This is going to be short and sweet :) It is so encouraging to me and I have to share it!
Psalm 112:1 says, "Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments."
Rules and commandments feel stifling to me. They are the things I have to do in order to survive or to keep my life from being chaotic. They feel like the chores of life. Not things I particularly relish doing, but know I must. I could compare them to doing laundry or dishes or, worse yet, cleaning the toilets! Ugh!
Recently, I lost the use of my dryer. It broke and for several days I did my best to dry my clothes in it . . . this did not work so well. After two days of running a couple loads ALL DAY LONG, it was decided that the thing must be fixed. I was without a dryer and this felt immensely frustrating to me. The laundry pile was growing exponentially each day. On top of things, I had decided it would be great fun to pick 60 some pounds of strawberries, so I also had a lot of berries to take care of. (Don't worry. I gave some of them away and did not actually do 60 pounds of strawberries!) However, between the berries, a broken dryer, fussing children, and my bad attitude, the day was rather stressful. I was worried about having to haul my clothes into the laundry mat and was having a rather royal pity party about it. I was thankfully blessed by a friend who offered her dryer to me for a couple of days so that I could tackle the laundry pile, which by this time, had turned into Mount Everest. After a few trips back and forth to Centreville to drop off and retrieve my laundry, waiting a day for the heater coil to arrive, and a trip to Home Depot for some parts, my husband got the dryer fixed! YEAH! I have never in my life been so excited about doing the laundry! Even today, as I dried a load of towels, I found myself getting very excited because they were dry the first time through! AWESOME! The point of all of this is to say, in the past I absolutely hated doing the laundry. But my perspective has now changed. It is no longer a chore, because I find great delight in what my dryer has to offer me. I do not want to be without my dryer again . . . ever! With great joy I can do the laundry even if I have two Mount Everest piles to do! (By the way, you all can remind me of this if I ever forget and I start to complain about the laundry!)
This is just like God's commandments. (Well, in my mind anyway. Stick with me for a moment.) They feel like drudgery to us, until we realize what life is like without them. They are protection for us and were never meant to subject us. It is a joy and a delight to carry out the commandments of God, because we know how miserable life would be without them. I do not want to be without the protection of God in my life. I do not want to look anymore at His commandments in my life as a chore, something I have to do in order to reach heaven, or as a checklist to mark off everyday. No, they are joy; they are life to me! And for that I give thanks to a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to set boundaries over me! I give thanks for His protection over me! I can take great delight in His commandments over me! Thank you Jesus! Thank you for holding me in your hand, for hiding me under your wing, for protecting me on every side! Great is your faithfulness and your love for me! Your banner over me is love!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Joseph: A Heart Refined by Fire
I think I have mentioned it before that I am reading through the Psalms. This afternoon, I was in Psalm 105. Verses 18 and 19 made me pause in my reading. They say,
"They afflicted his feet with fetters. He himself was laid in irons; Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him."
The Psalmist is speaking about Joseph and his time in prison after he was falsely accused of trying to seduce Potifer's wife. The words that specifically jumped out at me were, "until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him." I looked up the Hebrew word for "word" and it means utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command. Then I looked up the word "tested". It's definition is to smelt, refine, test, and prove true. Lastly, I looked up the word "smelt" and found it means to melt or fuse for the purpose of separating and refining the metal. It caused me to ask the question, "what was the word or promise of the Lord to Joseph? And how did it refine him and test him?"
I went back to Genesis and reread the story of Joseph. As I read, a new image of Joseph began to emerge for me. I believe that Joseph had an issue with pride. He was the son of his father's favorite wife; his first love. I am sure he knew he was the favorite and I think he used it against his brothers. There is nothing unusual about siblings pushing each others buttons on purpose! If you doubt me, I invite you to come over and observe my three children for awhile! I don't think Joseph was an exception to this button pushing, either! :)
In Genesis 37:2, Joseph brings back a bad report about his brothers to his father. This sounds an awful lot like tattling to me! I know there is only one reason that my children tattle. It is to get each other into trouble! That is what Joseph was up to also. Then on top of that, Joseph decides to share with his brother's his dream. This may not have been a big deal if Joseph and his brothers had a good relationship! But they didn't. His brothers hated him and could not say anything nice to him. I can imagine they were barely on speaking terms with each other. Joseph would have had to approach them and then get them to listen to him. This would have been a task in itself to talk to people that want nothing to do with you. He put a lot of effort into this. I can see him with a smug smile on his face as he says, "hey guess what I dreamed last night! Just let me tell you; this was a good one. I dreamed that you are going to someday worship me. Someday I will be greater then you!" He did this twice to them! No wonder they hated him so much! He was a twerp, cocky, arrogant, and full of himself.
I suppose Joseph may have been brought down a peg or two when his brothers finally had enough and threw him into the well to die. This might have felt like a better option to him once he realized he was going to be sold into slavery instead. But, I can just imagine that a bit of that cockiness came worming its way back into his life when he was sold to Potifer and put in charge of all Potifer's household. I could be completely wrong, but I believe that God allowed Joseph to be put into prison for this very reason. So that the promise of the Lord would be given the opportunity to test him. To put him through a smelting process. To draw out of Joseph all of his pride and to replace it with a humble heart. In order for Joseph to be used for the purpose God had ordained for him, he needed to be put through fire to separate the ore of pride from the precious metal of servant hood and humbleness.
I can imagine some of Joseph's thoughts and feelings as he was thrown into prison. Why am I here? How can the promise God gave me happen if I am stuck in here? This does not make sense!
God knew what would be required of Joseph to one day rule as second in command of Egypt. He understood Joseph could not rule properly if he did not have a humble heart. Pride of his position would quickly take over and a fall from great heights would have quickly ensued. Joseph had to be humble to be able to listen to God and then obediently carry out God's command.
It is the same for us too. That is what is so awesome about the lessons of those that have gone before us. They prove as examples and reminders for us to learn from and live by. It is hard to listen when we are so filled up with ourselves. It is even harder to obey the command, because we think we know better. But we don't. God knows best. I have been encouraged by this today! Going through a time of testing is not bad. It doesn't mean that God is not with us or that He is against us. It means that He is perfecting His perfect will in our lives. He is preparing us for what is to come! I do not look forward to times of testing, nor do I enjoy going through them! It hurts to die to self! However, it is encouraging to know, after the fire dies down and the process is over, we will come out refined as silver and as gold!
Job 23:10
1 Peter 1:3-9
Psalm 66:8-12
Malachi 3:3
The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."
"They afflicted his feet with fetters. He himself was laid in irons; Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him."
The Psalmist is speaking about Joseph and his time in prison after he was falsely accused of trying to seduce Potifer's wife. The words that specifically jumped out at me were, "until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him." I looked up the Hebrew word for "word" and it means utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command. Then I looked up the word "tested". It's definition is to smelt, refine, test, and prove true. Lastly, I looked up the word "smelt" and found it means to melt or fuse for the purpose of separating and refining the metal. It caused me to ask the question, "what was the word or promise of the Lord to Joseph? And how did it refine him and test him?"
I went back to Genesis and reread the story of Joseph. As I read, a new image of Joseph began to emerge for me. I believe that Joseph had an issue with pride. He was the son of his father's favorite wife; his first love. I am sure he knew he was the favorite and I think he used it against his brothers. There is nothing unusual about siblings pushing each others buttons on purpose! If you doubt me, I invite you to come over and observe my three children for awhile! I don't think Joseph was an exception to this button pushing, either! :)
In Genesis 37:2, Joseph brings back a bad report about his brothers to his father. This sounds an awful lot like tattling to me! I know there is only one reason that my children tattle. It is to get each other into trouble! That is what Joseph was up to also. Then on top of that, Joseph decides to share with his brother's his dream. This may not have been a big deal if Joseph and his brothers had a good relationship! But they didn't. His brothers hated him and could not say anything nice to him. I can imagine they were barely on speaking terms with each other. Joseph would have had to approach them and then get them to listen to him. This would have been a task in itself to talk to people that want nothing to do with you. He put a lot of effort into this. I can see him with a smug smile on his face as he says, "hey guess what I dreamed last night! Just let me tell you; this was a good one. I dreamed that you are going to someday worship me. Someday I will be greater then you!" He did this twice to them! No wonder they hated him so much! He was a twerp, cocky, arrogant, and full of himself.
I suppose Joseph may have been brought down a peg or two when his brothers finally had enough and threw him into the well to die. This might have felt like a better option to him once he realized he was going to be sold into slavery instead. But, I can just imagine that a bit of that cockiness came worming its way back into his life when he was sold to Potifer and put in charge of all Potifer's household. I could be completely wrong, but I believe that God allowed Joseph to be put into prison for this very reason. So that the promise of the Lord would be given the opportunity to test him. To put him through a smelting process. To draw out of Joseph all of his pride and to replace it with a humble heart. In order for Joseph to be used for the purpose God had ordained for him, he needed to be put through fire to separate the ore of pride from the precious metal of servant hood and humbleness.
I can imagine some of Joseph's thoughts and feelings as he was thrown into prison. Why am I here? How can the promise God gave me happen if I am stuck in here? This does not make sense!
God knew what would be required of Joseph to one day rule as second in command of Egypt. He understood Joseph could not rule properly if he did not have a humble heart. Pride of his position would quickly take over and a fall from great heights would have quickly ensued. Joseph had to be humble to be able to listen to God and then obediently carry out God's command.
It is the same for us too. That is what is so awesome about the lessons of those that have gone before us. They prove as examples and reminders for us to learn from and live by. It is hard to listen when we are so filled up with ourselves. It is even harder to obey the command, because we think we know better. But we don't. God knows best. I have been encouraged by this today! Going through a time of testing is not bad. It doesn't mean that God is not with us or that He is against us. It means that He is perfecting His perfect will in our lives. He is preparing us for what is to come! I do not look forward to times of testing, nor do I enjoy going through them! It hurts to die to self! However, it is encouraging to know, after the fire dies down and the process is over, we will come out refined as silver and as gold!
Job 23:10
1 Peter 1:3-9
Psalm 66:8-12
Malachi 3:3
Refining Silver
Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady's opinion was that is was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.
She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. "But Sir" she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."
The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."
As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver....
--Author Unknown
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
A Balm in Gilead: The Witness Heap
In all honesty, I am not sure how to start this post. So, I am just going to begin with that fact and get it out of the way!
I have been struggling the last 2 1/2 weeks with an ugly monster that unfortunately is not a stranger to me. It is depression. I know that I have been set free from depression, so I have refused to claim it. I have been seeking God, "why!? is this back?" I have warded off thoughts that something must be wrong with me or maybe I have done something wrong. A sin perhaps, that I have committed . . . ? No, with each thought, I have smacked it down. That is not truth. There is nothing wrong with me, and if I have committed a sin, God would not bring depression on me as discipline. He is gentle and loving and that is not how He works. Never out of condemnation and darkness, but always, always out of hope and light.
Last Friday, I was feeling particularly out of sorts. Our family got done eating supper and I just wanted to keep eating as a way of drowning out my feelings. (This doesn't work by the way. It only leads to addictions.) I felt an absolute need to go upstairs to my room and read my Bible. As I read, a sweet peace began to wash over me and the words "balm in Gilead" went through my mind. My initial thought was how absolutely healing the Word of God is! There is so much power in His Word! Over the last couple days, I have begun to dig a little deeper into this phrase.
It comes from Jeremiah 8:22. Jeremiah is lamenting over the state of God's people. "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?" I don't normally look up commentaries, but I decided to this time. I don't remember the name of the guy that wrote the commentary. All I remember is two things. One: it was written in the 1800's and two: the Hebrew definition for Gilead. Gilead means "rocky region" and, according to the Greek/Hebrew Lexicon Bible, probably comes from the root word Gal'ed. Gal'ed means "witness heap". This caught my attention.
A witness heap. There is healing in our witness. Or in our testimony . . . In our testimony of what God has done in our lives, we will find healing. We often feel like we have to hide the truth about who we really are. I don't like to admit that I was depressed, and I am not referring to simply having a few bad days. I was depressed to the point of not showing up for work, dropping out of college, and not getting out of bed. I had suicidal thoughts and felt worthless and unloved. I especially do not like to admit that over the last 2 1/2 weeks, I have been struggling! It is embarrassing and I don't want others to know. It is a fear of letting down my walls in order to let others see the "real me". It is a very vulnerable place to let others see into us and to be intimate with others about our lives and what we have been through. However, the phrase, "balm in Gilead" speaks to letting down our walls. Letting others see in and sharing with them what God has done. There is a balm in the witness heap! Why? Because, we open ourselves up, to share with others the goodness of God in our lives! We are no longer hiding behind fear and condemnation, but we are jumping out into the light of God's love, opening up our lives, letting His light shine in so brightly that everyone can see what He has done!
Let me tell you what He has done in my life! God has delivered me from depression. He has delivered me from feeling that I am unloved and worthless. I still have days when these feelings rear their ugly head. But I know the truth now. I can fight off those feelings with God's truth. I have been fearfully and wonderfully made, wonderful are the works of God! (Psalm 139:14) God has taken a very sad, depressed and despondent young lady and filled me with His joy. I am not what I used to be and that is a cause for celebration!
I want to encourage you. I do not know where you are at right now, what your life is like, or the things that you have been through. But I do know, that what God has done in my life, He can also do in yours. There is hope! I encourage you, with what was shared with me this past Sunday by a dear women in our church. Continue to press into God. He has not abandoned you and you are not alone! Psalm 66:10-12 says, "For Thou has tried us, O God; Thou has refined us as silver is refined. Thou didst bring us into the net; Thou didst lay an oppressive burden upon our loins. Thou didst make men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; YET THOU DIDST BRING US OUT INTO A PLACE OF ABUNDANCE. He will bring you out into a place of abundance!
For those of you who have found healing and freedom, but are afraid to share with others what God as done in your life, I also encourage you. Do not be afraid. Be a "witness heap"! There is no condemnation! (Romans 8:1) Through your pain and your experiences God has shined His light, so that you can be a "witness heap" to those around you. Do not keep it to yourself! You will not only find more relief and freedom in your own life as you share with those around you, (you will no longer be hiding behind those walls built up to protect yourself from rejection and judgement) but you will also be offering the hope, the "balm", of Christ Jesus to others.
Bless you today as you step out of pain, depression, loss, condemnation, fear, anger, rejection, hopelessness, bondage; and into God's healing, light, love, hope, joy, peace and freedom! Be a witness heap!
I have been struggling the last 2 1/2 weeks with an ugly monster that unfortunately is not a stranger to me. It is depression. I know that I have been set free from depression, so I have refused to claim it. I have been seeking God, "why!? is this back?" I have warded off thoughts that something must be wrong with me or maybe I have done something wrong. A sin perhaps, that I have committed . . . ? No, with each thought, I have smacked it down. That is not truth. There is nothing wrong with me, and if I have committed a sin, God would not bring depression on me as discipline. He is gentle and loving and that is not how He works. Never out of condemnation and darkness, but always, always out of hope and light.
Last Friday, I was feeling particularly out of sorts. Our family got done eating supper and I just wanted to keep eating as a way of drowning out my feelings. (This doesn't work by the way. It only leads to addictions.) I felt an absolute need to go upstairs to my room and read my Bible. As I read, a sweet peace began to wash over me and the words "balm in Gilead" went through my mind. My initial thought was how absolutely healing the Word of God is! There is so much power in His Word! Over the last couple days, I have begun to dig a little deeper into this phrase.
It comes from Jeremiah 8:22. Jeremiah is lamenting over the state of God's people. "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?" I don't normally look up commentaries, but I decided to this time. I don't remember the name of the guy that wrote the commentary. All I remember is two things. One: it was written in the 1800's and two: the Hebrew definition for Gilead. Gilead means "rocky region" and, according to the Greek/Hebrew Lexicon Bible, probably comes from the root word Gal'ed. Gal'ed means "witness heap". This caught my attention.
A witness heap. There is healing in our witness. Or in our testimony . . . In our testimony of what God has done in our lives, we will find healing. We often feel like we have to hide the truth about who we really are. I don't like to admit that I was depressed, and I am not referring to simply having a few bad days. I was depressed to the point of not showing up for work, dropping out of college, and not getting out of bed. I had suicidal thoughts and felt worthless and unloved. I especially do not like to admit that over the last 2 1/2 weeks, I have been struggling! It is embarrassing and I don't want others to know. It is a fear of letting down my walls in order to let others see the "real me". It is a very vulnerable place to let others see into us and to be intimate with others about our lives and what we have been through. However, the phrase, "balm in Gilead" speaks to letting down our walls. Letting others see in and sharing with them what God has done. There is a balm in the witness heap! Why? Because, we open ourselves up, to share with others the goodness of God in our lives! We are no longer hiding behind fear and condemnation, but we are jumping out into the light of God's love, opening up our lives, letting His light shine in so brightly that everyone can see what He has done!
Let me tell you what He has done in my life! God has delivered me from depression. He has delivered me from feeling that I am unloved and worthless. I still have days when these feelings rear their ugly head. But I know the truth now. I can fight off those feelings with God's truth. I have been fearfully and wonderfully made, wonderful are the works of God! (Psalm 139:14) God has taken a very sad, depressed and despondent young lady and filled me with His joy. I am not what I used to be and that is a cause for celebration!
I want to encourage you. I do not know where you are at right now, what your life is like, or the things that you have been through. But I do know, that what God has done in my life, He can also do in yours. There is hope! I encourage you, with what was shared with me this past Sunday by a dear women in our church. Continue to press into God. He has not abandoned you and you are not alone! Psalm 66:10-12 says, "For Thou has tried us, O God; Thou has refined us as silver is refined. Thou didst bring us into the net; Thou didst lay an oppressive burden upon our loins. Thou didst make men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; YET THOU DIDST BRING US OUT INTO A PLACE OF ABUNDANCE. He will bring you out into a place of abundance!
For those of you who have found healing and freedom, but are afraid to share with others what God as done in your life, I also encourage you. Do not be afraid. Be a "witness heap"! There is no condemnation! (Romans 8:1) Through your pain and your experiences God has shined His light, so that you can be a "witness heap" to those around you. Do not keep it to yourself! You will not only find more relief and freedom in your own life as you share with those around you, (you will no longer be hiding behind those walls built up to protect yourself from rejection and judgement) but you will also be offering the hope, the "balm", of Christ Jesus to others.
Bless you today as you step out of pain, depression, loss, condemnation, fear, anger, rejection, hopelessness, bondage; and into God's healing, light, love, hope, joy, peace and freedom! Be a witness heap!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Blog changes
I have made a few changes to my blog. It is easier to post comments now. Thank you Lynette for letting me know how difficult it had been to post comments! :). Hopefully, it is all better now. I am definately not technically savvy!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Pastor Don Smith has been teaching us about learning to be human beings instead of human doings. In other words, allowing God to reign and rule in our lives by demonstrating His love through us and interacting through us with His creation. It is receiving His grace and mercy without living under condemnation and feeling as if we need to do something for God in order to receive His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We need to “be” so that He can “do”.
It often gets muddled up in my mind what it means, practically speaking, to be a human being instead of a human doing. Does that mean I do nothing? How much should I do or not do? Am I doing too much? Am I doing too little? And if God’s grace and forgiveness are free, then how much responsibility do I have to live a “godly” life? Where is the line between religious rules and godliness? I’ll say it before you do, I think waaaaaaaaay to much! I am thankful that God is a patient Father and always has time to answer the questions of this child!
This morning He spoke to me as I was watering my flowers. If I want my flowers to stay beautiful, then I must be responsible enough to water them, pinch off the dead heads, and care for them. If I choose to not care for my flowers, then they will still be flowers, but they will be dead ones and will not show off the beauty they were created to be. If I want the garden of my life to stay beautiful, then I must be responsible enough to water my life with the Word, pinch off the dead heads of poisonous thoughts, and tear out the choking weeds of sin. This is not to be legalistic nor would it be following any religious rules or regulations. It would be taking responsibility for my life in Christ. My life in Christ is free. He has redeemed me and made me righteous and pure. But I still have the responsibility to line myself up with His life which is in me. If something does not line up with Him, then it is my responsibility to get rid of it. If I choose not to be responsible in my Christian walk, then I will be a dead Christian, my life not showing off the beauty of Christ that it was created to demonstrate.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Prepared and Waiting with Eager Expectation
I was 19 when I got married and I was all about the details. I knew exactly how I wanted our wedding to look, and I spent 8 months making sure it was picture perfect. I had a binder in which I kept copies of paper detailing every minute, each role, position, and job for everyone that was involved in our wedding. I made sure everyone involved recieved a copy. Each paper included what the persons role was, role description, places and times they would need to be aware of. Everything was perfectly planned down to the last minute detail. In modern day lingo, I probably would have been called a bridezilla! I wanted everyone to be well informed and I had made up my mind that I definately wasn't going to have "one of those weddings" where nothing was organized. It was going to be perfect.
I recall, instead of resting in the fact that everything was well planned out down to the crossing of the last "t" and the dotting of the last "i", I was still caught up in all of the details. I did not rest that day. I did not enjoy the day with the excited expectancy of marrying my true love. I was busy making sure the bridesmaids bows were tied just so on their dresses and their hair was done with flowers in. I was sidetracked with the annoyance of realizing the florist had misinturrpreted my vision for the bridal table center piece and for the bridesmaids bouquets. The reception area needed to be decorated also. I don't remember who, but someone finally pulled me away from decorating and said, "you need to get ready!"
I was so wrapped up in the details that I missed out on my own preperation. I missed out on the joy and delight of the day and the great anticipation of seeing my husband-to-be for the first time in 24 hours. I was ready to get married because the details were ready, but my heart and my mind were not prepared.
I tell you all this, becuase I have found myself in a similiar position recently. Not one of marriage, of course, as I am still married to that wonderful man who loved me even in all of my frenzy! I know there is a plan for my life and a calling. But, I often feel ansy and restless. Like a steed chomping at a bit, trembling and ready to take off as soon he hears the word from his master. I often feel discouraged because I can't see anything happening. I cry out to God,"please show me, reveal to me what you are doing. I don't want to miss out on your calling! I don't want to miss out on what you are doing!" I feel anxious and afraid.
Yesterday morning was like that for me. And AGAIN for the umpteenth time I heard God say to me, "Rest." Urg!!! I don't wanna rest! I said, "I am afraid that if I stay still I am going to miss out on the action; on what you are doing!" He said, "if you are running around, YOU ARE going to miss it." As I began getting ready for the day, God brought to my mind another word that He gave to me awhile ago. It was simply, "be ready." He never told me for what, and believe me, I asked! He simply responded to my question with, "just be ready." It made me think about the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. 5 were ready to meet the bridegroom and 5 were not. I asked myself the question- "Am I ready? Am I in the process of preparing myself or am I so caught up in the details of what it is, what it will look like, and if I will miss it that I am forgetting to get prepared?" This is when I started to think about my wedding and the one thing I would have changed - having my heart prepared to meet my love with great excitement and anticipation. I missed out on that, because I was bothered by details that ultimately did not matter.
I don't want to repeat that same mistake again. I want my heart to be ready. I want to be Mary and not Martha. (Luke 10:38-42)
My preperation should not revolve around the why, how, what, who or when. My preperation needs to revolve around Christ. Just as a bride's preperation should revolve around her true love; her bridegroom. I want you to picture this with me:
A beautiful young girl awakens on the day of her wedding. She lights out of bed and skips to the bathroom to shower. She picks out her favorite scented body wash and washes herself, excited to present herself to her love. After her shower, she dries herself off and lotions her body with scented oils and perfumes, hoping that her soon to be husband will be swept away by her beauty. She dresses herself in a beautiful white gown and sits with growing anticipation as her hair is combed, curled and elegantly styled. Her veil is gently put in place by her mother; its softness carressing her cheeks. Everything in place, she carefully steps back and gazes at herself in the full length mirror. Her breath is taken away by the vision she sees. Butterflies dance inside of her. She is giddy and filled with excited anticipation as she waits, prepared with eager expectation to see her one true love!
Just as a bride prepares herself for her bridegroom, so I must also prepare myself for Christ. I must wash myself with the word of God. Renewing my mind daily in His truth. (Romans 12:2, Eph. 5:26-27) I need to clothe myself in the armour of God and with the purity of His righteousness. (Eph. 6:10-18, Rev. 19:7-8) With everything in place, I will step back and gaze at myself through His eyes; my breath taken away by the vision I see. Butterflies dancing inside of me, giddy and filled with excited anticipation as I stand prepared, and waiting with eager expectation!
Romans 8:22-39
vs. 24-25 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
vs. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Isaiah 40:27-31
vs. 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
I recall, instead of resting in the fact that everything was well planned out down to the crossing of the last "t" and the dotting of the last "i", I was still caught up in all of the details. I did not rest that day. I did not enjoy the day with the excited expectancy of marrying my true love. I was busy making sure the bridesmaids bows were tied just so on their dresses and their hair was done with flowers in. I was sidetracked with the annoyance of realizing the florist had misinturrpreted my vision for the bridal table center piece and for the bridesmaids bouquets. The reception area needed to be decorated also. I don't remember who, but someone finally pulled me away from decorating and said, "you need to get ready!"
I was so wrapped up in the details that I missed out on my own preperation. I missed out on the joy and delight of the day and the great anticipation of seeing my husband-to-be for the first time in 24 hours. I was ready to get married because the details were ready, but my heart and my mind were not prepared.
I tell you all this, becuase I have found myself in a similiar position recently. Not one of marriage, of course, as I am still married to that wonderful man who loved me even in all of my frenzy! I know there is a plan for my life and a calling. But, I often feel ansy and restless. Like a steed chomping at a bit, trembling and ready to take off as soon he hears the word from his master. I often feel discouraged because I can't see anything happening. I cry out to God,"please show me, reveal to me what you are doing. I don't want to miss out on your calling! I don't want to miss out on what you are doing!" I feel anxious and afraid.
Yesterday morning was like that for me. And AGAIN for the umpteenth time I heard God say to me, "Rest." Urg!!! I don't wanna rest! I said, "I am afraid that if I stay still I am going to miss out on the action; on what you are doing!" He said, "if you are running around, YOU ARE going to miss it." As I began getting ready for the day, God brought to my mind another word that He gave to me awhile ago. It was simply, "be ready." He never told me for what, and believe me, I asked! He simply responded to my question with, "just be ready." It made me think about the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. 5 were ready to meet the bridegroom and 5 were not. I asked myself the question- "Am I ready? Am I in the process of preparing myself or am I so caught up in the details of what it is, what it will look like, and if I will miss it that I am forgetting to get prepared?" This is when I started to think about my wedding and the one thing I would have changed - having my heart prepared to meet my love with great excitement and anticipation. I missed out on that, because I was bothered by details that ultimately did not matter.
I don't want to repeat that same mistake again. I want my heart to be ready. I want to be Mary and not Martha. (Luke 10:38-42)
My preperation should not revolve around the why, how, what, who or when. My preperation needs to revolve around Christ. Just as a bride's preperation should revolve around her true love; her bridegroom. I want you to picture this with me:
A beautiful young girl awakens on the day of her wedding. She lights out of bed and skips to the bathroom to shower. She picks out her favorite scented body wash and washes herself, excited to present herself to her love. After her shower, she dries herself off and lotions her body with scented oils and perfumes, hoping that her soon to be husband will be swept away by her beauty. She dresses herself in a beautiful white gown and sits with growing anticipation as her hair is combed, curled and elegantly styled. Her veil is gently put in place by her mother; its softness carressing her cheeks. Everything in place, she carefully steps back and gazes at herself in the full length mirror. Her breath is taken away by the vision she sees. Butterflies dance inside of her. She is giddy and filled with excited anticipation as she waits, prepared with eager expectation to see her one true love!
Just as a bride prepares herself for her bridegroom, so I must also prepare myself for Christ. I must wash myself with the word of God. Renewing my mind daily in His truth. (Romans 12:2, Eph. 5:26-27) I need to clothe myself in the armour of God and with the purity of His righteousness. (Eph. 6:10-18, Rev. 19:7-8) With everything in place, I will step back and gaze at myself through His eyes; my breath taken away by the vision I see. Butterflies dancing inside of me, giddy and filled with excited anticipation as I stand prepared, and waiting with eager expectation!
Romans 8:22-39
vs. 24-25 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
vs. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Isaiah 40:27-31
vs. 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Job: An Encounter with God
I ponder. A lot. And I have pondered the book of Job for a long time. I have never completely understood it. So this time, as I read through it, I asked God to please reveal to me what I have been missing about this book. A couple of days ago, as I finished reading, one verse popped off of the page at me. Job 42:5 says, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees thee; Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes."
I think there is more to the book of Job then God proving to Satan that Job would not curse God even if all of his blessings were taken away. I believe God was using this opportunity to have a personal encounter with Job. Here Satan was roaming around the Earth, looking to kick up hell somewhere, and God said, "have you considered Job?" It doesn't make sense to me that the God of this universe would really need to have a challenge with Satan to prove a point. God is more powerful than Satan. God knows this. Satan knows this. End of the contest. I believe God was up to something else, bigger than a dare. I am not saying that God did not use this to prove His power. He was proving and showing His power, not only to Satan, but also to Job.
Job was upright, blameless, and feared God. He revered Him. Job lived a life of obedience to God's law because he desired to honor Him. God picked Job, because He knew and understood Job's nature and his integrity. I believe God also picked Job, because He wanted to come face to face with Job. He wanted to reveal Himself to Job in a very personal way.
The first part of Job 42:5 says, " I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear". Job knew of God because he had heard about Him. Through hearing, Job had believed. He made a choice to walk away from sin and live in accordance to the law of God. The second part of the verse says, "but now my eye sees thee." Something changes in Job's relationship to God. The tragedies in Job's life, resulted in Job crying out to God . . . on a very personal level. God had been one to be revered and worshiped, but now God had brought Himself face to face with Job. Job never cursed God, but he did question God. He appealed to God and begged for relief. The doors were wide open for God to speak directly into Job's heart and his mind.
Romans 10:10 says,"for with the heart man believes,resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Job had believed in his heart which resulted in a life of righteousness. When Job confessed he found salvation and a personal relationship with God.
Isn't that what God does for us too? He allows opportunities in our lives so that He can have a personal encounter with us. He desires to be more then worshiped from afar. Jesus desires to be intimate with us. He desires to show us who He is. He desires a relationship.
I think there is more to the book of Job then God proving to Satan that Job would not curse God even if all of his blessings were taken away. I believe God was using this opportunity to have a personal encounter with Job. Here Satan was roaming around the Earth, looking to kick up hell somewhere, and God said, "have you considered Job?" It doesn't make sense to me that the God of this universe would really need to have a challenge with Satan to prove a point. God is more powerful than Satan. God knows this. Satan knows this. End of the contest. I believe God was up to something else, bigger than a dare. I am not saying that God did not use this to prove His power. He was proving and showing His power, not only to Satan, but also to Job.
Job was upright, blameless, and feared God. He revered Him. Job lived a life of obedience to God's law because he desired to honor Him. God picked Job, because He knew and understood Job's nature and his integrity. I believe God also picked Job, because He wanted to come face to face with Job. He wanted to reveal Himself to Job in a very personal way.
The first part of Job 42:5 says, " I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear". Job knew of God because he had heard about Him. Through hearing, Job had believed. He made a choice to walk away from sin and live in accordance to the law of God. The second part of the verse says, "but now my eye sees thee." Something changes in Job's relationship to God. The tragedies in Job's life, resulted in Job crying out to God . . . on a very personal level. God had been one to be revered and worshiped, but now God had brought Himself face to face with Job. Job never cursed God, but he did question God. He appealed to God and begged for relief. The doors were wide open for God to speak directly into Job's heart and his mind.
Romans 10:10 says,"for with the heart man believes,resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Job had believed in his heart which resulted in a life of righteousness. When Job confessed he found salvation and a personal relationship with God.
Isn't that what God does for us too? He allows opportunities in our lives so that He can have a personal encounter with us. He desires to be more then worshiped from afar. Jesus desires to be intimate with us. He desires to show us who He is. He desires a relationship.
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