Finding Me

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
Psalm 139:8 NKJV

There was a lot of discussion about Halloween today and whether or not it is Christian to participate in celebrations, etc. I used to take a hard line against it - I wouldn't participate in anything having to do with it until about 10 years ago. 

I still don't celebrate the dead or glorify evil or evil spirits or give satan any honor. However, I realized that as part of God's church, I am commissioned to go out into the highways and byways of life. I am to go and make disciples. I am to take the Good News of the Gospel to a lost and dying world. Any opportunity and every opportunity to offer salvation. I chose this Scripture to dwell on today because I was reminded that Jesus didn't find me in the church. He was out in the world searching for me and He found me. No matter where I am, no matter where you are, He will find you.

So now I buy candy and when I hand it out, I include one of my favorite, little illustrations:

The question was asked:
'What is it like to be a Christian?'
The answer was given, “It is like being a pumpkin.
God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.
Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed, then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.”

It helps me to provide an opportunity to point to Jesus - right where they're at. Just like He found me.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You that You never leave us nor forsake us. Thank You that wherever we go, You are always right there. Your Word encourages us always, You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! But I praise You for it and ask that You continue to provide the opportunity to offer salvation in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorite - Earth-Shaking Power of Praise

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 
Acts 16:25-26 NLT

Paul and Silas had been falsely accused, then stripped and beaten (verse 23 states severely beaten), then locked into stocks in the inner dungeon... BUT at midnight, they were praying and singing hymns and their very captive audience was listening. 

No one in that prison wanted to be there! They all wanted out, but there was nothing they could do - especially in the inner dungeon with their feet locked in the stocks. There were no lights, it was filthy. Historians tell of the deplorable conditions and yet, there sat Paul and Silas - in the midst of it all - praying and singing hymns to God. The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people. Matthew 18:20 reads,  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (NKJV) And everyone around them was listening. 

When the earthquake happened, the Bible tells us that the chains of EVERY prisoner fell off. EVERY prisoner. They were ALL set free. Plus, the jailer and his entire household learned and embraced the Good News that very night. So even those who were bound by chains that could not be seen were set free.

What is it that binds us? What keeps us from praying and singing to God? What do we allow to keep us from praising our God and getting into His presence? Whatever it is can be broken by the very act of worship to our God! IN the midst of the trial, when life seems so dark and no way out, we must be disciplined to pray and praise. It has earth-shaking power to get us into God's presence and to be set free.

Prayer:

Father,
          Keep us accountable to discipline ourselves to pray and praise You in, during, and through the storms of life. For our circumstances do not change who You are and how worthy of praise You are. Thank You for coming to see about us, God. Help us to remember that our words, our actions, can cause us to be bound or can set our deliverance through the earth-shaking power of praise. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Friends' Favorites - Update: No Change

For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.  Hebrews 13:7-8 The Message

Change. 
Our perception of it largely depends on the circumstances. Some things desperately need to change. Some qualify more under the old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" - in other words, don't change something just for the sake of change. There are those who are great proponents for change. Others hate it. Sometimes, sadly, we get comfortable in a situation that DOES qualify as broken and needs to be fixed, but we're content [read complacent] enough to stay in it. Again, it all depends on the circumstances.

What about the circumstances of our lives that may not change? What about those times when no matter what we do, say, pay, or pray, nothing changes? What about when we cry out as David cried, "How long, O Lord?" Do we trust God when nothing changes? Does God seem less than God to us when the night seasons of life are prolonged? 

Circumstances of this life don't change God. Like our Promise for Today reads, ...yesterday, today, tomorrow, He's always totally himself. God doesn't change. 

However, KNOW THIS - while God Himself does not change, that does NOT mean He's not doing anything. Like the song says, "Even when I don't see it, You're working! Even when I don't feel it, You're working!" He's always BEING God - our Father, the Lord, our Provider, our Healer, our Banner, our Redeemer, our Peace. God our Shepherd, our Righteousness, our Sanctifier, the Most High, the Waymaker... shall I go on?

So your update for today? Your circumstances WILL change because of the God who NEVER changes.

Prayer:

Father,
        We choose to be thankful in all circumstances, for this is Your will for us who belong to Christ Jesus. We know our circumstances will change, and we are so grateful that You do not. Keep us ever mindful of this great Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - What Lies Ahead

And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Acts 20:22-24 NLT

Paul had his priorities completely in order. Nothing else mattered to him except to do the will of God. Whatever it took, his life included. Throughout the Book of Acts, we read of the confrontations, the averted confrontations and the escapes. His companions didn't want anything else bad to happen to him. They'd seen him stoned and whipped and imprisoned. In the next chapter, they beg him not to go to Jerusalem, but he could not be deterred. Paul was as dogged in his mission to spread the Gospel of Jesus as he was in his former pursuit and persecution of Christians.

When something bad happens, we always want to know why. If it happens to someone we know, most of us think it isn't right or fair. Human nature always seeks the path of least resistance. However, the truth is that there is no strength built unless there is resistance - something to push against - both in the natural and in our Christian walk.

Oftentimes, it is our greatest struggle that becomes our greatest testimony and an even greater witness to those around us. We don't always know what lies ahead, but God does. And He is trustworthy.

Prayer:

Father,
We pray as Jesus prayed, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Help us to stay focused on YOUR purpose for our lives while on the earth. Help us to see past the circumstances to Your perfect will, no matter what lies ahead. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - As Long as Life Lasts

Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.
Hebrews 6:11 NLT

Sometimes, life is VERY hard. I won't even attempt to qualify that statement - I don't think it's necessary. If, for any length of time, you've drawn breath while on this earth, you've hit at least one really hard time.

And while it's true that everyone reacts or responds differently, I have to say unequivocally, I have NO idea how people survive such times if they don't have Christ in their life.

If Christ is not in you - if He is not your hope of glory - your Healer - your Deliverer - your Provider and Friend, how do you get through impossible times? How are you comforted when there is no comfort for the pain in your soul? How long do you stay sane through the onslaught if you don't have the mind of Christ? How long do you have hope enough to want to live when you have no hope of eternal life in Christ?

What does this have to do with our text for today? What jumped out at me in this Scripture is the phrase as long as life lasts...

How long do you continue to love the unloveable? How long do you continue making the right choices even in the midst of unbelievable adversity? How long do you hold on to the promises that you might not yet see? How long do you keep fighting for Truth? How long do you keep standing with nothing but the Word of God to surround you in the fire? How long?!?

AS LONG AS LIFE LASTS... that's how long. Don't you quit! Don't you dare give up!

Prayer:

Father,
          We pray according to Your Word - You have given both Your promise and Your oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for You to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to You for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. We hold to You, Lord, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorite - A Bout with Doubt

I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by.
And in your anger, remember your mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2 NLT

The Book of Habakkuk is about the questions of man and the answers of God. This prophet is the one who asked why the wicked prosper when the righteous stand to lose it all, and God basically tells him to just wait... Habakkuk is a prophet and yet he questioned God.

Zechariah - who was he? Luke 1:5-7 tells us, When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. He was a priest and both he and his wife were righteous in God's eyes! But when the angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah to tell him that they would have a son, Zechariah doubted him.

Zechariah's son, John, cousin to Jesus, chosen forerunner of the Messiah, sent to prepare the way of the Lord, suffered a bout with doubt. The only prophet to actually see the Messiah in the flesh, and yet when overwhelmed with the circumstances of life, he questioned Christ. 

We all have times when we struggle with the overwhelming odds of life. The times where it feels like God is not doing what He said, or not answering our prayers. However, the Truth is God's time is not measured the same as ours. Don't be discouraged. Don't turn away from God in your most desperate times. The common thread in these mighty men of God is they ran TO God, not away from Him. And THAT is how to win the bout with doubt.

Prayer:

Father,
          We thank You for including examples of human frailty in Your Word - to teach us, to encourage us, to get us through. You have truly provided for our every need. What an amazing God You are! Help us to see You and trust You for who You truly are. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

It's on Us

A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”
2nd Samuel 15:13 NLT

The book of 2nd Samuel relates many horrible tragedies involving David's children. This one of compounded betrayal is painful to even read... While David was a man after God's own heart, he was not a perfect man. And while he was forgiven, there were still consequences. 

I will not sit in judgment, but I will inspect the fruit. We can have a great relationship with the Lord, but if we don't teach our next generations... 

If we don't offer them a way out of the world's woes - and I don't mean buying them out of trouble - I mean to teach them that there is a sanctuary in a battle-weary existence, that there is forgiveness for repentance, that we CAN overcome life's worst, but only through Christ. Only through turning to God or turning back to Him. It's not enough that they know OF Him; they must KNOW Him. 

Set the example. Live for the Lord, and NEVER stop praying for them no matter how battle-weary we may be! In Isaiah 54, we're told all our children shall be taught by the Lord. It's on us to make sure they know who He is.

Prayer:

Father,
         Forgive us where we have failed. We pray that You will redeem us, our children, our loved ones. We pray that Your light so shines from within us that those You have given us are drawn to You. We pray more of You, Lord; less of me. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Survey Says...

We're studying 2nd Samuel in our Life Group right now. We SOAP on the Scriptures as we work our way through. SOAP is an acronym for Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. It's an awesome time of sharing. There are 12 ladies in our group and often, three or four may pick the same passage to SOAP on and yet it's always amazing how God will speak individually to each through His Word. These women hear the Lord and I am humbled by the insight they share. 

Tonight, our friend, Linda, shared one that really struck a chord with our group. I asked her permission to share it on this blog, so what follows is from Linda's SOAP. Thank you, Linda!

When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. “Is the child dead?” he asked.
“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”
Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate.
2nd Samuel 12:19-20 NLT

David had been warned that his child would die. He fasted and prayed hoping that God would spare his child. When God still said "No" and David's child died, David cleaned up and went to worship God.

My question to myself is, "Am I prepared to worship God even if His answer is no?" There are no heavenly customer service surveys saying "On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest, how would you rate God's answer?" Or "On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest, how would you rate God's response time to your prayers?"

Prayer:

Lord, 

        You are to be worshiped and praised always. Let me remember that praise and worship are based on relationship with You and who You are; not on how I feel or if my prayers were answered to my satisfaction.

In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

The King's Counsel

But when David’s ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, their master, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the city so they can come in and conquer it!” So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.
2nd Samuel 10:2c-4 NLT

David had only attempted to return the loyalty of King Nahash - one king to another - to offer condolences at the time of his death, but David's actions were egregiously misinterpreted.

Hanun's council of commanders gave him the wrong counsel. When he realized how angry David was, Hanun became more defensive and set himself for battle. He even went so far as to hire 43,000 additional men to fight. Forty-three thousand! And that was only for the first defensive round. They hired still more for the next battle - one in which 40,700 of Hanun's warriors were killed.

I wonder what would have happened if Hanun had admitted his mistake in following the wrong counsel, humbled himself to David and made restitution to those he had shamed, then tried to seek peace...  I'm inclined to believe that David would have forgiven him because David would have sought the counsel of God. After all, he often liked to show and share the kindnesses of God. 

How often do we misinterpret someone's actions toward us, seek ungodly counsel, then get angry and vindictive? How long do we carry a grudge or some form of unforgiveness? Do we "hire" others to be angry with us?

Whose counsel will you follow?

Prayer:

Father,
          We choose to walk in forgiveness rather than bear the wrath of unforgiveness. Open our hearts to hear and follow only the counsel from the King of kings. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Land of Nothing

The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”
2nd Samuel 9:3a NLT

You might know the story. Mephibosheth was Jonathon's son; Saul's grandson. At five years of age, he was crippled when his nurse picked him up but fell with him while fleeing for their lives when she heard that both Jonathan and Saul were dead. She had reason to fear; it was customary at that time to kill all the descendants of an embattled king.

Years later, David recalled his covenant with Jonathan and sought to show God's kindness to anyone who was still alive. In this passage (and even further on in 2nd Samuel), Mephibosheth is the epitome of humility and brokenness. Because he was crippled in both feet, he would forever need someone to help him. Once a prince, they found him living in the land of Lo Debar - which defined means pastureless, land of nothing.

Isn't that like many of us? We think we have it all and then life takes a turn that we never saw coming and we are left broken whether spiritually, physically, emotionally, or even financially.

The Truth is without Christ, we have nothing. We are in a modern Lo Debar.

However, when the King seeks you out, you will eat with Him at His table. You will be cared for and redeemed. Every provision will be made for you. You will be restored. Don't assume it should be your birthright. Our only birthright as sinners is death, hell, and the grave, but thank God! We have been redeemed. Stay humble before your God and you will live as heirs with Christ.

Prayer:

Father,

Thank You for loving us first - for seeking and saving the lost, which we were. Thank You for taking our brokenness and redeeming us, restoring us. Let us never lose sight of all You have done, all You are doing, and all You will continue to do until the last day. We know that You have begun a good work in us and will complete it for Your glory. Give us the strength and courage to finish our part. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Permanently

What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God, just as I am. You’ve done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are—out of your very heart!—but you’ve let me in on it.
2nd Samuel 7:20-21 The Message

Before Christ's sacrifice on Calvary. Before His never-ending Grace poured out. Before all the New Testament promises we sing and cling to. 

In spite of our sin. In spite of our unbelief. In spite of all the mistakes we make and heights we cannot attain on our own.

Not because of our earthly heritage - great or orphaned. Not because of any great deeds we have or have not completed. Not because of who we are - in any way, shape or form...

Before the foundation of the world, He knew us. All our frailty, all our failures, all we will ever do wrong. Every sin we will ever commit, unknowingly or knowingly. And yet if we believe His Word, our eternity is secure in Him. Permanently. Because of who He is and has always been...

He is I AM. He who was, and is, and is to come! 

Prayer:

Father,
         We pray as King David prayed, Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You’ve already as much as said that you would, Master God! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Think It Not Strange

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
1st Peter 4:12 NLT

It feels like forever since I've been able to be on here. Somehow last month, I pulled something in the middle of my back which also affected my right arm, making it extremely painful to use the mouse and keyboard. It's still painful, but it is healing; just taking much longer than I thought it would. 

I will say, though, that this truly has been a spiritual refining process with lots of time to think and time to listen without a lot of distraction. My prayer has been that I would learn whatever it is I should learn in the process, but of course, I wanted to learn it much more quickly! 

I am not saying that God did this to me; I am just emphatically stating that the Word declares ALL things work together for good - good AND bad. It does NOT say only good things work together for our good...That has been a major part of the learning. The Word says they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength (KJV); not "they who try to rush God so He'll do all things within their desired timeframe and schedule".

Teach me, Lord, to wait.

Prayer:

Father,
         Thank You for being our Healer. Thank You that ALL things work together for our good. Thank You for Your Word that declares You give power to the weak and strength to the powerless. And that those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. Father, we choose to trust You and wait with patience for Your promises to manifest strength and complete healing. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

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