surgery in me. For decades I kept asking myself “why” it wasn’t working. Now I know! God, in His loving kindness will not allow it to work. He knows if I can get those kinds of needs met through individuals I will never turn to Him. I will revel in their friendship and keep Him at arms length. So what did He finally do?

Six months ago He changed a relationship that resulted in my being completely devastated. It wasn’t my choice….it was His. He loves me that much! It has taken months to separate the lies from the truth. It has been a time of renewing my mind and reestablishing my heart. He graciously took the idol I had set up in my heart and removed it so that His rightful place could be resumed by Himself. Painful? Yes! Necessary? Yes! I embrace Him like never before.

Father, my idolatry grieved You. The removal of my idol crushed me. Thank you for drying my tears, comforting my heart, and renewing my spirit. Amen.

Resorting To Time With Abba

If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. Psalm 94:18,19

Have you ever had a time when God allowed you to internalize the truth of this passage? Often times, we go through our days feeling our feet give way underneath us and engulfed with numerous anxious thoughts. I am always amazed how much God desires to hold us and settle us. And His desire is evidenced in the precious ways He chooses to minister to our very needs.

I just returned from a four day get away with my family and my husband’s family. Our abode was a beautiful cabin overlooking the Ohio River and tucked away in the Hoosier National Forrest. While it was nice to see everyone, my soul hungered for some individual time with God. I was touched to know that those were His sentiments as well!

Each day afforded me the opportunity to take a two-hour solitary walk with my Abba Father! With walking stick in hand, CD player, numerous Cds, and a hungry heart I found a road that not only led me through some beautiful scenery but right to the heart of God as well. While I listened to music, poured out my heart, shed a few tears, and took in the beauty, God began to settle many internal issues for me.

I am back home now with a refreshed spirit, renewed mind, and a well rested body! God has given me new direction, new focus, and a new outlook on this journey. He was even gracious enough to birth two new ideas in me that I am very excited about.

So how do I continue to bask in this kind of relationship with God? I must continue to allow Him to lead me into quiet moments with Himself. I want this passage to become so embedded in my memory that it becomes my daily heart experience. I must continue to review His lovingkindness and delight in His consolations. Take in His Word and allow it to saturate me.
Listen to music that expresses my worship of Him. Learn to speak and listen in my prayers. That is His heart’s cry as well!

Father, thank you for turning my walks into such special times with You. May my delight in You never stop! Amen!

A Tender Comforter

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. Isaiah 66:13a

I love how God will often use an example we understand in order to help us comprehend His truths. Sometimes He will compare Himself to a father, a shepherd, a potter, a teacher, a friend, a king, or any number of individuals. Each one displays God’s role in our life and how He interacts with us. When He chooses aspects of a mother we are able to see His heart of tenderness. For those of us who had mothers who comforted us in times of need, this verse will touch us in significant ways. It is hard to imagine a mother who never offered comfort to her child. If that is the case for some, they may need to think of another person of comfort in their life to help this verse make sense. But whatever the case may be most people can picture the scene of a mother comforting a child.

I find it interesting that when a child is hurting and comes to his mother she instinctively puts her arms around him and begins to speak in hushed tones. Her body language and voice are meant to sooth him and ease the pain. Like those magical kisses that are meant to make his sore spot feel better, a mother’s hug and gentle words reach his spirit.

God wants us to see that He stands ready, willing, and able to do that for us as well. He longs for us to come to Him for comfort. He sees our tears, knows our place of pain, hears our cries, and is aware of what has brought it all on. Whether it is due to loss, hardship, disappointment, or even consequences for wrong doing, He always extends His offer of comfort.

When I am hurting (for whatever reason) the things I desire are alleviation of my grief, loss, or trouble, to receive strength and hope, to once again have a sense of well being, and to be soothed. I want to know that the one comforting me can understand how I am feeling. Their empathy and compassion will usually be in proportion to their own experience with pain and their measure of love for me. Since Jesus experienced more suffering in this world than I will ever personally know for myself and because He loves me with an everlasting love who better to seek comfort from?

Father, I know my tears are precious to You. And while friends will certainly be used by You to comfort me in many ways, it is You I desire now. Amen.

Sheep, Branches, and Clay

Yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter, we are all the work of Your hands. Isaiah 64:8

God’s Word is filled with imagery. He knows we appreciate pictures. Tell me something and I might get it. But show me a picture and I will take hold of the concept for sure. Here are a few examples that God gives me as pictures from Scripture. You are the sheep, I am the Shepherd. I am the vine, you are the branches. And now, we are the clay and He is the Potter.

As my shepherd, He guides, protects and knows me by name. I am not a lost face in the crowd to Him. He claims me as His own and knows everything about me. He is aware of my tendencies to wander and always searches for me when I do. Just reviewing Psalm 23 in my mind assures me of His personal involvement in my life.

As the vine He is my life line. I am connected to Him and draw my spiritual sustenance from Him. Life flows from Him to me to produce fruit. How true His Words that without Him I can do nothing.

Finally, a picture of a potter with clay. He formed me in my mother’s womb and promises to continue His work in me through to completion. He is shaping my life into a specific vessel. His tools for shaping me vary. There are times He uses people, circumstances, books, nature, music, or trials to bring about a result in me. But above all, is His Spirit and His Word that can produce the most change.

I am struck today by all that clay does not do. It does not place itself in the potter’s hand or on the potter’s wheel. It does not determine what it will be made into or the process used to get it there. It is simply chosen. How well will I do today at entrusting myself to His hands to work in me? How well will I do at following my Shepherd and being attached to my Vine? It is my desire to be malleable , obedient, and connected with my heavenly Father.

He is aware of my flaws. He has already designed His purposes for me today. Between now and when I retire for the evening change in me will take place. May I realize that nothing will happen by accident today. God is passionate about His involvement in my life. Absolutely nothing will take Him by surprise. It is all “Father filtered” as a friend has said.

Father, I trust and look forward to what You have planned for me today. May I not miss anything You desire to show me! Amen.