I Peter 3:15 says, But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. NIV
The Message puts it this way: Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
Notice that the first and most important requirement for sharing our faith is that we ‘set apart Christ as Lord’. This means that we have surrendered control of our lives to Him, knowing that because He created us with a purpose, He will orchestrate the events of our lives to always be in line with accomplishing that purpose. We place our complete trust and confidence in Him and acknowledge living our lives in accordance with the instructions in His Word.
The preparation for sharing our faith comes as we sit with Him every day to learn from Him. This is not just reading His Word or a devotional reading, but thinking it over, studying it--meditating on the truths He has revealed. When we then determine how He wants us to apply that truth to our life or situation, we need to take action to do it. Praying is a major part in determining just what God wants us to do. It is a moment by moment communion with Him; being sensitive to His voice when He speaks and responding with a "yes, Lord, I will do what You ask."
Our lives will, no doubt, be different because we are reflecting Christ to the world around us—they will not see us, but they will see Him. As a result they may ask the reason for the hope you have. This may not always come in the form of a direct question, but they may just want to be around you, they might share a burden or need, and because the Lord has prepared your heart, the answer from your lips should come from the overflow of His truth imparted to you by the Holy Spirit.
Notice the importance of answering with ‘gentleness and respect’ or ‘always with the upmost courtesy’. This portrays to your friend that she/he is valued and loved—that you are not rushing in to ‘dump a load of truth’ in a preaching way on them-- telling them what to do--but simply sharing your life and experiences and what you are learning from the Lord. As God meets us at our point of need, we are meeting that person at their point of need with gentleness and truth. Then the Holy Spirit takes that truth and reveals it to them so they can respond to it. It most always takes time and building an ongoing relationship.
All the while God is building in our lives in preparation for continuing to share truth in answer to their questions. I have been amazed at how often God will share a truth with me in the morning and in the afternoon I will have an opportunity to share it with someone. His timing is perfect—because He has prepared our heart in advance knowing we will need the answer! He is so faithful!
Many of the preparations of our hearts to give an answer come from our own life experiences. Some come through dark times—times of sorrow, grief or tears as well as those special times of joy. I recently came across Isaiah 45:3 that made my heart rejoice! "I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness--secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD…the one who calls you by name." NLT
The Message says it this way: "I'll lead you to buried treasures, secret caches of valuables — Confirmations that it is, in fact, I, GOD… who calls you by your name."
So we can conclude that God is the one who is always preparing our hearts to give an answer concerning the hope He has given us! He’s working in us so He can live His life through us! The glory belongs to Him!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Why Did Jesus Come
At Christmas time, we focus more on the fact that Jesus came; but I really get excited about what He said about WHY He came! In John 10: 10 Jesus says, “I have come for people to have life and have it till it overflows.” WT
Does your life look like that? He also said that “in the world we will have trouble”; so how can we have both? The following story suggests the answer.
I recently heard a speaker tell the story of a Mogul King in India who had an advisor who never gave advice, but when asked ‘what do you think?’ would reply, “I think it’s God and I think it’s good”. No matter what happened to the King, this was his advisors response—“I think it’s God and I think it’s good.” In one of the skirmishes the king’s thumb was shot off, and when asked what he thought about that, the advisor responded the same—“I think it’s God and I think it’s good”. The king became so angry that he threw the advisor in a well and went on into the next kingdom where he was captured and taken to be killed. Upon seeing his defective thumb his captors released him and said they would never pursue him again. The king returned to the well to find his advisor still alive and asked, ‘what do you think about me throwing you into the well?’ His response was the same, “I think it’s God and I think it’s good.” The king said, ‘how can you say that?’ to which he replied, “If I had been with you they would have seen that my thumb is not defective thumb and they would have killed me.”
I repeat this story because it relates to the fact that God has a purpose and plan for EVERYTHING that happens in our lives. When we choose to see these things from God’s perspective we can be certain that “it is God and it is good”. From our perspective it may not look like it, but Jesus’ promise remains, “I have come for people to have life and have it till it overflows.”
I looked up the meaning of the word ‘overflow’ and came up with words such as abundance, plenty, bountiful, generous, voluminous, prosperity and sufficiency of life’s necessities. THAT”S why Jesus came—to give us that kind of life! Though our outward circumstances may not look like this—our hearts can rejoice when we see things from His perspective. He is our God and He is good!
Does your life look like that? He also said that “in the world we will have trouble”; so how can we have both? The following story suggests the answer.
I recently heard a speaker tell the story of a Mogul King in India who had an advisor who never gave advice, but when asked ‘what do you think?’ would reply, “I think it’s God and I think it’s good”. No matter what happened to the King, this was his advisors response—“I think it’s God and I think it’s good.” In one of the skirmishes the king’s thumb was shot off, and when asked what he thought about that, the advisor responded the same—“I think it’s God and I think it’s good”. The king became so angry that he threw the advisor in a well and went on into the next kingdom where he was captured and taken to be killed. Upon seeing his defective thumb his captors released him and said they would never pursue him again. The king returned to the well to find his advisor still alive and asked, ‘what do you think about me throwing you into the well?’ His response was the same, “I think it’s God and I think it’s good.” The king said, ‘how can you say that?’ to which he replied, “If I had been with you they would have seen that my thumb is not defective thumb and they would have killed me.”
I repeat this story because it relates to the fact that God has a purpose and plan for EVERYTHING that happens in our lives. When we choose to see these things from God’s perspective we can be certain that “it is God and it is good”. From our perspective it may not look like it, but Jesus’ promise remains, “I have come for people to have life and have it till it overflows.”
I looked up the meaning of the word ‘overflow’ and came up with words such as abundance, plenty, bountiful, generous, voluminous, prosperity and sufficiency of life’s necessities. THAT”S why Jesus came—to give us that kind of life! Though our outward circumstances may not look like this—our hearts can rejoice when we see things from His perspective. He is our God and He is good!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
From Gratitude to Joy!
Being able to ‘see God in every circumstance’ has a lot to do with developing a grateful heart. Often when I am in a situation that is difficult to understand, or one of my children or grandchildren is experiencing something that is hard; I begin my prayer with thanksgiving rather than a request. I begin by rehearsing what I know about God and His character—"thank You that You have brought this trial into my life to teach me more of who You are…thank you that You have designed this experience my loved one is going through to draw her close to You…thank You that You have a purpose and plan for everything that you allow to touch our lives—the difficulties as well as the joys…thank You that You are well able to handle any problem because You have a purpose and plan for each one…etc. This helps to set my mind and thoughts on Him who promised that ‘He has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him’ 2 Pet. 1:3. O, Lord, I pray that You will train my heart to respond to all that happens in my life with a grateful spirit! Amen!!!"
I am currently reading Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ book, Choosing Gratitude—Your Journey to Joy. I want to share a few of the thoughts I’m gleaning, hoping to whet your appetite to read the book!
Gratitude is a choice! If our lives begin to feel hard, hopeless or overwhelming it may be that we need to see if we are harboring an ungrateful attitude. If we see signs of worry, complaining, resentment, anger or bitterness, negativity, doubt, discouragement or anxiety; we must run to the life preserver of gratitude! Nancy says, ‘Over time, choosing gratitude means choosing joy. But that choice doesn’t come without effort and intentionality. It’s a choice that requires constantly renewing my mind with the truth of God’s Word, setting my heart to savor God and His gifts, and disciplining my tongue to speak words that reflect His goodness and grace—until a grateful spirit becomes my reflexive response to all of life.’
Our emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being as well as the health and stability of our relationships are greatly determined by having a grateful heart. In an interview, a theologian Dr. Wayne Gruden responded to the question of vulnerability to discouragement by saying, “I don’t often become discouraged. I continue to see evidence of God’s work in my life and in the lives of those around me, and I am simply overwhelmed with thankfulness to Him.” We can look for evidences of God’s hand at work even in the midst of turmoil and be ‘simply overwhelmed with thankfulness to Him.’
Gratitude is vital and it is transformational to our lives! It is one of the chief ways that God infuses joy and resilience into the daily struggles of life.
Come to think of it, nothing makes a person more unattractive than the absence of a grateful spirit. And the consequences of an ungrateful heart can be as contagious as a deadly disease. Often we blame or build resentment against others for the grief we are experiencing. We blame God and ask, ‘why me?’ We become self-focused. Nancy says, “But true, Christ-centered, grace motivated gratitude fits everywhere, even in life’s most desperate moments and difficult situations. Even when there are no ‘answers’, it gives hope. It transforms overwhelmed strugglers into triumphant conquerors.”
From Romans 1, we see that from ingratitude a host of other sins grow. Verse 21 says, ‘they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him…’ Ingratitude is our first step away from God into hideous sin.
I’ll conclude with eight biblical reasons for choosing to have a grateful heart:
• It is a matter of obedience to God—Psa. 50:14, ‘Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and perform your vows to the Most High.’
• It draws us close to Him—Psa. 22:3 kjv, ‘God inhabits the praises of His people’.
• It is a sure path to peace—Phil. 4:6, 7, ‘Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your minds in Christ Jesus.’
• It tells you where your heart is—Psa. 140:13, ‘Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name.’
• It is the will of God—1 Thess. 5:18 ‘Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’
• It is an evidence of being filled with the spirit—Eph. 5:18-20, Be filled with the Spirit. ‘Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.’
• It reflects the heart of Jesus—Luke 10:21, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…’ John 11:41 ‘I thank You that You have heard Me…’ (among many examples).
• It gets us ready for heaven—Rev. 4:8, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’
John 15:10,11 reveals Jesus heart: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed My father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” And we are told in 1 Tim 6:17 that God ‘richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.’
He wants us to be joy filled and He will give it abundantly as we develop grateful hearts to Him!
I am currently reading Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ book, Choosing Gratitude—Your Journey to Joy. I want to share a few of the thoughts I’m gleaning, hoping to whet your appetite to read the book!
Gratitude is a choice! If our lives begin to feel hard, hopeless or overwhelming it may be that we need to see if we are harboring an ungrateful attitude. If we see signs of worry, complaining, resentment, anger or bitterness, negativity, doubt, discouragement or anxiety; we must run to the life preserver of gratitude! Nancy says, ‘Over time, choosing gratitude means choosing joy. But that choice doesn’t come without effort and intentionality. It’s a choice that requires constantly renewing my mind with the truth of God’s Word, setting my heart to savor God and His gifts, and disciplining my tongue to speak words that reflect His goodness and grace—until a grateful spirit becomes my reflexive response to all of life.’
Our emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being as well as the health and stability of our relationships are greatly determined by having a grateful heart. In an interview, a theologian Dr. Wayne Gruden responded to the question of vulnerability to discouragement by saying, “I don’t often become discouraged. I continue to see evidence of God’s work in my life and in the lives of those around me, and I am simply overwhelmed with thankfulness to Him.” We can look for evidences of God’s hand at work even in the midst of turmoil and be ‘simply overwhelmed with thankfulness to Him.’
Gratitude is vital and it is transformational to our lives! It is one of the chief ways that God infuses joy and resilience into the daily struggles of life.
Come to think of it, nothing makes a person more unattractive than the absence of a grateful spirit. And the consequences of an ungrateful heart can be as contagious as a deadly disease. Often we blame or build resentment against others for the grief we are experiencing. We blame God and ask, ‘why me?’ We become self-focused. Nancy says, “But true, Christ-centered, grace motivated gratitude fits everywhere, even in life’s most desperate moments and difficult situations. Even when there are no ‘answers’, it gives hope. It transforms overwhelmed strugglers into triumphant conquerors.”
From Romans 1, we see that from ingratitude a host of other sins grow. Verse 21 says, ‘they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him…’ Ingratitude is our first step away from God into hideous sin.
I’ll conclude with eight biblical reasons for choosing to have a grateful heart:
• It is a matter of obedience to God—Psa. 50:14, ‘Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and perform your vows to the Most High.’
• It draws us close to Him—Psa. 22:3 kjv, ‘God inhabits the praises of His people’.
• It is a sure path to peace—Phil. 4:6, 7, ‘Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your minds in Christ Jesus.’
• It tells you where your heart is—Psa. 140:13, ‘Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name.’
• It is the will of God—1 Thess. 5:18 ‘Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’
• It is an evidence of being filled with the spirit—Eph. 5:18-20, Be filled with the Spirit. ‘Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.’
• It reflects the heart of Jesus—Luke 10:21, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…’ John 11:41 ‘I thank You that You have heard Me…’ (among many examples).
• It gets us ready for heaven—Rev. 4:8, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’
John 15:10,11 reveals Jesus heart: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed My father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” And we are told in 1 Tim 6:17 that God ‘richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.’
He wants us to be joy filled and He will give it abundantly as we develop grateful hearts to Him!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Seeing God in the Changing Seasons of our Lives
I saw a leaf fall from a tree outside my window this morning and it reminded me that another season is passing—a new one on its way.
I thought back on the seasons of my life—formative years that laid the foundation for marriage, parenting, the empty nest and now, the senior years.
The questions I ask myself as I think back on these seasons of life are:
1. What are some of the important lessons I have learned through these Seasons?
2. As I have walked through these Seasons, what have I done that will count for eternity? What purposes were fulfilled?
3. Every day I am given is a gift from God. How have I invested those ‘gifts’? More importantly, do I see God’s involvement in each of the happenings in my life? And, am I leaving a heritage for my children, grandchildren and others as they pass through on their journey?
I am very aware that the seasons of this journey are not about me—they’re about God and His purposes. I am currently reading “The Grand Weaver” by Ravi Zacharias—how God shapes us through the events of our lives. Or we might refer to them as the seasons of our lives. He says:
The stages of the refining process of the diamond suggest many applications for our own lives. The most important is to know that God shapes the precious life He saves and does so for a special purpose.’
I was deeply challenged a few years ago when I heard the message of the song, “Leave a Well in the Valley”. Here are the lyrics:
To the valley you’ve been through
those around you must go too
down the rocky path you travel they will go.
If to those facing your same trial
you’ll lend the secret of your smile
you will help them more than you will ever know.
Chorus:
Leave a well in the valley
your dark and lonesome valley
for others have to walk that valley too
what a blessing they will find
the well of JOY you’ve left behind
leave a well in the valley you go through.
Blessed is the man who has learned to understand
He’s to be the hand of God to those in need
then all the tears that you have shed
with God’s help become instead
a precious balm for those hearts that bleed.
Throughout the seasons of my life I pray that others will find the well of joy I’ve left behind; and that my tears will become a precious balm to hearts that are hurting.
Another more familiar song is Steve Green’s “Find us Faithful”:
We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road
and those who’ve gone before us lead the way
cheering on the faithful; encouraging the weary
their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace.
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
that has run the race not only for the prize
but as those who’ve gone before us,
let us leave to those behind us
the heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives.
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
and our children sift through all we’ve left behind
may the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
become the light that leads them to the road we all must find.
Chorus: O may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
may the footprints that we leave,
lead them to believe
and the life we’ve lived inspire them to obey
O, may all who come behind us find us faithful.
I am more convinced than ever that this life is about seeing God in each season of my life; and trusting Him to keep me faithfully walking with Him as an example for others who will follow. May He find us all faithful!!! Without Him it’s impossible.
Find Us Faithful by Steve Green
I thought back on the seasons of my life—formative years that laid the foundation for marriage, parenting, the empty nest and now, the senior years.
The questions I ask myself as I think back on these seasons of life are:
1. What are some of the important lessons I have learned through these Seasons?
2. As I have walked through these Seasons, what have I done that will count for eternity? What purposes were fulfilled?
3. Every day I am given is a gift from God. How have I invested those ‘gifts’? More importantly, do I see God’s involvement in each of the happenings in my life? And, am I leaving a heritage for my children, grandchildren and others as they pass through on their journey?
I am very aware that the seasons of this journey are not about me—they’re about God and His purposes. I am currently reading “The Grand Weaver” by Ravi Zacharias—how God shapes us through the events of our lives. Or we might refer to them as the seasons of our lives. He says:
The stages of the refining process of the diamond suggest many applications for our own lives. The most important is to know that God shapes the precious life He saves and does so for a special purpose.’
I was deeply challenged a few years ago when I heard the message of the song, “Leave a Well in the Valley”. Here are the lyrics:
To the valley you’ve been through
those around you must go too
down the rocky path you travel they will go.
If to those facing your same trial
you’ll lend the secret of your smile
you will help them more than you will ever know.
Chorus:
Leave a well in the valley
your dark and lonesome valley
for others have to walk that valley too
what a blessing they will find
the well of JOY you’ve left behind
leave a well in the valley you go through.
Blessed is the man who has learned to understand
He’s to be the hand of God to those in need
then all the tears that you have shed
with God’s help become instead
a precious balm for those hearts that bleed.
Throughout the seasons of my life I pray that others will find the well of joy I’ve left behind; and that my tears will become a precious balm to hearts that are hurting.
Another more familiar song is Steve Green’s “Find us Faithful”:
We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road
and those who’ve gone before us lead the way
cheering on the faithful; encouraging the weary
their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace.
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
that has run the race not only for the prize
but as those who’ve gone before us,
let us leave to those behind us
the heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives.
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
and our children sift through all we’ve left behind
may the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
become the light that leads them to the road we all must find.
Chorus: O may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
may the footprints that we leave,
lead them to believe
and the life we’ve lived inspire them to obey
O, may all who come behind us find us faithful.
I am more convinced than ever that this life is about seeing God in each season of my life; and trusting Him to keep me faithfully walking with Him as an example for others who will follow. May He find us all faithful!!! Without Him it’s impossible.
Find Us Faithful by Steve Green
Monday, August 30, 2010
Having A Teachable Heart—A Way To SEE GOD
Have you ever wondered what it ‘looks like’ to have a teachable heart?
We have many examples in Scripture. I’ll point out just a few.
• Moses prayed in Exo. 33:13—
‘…teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.’
• The Psalmists, including David prayed: Ps 25:4 ‘Teach me your paths’; Ps 25:5 ‘Guide me in your truth and teach me’; Ps 51:6 ‘Teach me wisdom’; Ps 86:11; ‘Teach me your way, O LORD’; many times in Ps 119 he asked, ‘Teach me your decrees’; then he asked in verse 33, ‘Teach me, O LORD , to follow your decrees’. In verse 66, he asks, ‘Teach me knowledge and good judgment; and in verse 108, ‘Teach me your laws’. In Ps 143:10, he prays ‘Teach me to do your will, for you are my God’.
So we learn from the above examples that a teachable heart is revealed when we ask God to teach us. And we learn also what to ask God for as we observe their example.
Another good way that a teachable heart is revealed is in asking a friend or family member who knows us well.
• Perhaps the best example in Scripture is Job, when he responds to his friends who are trying to help him: Job 6:24 ‘Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong’; and Job 34:32 ‘Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.' Job’s attitude has always been challenging to me in that it reveals a very humble, non-defensive spirit. Job really wanted to please God; and when he thought he was not, he was eager to find out what he had done wrong and was willing to change—even going to his friends who knew him well to ask them.
Often, looking at what a teachable heart is not helps us discern whether we really have one. Here are a few questions we can ask ourselves to find out if we do have a heart that is teachable:
1. Do I often ask God to point out what I need to know and then be attentive for His answer?
2. Do I ask Him to enable me, by His grace, to put it into practice? And do I really want to change in order to glorify God in my life?
3. Do I have a humble heart to receive correction from a friend or family member when I have done wrong? Or do I become defensive, or blame others for my lack?
These are some questions I ask myself in order to SEE GOD and His faithful work in my life. Many times, as I am reading God’s word or a devotional book He gets my attention and I know He is speaking to me. Other times He reveals a need in my life through my husband, children or a friend. He is faithful because He loves us and cares about every area of our lives.
We have many examples in Scripture. I’ll point out just a few.
• Moses prayed in Exo. 33:13—
‘…teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.’
• The Psalmists, including David prayed: Ps 25:4 ‘Teach me your paths’; Ps 25:5 ‘Guide me in your truth and teach me’; Ps 51:6 ‘Teach me wisdom’; Ps 86:11; ‘Teach me your way, O LORD’; many times in Ps 119 he asked, ‘Teach me your decrees’; then he asked in verse 33, ‘Teach me, O LORD , to follow your decrees’. In verse 66, he asks, ‘Teach me knowledge and good judgment; and in verse 108, ‘Teach me your laws’. In Ps 143:10, he prays ‘Teach me to do your will, for you are my God’.
So we learn from the above examples that a teachable heart is revealed when we ask God to teach us. And we learn also what to ask God for as we observe their example.
Another good way that a teachable heart is revealed is in asking a friend or family member who knows us well.
• Perhaps the best example in Scripture is Job, when he responds to his friends who are trying to help him: Job 6:24 ‘Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong’; and Job 34:32 ‘Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.' Job’s attitude has always been challenging to me in that it reveals a very humble, non-defensive spirit. Job really wanted to please God; and when he thought he was not, he was eager to find out what he had done wrong and was willing to change—even going to his friends who knew him well to ask them.
Often, looking at what a teachable heart is not helps us discern whether we really have one. Here are a few questions we can ask ourselves to find out if we do have a heart that is teachable:
1. Do I often ask God to point out what I need to know and then be attentive for His answer?
2. Do I ask Him to enable me, by His grace, to put it into practice? And do I really want to change in order to glorify God in my life?
3. Do I have a humble heart to receive correction from a friend or family member when I have done wrong? Or do I become defensive, or blame others for my lack?
These are some questions I ask myself in order to SEE GOD and His faithful work in my life. Many times, as I am reading God’s word or a devotional book He gets my attention and I know He is speaking to me. Other times He reveals a need in my life through my husband, children or a friend. He is faithful because He loves us and cares about every area of our lives.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Friendship with God
Have you ever wondered what qualified Abraham to be called the friend of God? James 2:23 says, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."* He was even called the friend of God.NLT
It was Abraham’s faith in God that qualified him to be called the friend of God. What were the factors of his faith? How do those relate to our most important friendship—our friendship with God?
Jesus said, in John 15:14-16, You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. NLT
1. We must obey what he asks us to do to experience His friendship. Abraham obeyed God even to the point of being willing to sacrifice his only son.
2. His friendship with us involves revealing the heart of God to us. Whatever the Father has told Him, He passes on to us. As we obey Him He counts us trustworthy and reveals His truth; so trust must be a factor in our friendship. God revealed His heart to Abraham; and even though it seemed impossible that God could fulfill His promise if Abraham killed the son he gave him in fulfillment of a promise, he was willing to trust God to do as He had said.
3. Loyalty is another factor. In inviting Him to be Master of our lives we are committed to His way of dealing with us. So no matter what He allows in our lives we must remain loyal to Him and trust that He is always working for our good and His glory. Abraham certainly exhibited this kind of loyalty to His Master.
4. Vulnerability is important also. Abraham stepped out in faith to do as God had asked. We must do the same in order to build a solid friendship with God. Though those around us may not understand or agree, and we, ourselves may not understand, we obey because we trust Him as our Friend. He will never ask us to do anything that is contrary to His love. Never!
5. He chose us first, to be our friend. His commitment is absolute. Ours should be nothing less. He is our ever faithful God.
What security we enjoy in the fact that He promises “never to leave us or forsake us”.
You call me Friend
But do you realize
How much the name implies?
It means that down the years,
Through sunshine and through tears,
There’s always Someone standing by your heart.
--H. B. Farr
Have you ever wondered what qualified Abraham to be called the friend of God? James 2:23 says, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."* He was even called the friend of God.NLT
It was Abraham’s faith in God that qualified him to be called the friend of God. What were the factors of his faith? How do those relate to our most important friendship—our friendship with God?
Jesus said, in John 15:14-16, You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. NLT
1. We must obey what he asks us to do to experience His friendship. Abraham obeyed God even to the point of being willing to sacrifice his only son.
2. His friendship with us involves revealing the heart of God to us. Whatever the Father has told Him, He passes on to us. As we obey Him He counts us trustworthy and reveals His truth; so trust must be a factor in our friendship. God revealed His heart to Abraham; and even though it seemed impossible that God could fulfill His promise if Abraham killed the son he gave him in fulfillment of a promise, he was willing to trust God to do as He had said.
3. Loyalty is another factor. In inviting Him to be Master of our lives we are committed to His way of dealing with us. So no matter what He allows in our lives we must remain loyal to Him and trust that He is always working for our good and His glory. Abraham certainly exhibited this kind of loyalty to His Master.
4. Vulnerability is important also. Abraham stepped out in faith to do as God had asked. We must do the same in order to build a solid friendship with God. Though those around us may not understand or agree, and we, ourselves may not understand, we obey because we trust Him as our Friend. He will never ask us to do anything that is contrary to His love. Never!
5. He chose us first, to be our friend. His commitment is absolute. Ours should be nothing less. He is our ever faithful God.
What security we enjoy in the fact that He promises “never to leave us or forsake us”.
You call me Friend
But do you realize
How much the name implies?
It means that down the years,
Through sunshine and through tears,
There’s always Someone standing by your heart.
--H. B. Farr
Thursday, June 24, 2010
How Essential Is Knowledge of The TRUTH?
In this column I cannot begin to proclaim all that Jesus teaches about TRUTH in the New Testament, but I pray that these introductory thoughts will create a desire for you to do your own search. It’s fascinating!
Jesus claims, “I am the way, the truth, the life…”. I consider these three in one. In knowing the truth (JESUS), we also know the way and we have the life; because He IS our life—the TRUTH! In other words, apart from Him we cannot know the truth!
John 8:31 and 32, Jesus said: “You are truly my disciples (followers) if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” When I first read this verse I wondered, how does the truth set me free?
Here are a few things I am discovering:
Notice first he said, ‘if you obey My teachings (TRUTHS)’…how can we obey His teaching (truths) if we do knot know them? How do we get to know them? We cannot know them apart from the Holy Spirit’s revelation of them to us. In John 14:17 Jesus says that He gave the Holy Spirit to ‘lead us into all truth’. So we cannot obey the truth that God has given to us for successful and victorious living if we do not invite the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us. Once we have asked the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth I believe we also need to ask that we will be ready to RECOGNIZE it so we can obey it or respond to it as we should.
Second, what is the value of knowing the TRUTH? I always look for the practical—and one practical benefit of knowing Who He is through the revelation of His Word is being assured that He is loving in all He does, He is faithful even when we are not, He guards and protects us, He knows the plans He has for us…and so much more! So when circumstances come into our lives that are difficult to handle or hard to understand, we can trust Him (the Truth) to be all He promises to be through His Word! Truth sets us free when don’t know the ‘why’, but we do know the ‘Who’ that is behind the circumstances we face. We can trust the TRUTH—Jesus!
Third, it is necessary that we know the truth, because it prepares us for life’s joys and challenges. We are less likely to be distracted to look elsewhere and we will go immediately to the TRUTH of what we know about Jesus. We find freedom in that truth.
Jesus claims, “I am the way, the truth, the life…”. I consider these three in one. In knowing the truth (JESUS), we also know the way and we have the life; because He IS our life—the TRUTH! In other words, apart from Him we cannot know the truth!
John 8:31 and 32, Jesus said: “You are truly my disciples (followers) if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” When I first read this verse I wondered, how does the truth set me free?
Here are a few things I am discovering:
Notice first he said, ‘if you obey My teachings (TRUTHS)’…how can we obey His teaching (truths) if we do knot know them? How do we get to know them? We cannot know them apart from the Holy Spirit’s revelation of them to us. In John 14:17 Jesus says that He gave the Holy Spirit to ‘lead us into all truth’. So we cannot obey the truth that God has given to us for successful and victorious living if we do not invite the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us. Once we have asked the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth I believe we also need to ask that we will be ready to RECOGNIZE it so we can obey it or respond to it as we should.
Second, what is the value of knowing the TRUTH? I always look for the practical—and one practical benefit of knowing Who He is through the revelation of His Word is being assured that He is loving in all He does, He is faithful even when we are not, He guards and protects us, He knows the plans He has for us…and so much more! So when circumstances come into our lives that are difficult to handle or hard to understand, we can trust Him (the Truth) to be all He promises to be through His Word! Truth sets us free when don’t know the ‘why’, but we do know the ‘Who’ that is behind the circumstances we face. We can trust the TRUTH—Jesus!
Third, it is necessary that we know the truth, because it prepares us for life’s joys and challenges. We are less likely to be distracted to look elsewhere and we will go immediately to the TRUTH of what we know about Jesus. We find freedom in that truth.
Monday, May 31, 2010
What is True Rest?
One of my favorite reminders of REST, as one of the provisions of God for us as Christ-followers, is Matthew 11: 28-30. “Jesus said, come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”
At one time or another we will all have burdens too heavy for us to carry. Sometimes these burdens are daily. This verse tells me that whenever or however they come, they come with a purpose; and they come from HIM. The main purpose is that we would come and let Him carry the load with us—to yoke up with Him in a yoke that fits perfectly-- because then the burden is light. If we choose to go our own way and try to fix or shoulder the burden on our own it will always be too heavy. We were never meant carry it alone.
Another invitation He gives is to ‘let Me teach you’. As we ask Him to teach us what He wants us to learn through the heavy burden, we are certainly placing ourselves in a position to see things from His perspective because He will reveal the truths we need to know. Then we are in a position to learn from Him rather than grumbling under our burden.
Rest and trust go hand in hand. We can’t have one without the other. A couple of weeks ago I was reading in Steams in the Desert, a daily devotional book. I came across this quote: “Quiet tension is not trust. It is simply compressed anxiety.” This in not a picture of trust and rest. Rest is really the fruit of trust.
To me, the key to rest is responding to His invitation to ‘come to Me.’ He IS our place of rest and true rest will be found in no other place. Jesus gave the invitation in John 7: 37, ‘if anyone is thirsty, come to Me." Rest and water are two things we must have to live; and we are to find both freely and abundantly in HIM!
At one time or another we will all have burdens too heavy for us to carry. Sometimes these burdens are daily. This verse tells me that whenever or however they come, they come with a purpose; and they come from HIM. The main purpose is that we would come and let Him carry the load with us—to yoke up with Him in a yoke that fits perfectly-- because then the burden is light. If we choose to go our own way and try to fix or shoulder the burden on our own it will always be too heavy. We were never meant carry it alone.
Another invitation He gives is to ‘let Me teach you’. As we ask Him to teach us what He wants us to learn through the heavy burden, we are certainly placing ourselves in a position to see things from His perspective because He will reveal the truths we need to know. Then we are in a position to learn from Him rather than grumbling under our burden.
Rest and trust go hand in hand. We can’t have one without the other. A couple of weeks ago I was reading in Steams in the Desert, a daily devotional book. I came across this quote: “Quiet tension is not trust. It is simply compressed anxiety.” This in not a picture of trust and rest. Rest is really the fruit of trust.
To me, the key to rest is responding to His invitation to ‘come to Me.’ He IS our place of rest and true rest will be found in no other place. Jesus gave the invitation in John 7: 37, ‘if anyone is thirsty, come to Me." Rest and water are two things we must have to live; and we are to find both freely and abundantly in HIM!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Praise: An Essential Part of Prayer
Praise is a part of prayer that we often neglect in our rush to thank God for His blessings or ask urgent requests of Him. But praise is essential if we are to learn to view life from His perspective. Because, you see, praise enables us to see things from His perspective. Praise is focusing on who God is—not on what He has done or will do. David praised the Lord in
1 Chronicles 29:10-13:
"Praise be to you, O LORD , God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O LORD , is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD , is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. NIV
In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat discovered his circumstances filled with insurmountable obstacles, and His first response was to begin Praising God as ruler over all the kingdoms of the earth, so powerful and mighty that none could stand against His will. He recalled past victories and praised God for those; then admitted, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." NIV Praise enabled him to see from God’s vantage point!
Praise allows us to place the circumstances we all face from time to time, that we can do nothing about, into the hands of Him Who ‘’is able to do far beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine’! Eph. 3:20
As a young wife and mother, I was in the midst of circumstances that were overwhelming to me. As I came to a point of thinking there was ‘no way out’, I was invited to hear Ruth Denler Myers speak. She and her husband were missionaries in Hong Kong with two young children when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. His example to her throughout his illness was one of praise to the Lord—his words to all who entered his room were words of encouragement. When the Lord took him Home, Ruth was faced with some difficult decisions and eventually decided to return to the States with her children.
What she shared that day changed my life! She talked about God’s sovereign control and loving intentions in all the circumstances of our lives; and how ‘praise’ enables us to focus our attention on Him instead of our distressing circumstances, which are God’s blessings in disguise. She said, “They rip away the flimsy fabric of our self-sufficiency making room for God’s spirit to weave in the immeasurably deeper confidence, ‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’ (Phil. 4:13). Trials bring the scum to the top in our lives, refining and beautifying us. When we praise God for a trial, we cooperate with His plan to remove the scum. When we complain, we resist His plan and stir the impurities back into our lives. This necessitates yet another trial to accomplish His purpose, delaying the unfolding of His plan for us and our loved ones….Praise is the catalyst that speeds up the maturing process in our lives.”
God had my attention; and that day I began to learn to praise God. When I choose to praise I can see my problems as insignificant in the light of God’s mighty, unlimited power and purposes for my life. I see them as opportunities rather then hindrances—as steppingstones rather than obstacles. Praise allows me to really see Him for Who He is!
Praise can enable us to have peace in the midst of suffocating, depressive, painful circumstances that we cannot change. Praise turns apparent defeats into glorious victories. “True praise is unconditional,” Ruth said. “It is not an attempt to manipulate God into producing the results we prefer. It is accepting the situation as it exists whether or not He changes the outer circumstances. Continued praise brings us to the place where we can say, "Father, I do not want You to remove the problem until you have done through it all You desire in me and in others."
That year, we were in the midst of what would be 8 moves. The circumstances appeared hopeless at the time, but God began that gentle process of delivering my heart from the oppression of my circumstances to see Him through praise. Through praise we are not denying our circumstances or our feelings, but seeing them in light of God’s character and the promises He has made to us in His Word. What a glorious privilege to praise HIM!
1 Chronicles 29:10-13:
"Praise be to you, O LORD , God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O LORD , is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD , is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. NIV
In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat discovered his circumstances filled with insurmountable obstacles, and His first response was to begin Praising God as ruler over all the kingdoms of the earth, so powerful and mighty that none could stand against His will. He recalled past victories and praised God for those; then admitted, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." NIV Praise enabled him to see from God’s vantage point!
Praise allows us to place the circumstances we all face from time to time, that we can do nothing about, into the hands of Him Who ‘’is able to do far beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine’! Eph. 3:20
As a young wife and mother, I was in the midst of circumstances that were overwhelming to me. As I came to a point of thinking there was ‘no way out’, I was invited to hear Ruth Denler Myers speak. She and her husband were missionaries in Hong Kong with two young children when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. His example to her throughout his illness was one of praise to the Lord—his words to all who entered his room were words of encouragement. When the Lord took him Home, Ruth was faced with some difficult decisions and eventually decided to return to the States with her children.
What she shared that day changed my life! She talked about God’s sovereign control and loving intentions in all the circumstances of our lives; and how ‘praise’ enables us to focus our attention on Him instead of our distressing circumstances, which are God’s blessings in disguise. She said, “They rip away the flimsy fabric of our self-sufficiency making room for God’s spirit to weave in the immeasurably deeper confidence, ‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me’ (Phil. 4:13). Trials bring the scum to the top in our lives, refining and beautifying us. When we praise God for a trial, we cooperate with His plan to remove the scum. When we complain, we resist His plan and stir the impurities back into our lives. This necessitates yet another trial to accomplish His purpose, delaying the unfolding of His plan for us and our loved ones….Praise is the catalyst that speeds up the maturing process in our lives.”
God had my attention; and that day I began to learn to praise God. When I choose to praise I can see my problems as insignificant in the light of God’s mighty, unlimited power and purposes for my life. I see them as opportunities rather then hindrances—as steppingstones rather than obstacles. Praise allows me to really see Him for Who He is!
Praise can enable us to have peace in the midst of suffocating, depressive, painful circumstances that we cannot change. Praise turns apparent defeats into glorious victories. “True praise is unconditional,” Ruth said. “It is not an attempt to manipulate God into producing the results we prefer. It is accepting the situation as it exists whether or not He changes the outer circumstances. Continued praise brings us to the place where we can say, "Father, I do not want You to remove the problem until you have done through it all You desire in me and in others."
That year, we were in the midst of what would be 8 moves. The circumstances appeared hopeless at the time, but God began that gentle process of delivering my heart from the oppression of my circumstances to see Him through praise. Through praise we are not denying our circumstances or our feelings, but seeing them in light of God’s character and the promises He has made to us in His Word. What a glorious privilege to praise HIM!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Spring of Forgiveness
When Spring comes we think of NEW LIFE—trees budding, bulbs bursting into bloom as the ground warms, more sunny, warm days that make us itch (well, some of us!!!) to get outside to work the ground for planting so new growth can spring forth. It’s a refreshing time.
Forgiveness is like that! Many times the bitterness of our hearts is like winter—icy cold, with fierce blizzard winds whipping around and irritating our minds and emotions. Lam. 3: 19- 20 explains it this way: “I remember my affliction [hurt, offense, or grievance] and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them and my soul is downcast within me.” When we ‘meditate’ or ‘focus’ on our hurts or negative circumstances the bitterness grows and often consumes us. This is the picture Jeremiah was describing. And the Psalmist laments: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?” Ever ask that question? I have.
But Jeremiah changes His focus in verse 21-25 of Lamentations: “Yet I dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is HIS faithfulness; HIS mercies begin afresh every day. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in HIM!’ The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for HIM and seek HIM.”
And what is our inheritance? When we receive Him we receive His life in exchange for our old life. He forgives us and cleans up our sinful lives. He gives us a fresh start—like spring!
Jesus says in Matthew 6: 14, 15: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your heavenly Father will not forgive you your sins.” What a frightening truth! If I do not choose to forgive someone who sins against me—if I focus on that offense—then I cannot enjoy the forgiveness God offers to me!!! I remain in my ‘downcast’ condition and my focus is on myself and my hurt or offense.
Someone has described the bitterness that comes from unforgiveness as like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. On the positive side another said, that “Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet leaves on the heel that crushes it.”
Since a person is never more God-like than when he/she forgives, let’s look at offenses this way. God wants us to be like Jesus; so let’s ask Him to let us see our hurt from His perspective. Believing that ‘He makes all things work together for good to those who love Him…’, then the offense or hurt is allowed from His heart of love for us; giving us the opportunity to forgive another person and to become more Christ-like in the process. We free the other person, but we free ourselves as well to enjoy “…His mercies that begin afresh every day!”
Forgiveness is like that! Many times the bitterness of our hearts is like winter—icy cold, with fierce blizzard winds whipping around and irritating our minds and emotions. Lam. 3: 19- 20 explains it this way: “I remember my affliction [hurt, offense, or grievance] and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them and my soul is downcast within me.” When we ‘meditate’ or ‘focus’ on our hurts or negative circumstances the bitterness grows and often consumes us. This is the picture Jeremiah was describing. And the Psalmist laments: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?” Ever ask that question? I have.
But Jeremiah changes His focus in verse 21-25 of Lamentations: “Yet I dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is HIS faithfulness; HIS mercies begin afresh every day. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in HIM!’ The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for HIM and seek HIM.”
And what is our inheritance? When we receive Him we receive His life in exchange for our old life. He forgives us and cleans up our sinful lives. He gives us a fresh start—like spring!
Jesus says in Matthew 6: 14, 15: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your heavenly Father will not forgive you your sins.” What a frightening truth! If I do not choose to forgive someone who sins against me—if I focus on that offense—then I cannot enjoy the forgiveness God offers to me!!! I remain in my ‘downcast’ condition and my focus is on myself and my hurt or offense.
Someone has described the bitterness that comes from unforgiveness as like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. On the positive side another said, that “Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet leaves on the heel that crushes it.”
Since a person is never more God-like than when he/she forgives, let’s look at offenses this way. God wants us to be like Jesus; so let’s ask Him to let us see our hurt from His perspective. Believing that ‘He makes all things work together for good to those who love Him…’, then the offense or hurt is allowed from His heart of love for us; giving us the opportunity to forgive another person and to become more Christ-like in the process. We free the other person, but we free ourselves as well to enjoy “…His mercies that begin afresh every day!”
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A Woman of Influence Fears God
As I consider the influential qualities of the woman spoken of in Proverbs 31, my thoughts gather around verse 30; "Charm is deceptive and beauty does not last, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised." To be praised means we have influenced someone in a positive manner. It brings me to the conclusion that because this woman feared the Lord, she was motivated to minister the way she did to her husband, family, and community. She was trustworthy, industrious, creative, strong, caring and selfless in meeting the needs of those around her and so much more.
So what does it 'look like' for a woman to fear the Lord'?
Gothard sums up the definition this way: "The fear of the Lord is the continual awareness that I am in the presence of a holy, just and almighty God; and that every thought, word, action, and deed is open to Him and is being judged by Him." So, this fact makes me very secure. As I fear the Lord I am aware of His presence and Psalm 16:11 says that 'in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.' Because He is a holy, just and almighty God, He is fully worthy of my trust and confidence. As I acknowledge the fact that He is aware of my every thought, word, action and deed I realize I am accountable to Him for the way I live and the choices I make--they matter to Him! The more I fear the Lord, the more I want to please Him; thus my motivation to make right choices. Not only does that please God, but it is beneficial to me as well.
Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." We all want godly wisdom; and we seek godly wisdom from those who have it. It begins in us by learning to fear the Lord. This is not a fear whereby we cower in His presence or are afraid of Him, but a healthy respect and awe of this God who so loves and cares for every aspect of our lives!
Let me point out from some biblical women and men how this fear of the Lord was evidenced in their lives:
1) Abigail [you can read more about her in 1 Samuel 25]: her husband, Nabal's actions had angered King David and he was coming to kill him, but Abigail made a godly appeal to King David on behalf of her husband to keep the King from killing him in anger, which would have caused the King to be disrespected. Her husband was a fool and everyone knew it. She could have let King David kill him, but she feared the Lord--she did what she knew what would honor Him. As you read in the story, God took care of Nabal in His way. And He took care of Abigail as well.
2) Sarah [you can read more about her in Genesis 12]: Abraham placed her in a very compromising situation, but she trusted God and His care of her through her obedience to her husband. She is used as a godly example in 1Peter 3: 5, 6; "That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham when she called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do." I love this story of Sarah's faith and her godly influence. I know you will too!
3) Job: Job was a man of whom it was said, 'He was a man who feared God.' Throughout the entire book of Job I have noted instances of his fear of God. When he lost everything his response was, 'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.' When his wife suggested he curse God and die, he said: '...shall we accept good from God and not trouble?' In all this, Job did not charge God with wrong doing.' At the end of the book Job declares (in spite of all his suffering) "My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You." Job had a greater trust and godly fear of the Lord at the end of the book--He knew God more intimately.
4) Joseph (you can read about Joseph's life in Genesis 37-50): So much has been written about this man who truly feared God--had a deep trust and confidence in Him and an awareness of His involvement in the circumstances of his life. Even though his brothers sold him into slavery, God had a plan for Joseph to rise to a place of authority so he would be in a position to save his family who had wronged him, in a time of famine. Joseph knew God, He feared God as the One who had orchestrated the events of his life--all of them--even when he was imprisoned wrongfully. He forgave his brothers and all those who had treated him unfairly; and at the end of the book he tells his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Look at the lives these people who feared God influenced? I want to be a woman of influence in the same way, don't you? "God is good to everyone, and His compassion is intertwined with everything He does." Psalm 145:9 LB
So what does it 'look like' for a woman to fear the Lord'?
Gothard sums up the definition this way: "The fear of the Lord is the continual awareness that I am in the presence of a holy, just and almighty God; and that every thought, word, action, and deed is open to Him and is being judged by Him." So, this fact makes me very secure. As I fear the Lord I am aware of His presence and Psalm 16:11 says that 'in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.' Because He is a holy, just and almighty God, He is fully worthy of my trust and confidence. As I acknowledge the fact that He is aware of my every thought, word, action and deed I realize I am accountable to Him for the way I live and the choices I make--they matter to Him! The more I fear the Lord, the more I want to please Him; thus my motivation to make right choices. Not only does that please God, but it is beneficial to me as well.
Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." We all want godly wisdom; and we seek godly wisdom from those who have it. It begins in us by learning to fear the Lord. This is not a fear whereby we cower in His presence or are afraid of Him, but a healthy respect and awe of this God who so loves and cares for every aspect of our lives!
Let me point out from some biblical women and men how this fear of the Lord was evidenced in their lives:
1) Abigail [you can read more about her in 1 Samuel 25]: her husband, Nabal's actions had angered King David and he was coming to kill him, but Abigail made a godly appeal to King David on behalf of her husband to keep the King from killing him in anger, which would have caused the King to be disrespected. Her husband was a fool and everyone knew it. She could have let King David kill him, but she feared the Lord--she did what she knew what would honor Him. As you read in the story, God took care of Nabal in His way. And He took care of Abigail as well.
2) Sarah [you can read more about her in Genesis 12]: Abraham placed her in a very compromising situation, but she trusted God and His care of her through her obedience to her husband. She is used as a godly example in 1Peter 3: 5, 6; "That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham when she called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do." I love this story of Sarah's faith and her godly influence. I know you will too!
3) Job: Job was a man of whom it was said, 'He was a man who feared God.' Throughout the entire book of Job I have noted instances of his fear of God. When he lost everything his response was, 'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.' When his wife suggested he curse God and die, he said: '...shall we accept good from God and not trouble?' In all this, Job did not charge God with wrong doing.' At the end of the book Job declares (in spite of all his suffering) "My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You." Job had a greater trust and godly fear of the Lord at the end of the book--He knew God more intimately.
4) Joseph (you can read about Joseph's life in Genesis 37-50): So much has been written about this man who truly feared God--had a deep trust and confidence in Him and an awareness of His involvement in the circumstances of his life. Even though his brothers sold him into slavery, God had a plan for Joseph to rise to a place of authority so he would be in a position to save his family who had wronged him, in a time of famine. Joseph knew God, He feared God as the One who had orchestrated the events of his life--all of them--even when he was imprisoned wrongfully. He forgave his brothers and all those who had treated him unfairly; and at the end of the book he tells his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Look at the lives these people who feared God influenced? I want to be a woman of influence in the same way, don't you? "God is good to everyone, and His compassion is intertwined with everything He does." Psalm 145:9 LB
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Joy of Contentment
Years ago someone said, “Sorrows come to stretch out spaces in our hearts for joy.” I am coming to believe that even little disappointments, inconveniences, as well as very painful experiences come into our lives for that purpose. God wants us to have hearts filled with joy!
In a time of transition in our lives, we were living in a small mobile home. I was very discontent with the tight quarters with no promise of a change anytime soon. There were also no other children in the area to play with our children. We had some friends who were home on furlough from the mission field and their children needed a place to play for the day, so one Saturday I arranged to pick up the children so they could all play together. When the Dad came to get them at the end of the day, I was complaining to him about our cramped space. He looked at me and said, “Dianne, don’t you remember that Jesus did not have a place to lay His head?” It was like a knife had gone into my heart! Even though it hurt at the time, God used that encounter to begin the process of teaching me contentment (and, by-the-way, it is still going on today!) Years later my husband and I were speaking at a conference where this man was also a speaker. I thanked him for how God used his reminder so God could bring me to the point where I could share my message for the day: “The Beauty of Contentment”. But I am still learning!
Webster defines contentment: Happy enough with what one has or is; not desiring something more or different. Charles Kelly in an article in Discipleship Journal says, “Christian contentment is the God-given ability to be satisfied with the loving provision of God in any and every situation.” Hebrews 13:5 in the Amplified Bible says this: “Let your character or moral disposition be free from the love of money—including greed, avarice (too much desire to get and keep money), lust, and craving for earthly possessions—and be satisfied (content) with your present circumstances and with what you have; for He (God) has said, I will not in any way fail you, nor give you up, nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, not forsake, nor let you down, relax my hold on you—assuredly not!” Ah! That’s the reason we can be content!
Notice that it is a choice, ‘Let your character or moral disposition be free…’ We must allow the Lord to BE who He is in our lives. Mark tells us in chapter 6 that Jesus took the food that the people had and gave thanks. He gave it to them and “they ate and were fully satisfied”—so contentment can be something we feel. But Jesus tells us in Mark 4: 19 that contentment is also the absence of craving earthly things.
Let’s look at some signs of discontentment.
Wrong attitudes that bring on murmuring and complaining, (Num. 11:1 ‘when the people complained it displeased the Lord…’);
a critical spirit - Romans 14:4 Phillips ‘who are you to criticize the servant of somebody else, especially when that somebody else is God…’;
or comparisons - John 21:21, Jesus told Peter to not worry about John, He said, ‘you follow me’. 2 Cor. 10:12 tells us that comparing ourselves among ourselves ‘is not wise’. We may have greater expectations than what God gives in material wealth or relationships.
I am slowly learning that God never intended that we would find our contentment or satisfaction or fulfillment in any other person or place or thing on the face of the earth, but ONLY in Him. People will fail us, circumstances will disappoint us, but God never will. We may find a measure of fulfillment but God will not allow anything to take His place in our lives.
Discontentment can also be a wrong focus. We can look only for what we can get rather than what we can give, in possessions as well as relationships. We can also get caught up in not enjoying what we do have because of focusing on what we don’t have. All of these things draw our hearts away from God. Do you wonder why God gave all those examples in the Old Testament? Romans 15:4 tells us that ‘whatever was written in the past was written to teach us…’ And we know that whenever the Israelites kept their focus on God, things went well--as well as they could in the desert! But when they took their eyes off of God’s promises they lost hope.
Disappointment or wrong expectations can be signs of being discontent. These happen in the daily activities of life—you had planned to take a trip and plans were cancelled, you expected your husband to do something for you and he didn’t—your child failed in a class at school—you didn’t get that position you wanted.
So what are some keys to contentment?
One big key is realizing it is a process—we are to 'pursue right living' according to 1 Tim. 6:11. Secondly, we need to keep our focus on God.
I have observed four essentials for keeping a right focus:
1) Knowing God, it must be a continual priority (Isa. 43:10);
2) Fearing God, (Isa. 33:6);
3) Believing God, (2 Sam. 22:31);
4) Praising God, (Psa. 145: 16, 17 and Psa. 139). The exciting thing about praise is that it releases our hearts to embrace an eternal perspective—to see Him in our daily experiences.
Contentment has a whole lot to do with choosing to see His hand in everything that happens in our lives. When we do, we will be content that He, indeed, does have our best interest in mind. In her book Surrender, Nancy Leigh De Moss quotes, “Someone has said that the will of God is exactly what we would choose if we knew what God knows"—which is why we so often find it difficult to embrace His will and why we must learn to ‘trust and obey’. Contentment comes when we embrace His will with all of our heart.
In a time of transition in our lives, we were living in a small mobile home. I was very discontent with the tight quarters with no promise of a change anytime soon. There were also no other children in the area to play with our children. We had some friends who were home on furlough from the mission field and their children needed a place to play for the day, so one Saturday I arranged to pick up the children so they could all play together. When the Dad came to get them at the end of the day, I was complaining to him about our cramped space. He looked at me and said, “Dianne, don’t you remember that Jesus did not have a place to lay His head?” It was like a knife had gone into my heart! Even though it hurt at the time, God used that encounter to begin the process of teaching me contentment (and, by-the-way, it is still going on today!) Years later my husband and I were speaking at a conference where this man was also a speaker. I thanked him for how God used his reminder so God could bring me to the point where I could share my message for the day: “The Beauty of Contentment”. But I am still learning!
Webster defines contentment: Happy enough with what one has or is; not desiring something more or different. Charles Kelly in an article in Discipleship Journal says, “Christian contentment is the God-given ability to be satisfied with the loving provision of God in any and every situation.” Hebrews 13:5 in the Amplified Bible says this: “Let your character or moral disposition be free from the love of money—including greed, avarice (too much desire to get and keep money), lust, and craving for earthly possessions—and be satisfied (content) with your present circumstances and with what you have; for He (God) has said, I will not in any way fail you, nor give you up, nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, not forsake, nor let you down, relax my hold on you—assuredly not!” Ah! That’s the reason we can be content!
Notice that it is a choice, ‘Let your character or moral disposition be free…’ We must allow the Lord to BE who He is in our lives. Mark tells us in chapter 6 that Jesus took the food that the people had and gave thanks. He gave it to them and “they ate and were fully satisfied”—so contentment can be something we feel. But Jesus tells us in Mark 4: 19 that contentment is also the absence of craving earthly things.
Let’s look at some signs of discontentment.
Wrong attitudes that bring on murmuring and complaining, (Num. 11:1 ‘when the people complained it displeased the Lord…’);
a critical spirit - Romans 14:4 Phillips ‘who are you to criticize the servant of somebody else, especially when that somebody else is God…’;
or comparisons - John 21:21, Jesus told Peter to not worry about John, He said, ‘you follow me’. 2 Cor. 10:12 tells us that comparing ourselves among ourselves ‘is not wise’. We may have greater expectations than what God gives in material wealth or relationships.
I am slowly learning that God never intended that we would find our contentment or satisfaction or fulfillment in any other person or place or thing on the face of the earth, but ONLY in Him. People will fail us, circumstances will disappoint us, but God never will. We may find a measure of fulfillment but God will not allow anything to take His place in our lives.
Discontentment can also be a wrong focus. We can look only for what we can get rather than what we can give, in possessions as well as relationships. We can also get caught up in not enjoying what we do have because of focusing on what we don’t have. All of these things draw our hearts away from God. Do you wonder why God gave all those examples in the Old Testament? Romans 15:4 tells us that ‘whatever was written in the past was written to teach us…’ And we know that whenever the Israelites kept their focus on God, things went well--as well as they could in the desert! But when they took their eyes off of God’s promises they lost hope.
Disappointment or wrong expectations can be signs of being discontent. These happen in the daily activities of life—you had planned to take a trip and plans were cancelled, you expected your husband to do something for you and he didn’t—your child failed in a class at school—you didn’t get that position you wanted.
So what are some keys to contentment?
One big key is realizing it is a process—we are to 'pursue right living' according to 1 Tim. 6:11. Secondly, we need to keep our focus on God.
I have observed four essentials for keeping a right focus:
1) Knowing God, it must be a continual priority (Isa. 43:10);
2) Fearing God, (Isa. 33:6);
3) Believing God, (2 Sam. 22:31);
4) Praising God, (Psa. 145: 16, 17 and Psa. 139). The exciting thing about praise is that it releases our hearts to embrace an eternal perspective—to see Him in our daily experiences.
Contentment has a whole lot to do with choosing to see His hand in everything that happens in our lives. When we do, we will be content that He, indeed, does have our best interest in mind. In her book Surrender, Nancy Leigh De Moss quotes, “Someone has said that the will of God is exactly what we would choose if we knew what God knows"—which is why we so often find it difficult to embrace His will and why we must learn to ‘trust and obey’. Contentment comes when we embrace His will with all of our heart.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
January 10, 2010
New beginnings can happen anytime!
God promises in Lamentations 3: 22-23:
“The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day.” NLT
--It begins
when we cry out to God because we realize we cannot handle life without Him. John15:5 states “for without Me you can do nothing.” In fact He invites us to pour out our hearts to Him--Psalm 62:8 “...pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” NKJ
--It begins
when we take that first baby step away from selfishness, anger or resentment to receive the forgiveness God offers to us; and then offer that forgiveness to the one who hurt us.--Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” NLT
--It begins
when recognize that we are not our own--we belong to someone else--Someone Who purchased us with His own blood. We belong to Jesus! 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20: “Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Also, Colossians 3: 2-3 tells us that “you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”
--It begins
when we yield or surrender our desires to Him because He knows what is best for us--'‘For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me in earnest, you will find Me when you seek Me.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13) And Romans 12:2 says, “Don't copy the behavior and customs of the world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” NLT
Seek Him in 2010!
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