susan.................livingston

Thank God It's Not Friday

2012-01-18T16:04:00.000-08:00

Whew! It's hump day, only two more days until the weekend! Does your week seem to be filled with waiting for the weekend? Do you say things like, "If I could just make till Friday..."? We have Monday morning blues, hump day on Wednesday and then we declare TGIF at the end of the week. Why? What makes our weekends so much better? Is it just because we sleep late and don't have to work? If you're like me, you end up getting up early anyway and aren't our weekends just as busy as our week? We spend time looking forward, focused on tomorrow, forgetting to enjoy today so that by the time we get to the weekend we've missed opportunities all week to tap into God's goodness.
Twice the Bible tells us to 'sing and proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day' (1Chron. 16:23 & Psalm 96:2). Have you spent any time today singing and proclaiming the good news of His salvation? If we focus on Him then we'll know what He has for us today and we won't miss out. If we ask, the LORD is faithful to open our eyes to new and glorious things but we have to be willing to ask and we must 'be still and know I am' in order to hear His voice. Psalm 118:24 reminds us, "this is the day the LORD has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." We've sung that verse dozens of times but how often do we do it? Did you thank Him that He gave you life today? Are you glad to be moving, breathing, living?
If you'll notice the verse says, we will rejoice which indicates that rejoicing is a choice, an act of our will. It's not something that just comes naturally or happens upon us. We have to apply ourselves! How many of you have ever woken up with a song running through your head? Listen the next time that happens. Zephaniah 3:17 says that, 'He rejoices over us with singing' but often, the only time we can hear Him is when we are sleeping. God wants us to be happy, whether our circumstances dictate it or not. He has saved us from the pit of hell! The Creator has given us life because He loves us. He has redeemed us and healed us because He loves us. He has provided for us, sanctified us and set us upon a rock because He loves us! I could go on and on for any one of those reasons would be enough reason to sing of His salvation but for most of us He has done so many things there is not room or time enough to list them all.
How much do you think your life would change if from this day forward you made it a point to rejoice each day and proclaim the good news of His salvation? How about a "Thank you Jesus I am alive today!"? You know what else Zephaniah said? He said, "God is in our midst." That's not very far away at all. Think about it. Be still and listen. He loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) - share it.

Joys of Transition

2012-01-09T20:47:00.000-08:00

Aaarrrggghhh - can you just feel it - our bodies groaning as He stretches and molds us into His new creation? Does that sound familiar? Feel like you're stretched tight enough to snap? Ah, the joys of transition. Last week we discussed our choices during transition - do we choose to avoid the tough spots or do we choose to pursue God at all costs? This week I've made some tough decisions as the LORD showed me aspects of myself that are not very pleasant. It seems that no matter how much I work on my character, how much I submit to the process of sanctification there is still much work to be done.
As I was sitting before the LORD this morning He brought two scriptures to mind: Genesis 18:14 and Isaiah 12:2. I spend quite a bit of time with Sarah and Abe and this verse in particular seems to keep cropping up. Genesis 18:14 say, "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life and Sarah shall bear a son." The Lord is reminding me that He will do what He says He will do. That lurking fear of doubt seems to hover as we wait on His promises and wonder if we have been forgotten. But, He wants us stay focused on Him and on what He has done. He is no respecter of persons, what He has done for me or for others He will do for you. His greatest concern is our welfare and our relationship with Him.
This verse reassures me that God will come at His appointed time and there will be a birthing. A birthing of a new life in Him as we recognize that His way is the only way. Historically, the church grew exponentially under the threat of persecution. Our culture is doing it's best to make those who follow Christ as the bad guys, who are 'intolerant' of immoral and antisocial behavior. Like we're supposed to be tolerant of infanticide and the destruction of the family? The media bias against Christians is glaringly apparent and there are more stories each week of injustices against religious organizations and individuals. We can use pornography to sell blue jeans and it's no big deal but put up a sign that says "Jesus saves" and we're intolerant! Fortunately, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction (another one of those cool things God created but man takes credit for 'discovering") so the more our flesh laden culture screams against the 'intolerance' the more the church will grow!
Thank God He is birthing something new! A new cry of holiness, a new cry of integrity, a new cry of Help us O God lest we perish! This is a year of release, response and restoration. God is releasing His Spirit, how will we respond? If we respond in the right way, He will bring restoration - restoration of the family, of the home and of the church!
Until then, He gives us scriptures like Isaiah 12:2, "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for Yah, the Lord, is my strength and my song, He has also become my salvation." Salvation is mentioned twice so we will understand that He is unchanging. He is my salvation now and He is my salvation in the future. I won't be afraid because I will trust in Him. Thank you LORD that you are saving me from a life of mediocrity in my flesh and teaching me to reach for the higher things. I will wait on You, LORD. I will make myself an instrument of Your praise.

Transitional Choices

2012-01-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2012! I think there were quite a few of us who were happy to see 2011 depart! First, everyone take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Now exercise your facial muscles by turning the ends of your lips upward into a smile, look heavenward and say, "Thank you God for getting me through last year! Whew, I'm glad it's over and I trust You that 2012 will be a banner year for both of us!" Finally, give a shout of praise and a loud AMEN!
Okay, let's look back and get our bearings. We need to see where we have been in order to know where we are going. The number eleven is symbolic for "transition". Would you describe 2011 as a year of changes, maybe feeling stretched, possibly overwhelmed or tempted to quit? It's not unlike what happens in a hospital delivery room. In childbirth, a woman goes through several stages of labor in order to prepare for birth, including the final 'transition' stage. During transition, mom has to focus all her energy into pushing the baby through the pelvis and out into the world. This stage is the most strenuous and vulnerable time of the birthing process. It is imperative she keep her mind on the goal, using proper breathing to stay oxygenated and pushing with correct muscles in order to get the baby out.
We, too, have to keep our mind on the goal. What is our purpose? What are we here for? If you're a Christ follower then your purpose is to have an ongoing, growing relationship with the Father. You exist to glorify Him. Where has your focus been? Faith trials require us to believe what we don't see. "But my eyes are on you, O God; in You I take refuge" ~ Psalm 141:8. Did you find yourself holding your breath last year? Or did it seem as if you could barely catch your breath before being hit with something else? Could it be that God was teaching you how to breathe properly? Did He point to the Holy Spirit and say breathe deep of Me that you might have life? "It is the Spirit who gives life" ~ John 6:63. Were your spiritual muscles put to the test? Have you ever noticed that we reach out more to God during the difficult times? "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect" ~ Psalm 18:32.
Transition can be a time of darkness and uncertainty. It is where push comes to shove and we have to decide whether to press in, like the sons of Gad in 1 Chronicles 12 or be like the rich young ruler and walk away, considering the price too high. Transition is a work out but like any workout contains great benefits. It conditions us for the future so that be can "be strong and of good courage, knowing that God will never leave us or forsake us" ~ Josh 1:9. Transition helps our spiritual muscles to understand that our sustenance comes from John 6:33 "for the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and brings life to the world." Transition brings new life from the darkness and discomfort of the birth canal into the light and freedom of delivery. In the words of Joel 2:32 "it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mt. Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls."
If "transition" describes your 2011, consider yourself called, but remember Matthew 22:14, "for many are called but few are chosen." My decision focuses on Peter's declaration, "but you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light."
Choose wisely and choose well. Our life is ours to do with as we will, He gave us a choice. "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!" ~ Joshua 24:15

Send the Rain and Mess Me Up

2011-12-08T05:46:00.000-08:00

I've always kind of taken rain for granted. Living in southeast Texas, rain is a frequent visitor until this year. We've seen widespread drought across the state with scorching temperatures that have sent us from mosquito infested sauna to sun baked desert. The lack of water has resulted in a myriad of problems from browning landscape to the loss of old trees, crop failures with resultant rising costs of hay and a glut of cows being sold because ranchers cannot afford the price of feed. We feel it right in our pocketbook as the cost of food, including beef rises dramatically. Our water bill increases as access to water is restricted and the cost of tree removal skyrockets as mulch yards can no longer handle the volume of dead wood. As the effects of a physical drought ripple across the landscape it echoes the spiritual drought which has affected our society from the halls of government to the halls of the family.
The drought in the land is indicative of a spiritual thirst for God, we need His presence. For too long now the knowledge of man, even in the church, has exalted itself against the knowledge of God. We have huge volumes of knowledge about God but our understanding and personal relationship with Him have suffered as a result. We talk to God but how many of us listen? We know a few scriptures but do we know His character? Does our life testify to that relationship?
Are we thirsty enough yet that we're willing to dig some deep wells as Isaac did? Are we willing to keep digging until we get to the water? Will we revisit the former ways so that we recognize the Holy Spirit and allow Him free reign (rain)? Or will we allow the knowledge of man to exalt itself against the knowledge of God and confine Him to the box of our choosing?
How do you define the Holy Spirit? Do you set the parameters on what the Holy Spirit can or cannot do? Or do you say to Him, "Teach me Your ways O God" as the psalmist did? Are we to set limits on God?
You may want to ask yourself that question now so you don't miss out on what He's doing. Remember, God is always much bigger than our finite, human minds can grasp. Do you want to serve a God that is limited by your human capacity or are you willing to let Him ruin you and your preconceived notions? The Holy Spirit is God! We cannot relegate a third of who God is into a box and leave Him on the shelf. We must let Him out.
Hear my cry O Lord - send Your rain, mess me up for You O God! Wash away the dirt of my existence and bring new life to this dry and thirsty land. Ruin my human limitations and grow me into the supernatural! Mess - me - up!

No Waste

2011-11-26T10:25:00.000-08:00

"For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle and garments rolled in blood will be used for burning and fuel of fire." ~~ Isaiah 9:5
The first time the Lord gave me this verse, I was at a loss in understanding His message to me. But now I declare, YES! Because now I know, all of the toil and effort that went into this past season of winning the battle against my flesh will be used to fuel the fire of His presence within me. God teaches us to be a good steward because He is one himself, He wastes nothing. Everything that we submit to Him, the blood shed from the tearing away of those things that we hold dear, the tears shed as we weep in despair of ever reaching the goal and the shoes that are worn from walking, walking and walking in the path that He has laid before us. All of it, every single bit will be used to His glory.
Just think of all the things we have laid down and understand that with those things, like pride, fear and stubbornness out of the way, we have more room for Him and His fire! From the fire of His refinement to the fire of His presence we must be tempered before we can stand the heat!
There is a heat that comes from obedience, in walking His way. Jesus felt it when he was rejected, scorned and mocked. If we are not tempered in the fire and do not suffer the pounding of the blacksmith's anvil with the gentle taps of the goldsmith's mallet we will not hold up when we are unsheathed for battle.
An improperly tempered sword is unreliable in battle and likely to splinter or break in clashes with the enemy. But how encouraging to know that He will use every bit of our time invested in Him and not a bit will go to waste. All of the pain, all of the tears, everything that we wore during that time fuels us to press on and in, to cross over into that new place He has for us. Do you want be used by Him to defeat the enemy and take back what has been stolen? Then don't hesitate to His forging a new life for you. Cry out to Him, 'temper me O Lord' and submit to His preparation. You won't be disappointed.

Don't Forget Him!

2010-07-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah 2:6 "Neither did they say, 'Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of desert and pits, through a land of drought and the shadow of death, through a land that no one crossed and where no one dwelt.'"
We have forgotten our roots and where we came from. We have forgotten those who sacrificed much to accomplish the dreams given to them by God. We have forgotten those who established laws and foundations that we may be free from tyranny and anarchy. We have forgotten those who laid down their lives for a cause worth believing in. We have forgotten Who it is that gets us through the troubled times in our life. Over and over again the Israelites would be rescued by God only to walk away from Him later. How easily we forget what the Lord has done. We are quick to call for help, but are we as quick to celebrate the success, giving credit where credit is due? He rescues us and then we walk away - believing our own press about how great we are as man that we don't need God. Complaints and finger pointing flow freely but where is the praise? Where is the remembrance?
It is the responsibility of the parents, biological and otherwise, to share what God has done. Have we shared with anyone lately about the ways God showed up in our life and how He brought us through the tough times? Have we written down our testimonies so they are preserved for posterity and available for others? Have we shared our testimony with our kids, our friends, our coworkers?
We've all been in desert places thirsting for something deeper. We've all dwelt in the pit of despair because of a broken heart or addiction. We've all experienced feeling alone, abandoned or afraid; times when we would rather give up than continue. Who was there with us during those times? GOD! In Joshua 1:9 He commands us to be strong and courageous because He will never leave us or forsake us. He is the one friend we can always depend on, from whom we can draw strength for the courage to continue and the reassurance that we are not alone.
It's not too late - write down your testimony and share it with someone today. Share about the good things God has done in your life. The church has become just like Miriam, full of pride and leprous spots because our mouths speak words of complaint and judgement instead of praise and blessing. Remember Him! God has done amazing and miraculous things! The more we share the good news, the more we see it and the more people we impact. We have a powerful weapon at our fingertips and on the tip of our tongue but we're so hesitant to use it. Develop a new habit today - remember what God has done and speak of it. Sit with your family or friends and share His faithfulness. What a great icebreaker or conversation for mealtime. What did God do for you today? What is the biggest thing God has ever done in your life?
We should praise Him everyday & in the process He changes our hearts to be filled with gratitude instead of complaints. Deuteronomy 6:9 commands us to speak of Him at all times, diligently teaching it to our children and writing it on our doorposts and gates. Get busy - start posting about how He delivered you! His faithfulness is worth sharing!
The time is fast approaching when the Spirit of the Lord will rise up as a mist from the earth, ready to water the whole face of the ground with His presence. Some will be so convicted of their sin that they want to die. Be one to celebrate His coming! Dress yourself with a garment of praise and thanksgiving that you welcome Him with open arms!

The Valley of Rephaim

2010-06-07T17:38:00.000-07:00

This is a place we must all go on our journey with God, at some time or other. It is a place where circumstances loom like mountains: surrounding us, hemming us in and shutting out the light. The 23rd Psalm refers to it as the valley of the shadow of death. There are definitely days in this valley where death seems preferable, almost imminent but in reality it is a place where we learn to put to death those things that don't give life. Things like bitterness, anger, our flesh, fear and mistrust, doubt and sin. It is a place called the Valley of Rephaim. The word rephaim means (invigorating) giant but comes from a root word meaning to mend by stitching, to cure, to make whole. It is the same word we get Jehovah Rapha (God our Healer) from. The Valley of Rephaim is a place where giants like to set up camp so they can threaten and intimidate us. But the Valley of Rephaim is also a place where God shows up as Healer. It is the place where He stitches together those pieces of our heart that have torn loose or come unraveled. It is a place where He walks with us & as we are faithful to confront those giants He brings healing. That valley is where we become invigorated by conquering and strengthened by the knowledge that God is trustworthy.
In Genesis 15:20 the Rephaim are listed as part of the inheritance we are to possess as descendents of Abraham. Notice that we are the ones to possess the giants, not the other way around! Abraham was a friend of God, his faith was accounted to him as righteousness because He believed God. Abraham had to wait quite a while to see the fulfillment of God's promise but it was in the waiting that God took him through the Valley of the Rephaim to confront his own giants. Through it all God built his faith until Abraham had complete trust in Him.
David had to route out the Philistines from the Valley of Rephaim several times. Each time the Philistines showed up, David went straight to the Lord but it wasn't until the Lord opened a new strategy to him that he was able to completely drive them out (1 Chronicles 14). It took perseverance on David's part and a continual seeking of the will of the Father. David was determined and he continued to press in. In that valley, God appeared to David as Master of the Breakthrough and David built an altar there to worship the One who was worthy.
Beloved, God has a place of breakthrough for you too. Just keep walking and on the way He will build your faith and you will see Him as friend. Jesus will reveal Himself there and whatever giants you confront you may be sure that He is with you. Don't stop and don't turn back but just keep seeking Him and believing that He will bring the breakthrough. See it through to the end, declaring His glory and testifying to His faithfulness.
Isaiah 17:5 "It shall be as when the harvester gathers the grain, and reaps the heads with his arm; it shall be as he who gathers grain in the Valley of Rephaim." The harvest in the valley is giant indeed. Blessings on your journey and here's to your breakthrough!

My (silly) Intro to Trust

2010-05-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

On the day that I was born an important discovery was made. I was not a boy. My mother confessed to me later that she entertained the possibility that I had been switched at birth and her real child was somewhere else. All three of my sisters are blond, petite and fair skinned - I have the appearance of having been in the oven a mite too long. A healthy shock of dark hair, an olive tint to my skin and weighing in at a hefty eight pounds set me apart from the others. Yes, I was different than expected.
With this inauspicious beginning, I made my entrance into this world. Of course, the Lord had His plan all along. There was nothing extraordinary about my life - I grew up as many did in that era, eventually married, had a kid and yet, it was increasingly apparent that something was missing. It was only when I met Jesus face to face that the cavern inside was filled and I was forever sold out to being a Christ follower.
Fast forward to 2010: I'm playing Jonah. The Lord has given me an assignment and I'm trying to avoid going to my prayer closet to listen to His voice. Do I feel like Jonah, "O Lord, don't make me go to Ninevah - I might get tortured, mutilated or killed!" Do I understand Gideon's anxiety, "O Lord, I am so little - are you sure that I am a warrior?" Do I sympathize with Moses and his surely panicked state as he replies, "You want me to speak to WHO?" As the tears threaten to spill over and a cloud of foreboding settles upon me, my mind is distracted by wondering, "What will I be required to do now?" Then, I hear the gentle whisper of His voice questioning, "Don't you trust Me?" And I remember that I have an enemy that wants to keep me apart from the love of Christ.
Ah, the life of a Christ follower. Thank God that He invented laughter so that we can laugh at the face of the enemy and at ourselves later. What seemed so appalling at first glance actually turned out to be a great blessing. Yes, He does meet us where we are and He'll come to me today, with love, encouragement and mercy. So, why do I hesitate? Why do I run from an invitation to spend time with the King of Kings?
Good grief! It's not a root canal, it's being in the presence of the Creator of the Universe, the One who gave me life, the One who died for me and the Lover of my soul! He is the Almighty One! Yikes, I need to get ready! I better brush my teeth and comb my hair. Oops, too late. He's already seen me. Why hide? He never takes His eye from me and knows exactly what's in my heart. It's His heart to bless us. I'm coming Jesus!
Let me encourage you beloved, run to your prayer closet, pour your heart out to Him (He understands) and see what precious gift He has for you today.
"You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust!"

Hitting the Mark

2010-04-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I agreed to pierce my daughter's ear cartilage. It was not something I had experience with but after watching and reading the directions felt it was within the confines of my ability to perform reasonably well. We set out with all the right equipment: sterile needle, alcohol, potato and even a pen to mark the right spot. We smiled at each other; I took careful aim and wham! It was over. There was blood but most of all there was surprise on the face of my daughter when she asked why I had put the hole so low. I pointed to the mark on her ear and she said, "No Mom, that's a freckle." Yikes! I had missed the mark! I had hit the wrong spot - the real mark was much higher.
Sometimes, no matter how prepared we are and how careful our aim is - we miss the mark. We hit low when we should have reached higher. If that's you today and you are experiencing regrets or reminders of past failure, don't listen to the voice of condemnation but know that God transforms us by the renewing of our mind. He knows we're going to miss the mark - that's why He sent His son to die for us - so that through Christ and His strength we can do all things.
Thankfully, my daughter was forgiving and laughed at my missing the mark. We decide to pray first before trying again. This time, relying on Him I hit the right place; there was little blood and my daughter was happy with her new earring. The Bible says that Jesus was pierced for our transgressions. Won't you let Him pierce your ear today with His voice of love and compassion? Yes, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us but first, we must lift up our voice to Him and ask for His help. Open your ears and listen for His voice. He is with us, to help us hit the right mark.

The Pencil

2010-02-19T05:49:00.000-08:00

Periodically, there are times in my life when I need to be reminded that my walk with the Lord is not really about me at all. The only thing that has gotten me where I am today is the righteousness of Christ. Without it I would still be lost in sin, miserable and looking for something to fill that emptiness inside of me. The circumstances that I walk through are opportunities for God to pour our His grace because as I call upon Him for help, as I rely on Him - my faith increases. It's not about my talent or my strength or my character - it's only about what God does through me. I am more like the pencil that I use to write these very words that I am any power that directs the pencil. The pencil by itself is just a tool to be used when something needs to be created, recorded, or changed.
I'm just a tool to be used when God needs something spoken aloud, something written or something prayed for. The difference being I am not an inanimate object but rather one that willingly offers itself to be used by Him. Just as it is necessary for a pencil to be sharpened, cutting off that which is not useful in order to get to the viable part inside so too the Lord must remove my flesh, shaving it off, turn by turn, in order to access the Spirit beneath so that the writing tip is exposed. Sharp and to the point, just like a sword.
Using the eraser on a pencil is like a picture of my life being turned upside down. As I am feeling shaken & rubbed the wrong way I need to remember that it's so my story can be rewritten. I can't erase the past but I can erase the power it has over my life. So, I choose to put my head down, I choose to let Him be the author & perfecter of my faith and to even feeling rubbed the wrong way so that I can glorify Him.
Philippians 3:9 " and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith."
The Creator could do it on His own, but instead He chooses us to be held in His hand & we are forever changed. May the cry of our heart be "Use me, O God!"

A True Valentine

2010-02-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

What better day than today, February 14 for the Lord to send a valentine to His Bride? What is a valentine anyway but a message from the heart. It is the heart of God for His Bride to know how much love He has for her. Sometimes, the love does not come as we expect - all wrapped up in lace with pretty red hearts on it but instead it comes as an impassioned plea for us to open our eyes to see and understand the love that He has for us. The eyes of our understanding are contained in our Spirit - those who have not invited the Holy Spirit to dwell in them will lack understanding. Likewise, those who refuse to listen to the voice of God, depending instead upon the knowledge of man, will not have understanding. So we need to look with the eyes of our heart and listen with the ears of our Spirit to understand the love of God in this message.
The Lord is about to expose the sin in His church - it is necessary for the spots of dirt to be revealed so that they can be cleansed and healed. As those in prominent positions are exposed it will open a pathway to allow a deeper indwelling of the presence of God that will bring us to our knees in thanksgiving and praise. The knowledge of man has exalted itself against the knowledge of God for long enough and will be consumed by the fire of His presence. His knowledge and understanding is eternal. Messengers have been sent and have been rejected that has caused a grieving of the Holy Spirit at the refusal of man to allow it's flow. Those who have quenched and rejected will see the result of their actions as the word of the Lord consumes us and the famine of His righteousness is revealed. His anger is aroused and the church must come to grips with it's sin. Knowing that He is Redeemer and Restorer allows us the hope of the future. May He redeem and restore as He brings exposure and healing to His bride.
Don't just stand around gazing into heaven or be caught slumbering like the foolish virgins but get ready! Keep your lamp lit with the fire of God inside of you! The sons of Gad (1Chronicles 12) were the first to cross into the Promised Land because they pressed in. I AM COMING, says He, I AM COMING! Prepare ye the way of the Lord and let the church arise to become adorned as His bride with the instruments of praise and the gifts of His Spirit!

A New Year's Resolution

2010-01-14T13:18:00.000-08:00

Leviticus 9:3 "And to the children of Israel you shall speak, saying, 'Take a kid of the goats as a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both of the 1st year without a blemish as a burnt offering.' "
It is the beginning of a new year, a time filled with hope for things to come and relief that other things have passed. It is a time for reflection and a time for resolving. As we move into 2010 I want to offer you some food for thought.
If you're like me you look at a scripture like the one above and say, really Lord? What does that have to do with me today? Are these Old Testament scriptures really applicable today?
Well, let me answer with a resounding affirmative! One of the beautiful aspects of the Hebrew language is the multiple definitions contained in each word with all definitions applicable. For instance, the word kid means shaggy, a he-goat but originates from a word meaning to storm, to shiver and come in like a whirlwind. I'm not going to define all the words here (you can look them up on your own if you like) but I will use the following: kid, lamb, goat, blemish to write my own interpretation of what that scripture says to us today.
It is the storms we go through in life and the sacrifices we make that builds our integrity on the road to righteousness. If we lived in Old Testament times we would be required to sacrifice the blood of an animal in order to worship the Lord - a messy requirement, to be sure. Now, the Lord allows us to worship Him as He walks us through life's messy situations. These situations, whatever the cause, provide opportunities for us to see God face to face and understand more about His character. In turn, we must be willing to offer the sacrifice of ourselves - allow Him to have access to our heart and our flesh, to come to Him in brokenness realizing that He is the Sovereign One. Sovereign: a supreme lord or ruler, one who possesses the highest authority without control, a supreme magistrate.
In Mark 8, Jesus asks the disciples "are your hearts still hardened?" Our hearts become hardened with anger, unbelief, fear, pride and bitterness. He wants us to relinquish our hearts, to allow Him to burn those hard pieces upon His altar and replace them with the love of His Son. Remember Jesus' experience in the Garden of Gethsemane? That's where the real sacrifice took place. That's where Jesus made the mental decision to die for us. If we want to have hearts of love and compassion, if we want to feel His love and grace flow over us, if we want to be made complete, living in dominion and authority then we need to make a decision.
If that's you then take a step up to the altar. Do you have something to burn - something that may have hindered your walk last year? Do you want to live in more freedom for 2010 and beyond? Is the truth whirling around you but you don't want to stop the cycle of self-pity long enough to grab a hold of it? He wants to encompass you in His love, the all consuming, redeeming love that comes only from the Almighty One, the Ancient of Days - the One that was, that is and that forever shall be. Let Him love on you! Step up, step up to the altar of sacrifice and humble yourself at His feet. Decide today. You won't regret it. Lay down your sin, lay down your pride, lay down your brokenness onto the fire of redemption and be free! Live the Life that He has given you - in peace, in authority and in love.

Contending

2009-12-01T06:09:00.000-08:00

In Jude 3 we are exhorted to 'contend earnestly' for the faith. As I was reading over that this morning I began to think of how we have to contend just to maintain our stance of faith. The enemy will use any & every person, place and thing to get us to step away from the position we have taken. Many of those people have great and wonderful intentions. Believing that they know what is best for us or because of their love they don't want to see us struggle. Others are motivated by purely selfish reasons. Whatever the motivation, stand firm! If God has spoken to you, has given you direction and you are walking in obedience then expect opposition, especially from those places where you though you would receive support. Now, don't be disheartened by this, but understand that when God says He will never leave or forsake us, He means it. Therefore, He is with us every step of the way, He will uphold us by His righteous right hand and He knows exactly what we're going through. Lean on those everlasting arms and when you can't take anymore, call upon the name of the Lord! His mercies are new every day! That means we can call upon Him each day for mercy, for what we need - strength, peace, endurance, or perseverance. Notice in the middle of the word perseverance is the word 'sever'? In perseverance we sever that which is holding us back from achieving our objective. Sometimes it takes awhile to sever those ties (when we have to saw through the cords) other times they are cut quickly. Whichever the case may be for you right now, understand it is God that provides the Sword (of the Spirit) that builds righteousness.
The Greek definition of 'contend earnestly' is a combination of 2 words. The first having to do with time and the second includes: to struggle, an assembly, a contest, an effort, an anxiety which stems from a word meaning to lead, bring, drive, go, pass, induce. It is an active process that occurs over time involving struggles that lead us to deeper awareness of who God is. It is a contest fraught with anxiety as we pass through the valley of the shadow of death so we can learn to fear no evil as we enjoy a table prepared for us in the midst of our enemies. It requires an all out effort to remain obedient to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The cool thing is, the struggle only builds us more firmly in our faith. God uses all things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. So, no matter what the enemy sends our way or what we struggle with in our flesh (and we ALL struggle) when we are faithful to walk His way He uses it all for the good. It's a double portion. Not only do we win, but we win with bonus - the removal of our own flesh to be replaced by the Spirit of God! Wow! What a trade off. So, let me encourage you to keep standing. Stand where God has placed you. Stand on the word of God and don't hesitate to remove that which is hindering your progress. Assemble with others, that we may spur one another on to good deeds and keeping the faith.
Thank you for reading. May your holiday season be filled with the true Spirit of Christ and celebrating the awesome wonder of His birth and His sacrifice for us! Susan

Bending the Bow of Peace

2009-10-05T18:52:00.000-07:00

Lately it seems as if I have had a difficult time maintaining my peace. My favorite scripture to quote lately is "great is my peace and undisturbed composure" but I seem to be struggling with the great part. During a recent battle to maintain that peace the Lord answered my cry for help by directing me to a scripture in Joshua Chapter 12 (v.6). The Israelites had conquered the Kings of Og and Sihon and Moses had given their lands to tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh.
We know that peace is a weapon in itself - the peace that comes only from God. The enemy tries to send us in circles of anxiety, taunting us to go from one negative thought to another like a whirling dervish, getting ever more frantic as our minds spiral out of control. But, Jesus said 'My peace I give to you' so how do we get that peace and keep it?
When I looked up the meaning of Sihon and Og, I discovered that the name Sihon means 'tempestuous' and the name Og means 'circle or to gyrate', then I knew I was onto something. So the next question is, if we've conquered Sihon & Og, then why am I going in these circles and where is my peace?
The answer is, of course, always in His word. Lets look at the people that possess the land of Og and Sihon: Reuben, Gad and Manasseh. Being a Reubenite has to do with being a son. We conquer the fear and the anxiety by remembering our 'sonship' in Christ. We are all children of the King and rightful heirs to the inheritance that comes through the blood shed on the cross. We have the same authority and power that Jesus does. We need to remember who we are in Christ and the authority given to us; then we need to use it.
The Gadites were fierce, a war-like tribe that would conquer by crowding upon, by attacking and by pressing in. So let's be Gadites and press in to God. Let's not just lay down and let the enemy rule over us but stand up and fight back! Declare who you are in Christ, declare the things that God has done and that God has promised. Speak His word loudly and clearly over your situation - the devil is not going to hang around if you get on your knees and start to worship the Lord. Turn up the music! God inhabits the praises of His people.
And lastly, remember, when the accuser of the brethren comes to remind you of all the things that you should have, could have or already did do wrong rebuke him! Because you have been forgiven. Jesus died for the remission of your sins and He does not speak in condemnation nor does He accuse. Rebuke the enemy and stand on the rock of Jesus Christ and fight back! We have the power, the authority and the knowledge so let's use it. Bend your bow, shoot back at the enemy by pressing in to God. Take back what was stolen, take back your peace, take back your confidence and RULE! It works.
And Jesus said" Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give it to you. Let your heart not be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
Bending my bow in love and peace! Susan

The Waiting Game

2009-09-02T05:58:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think that the Lord's favorite word to me is "wait". It's always spoken very softly, very gently and with lots of love but the reaction it causes in me cannot always be described as such. I am now at the point where I have "waited" long enough that I understand more about the character of God and why He calls us to wait. You know, when we don't understand something God is faithful to open up the eyes of our understanding if we are patient and listen. Most of the time we don't want to do either. Now, when I hear the word "wait" I pause, take a deep breath and say "yes Lord".
Two insights the Lord has been gracious enough to show me have helped me to understand 'the waiting game'. First, Jesus had to wait too. In Luke Chapter 2:46-49 we see a picture of a 12 year old boy who amazed and astonished the great priests of the temple. At that time, Jesus knew that he had work to do, he even told them 'I must be about My Father's business'. Yet, He had to return to the boondocks of Nazareth to WAIT. So, what did He do in Nazareth as He was waiting besides build furniture? First, He was subject to His parents - He stayed within the lines of authority, He was obedient (v. 51). Second, He grew in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God & man (v. 52). I believe that He grew because He was obedient.
The second insight was found in the Old Testament. In Psalm 37 the word 'wait' occurs 3 times. We are told to 'Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him" (v. 7), then we "shall inherit the earth" (v. 9) and "He will exalt us to inherit the land"(v. 34). That sounds like a direct cause and effect: if we are obedient we will receive the promise. Please note that we don't exalt ourselves but that we allow Him to exalt us.
Waiting is not about sitting around and twiddling our thumbs, it is an active word. In Hebrew it means to twist, to dance, to bind together, to writhe as in the pain of childbirth, to collect and to expect.
In other words, as we 'wait' God twists us more tightly to Him, as we wait He leads us in a dance of celebration of the blessings that He bestows on us, and as we wait He binds His word deep into our hearts. In the waiting there will be painful times as we birth through prayer the new life that He has for us, but too in that birthing, we will collect things along the way, including increased faith, perseverance, and an expectation that comes from the joy of knowing Who God is and how He operates. So, friends, if you're in the waiting game, feeling as if you've been forgotten, be encouraged -you're in good company and remember, it's not about the destination but the journey. Blessings and may His grace shine upon you and give you peace!

Thoughts on Legacy

2009-07-21T19:31:00.000-07:00

Legacy is not about what you leave behind but rather what's in front of you. The word legacy is rooted in the Latin word 'lego' - meaning to send, or bequeath. In the Roman army a legate had command over a thousand men. He had a thousand men to send out in battle. So, my question is: "what are we sending to the people around us?" Today as you are making your way through the challenges of life, what will you send to those who intersect your day? Will you bequeath to them a smile, a pat on the back or an encouraging word? Or will it be the isolation of busyness, the reluctance to reach or the fear of being rejected? The Lord has given us an inheritance to tap into today. It is the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came that we would have life more abundantly! He doesn't want us to hide that inheritance but to share it with those around us. Legacy is not about leading everyone to the Lord ... it's about being Jesus. He offered forgiveness and healing before He offered salvation - so can we. That's part of the abundance - we love because He first loved us. Spread some of that love around. When sombody cuts in front of you in line, bless them! It might be the only blessing they receive this week.
Look at your kids and the kind of legacy you're giving them. Maybe you wish you could have done some things differently? Then, look at the future - isn't it worth investing in? Legacy is about walking in authority and taking back territory - it's our right, it's our purpose, it's our privilege and it's about having life more abundantly. Legacy is about refusing to give up. We are positioned to influence those around us whether they are kids, coworkers, friends or strangers. Do some influencing - be a legacy. Don't just leave one.

Every Man's Prayer

2009-06-26T16:52:00.001-07:00

You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to Myself. ~ Exodus 19:5
Yes, Lord, You have brought me to heights I didn't even know existed - You have cleaned me and redeemed me from my self. You have taught me and loved me and showered me with Your grace; Your longsuffering and Your lovingkindness have wrapped me and surrounded me with a veil of Your mercy and Your goodness. You have taught me how to look afar without losing sight of what is set right in front of me. You have released me into a greater understanding of Your character and brought to life the scriptures that say to seek You with all our heart and we will find You. I have found You! A relentless pursuit of You proved to be my undoing - that finding You means letting go of my self. That the single minded determination to be in Your presence, to keep pushing until I went over the edge - only to fall directly into Your arms. To feel the very breath of Your Spirit cloaking my brokenness in tenderness and love only to bind up the pieces of my broken heart in visions of the joy set before me. That nothing else matters but to be enveloped in Your design for me. To let myself be pressed and molded into a vessel that can be used by You to declare Your glory.
That my shattered dreams offered up to You on the fire of Your sacrifice could bring me such peace knowing that each one was safe in Your nail scarred hands. That you take the dreams of my heart and reweave them into a tapestry that fits like a glove with an open palm to receive Your blessing and is then woven into the lives that surround me. That Your lofty position encompasses my every move, breath and thought yet, You still rejoice over me with singing! You still delight in me despite my failures, my frustrations and my insecurities. You give us such authority but are so understanding when I fail to use it and Your unequaled love washes me clean in the tears of liquid prayers as I bow myself before You once again to whisper, "be it unto me according to Your word."

Give Me My Mountain: Faith vs. Fear

2009-06-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

There are 2 ways we can look at the situations unfolding before us today - with the mind of faith or the face of fear. God is taking all of us to a new place, just as He took Abraham and walked him right off of his map and just as He freed the Israelites from the yokes of slavery into the land of promise. On that road to the Promised Land are some pretty scary sights: seas we have to cross, mountains we have to climb, giants we have to fight and desert places where we hunger and thirst for justice.
Let's look at 2 Scriptures that could provide some keys on the map of our future. In the first picture Moses has led the children of Israel out of Egypt and they are caught between the Red Sea in front of them and the full force of the Egyptian army behind them - rather like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. This is what they say to Moses: 'Is this not the word we told you in Egypt, saying "Let us alone that we might serve the Egyptians"? For it would've been better for us to serve the Egyptians that we should die in the wilderness' (Exodus 14:12). There are some folks that would rather be slaves than live in the faith and freedom that God has for us. Fear of the unknown, fear of change is worse for some people than the known fear of a whip and unending days of drudgery. This is definitely where the enemy wants us because then we are ineffective in the Kingdom. God wants to redeem us from that pit, He wants to set us free to be able to live in the the life that He has ordained for us to have. He sent Jesus to the cross so that we would not have to live in bondage, yet, because He loves us enough to give us free choice, many people choose the pain of slavery.
Compare this to 80 year old Caleb, who after waiting for 40 years in the desert, says to Joshua "Now therefore give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim (giants) were there and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord has said."
Caleb believes what the Lord has said to him. He's believed it for 40 years; he continues to believe it and now even stands on that word, willing to fight for what he believes in! There may be some strongholds that he has to overcome and some giants he has to slay but he knows that the battle is really the Lords. Are we running from battles that Lord has already won? God never said we wouldn't struggle but He did say 'be strong and courageous for I will never leave you or forsake you" (Joshua 1:9)
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! I will declare it over and over, as many times as are necessary to remind me that I am serving the Lord, not the forces of this world. Remember, the Egyptians were a people who glorified death, who lived in darkness and believed they were 'enlightened'. The Israelites had been in bondage so long that they began to worship the same gods as the Egyptians, forgetting that they were 'set apart' that they were chosen ones called to live differently!
Where will you live? Believing that God will part the seas that are before you and destroy the enemy in the process? Will you claim your mountain believing that the giants will be defeated for the glory of God? Or will you continue to build shrines that glorify death, gathering hay and stubble to make bricks that you leave behind?
As for me? I've waited long enough - give me my mountain!

Right and True

2009-05-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you’re standing on shifting sand? Are you reluctant to turn on the news or the computer because the headlines are always screaming ‘fear!’ fear!? The media loves to be the bearer of bad news but there is some good news. In fact, there’s a lot of Good News if we just look in the right place.
Psalm 33:4 says, “For the word of the Lord is right and all His work is done in truth.”
Right does not just mean correct – in the Hebrew it means ‘straight’, ‘even’, ‘pleasant’, and ‘prosperous’. If we move our feet to stand on the word of the Lord then we know that we are standing in an even place, a pleasant place and one that prospers us.
The Lord’s work is done in truth – all of it, not just part of it. It is not deception nor is it necessary to do it in secret because there is no shame in the work of the Lord. Jesus was transparent with His struggles. He wept, He went off to be alone with the Father and He was moved to compassion. His work is done in truth – in other words it is done in firmness, in security and in fidelity. It is established and trustworthy.
As I pondered this scripture some thoughts came to me. We live in times that are turbulent, tumultuous, and violently shaking but we have been given direction, the knowledge of where we should stand in these unstable times. If we don’t plant ourselves in the ‘right’ place we are in danger of succumbing to the maelstrom of fear that surrounds us. The enemy desperately wants us to take our eyes off of the goal and surrender to the waters of despair that rise with every news cast.
So, my friends, be encouraged that we can go to His word and have the security of knowing that when we stand on the word of the Lord and in His work then we are standing in a place that will build us up and render us firm. We can rest assured that our God understands fidelity, that He will never leave us or forsake us, that He will establish us and that He is able to be trusted. He is a place of permanence --- so go to the Right Hand, go to the Source, go to the One who loves us with an everlasting love!

Egg-citing Egg-plosion - Excerpts from My Stay at Home Mom Time

2009-04-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Yes, another Easter has come and gone and with it lessons learned. It all started when I decided to dye some eggs this year on Easter Sunday. Coloring Easter eggs is an activity that we have not participated in recently but one which I felt would be creative and festive - a chance to connect with my teenage daughter across a table of bright colors, stickers and eggs.
I had prepared my eggs the day before so they would be chilled and ready for the dye bath. We had all our tools assembled, the instructions were consulted and I saw where the pink tablet was not allowed to be mixed with vinegar. Of course, I realized this after I had prepared 4 cups of combined vinegar and water. So after 4 tries of dropping tablets I thought were pink into cups (only to find that they were really orange, yellow and green) I determined that their idea of 'pink' was really gray!
As we began to place the eggs in the dye I suddenly noticed that I had boiled brown eggs. Note to self: brown eggs do not absorb color like white eggs do! My zeal for healthy eggs on the inside resulted in not so pretty dye jobs on the outside. Although, on a positive note, we did come up with some new colors and my neighbor, the hunter, was delighted with his ‘camouflage’ egg!
My daughter was determined to customize one of the eggs with the decorative ‘wrap’ in the kit but was having trouble getting the cellophane sleeve to adhere to the egg. With perseverance, she tried time and again until finally deciding to heat the cup of water in the microwave. Unfortunately, she forgot to remove the egg from the cup. The ensuing ‘boom of destruction’ inside the microwave caused gasps of alarm as the realization sunk in. Yes, we exploded an egg in the microwave – it is not an urban legend – it is the truth! Eggs will explode in the microwave. The destruction was complete. Tiny bits of egg plastered the sides of the oven and a horrible stench greeted us as we opened the door. Ick! My daughter was mortified and I was laughing with the glee only a parent has at such a ridiculous situation. She did not find the same humor in it that I did and actually forbade me from mentioning the incident on Facebook! It took a bit to clean up the mess but fortunately, the cup remained intact and no one was injured.
I know that God has a sense of humor and I was delighted to discover His messages to me in this life lesson. Not everyone sees things the same way we do – my definition of pink might not be the same as your definition of pink and truthfully things have a way of coming out in the wash. And no matter the way things look on the outside, it really matters what’s on the inside. We can dress ourselves up in all sorts of pretty colors but God sees our heart. He knows what’s in it and He’s not fooled by any dye job. And that stuff on the inside? Sooner or later that shell will crack and it’ll be time to peel back and examine what’s inside. Are you hard cooked? Will you explode with the application of eternal heat? Or will you run out of the shell and offer yourself up to the great Creator and let Him decide how to prepare you?
2 Chronicles 6:30 “then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all His ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men).”
1John 3:20 “for if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”
Let Him be the author and finisher of your faith – He is, after all the One who created you and He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion! May the power of the resurrection dwell within you! Blessings, Susan

A Day of Betrayal

2009-04-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

Today is a somber day for those of us who walk with the Lord. Today is the day that He was betrayed by one of His own. One of His own that He walked with, ate with and ministered with. One who had the opportunity to sit at His feet in worship but instead chose to betray Him with 30 pieces of silver. Jesus knew the whole time who it was and what he was going to do and yet... He loved him just as he does any other. How difficult do you think that was for Jesus? How difficult is it for you? Does God put people in our path to betray us 'on purpose'?
Tonight, why don't you pause for a minute (or more) and contemplate the ways of the King. Betrayal is a part of life - it's happened before - it'll happen again. A friend betrays a confidence...a spouse strays to another ... a coworker snatches the assignment you've been waiting for ... a broken promise. What are the reasons for this? Yes, we're all human and we all make mistakes but think of the potential. Jesus was 'betrayed' so that we could be forgiven. It was all part of the plan. What if we treated those who betrayed us the same way that Jesus treated us? What if we, calling upon the Sovereign Lord for grace and mercy, chose to love and forgive instead of holding a grudge? What if we, dependent upon the grace of God, allowed Him to work through us to accomplish a greater good? What if we, dying to our own rights and desires, gave of ourselves for our brother? What kind of things could be accomplished?
Think about it. Think about it as you look at the bread on your table and are reminded of the One who died for us - who are you willing to die for?

Faith Builders: Excerpts from My "Stay at Home Mom" Time

2009-03-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever prayed for the Lord to keep you humble? To help you walk in humility as befits a servant of the Lord? I often pray this short prayer for many reasons – mostly because I had way more pride than I ever thought possible and I’ve seen how the sin of pride traps us. I must have offered this request heavenward recently as it was once again answered by our faithful God.
As you know, I’ve been working on being more organized in getting my house clean and yes, my chore list from motivatedmoms.com is helping immensely! Just as I think that I am starting to get things ‘together’, that now things are falling into place and that I actually am somewhat organized …BAM – I am blindsided by my own character deficits!
We home school but due to my mathematically challenged mind my daughter attends a weekly pre-algebra class at a local home education partnership that includes a bookstore and classes. My first clue, that something is amiss, surfaces as we pull into the parking lot and I notice a surprising lack of cars and people. I murmur some sort of verbal observation and I can feel my daughter’s joy begin to rise as she realizes that she may get a reprieve from the drudgery of classroom confinement. I saunter inside and present my inquiry only to find out that spring break is THIS week, not LAST week! Oh dear, I have completely gotten off track of the school schedule.
I’ve always been a calendar person – in fact, I have 3 so that I can keep track of events, appointments, etc. So, why is it today that upon arrival to my daughter’s math class I find out that not only did we take an early spring break but make up tests were offered this morning to those who missed last week? Hello, I’ve been late to appointments before but a whole week late? Yikes!
Now, to add insult to injury I had just finished one of those parent to child speeches about the need for concentration and how easy it is to get sidetracked by vacuums like TV, texting and Facebook so we need to be disciplined and put our nose to the grindstone, etc – the reference of course, being her study habits. Good grief! How thorough is our Lord? Oh, but how loving is He, too? James 4:6 says, “But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says: ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
Thank you my King, for once again reminding me how to walk in humility, for giving me the grace to laugh at myself and share with others, for showing my daughter how human I am and for loving us enough to give that grace freely!

Faith Builders: Excerpts from my 'Stay at Home Mom' Time

2009-03-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

As a single mom I have had many opportunities to see the goodness and faithfulness of God. All the way from stretching dollars to educational decisions God has been with me every step, growing my faith and showing me how He provides. Despite my experience I am still awed by the recent blessings in my life this year. Let me celebrate and glorify Him by sharing with you what He has done. The following is the first peek into my learning how to 'live at home' (and no, I did not move back in with my parents).
Despite being laid off from my job at a local megachurch in December I was not struck by fear and panic but actually thrilled at the prospect of having a month or so off from work to reconnect with God, home and daughter. The Lord had provided some finances to carry me through a short period of time and I was excited about this opportunity. My daughter and I began homeschooling this year and I knew I needed some time to catch up and plan the rest of the semester as well as work on various home projects like painting, decluttering closets, etc. It was with reckless abandon that I gathered by paper and pen with the determination to really spend quality time with God, shut off the alarm clock and made great mental lists of all that I would accomplish during this 'month' off.
It is now mid-March, I'm still at home and finding that this 'job' has it's own challenges. I am learning that being a stay at home mom requires a re-evaluation of my skill sets and a definite need for self-discipline. Take for instance house cleaning - it was always on the lower end of my priority list and other than keeping up with laundry and the dishes; chores had a tendency to pile up until there was no other choice but to grit my teeth and tackle it with all the motivation of having a root canal. I always wanted a clean house but even though I could run a team of people at work for a major event it seemed that a clean house was beyond my reach.
But, God! In my time before the Lord, He began to work on me to really believe that we can have the desires of our heart. Remember the scripture about not having because we don't ask (James 4)? I began to ask Him about seemingly insignificant things and HE began to answer! Many thanks to my friend, Teresa (aka http://www.tightwadtess.com/) she tutored me on a whole new approach to the internet.
I now have this wonderful ebook calendar from http://www.motivatedmoms.com/ that tells me exactly how to clean my house! I can post it on the refrigerator and know what I need to accomplish in a week! Woo-hoo! I didn't really know that a person could get this excited over a chore list but the anal part of my personality was puckering with delight! Not only did I have a list of daily chores to check off but there were ones for each day of the week so that things didn't pile up into a Mt. Everest of grime! I could post it on my refrigerator for all to see (i.e. my daughter) so that group participation could no longer be denied with claims of ignorance. And, what a sense of accomplishment at the end of each day and week to see my check marks.
God, You are so good! It is a desire of my heart to be organized and to have a clean house and look how much You love me! Thank you for once again answering my prayer and showing me how much You love us.
Let me encourage you, my friend, to delight in Him, to present to God the desires of your heart and watch what He does for you! No matter where you are in this season of life - He is there for you. Blessings and may the God of all glory give you peace.

Open for Hope

2009-03-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

James 4:2 "You lust and you do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask."
It's about our hearts - where are our hearts? Are they lined up with God's? Do we wonder why our prayers are not answered? What's our motive - just to receive our fleshly, selfish desires from a holy God that is seeking a relationship with us or to relegate HIM to the status of a supernatural ATM machine.
Are we 'ATM card carrying' Christians that believe we just pull that card out when we need a little cash, a little help with an issue we're dealing with - a little more resource to 'purchase' our agenda? Do we sing i am a friend of God only to treat Him worse that we do our enemies or strangers on the street?
HE is WORTHY - HE is worthy of our time, our energy, our attention! But just like the ATM machine you gotta put something into it in order to get something out of it. How can we even come close to understanding someone without spending time with them? HE is here for US! HE is standing by waiting for us to open the door that HE's knocking on. HE has much to share but we must be willing to open the door. Open your self to HIM today! HE wants to show you new things! He wants to take us new places! HE wants to fill us and make us complete. Even those of us who have been Christians for a long time - be willing to open that part of your life to HIM that you haven't surrendered before. Open up and let Him in - HE has great things for us.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know!

2009-03-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

We know that Biblical characters who met with success did so because they ‘inquired of the Lord’. I had always assumed that this was because they asked the Lord before doing something and since permission was granted the victory was achieved. Ah, but there is always more to it than first meets the eye.
Recently, the Lord drew my attention to Ezekiel 14:3, “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let myself be inquired of at all by them?”
Hmm – okay, great question. Especially because Ezekiel was addressing some of the elders in the church – not those that didn’t know the Lord, but the Jews, the leaders of the Israel, the priests! So, seeing as how we all struggle with those things of the flesh and the world - is there some sort of condition that must be met before we can even inquire of the Lord? And if so, what are those conditions? Since inquiring minds want to know I broke out my concordance, looked up the word ‘inquire’ (enquire) and was surprised by what I discovered. It actually means: to tread or frequent, to follow (for pursuit or search), to seek or ask, to worship.
Now, I could do a whole teaching on the word tread but we’ll save that for another time. Let's get on to the inquiry part. So obviously, inquiry is not just about asking questions but about living a lifestyle of relationship with Him that we may know what to do. Judges 6:26 says that inquiry brings answers. When the righteous 'inquired of the Lord, they received their answer (2Chronicles 34:26, 2 Kings 22:18, Jeremiah 37:7).
It’s not always easy to discern the voice of God in the midst of all the voices that clamor for our attention. I don’t think that the Lord was ‘booming out the stereo system’ every time He gave direction. How is that they were able to hear His voice? They recognized it through ongoing relationship and they sought the prophets. Today it is definitely not neccessary to have a prophet to hear the voice of God but prophets are here to give us encouragement and confirmation on God's direction.
Some other thoughts to keep in mind about inquiry - Deuteronomy 13:14 and 17:4 tell us that “if sin is suspected then we need to inquire diligently” and in 12:30 instructs us "not to inquire after other gods". The result is judgment (Zephaniah 1:6), lost battles, kingdoms and death (1 Chronicles 10:13 -14, 2 Kings 1:6).
We have to be able to recognize His voice and that only comes through spending time with Him. Walking with Him, frequenting His presence and pursuing Him. 2 Chronicles 32:31 reminds us that sometimes God withdraws to test our hearts, to see if we will continue to inquire so if you don't hear the answer let me encourage you to keep pressing in, seeking Him, asking Him and worshipping Him. Joshua possessed the land because He inquired of the Lord about direction and strategy. Hilkiah restored the kingdom because he inquired over the discovery of the ‘book’ and Jehoshaphat insisted upon hearing only from a prophet of the Lord. And btw – those idolatrous leaders Ezekiel was talking to? God answered His own question – they ‘shall be made a proverb and a sign, cut off from their people so that My name is glorified’ (Ezekiel 14:7, also Ezekiel 20:1-3)!
My advice – don’t be a hypocrite – walk the talk. Inquire of the Lord!

Let It Go!

2009-02-19T06:38:00.000-08:00

Genesis 21:4 “Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was 8 days old, as God had commanded him.”
I wonder how difficult it was for Abraham to take that which was so dear to him, that which he has waited on for so long and put it under the knife? The number 8 is significant for new beginnings – if you’ve had a new beginning in your life or if God has showed you something new that He wants you to move into then be prepared to be circumcised. Be prepared for the Lord to examine your heart and show you those places that need to be ‘put under the knife’ and disposed of. It’s not an easy process – quite painful actually. I always found it to be so distasteful when God showed me the blackness of the sin or the idols I had set up in my own heart. Ouch! He doesn’t take anything that we’re not willing to give up – the choice is ours. Do we want to submit to His loving hand or do we want to hold onto that which is dear to us? If you’re having trouble letting go (and we all do) let me give you some encouragement from God’s word.
Exodus 22:1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five (5) oxen for an ox and four (4) sheep for a sheep.”
We all know that the devil is a liar and a thief – he wants to steal as much from us as he can possibly get his hands on. But God’s word offers us a promise – what the thief steals will be replaced and not just replaced but with extra. I love the symbolism of this scripture – it’s the picture of the Kingdom of God – relinquish something and be rewarded for it! That inner man loves to hang onto those things that belong to him –you know, like that nice car or the big house, that special something you enjoy eating too much of (even though you know it’s bad for you), the amount of money you can make or those little habits that are not really that big of a deal. But, when our inner man, our flesh wants to keep what God wants, we need to be willing to wrest it away from him. After all, God is going to replace it with better.
Even in the culture of today’s church we need to give up some of the man made traditions and embrace what God wants to do. The number 5 represents the 5 fold ministry – a system of government designed by God to administrate His kingdom. Leaders positioned to work within their gifts, being a gift to the body of Christ – true servants. The number 4 represents a divine intervention – isn’t it time for God to intervene? We’ve done things the same way for a long time now and the church has become ineffective to the world – it’s time to let the hand of God rest upon us, to relinquish that which is ineffective and to be willing to do what He is calling us to do. Let’s remember what the hand of God is capable of, let’s remember that His hand is one of power and blessing.
A final thought - Leviticus 21:6 “They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God, for they offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire and the bread of their God; therefore, they shall be holy.”
Our willingness to be circumcised, to be obedient results in such a payoff – it becomes what feeds the Lord, He rewards us for it and in return we become more holy, more pleasing to Him, more filled with the blood of the Lamb. It makes us better able to represent Him to the world around us. Our relationship with Him improves, becomes more intimate which then gives us the desire to do it all over again so that we can become closer still. More power through us, more glory to Him and more souls for the Kingdom. Is that one little thing that you want to hang onto really worth the price if letting go of it means another soul for the Kingdom?

position counts

2009-01-28T02:58:00.000-08:00

These are some turbulent times - it's like being in a boat and tossed about by the wind. I recently found myself with some suprising changes in my life (including a job layoff) so being full of questions, i 'inquired of the Lord'. Here is what I discovered.
Mark 6:39-40 says, "Then Jesus directed them [the disciples] to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of 100s and 50s." Let's back up a minute and look at the situation. Jesus and his disciples had been busy ministering deliverance, miracles, etc. and they were going away for some quiet fellowship with one another. The disciples, I'm sure, were anticipating this time to spend with Jesus; having some R & R away from the noise and pull of the crowd. But instead of doing what was planned & being alone with Jesus, they are followed by these 1000s of people who want to be with Jesus, too. I believe this made the disciples a little grumpy! I can imagine them saying, "Excuse me, this is our time with Him" - "Uh, it's not convenient right now -you'll have to come back later". But Jesus, being who He is, had compassion on the people and began to teach them. So, instead of kicking back and having some R&R, the disciples are surrounded by 10 or 15 thousand people and having to deal with them.
ok- fast forward to the end of the day: here's the scene - not only has their day been interrupted, not only have they had to "work" instead of relaxing but now everyone's hungry (& even more tired) so they ask Jesus to send the people away to get food. Reasonable request - put yourself in their spot - don't we want Jesus to send away that which is bothering us? Those things that have interrupted our plans, our schedule, our ideas?
But instead, Jesus says "put everybody into position." What?? Now, can you imagine trying to get 10,000+ people into groups of 50 or 100 without a microphone or a seating chart? That's at least 100 groups - do you think that those people moved to different spots without grumbling or complaining? Don't you think that many of those people liked the spot they were in - maybe they liked who they were sitting with and didn't want to sit with those other people?? Maybe they weren't 'prepared' to move because no one announced it? Sound familiar?
OK - onto the point - God was about to do one of the largest miracles of all time - a miracle that didn't impact just a few, but thousands at one swoop! He was about to feed thousands of people with 2 fish, a couple of loaves and still have left overs! It was absolutely necessary that the people were in the right position to receive what He was about to do. He wanted to make sure that everyone was fed, that everyone had enough to eat, that everyone was provided for, and that everyone was in the right spot!
I can imagine that there were some who walked away ... some who didn't want to move ... some who didn't like being shuffled around ... i can imagine there were some who missed out....
Have you been moved into a different spot? Don't despair - let God position you for the feeding! He is moving things around to get us ready to receive! Don't miss out! Please, take your new 'position' with excitement and anticipation that He is about to do something! Embrace your new 'spot' with the understanding that He is the One that placed you there, that He is the One that sees the whole picture and that He is the One that will feed you when you are tired and hungry.

HE IS COMING! Get ready

post Christmas gifts

2009-01-05T06:25:00.000-08:00

Jesus is not just about salvation - it's about a relationship process where we are, by far, the greater beneficiaries of the deal! We receive all that He has for us in return for giving up some stinky flesh. When we decide to follow Jesus our old self dies and as we relinquish each piece of that (smelly) flesh up to Him, He gives us holiness. It's simple really, not always easy, but simple. What teenager would say to his parents, "No, thanks, i don't want a car, i'll stick to my bicycle" or who would want to cut down a tree with a steak knife when they could use a chainsaw? Seriously, folks - God's covenant includes the Holy Spirit and the gifts thereof - why do we want to turn our nose up at a bundle of gifts from the Most High God? The gifts of the Spirit are provided for the church - that's why they're called gifts, not requirements, not afflictions, but gifts! God knows it's not easy being a disciple - that's why He gave us the power of the Holy Spirit: words of wisdom and knowledge to point us in the right direction, faith to keep us going, tongues to use when we don't have the words and prophecy to encourage and edify the body through the tough times.
Why would we not want to use the tools God gave us? Why do we limit God in our own lives? He's Mighty, Magnificent, all-powerful - is there something we enjoy about wallowing in the pigpen of our limitations thinking that we can do it all ourselves?
Here's to the gifts! May we embrace them, flow in them and receive the blessings God has for us!

Some thoughts on women in the Kingdom

2008-12-17T13:14:00.000-08:00

It's time for all of us to understand that it's not about the church, it's about the Kingdom. And Kingdom principles apply to Kingdom business. We have to move from the traditions and fears of the church into what God has for us in birthing this new season. In order to walk in the power and authority that God designed us for, we have to understand the principle of dominion and how true dominion can only be accomplished through the partnership of men and women linking together to defeat the purposes and schemes of the enemy! (Genesis 1:26)
Just as Deborah, the mother of Israel led that nation, so too, we as women must understand the picture of Deborah (Judges 3) and step into our callings as leaders of nations! Not alone, but in partnership with men and their blessing.
In addition, as mothers it is our responsibility to raise up the new generation of Deborahs and the Joans (of Arc), who are so in tune with the voice of God that they do not hesistate to mount up as warriors and breach the walls of the enemy's defenses. Think of the ferocity of a mother bear protecting her cubs and you see a picture of women fighting for the right purposes. The younger generation will not arise without the impartation and input of the older generation - together we serve a God of Abraham, Issac AND Jacob - who is Jacob but the one that becomes Israel!
As a 'mother' who has been in the delivery room encouraging a 'daughter' we know that it can't be done alone. We must be alongside one another to offer that encouragement in order to endure the transition between pregnancy and delivery, we must be there in understanding of the physical process (body changes) that accompany a delivery - things that a woman think are impossible for her body to accomplish - can be done. We can be stretched in ways we never thought possible, we can endure the pain and we can push things at the right time and in the right conditions to with an all out effort of every bit of our being in order to hear the cries of a successful delivery. But, there must be those who are willing to brave the blood and mess of a birth in order to 'catch' that which is birthed, nurture it and protect it. Just as in the animal kingdom, females are most vulnerable just after they have given birth - without the protection and strength that the men provide the young would not survive. It takes nurturing and power to bring us into the Kingdom and a burning desire in our hearts and spirits to see the things of God accomplished.
We must repent and make restitution for the sins that we have allowed to happen in our generation and give those kids crying out for holiness our time, resources and wisdom in order to teach them and equip them to transform a culture. We must build that bridge between the generations (Isaiah 35) and take the highway to holiness. It takes us pouring into the Elishas of the next generation in order to defeat the spirit of Jezebel and other pagan atrocities of this culture.
Won't you join me? Let's do it!