Fall 2011

Facebook Status Updates:

I developed my love for the Word in part by tweeting from my readings; it was great fun to try to fit a portion of scripture plus possibly a personal comment in 140 characters. More importantly, rereading them later brought to mind my joy in what I read that morning. I think its worth noting that before I started tweeting my readings in 2009, I often appreciated my companion book’s way of linking the Old to the New Testament readings in an encouraging way. I recall thinking, at least once, “this is what I want to do.” W/o comparing my writing to anyone else’s, I just have to say, it’s been so much fun! In August 2011, after completing a liquid fast & several sessions of swimming lessons for my daughter, I started exercising more & registered for a 5K, one I’d run in a couple of years before. 10 days before I participated in the Zoo Zoom 5K, I decided to demonstrate my faith & hopefully garner divine support by composing something daily for my Facebook Status Update. The 512 character limit was also interesting, but I thought my friend list would be more likely to read something short so I kept to it even after I noticed other status updates growing in length. After participating in a Kairos weekend conference, I was moved to write longer passages. I initially tried to keep them brief still, but eventually, because of time constraints, I just started posting the longer entries. I do aim for close to 2000 characters, but my hope is that by now, they’ll be read by who will receive from them. & of course, I just love to write about the Word. I wonder what I’ll do after the 1st, but then, I don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. At any rate..Let there be no doubt, God is my strength & my shield, my Creator, my caretaker, my hope & my everlasting joy! I would have never known without someone else pointing me to Jesus, & when that happened for me, the promise came from many sources – so praise God if these updates contribute to someone else’s desire to seek the Lord. He is good, & His Word is for everyone.

Vessels and Versions

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent (John 17:3 NIV).

Facebook’s format changes sometimes surprise me, but I’m glad it’s an available tool for now. WordPress has been telling me my browser is out of date and now has made some change that won’t allow me to see my toolbars the same way. I’m using Internet Explorer 8; I checked expecting to see IE6 or something ridiculous, but it’s IE8, and I happened to learn yesterday at work that not all websites even support IE9 yet, however long it’s been out. Even with changed toolbars, I still get to post my appreciation for the Word, a hobby that brings me great joy. Like my photos on Facebook, I know I view my postings more than anyone else, but it still pleases me to share God’s goodness. I want the Lord to know I’m thankful, and I enjoy seeing how He blesses others.

John 17:3 carries a message that even different translations can’t complicate. I like looking at scriptures in various translations sometimes. I’m glad for those who loved the Word enough to prayerfully publish each work, but I know the translation is a vessel. The power of the Word is spiritual not linguistic. Jesus prays for His disciples: For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them (John 17:8). Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17). As I study scripture faithfully and consistently, the Holy Spirit works to change what doesn’t please God. Often I wish what doesn’t please me would take priority, but the Lord works from the inside out. Moses tells Israelites of the Lord’s covenant with them: “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live (Deu 30:6). I might want better eating habits, but the Lord is more concerned that I pray without ceasing and daily put on the full armor of God.

Paul says in Ephesians: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against..the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil” (Eph 6:12). Lord, thank-you for your Word that works to change me from the inside out. Forgive me when my actions don’t reflect the fruits of your Spirit. Help me prevail against attitudes that don’t recognize your authority. “Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law..Your testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors” (Psalm 119:18,24).

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (John 17:3 KJV).

This is life that lasts forever. It is to know You, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ Whom You have sent (John 17:3 NLV).

And this is the life age-during, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and him whom Thou didst send — Jesus Christ (John 17:3 YLT).

The Jesus Basket

Anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. (John 10:1-2)

Years ago, while struggling in a substitute teaching job, I saw a counselor who told me I had all my eggs in one basket. I didn’t disagree, but today I see the real problem was that I only had one basket, and it was the wrong one. I’m not criticizing the counselor; just yesterday one of my twitter pastors said, “I will not always be right, but I will always be real.” Reading John 10 on the sheep and the gate reminds me of that cheesy basket analogy in many ways.

Theives and robbers steal. At 26 or so, I knew my attention was usually fixed in one direction, but all I could seem to do then was shift it from one thing to another. I only had one basket – not because that’s all God gave me at birth, but mistakes and circumstances put me in that mindframe. Thieves and robbers want us isolated and helpless, not enabled in “a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven” (Deu 10:11). Jesus says: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Activities that defy God by their very nature or render us useless as His servants steal from God’s design and destroy our potential.

Jesus continues, “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Moses describes the promised land as “a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it” (Deu 11:12). We too are an investment through Jesus’ death on the cross. John 10 has several scriptures that I onced pointed to thinking the Bible was just full of symbolic stories: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). Today I know our God did not create us to be fixated and stuck. Jesus is the Word, found in the Holy Bible. Establishing His Word in my mind and in my heart allows me to find again & use the gifts He gave me. “They will come in and go out” is not to say we are welcome to live as heathens two days a week. Jesus tells an invalid and a woman accused of adultery: “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you” (John 5:14). “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11). Jesus’ sheep are for His glory. He’s given us talents, and we are to use them. He says to his faithful, “Well done, my good servant!” (Luke 19:17)

Jesus says of the hired hand: “when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep” (John 10:12-13). Some baskets don’t hold up. They get holes or the handles break. Putting hope in anything circumstance dependent often brings heartache and trouble. My job of some 12 years or so could change quite a bit depending on the results of a project I’m working on. Denial, or what I think of as being overly optimistic, has often characterized my choices. As I work lately, my nerves rattle, but I lose no sleep over the outcome of my analysis. At one time, I wouldn’t have slept because I’d be at home working on the project, searching for a way for the impossible to be a reality. Rattled nerves aside, I’m so grateful today, I know God is in control, and my peace is in His plan.

Unlike theives and circumstances, Jesus offers a guarantee: Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works” (John 10:37-38). I have so much to be thankful for in my personal life. If a careful and honest assesment were done, it would be impossible to recommend any solution apart from Christ Jesus. Instead of satisfaction from circumstances, depression, or substance abuse, I have a joy filled life with my family, love for many things that remind me of God’s amazing work, and peace knowing my testimony can be used to offer hope. After Jesus confirms He is Savior by pointing to God’s miracles, John 10 reads that Jesus returns to where John the Baptist spent his early days. “There he stayed, and many people came to him. They said, ‘…all that John said about this man was true.’ And in that place many believed in Jesus” (John 10:40). Lord, I thank you for forgiveness of sin. I praise you for leading me away from trouble and heartache. I pray my testimony is received by any who’ve witnessed or experienced failure by putting their eggs in the wrong basket. I am blessed by and grateful for revelation that your Word is not a cheesy analogy or symbolic rhetoric. Christ Jesus laid down His life for me, and He is the gate. With my mouth I greatly extol you for you stand at the right hand of the needy (Psalm 109).

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).

Babies and Births

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit (John 3:5-6).

Jesus’ teaching on being born again of the Spirit reminds me of my confirmation in our church as a teenager. I was silly & hormonal with little or no understanding of spiritual things, but following the classes, I formally accepted Christ as Savior. I believe that change, initiated by motherly encouragement, has been the source of much grace in many moments of decision when my selfish nature was defeated. Jesus says of His testimony: “Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful” (John 3:33). Declaring truth brings stability; in a planning session, known truths are noted so the discussion can result in a workable solution. Jesus’ Word in John 3 also reminds me of my pregnancy. I learned I was pregnant in a detox facility. It was a blessed moment in time to receive that news and start forming a decision about what to do. The craziness that led me there weakened resolve to continue my lifestyle, but the drudgery of moving forward had not struck. Practical circumstances in my life were the main reasons I gave when asked if I was sure I wanted to have the child: I had a job with leave benefits, family support, and love for my then boyfriend. To be sure, when I returned from rehab, a quick return to my addict behavior threatened my job & family support, and the boyfriend’s involvement seemed less likely and desirable. Fortunately, with the chaos, if I’d considered ending the pregnancy, I probably couldn’t have organized it before it was too late in Helen’s term to be easily done. Psalm 102 reads: “The LORD looked down..from heaven He viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death” (v19-20).

The psalmist who proclaims God’s authority and mercy writes: “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD” (Psalm 102:18). What’s so amazing about God’s love is how it always existed. He sees suffering and creates a path for us to choose our way back to Him. My relationship with the boyfriend was shallow and troubled, but that adolescent affection likely helped me make the right decision while I was spiritually immature. Regarding leave benefits, being fired from a long held restaurant job many years ago broke me of prideful thinking that I was immune to such disciplinary action. Praise the Lord for leading me through circumstances to a solution that is not just workable but giving of abundant life. God sent His Son to release those condemned to death so that a people not yet created may praise the Lord. Jesus says: “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth” (John 3:31). Praising the Lord is not like praising people to win friends or gain influence. A recent message at my church emphasized that God is already above all; we do not elevate Him with our praise but His Spirit within us. Praising the Lord brings what is good in us to the surface and cleanses our spirit.

Jesus says, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Lord, thank-you for sending your Son to live and die among us so we can receive from the Holy Spirit of His who lives within us. You know the before and after. You build bridges for us to escape stubborness and rebellion. You who laid the foundations of the earth respond to the prayer of the destitute and will not despise our plea (Psalm 102). Thank-you for forgiveness when we believe Jesus is your Son sent to redeem us. I praise you Lord, that today I am one of your children living in your presence, and your descendants will be established before you (Psalm 102:28). I pray all who need your forgiveness hear your blessed invitation and call on your name.

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (John 3:18).

Storms, Circumstances, & Evacuations

I was blessed yesterday to visit a friend from long ago and watch my daughter play with her children. It was a sweet occasion especially after a disappointing performance in the Zoo Zoom and a minor fender bender on the way. While appoaching a red light, looking at the map on my phone, I bumped the car in front of me. Praise God, it wasn’t a pedestrian or bicyclist. The damage appeared to be minimal, the driver received my apology for interupting her day most graciously, and I received a needed lesson on attention at the wheel. Earlier this week, I was ticketed for driving 30 in a school zone. I told the officer I was sure I’d slowed down when I passed the sign and suggested his detector was improperly distanced. I was sure, at the time, especially since the driver in the other lane also pulled over apparently had the same argument. The next day I cringed wondering if I’d slowed down at the overhead sign instead of the street sign some 300 feet further back. I thank the Lord for training all the time. Even if someone could somehow prove to me that all events in my life were random coincidence, I would still praise God for the work He does in my heart and in my attitude. Psalm 89 reads, “I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself” (v2). Undoubtedly, the Lord has established His faithfullness in my spirit. What naturally flows out of me is generally blended with suspicion, accusation, and a bit of self-centered paranoia. Looking for a thought pattern void of that is a semi-litmus test for me as I try to write what is from or would please the Holy Spirit.

Actually, just driving to the friends house is a pillar of personal testimony. Over the years, drugs and alcohol worked havoc on my mind and spirit; towards the end, I was such a nervous wreck, I frequently felt unsafe in my surroundings and responded in various bizarre ways which often included fleeing. A few years after my deliverance, while meeting someone for lunch in a nearby city where he’d established residence, I became anxious around the neighbors we ate with, insisted we depart, and, at his suggestion, ended the afternoon by leaving him carless at a local restaurant. Having my toddler with me contributed to my cotton mouth & panic, but it might have gone down the same without her. Several times since then, I’ve struggled against similar symptoms with varying levels of success. Yesterday, our destination was a house on a two lane highway south of Gonzales. I might have declined the invitation with one excuse or another, but she’s a believer, a friendly face from my past, and I’m interested in joining her Kairos ministry team. Following the fender bender, I was glad she invited us to arrive late since a missed opportunity after the accident and a Zoo Zoom time longer than what I’d hoped for would have made for a unhappy day.

In Numbers, the Lord sets apart the tribe of Levi to care for the tabernacle: “The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal” (v12-13). Our God is holy: whole not partial. He shows His mercy and love to the chosen nation by singling out a tribe to redeem the firstborn of Israel rather than separating families. The numbers are taken, and accounting is done to ensure the process is fair and complete. Psalm 89 continues,“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you” (v14). Numbers 3 begins by recounting Aaron’s loss of his two firstborn, the priests who mishandled the offering. Numbers 4 and other related chapters detail how the Levites are to move and maintain all the articles in the tabernacle. The instructions are specific. The other tribes depend on their redeemer to follow them with care. What compels later generations to give proper attention to lampstands and utensils? I love how Ray Stedman defines our concept of justice: “It is impossible for human beings to be more just than God, because our very sense of justice is derived from Him!..It is impossible for human beings to be more compassionate than God, for our feelings of compassion come from Him.” (Adventuring Through the Bible, ch32). Seeking to understand scripture is so fulfilling because it is already in my spirit. Revelation of the Word is like rediscovering a beautiful friendship.

Jesus says of the woman who finds a lost coin, “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). Lord, I am sorry for the choices I’ve made that disregard your teachings. Thank-you for your work in me to rebuild faith and correct what does not represent you or glorify your Son. Reading about lives lost and the beating the East is taking from Irene, I pray that all suffering look for reminders of God’s goodness. I pray believers are comforted by the Holy Spirit and able to minister to others. Jesus, help people in distress receive joy knowing you, our redeemer, followed instructions with care, so we can rightfully hope for a permanent home in heaven. Lord, as people are confronted by flooding and storm damage, let the articles of faith maintained by your believers outshine what is destroyed. Enable restoration of trust in those jaded by trials and circumstances of whatever kind. “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD. They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness” (Psalm 89:15-16).

Gifts of God: Legs, Hips, and Feet

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31).

Yesterday, I looked for Low Carb Monster sodas but only saw some pricey Sugarfree Red Bulls. Less fond of Red Bull, I opted for the cheaper 12 pack of Diet Mountain Dew which is what I should have looked for anyway on my current budget. Praise God for bringing me to WalMart instead of Winn-Dixie. I appreciate quality and often think the upgrade is worthwhile, but I don’t need a $20 vs a $5 caffeine fix now. I’m drinking the sodas because I’m a little more tired than usual while training for a 5K. Around the time I was reborn in Christ, I ran frequently. Even then, I spent too much on energy gels and things of the like. That running effort wasn’t a long season, but I enjoyed it much, and recently, towards the end of a 40 day liquid fast, I was moved to register for the Zoo Zoom. One of the things I’d been praying about was whether or not to keep my daughter in dance especially since she wasn’t thrilled with it. She had minimal gymnastics exposure and wasn’t too excited about that either. I want her to be active and develop a hobby but didn’t know what we should try next. We took swimming lessons during the summer, and I’d been considering piano lessons. In the last week or two of my fast, I found a music teacher, was gifted with a piano, and joined the Y. I don’t expect to register for many more races this fall, but the treadmill workouts have been so much fun. I thank the Lord for this opportunity; do I show my appreciation by throwing away $15 on deluxe caffeine supplements again? Psalm 78 recounts the Israelite’s tribulations following their deliverance from Egypt: “They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God; they said, ‘Can God really spread a table in the wilderness?’” (v18-19). Looking for the Low Carb Monster drinks, I did not intend to speak against God, but I don’t want my choices to undermine His glory.

Luke 8 tells of Jesus healing a desert man bound by a legion of demons (v26 – 39) and raising a man’s daughter from the dead (v40-56). Jesus tells the man freed from demons, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” Three paragraphs later, after the dead child’s spirit returned, He tells her parents to be silent about this great miracle (v56). What? Tell no one? Earlier Jesus talked to His disciples about the Word of God as seed that bears fruit and said light is meant for all to see. “Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away” (v18). Those who lived among the possessed man knew a miracle occured and were frightened of the power of God at work: “all the people of the surrounding country..asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear” (v37). Maybe because they heard and believed, more faith will be given as the freed man’s testimony is preached.

While Jesus leaves with Jairus, whose daughter is ill, a woman is healed of a life long blood disease by touching His robe. Jesus demands she identify herself and commends her faith in front of the crowd. Jairus’ neighbors know Jesus but are quick to discourage the father with news of his daughter’s death. Jesus returns with Jairus, telling the crowd not to weep. “And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead” (v53). Jairus’ neighbors know Jesus has authority; they said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more” (v49). Sometimes when I think I’m showing respect for the Lord, my lack of faith shines brighter. Jesus says, “nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light” (v17). Maybe the girl’s parents were told to be silent because doubting Jairus’ testimony could shed what faith their community thought they had.

Proverbs 21 reads “There is no wisdom, understanding, or advice that can succeed against the Lord” (v30). The good news is that our God is merciful. Psalm 78 ends with David shepherding the people. The Lord chose David His servant and took him from the sheep pens…to be the shepherd of His people..His inheritance” (v70-71). In Leviticus 14, rituals for treatment of skin disorders and assorted ailments are described. People cleansed of leprosy are to bring three lambs, grain, and oil for offerings, but an allowance is made for the poor: one lamb, two birds, grain, and oil. “This is the law for him in whom is a case of leprous disease, who cannot afford the offerings for his cleansing” (v32). Praise Jesus who gives us every opportunity to join with Him in Spirit whether we are rich or poor, walking in fear of God or distracted by worldy favors. Our Savior does not scorn our shortcomings but puts His light on a stand so all may see (Luke 8:16). Putting the Word of God on a stand may mean moving some things aside that could hinder His work. The Son of God was born in flesh and bore the cross so we may be reunited with our Father. We cannot afford the offerings for our cleansing. Lord, I thank you for patiently arranging my circumstances to let me better view your light. I pray for understanding to follow the path that best reveals your glory. You are an awesome God!

And He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But He answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it” (Luke 8:20-21).

Driven by God’s Goodness

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

In Mark 9, the father of a boy stricken by convulsions asks Jesus to help if he can. The Lord says, “If you can!”, and the father’s desperation fuels his need to believe. Yesterday I was reminded once again how strongly music can influence me. I have a couple iPOD shuffles that I use when mowing the lawn or doing chores sometimes, but I don’t update them often. Right now, a lot of my music is on an external hard drive that I may need a new power cord for & iTunes starts up very slowly on my home laptop. But in the last few weeks, I started using my exercise bike and wanted some of the variety I hear in my car, so I managed to get one reloaded. I truly believe cutting out most secular music from my listening range has helped me spiritually more than I can even know. Reading and meditating on the Word daily is what I usually point to first, but come to think of it, I changed my music before I really started meditating on and receiving from the Word. So, who knows, but on my reloaded iShuffle, I put on a country song from a secular Grammy CD that I listen to on repeat occasionally. It’s not worship, but the lyrics include the line, “You know there’s gonna be a judgement day,” so praise God for secular music that acknowledges eternity in some way. As I started exercising more, I wanted more variety and found an old iPOD touch loaded with mostly Christian music. It holds one of the first “Christian music” iTunes lists I created several years ago when I was trying to work the old music out of my life, a process that took over 6 months, as long or longer than I spent on Suboxone a few years before. The iPOD touch Christian list includes “Wasted” by Carrie Underwood and another country song I won’t mention. It’s not particularly vulgar, but it’s highly suggestive. The first time I listened to the list last week, I wondered if I would skip the questionable song while mowing the lawn. The battery ran out before it played. It runs after one of my favorite Nicole Nordeman songs, “This Mystery,” and after missing it a couple more times, last night I consciously opted to skip it while on my exercise bike. It seems like such a minor thing since I hear all kinds of music in the stores and other places, but after moving on to the next song, I thought choosing not to have that song blare into my ears was a good idea. Not because it’s evil or the person singing it is any worse sinner than I, but nothing wholesome or appreciative of the Holy Spirit could possibly run through my mind while hearing it.

Jesus says, “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched’” (Mark 9:47-48). I think I used the same quote from Matthew in a another recent blog entry, and I am glad to read again the reminder to guard my mind & my heart. Proverbs 7 reads, “So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery” (v21). So much of secular entertainment attempts to seduce us with lyrics or images that flatter and stir our passion in an unholy manner. The preceding passage where Jesus rids the boy of demons also says so much about our need for a clean spirit. The father tells Jesus, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid” (Mark 9:17-18). Ungodly thoughts, including animosity, illicit romance, and other self exalting fabrications, mute our ability to talk to our God in prayer or worship Him in spirit and in truth. I may not foam at the mouth or grind my teeth, but as my heart becomes rigid, set in my ways or unresponsive to the Word of God, I am less in tune to the Holy Spirit and outside the peace that passes understanding. Jesus approaches the boy, and “when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground” (Mark 9:20). The ungodly spirits we have around us, in our thought patterns, in our vision, in our hearing, try to convulse us when we get around the Spirit of Christ. When I first went back to church several years ago, worship was often a terrible exercise in maintaining focus. Except for an occasional emotional moment, my mind was everywhere but on seeking the Lord in sincerity and truth. Today, praise Jesus, the presence of the Lord in worship often floods me with perfect peace, but at other times, the battle persists.

“Jesus asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him’” (Mark 9:21-22). From childhood, most of us are exposed to things that seek to destroy our relationship with the Lord, driving us to an eternity in hell if we never accept the gift of the cross. Psalm 53 reads “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’ (Psalm 53:1). Just this morning while reading the Word, a thought wrestled with that unbeliever door in my mind. One little unwelcome thought, if entertained too long, threatens to shut me down with the question, “Is God real?” An array of suspicions attempt to convulse my thinking and throw my faith to the fire. At such moments, I am so grateful the Holy Spirit has moved me away from much of the music and TV that reject the authority of God. What will I invite to join with my spirit? Shall I revel in the depravity of man or in what glorifies Christ my Savior? David wrote, “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life” (Psalm 54:4). Of course, secular entertainment is everywhere. I recently started reading Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson. I let my preschooler take dance twice a week last year, and lately we spend a lot of time exercising at the Y. In the last month or so, I’ve spent hours on the phone giving not so holy testimony to a friend in need. Music always has moved my spirit, though, so I must be particularly cautious of it. These other things, I have to examine to see whether they will draw me away from God or enable me reach out to others with the love of Jesus. The demonized boy’s father said, “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22). Struggling with faith even in the presence of the Lord might be common and is certainly no reason to give up the fight when the question of eternity stands before us. “And Jesus said to him, ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes’” (Mark 9:23).

Lord, I thank you for your guidance. Help all struggling with belief make decisions daily that fuel their faith, squelching the voices of the flesh and of the enemy. Give courage to new believers to demonstrate their belief and ask for more. Help us reject what denies your supremacy and distracts us from your direction. With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good” (Psalm 54:6). Lord, you have delivered me from every trouble (Psalm 54:7)! Enable me to extend your love to those who lack your Spirit. Your marvelous hand is available to all your children. Help me see the need and prompt me with words to speak. Lord, you say some spirits can only be driven out by prayer and fasting. Hear our prayers for your will to be done in the lives of our loved ones, and let the oppressed be delivered as we fast and lift your name in worship.

And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose (Mark 9:26-27).

Healing Pangs of Guilt & Depression

We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.’ (Genesis 44:22-23)

In Genesis this morning, Judah begs his brother Joseph, unknown to him, for his brother Benjamin’s freedom. He pleads that he, Judah, is a pledge for Benjamin’s safety and emphasizes the loss of Benjamin would be the death of Israel. He ends his cry for mercy, “For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father” (Gensis 44:34). The brothers some 15 or 20 years before debated on how to eliminate Joseph and heartlessly returned to their father his cloak, the symbol of Israel’s great love for Joseph, bloodstained and torn. The lyrics to “One More Angel in Heaven” from Andrew Loyd Weber’s Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat displays their apparent callousness so well:

His blood-stained coat is tribute to His final sacrifice
His body may be past its peak But his soul’s in paradise

Their much changed attitude is seen when Benjamin’s freedom is threatened: “And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city” (Genesis 44:12-13). Years before, they would have likely pointed fingers and bid their brother goodbye right there. What could bring about such an about face? Did they miss Israel’s special treatment of Joseph and hearing about his dreams? Were they sorrowful for Joseph’s suffering? When Jacob accused them of being spies during their first visit, they said “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us” (Genesis 42:21). They know what they did was evil, but whatever repentence they have doesn’t lead to a confession of guilt. What trauma coaxes them back to Egypt with Benjamin to insist to Joseph, second in command, that Benjamin be allowed to return? As they declare the Joseph, it is their father’s sorrow. Was there any doubt among the brothers that the loss of Benjamin would bring his miserable demise? None. Likely, 15 years or so of witnessing their father’s grief convinced them.

When the brothers reported to Israel that Joseph was gone, Genesis reads “All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, ‘No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning’” (Genesis 37:35). Benjamin must have been a source of solace to him, but for the brothers to remain in Egypt begging for Benjamin’s life 15 years later, I would guess the grief process was something brutal. There was no discussion of, “well, he got over Joseph. Let’s just go. What can we do?” The brothers were adamant that Benjamin must return to Canaan. Did they express love for Benjamin? No, the loss would send their father to Sheol. I have to wonder if Israel, following Joseph’s loss, ever asked himself, “Why can’t I get past this? When will I know joy again? LORD, help me get through this.” But would an experience any less painful and depressing been forceful enough to retain the other sons in Egypt with Benjamin?

Shortly after I was reborn in Christ, a situation arose in my personal life that might have brought me to a fresh level of sin. I was excited about what the LORD was doing in my life and eager to continue my walk, but I didn’t have the Word in my spirit or a heart prone to worship. My daily habits centered on fullfilling my own desires, and I lacked much inclination that I should live any other way. God is good, but ultimately the pain of my past, long & wretched, kept me in tune to the caution of the Holy Spirit guiding me to refocus on Bible study classes, fellowship with other believers, and worship at a mid week service. Psalm 33 reads “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine” (v18-19). The LORD used Joseph, who feared Him and hoped in His steadfast love, to demonstrate His power and glory during famine in Egypt. The guilty brothers experienced a famine of sorts in Canaan, a lacking of Israel’s love and joy, following their murderous itent towards Joseph. The sorrow of Israel allowed the family to be reunited, and the resettling in Egypt allowed our almighty God to rescue and rebuild His chosen nation. Our God wants us to be reunited with Him. If in a pit of sorrow or depression, I wonder, “Why can’t I get past this?”, I know as I continue to worhsip, pray, and study His written Word, the gift of life that comes to life as we nurture it, my God will deliver me and may choose to bless me later with understanding. Praise Jesus for what keeps us in tune to the voice of the Holy Spirit. “For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness” (Psalm 33:4).

In the film, The Passion of the Christ, Mary mother of Jesus witnesses the torturous whipping of her son; she says something like, “it has started” and later, as the brutality intensifies, she wanders away a bit dumbfounded. How can this horror continue? Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection reunite us with our Father. Why is the gross and tragic suffering necessary? The LORD will explain all to us one day when He returns, but in Acts 2, after the apostles receive the Holy Spirit, Peter tells the crowds the miracle of tongues they witnessed is the Spirit of Jesus whom they crucified. Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) They were cut to the heart, and some 3000 souls were saved that day (v41). Surely the suffering our Savior endured was known by many. Would a simple beheading cut to the heart of 3000 souls after one message? Jesus says of what leads us into sin: “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’” (Mark 9:47-48). Our LORD’s agonized death to the flesh was so terrible as to draw millions to the theater in the modern world. The alternative to following Christ Jesus must be horrific enough that our Father in heaven allowed His Son’s sacrifice. Mary and the disciples did not understand at the time, and we may not really understand until our LORD returns. What we can do today is study the Word in faith, pray to our Father for forgiveness and salvation for others, and glorify God in worship and, as much as possible, our daily walk.

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Lord Jesus: His Spirit, My Hope & My Strength

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3).

The Costly Call tells the stories of people who accept Christ as Lord in religious or political environments where Christians are often persecuted. I only have Book 2, but the incredible courage shown in the testimonies I’ve read fills me with awe. Last night, I read of a young girl in Thailand, Kanya, whose father harrassed her employers, friends, and landlords following her conversion until, in her late twenties, she had nowhere to go. She asked a storeowner for work and was directed to an “interview” with a friend of his later that evening. She resisted the friend’s offer of employment as a private entertainer and, praise Jesus, was able to walk away unviolated. She confessed the money offered to her was a temptation, but she knew accepting would not please Jesus who died for her. Homeless and broke, she praised the name of Jesus to a hotel manager who greeted her as she left. The manager, also a Christian, asked for and received her testimony and then offered her a housekeeping job with temporary living quarters. I’m stricken by her ability to walk in faith despite the hardship of her father’s wrath and encouraged by her confession that even as a virgin, she was tempted by the lucrative offer by some man who may have treated her more kindly than others.

In Genesis, when Jacob leaves Laban with his family and acquired belongings, he discusses his plans with Leah and Rachel, Laban’s daughters, his wives. Their response is similar to my route of salvation (at least, compared to Kanya’s): what option do I have? The ladies say to Jacob: “Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do” (Genesis 31:15-16). Leah and Rachel had no Holy Spirit advantage and were not raised in a Christian environment, so no disrespect is intended, but in many ways, that was my attitude initially despite knowing the love of Jesus from my Christian parents and the blessings I’d received from them. When I read Kanya’s story as well as other testimonies from The Costly Call, I am amazed how strong her faith became with such a limited exposure to Jesus compared to what I’ve had in my own life. She received the testimony of a friend, read the Bible, and participated in a ministry for a couple of years, but she walked through poverty rather than deny Jesus by returning to her family.

The strength of the Living Word is demonstrated through Kanya so powerfully. In Matthew 15 this morning is one of my favorite stories of the Canaanite woman who begged Jesus to heal her daughter. The Lord tells her it isn’t right to take the children’s food (from the Israelites) and give it to the dogs. She responds, “‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly” (Matthew 15:27-28). Psalm 25 reads, “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way” (v8-9). The Canaanite woman was humble and saw her daughter’s healing. She too was not exposed to the blessings of the LORD throughout her life but yet heard testimony of others and developed a faith that impressed our Savior. She identified Jesus as the source of miracles, as the one able to alter her destiny.

Proverbs reads, “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but He loves him who pursues righteousness” (Proverbs 15:9). Wickedness for Kanya was disgiused as a sensible option. She states clearly in her testimony, “I am so thankful I had learned that the Lord provides a way of escape for those who seek it (1 Cor 10:13)” (The Costly Call Book 2, pg 109). David writes in Psalm 25, “My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net” (v15). Kanya’s testimony speaks so truthfully of the need to guard the Word of God in our heart. With the storeowner’s friend, she was given a new dress and shoes when hers were worn down, an opportunity to bathe in a posh hotel, and the best meal she could remember before she was offered an escape from street life after 5 or 6 years of struggling. In that moment, in an unholy environment, the Spirit of Jesus spoke God’s promise in her heart enabling her to leave peacefully. Praise God if her tears of fear and sorrow revealed the gospel to her would be client. The Holy Spirit in Kanya led her away from the hotel joyfully enough to declare God’s goodness in strengthening her in a time of need. Her words, “praise be to Jesus” to a hotel manager opened the door for her release from destitution.

Lord Jesus, your Word is amazing. Without your Word, I am powerless, and without your tortured sacrifice on the cross, your Word would not be available to me. LORD, though I’m a sinner, you teach me the way. Let your Spirit keep me on the path of mercy and truth so I may keep your covenant and bear testimony of your glory (Psalm 25:10). I still struggle to know you, Lord Jesus. I yearn to understand how our invisible God, our Holy Spirit Father, came to the earth to live among us, how the one who created my flesh came to life in the flesh without the stain of sin. LORD, help those who need revelation to see God’s goodness in your person who lived and died as a human but walks among us in Spirit. In a moment of doubt, let your Spirit living in any believer speak out a scripture to restore hope in your almighty presence. “The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant” (Psalm 25:14).

“Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You” (Psalm 25:20-21)

Finer than Gold, Sweeter then Honey

You must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you (Matthew 12:36-37)

Psalm 19 resets my perspective. David proclaims the glory of God seen in the skies above; often when I’m driving or within view of the outdoors, if my mind grows anxious, I find comfort in gazing at the sky to find the LORD in the clouds, the sun, or the sheer blue expanse. David writes of the heavens:

“Day after day they tell the story; night after night they tell it again. They have no speech or words; they have no voice to be heard. But their message goes out through all the world; their words go everywhere on earth” (Psalm 19:2-4).

LORD, let me hear the message you reveal today. The sun brings light to our world every morning, and your perfect Word is fresh daily. Your law revives my soul, makes wise my simple ways, rejoices my heart, enlightens my eyes, endures forever and is true and righteous altogether (Psalm 19:7-9). Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). LORD, let the Word springing from your glorious creation surrounding me purify my heart. Solomon wrote “Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it (Proverbs 11:27). Holy Spirit, help my mind seek good in all I see and hear. In this world, evil exists, but let me not dwell on what displeases you. Remind me to shake the dust off my boots and praise God for His faithfulness and His almighty power that transformed my life. Isaiah prophesied of Jesus,

“He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally He will cause justice to be victorious. And His name will be the hope of all the world” (Matt 12:19-21).

Thank-you Holy Father that your Son makes justice victorious. He is our hope from whom we receive “the Spirit of wisdom & understanding, the Spirit of counsel & might, the Spirit of knowledge & the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2). LORD, fill me with your Spirit so that neither I crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. LORD, I thank you for the believers who edify and train me, but when I am among those whose hope is not in you, let your Spirit overpower the strife in my flesh and meeken my ambitious ways. Help my words glorfy your Son and reach the ears that long to hear your message. I praise you LORD that your wondrous acts fill my heart with joy in your goodness; give me understanding when I rely on my reasoning instead of seeking your will. Show me the truth when I justify my opinions. Reveal your wisdom when I am positioned to do your work. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

And His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, & decide with equity for the meek of the earth (Isaiah 11:2-4).

Happy Birthdays

May our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields (Psalm 144:13)

Last week, my baby girl turned five. What a precious age she is, but I thought that at three and four also. The first two years, she was precious but I barely knew the LORD then, and mommyhood was less joyful for me. I loved her, and I had lots of help, but knowing God, experiencing a connection between He and I or realizing once again that it’s there, has introduced an immeasurable magnitude of joy far beyond any pleasure in earthly delights. David wrote in Psalm 16, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy (v11). In about three weeks, I’ll celebrate five years free of substance abuse. A common cliche concerning addiction is “you only get high once” meaning you can never recapture the same chemical induced euphoria experienced the first time you use drugs. A relationship with God is just the opposite; as you build a relationship with the LORD, the fullness of joy in knowing Him continues to grow magnificently new. The continual chasing of false highs through all manner of controlling behaviors may cost you everything not tied to the addiction: family, home, job, car, freedom…life. The following of Christ costs what denies the Lordship of Jesus: substance abuse, of course, and any worldly passion or influence that attempts to usurp God’s role in your life. Putting God first sometimes seems kind of arbitrary and abstract, but I remind myself frequently, it’s done in a series of decisions gradually more often won by the Holy Spirit (in agreement with what the Bible says) than by the flesh (in agreement with the “I” or some non-scripture based call possibly socially, musically, or activity -oriented). “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” (Psalm 143:10). Many of us will fail to pray and wait over every decision, but just like regular good diet and exercise keep our bodies fit, daily prayer, praise, and study of the Word keep believers strong, in communion with one another, and equipped. “God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear” (I Cor. 10:13). Temptation leads us away from relationship with the LORD, but He provides an escape. His grace and spiritual building help me find it.

In Zechariah earilier this week, the prophet received visions of evil and a vision of salvation. First, he saw a flying scroll said to be a curse, one side for thieves and the other for liars. Lately I’ve been reminded that confession is good for the soul. The last few months of my addiction were low in usage but full of lies and sneaking around, betraying those who were caring for my daughter while I was at work in the job the LORD allowed me to keep. Of the Ten Commandments, lying and thieving break two. Stealing can be time and attention owed to another such as spouses, children, or employers, of course, so in that respect, many of us are shown great mercy on a regular basis. Whether in distress or otherwise preoccupied, my cry today is to the LORD, not a street pharmacist. “For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!” (Psalm 143:11).

A few weeks after my deliverance, I confessed my sneaky lying activities to my mother; I thought I’d grown strong enough to not need the crutch again, but now I believe the Holy Spirit that has kept me from consequence so often compelled me to confess out of self-preservation,. In Zechariah’s second vision of evil, a woman in a basket named wickedness is planted in a community. Wickedness flourishes where truth is not honored; when we step away from God’s truth, we become vulnerable to the decieving spirit of the enemy that seeks to hold our souls captive for eternity. With the third vision of horses patrolling the earth, the LORD speaks through Zechariah, “And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD…And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Zec 6:15). Thank-you Jesus, for suffering the cross so your perfect Spirit could be birthed in me, transforming my heart & mind to be obedient to the Almighty, our Creator. Holy Father, enable me to help build your temple! Let those who are far off hear the invitation of King Jesus and rejoin the Body of Christ.

David wrote, “May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace” (Psalm 144:12). LORD, I thank-you for my sweet daughter; I thank-you for her sweetness, her love, her desire to know more about you. I thank-you for standing by me as I raise her, for guiding my decisions, for safeguarding us, for leading me away from influences who would try to usurp your role in our lives. LORD, help me raise her to be strong & sharp as a corner. Help me do right by your creation entrusted to my care. Jesus says, “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” It’s been said that people stop developing emotionally when they start using drugs. This might be true for any number of choices that spiritually lead us away from God. LORD, I’m so glad for the knowledge of you I have today. I’m so sorry for turning away in my youth. I pray for wisdom to make right choices for my child and to equip her to make right choices also. LORD, your Word says to rescue those stumbling towards slaughter (Pro 24:11). I thank-you that I was rescued. I pray any youth or young adult making decisions that halt their growth have a sudden revelation of your awesome power. Earlier this spring, I moved a dying yellow rose bush from my center garden to a shadier spot where it has flowered & still has buds. LORD, help your lost sons & daughters get moved to where they rejoice in your spirit. I thank you for refuge in your shade for my darling girl and I. Help us rescue those who are being taken away to death (Pro 24:11).

“His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love” (Psalm 147:10-11).

An Invitation from the Lord

“Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21)

Our Lord Jesus promises that we, sons of Adam & daughters of Eve, will share His throne if we overcome the temptation to turn away from God. This is an invitation to a royal meeting. Have you ever found yourself in a situation surrounded by others more qualified than you, whether amongst your family, your comrades in service, your coworkers, or your church members? Do you ever know you are blessed to live in our nation? Revelation 3 reminds us that we need God, that we should buy His gold purified by fire, wear His white garments to replace our shame, accept His discipline, and shed indifference. When we read this with faith in our Father as Creator, His Word is the roar of an enormous lion. His paw could crush my skull, but He devours the wolves that threaten me. Being humbled by our surroundings is a wonderful feeling. We should never be threatened by blessing. David wrote, “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! (Psalm 141:2) While students in our favorite classes, we brought our papers to the front desk, eyed the teachers as they went through the stack, hoping and believing their look of pleased satisfaction was on account of our work. How much more shall we desire our prayer and worship to bring joy to our Father, the living God.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus left heaven, lived unnecessarily in a vile world, and suffered an unimaginable death to His flesh so His resurrection could redeem usto the Father. His words to John remind us that He calls for us. Through Moses, God told the Israelites of His Word, “It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us…Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us…But the word is very near you” (Deu 30:12-14). Jesus stands at the door and knocks. The Lord’s chosen nation received His promises in their mouths and hearts so they could follow Him. We receive not because of our family or social network, but because we accept Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. The blessings of the Lord in our daily life bring joy, but the Holy Spirit birthed in us is the magnificent pull to His throne of grace. King Soloman wrote, “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor (Pro 21:21).” Christ Jesus defines righteousness and kindness; we never have to wonder “who says what is righteous and kind?” Lord Jesus tells us in the gospel, and the Holy Bible exemplifies His teachings from Genesis to Revelation. David calls for Holy Spirit help in the Old Testament: “Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds (Psalm 141:4) . Walking in blessing or amid temptations of every kind, because of the cross, we have the power within to resist arrogance, pride, and falling into sin. We cannot do this in perfection as did Christ Jesus; our God reminded Paul the great apostle, His strength is made perfect in weakness. In our weakness, we call upon the Lord. Have mercy! Give me strength! Praise Jesus for the living Word! “But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! (Psalm 141:8) Thank-you Lord, for revealing yourself to me through the scriptures, for allowing me to know your glorious presence in your house, for witnessing your marvelous work in my peers and mentors, for gifted worship artists who cleanse my heart from the call of the enemy and lift your name in a way I can’t accomplish on my own. I praise you for life, for your love, mercy, and grace, and for life.

“O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! (Psalm 141:1)

Saved, By The Blood of the Lamb & the Word of My Testimony

“They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Rev 8:16-17).

My nandina replacement project got a fresh wind this week-end with some deep pink and white vinca aligning the row of begonias I’d put in a couple weeks ago. I was especially pleased by the vinca’s willingness to be planted after someone from my drug addict past blew back out of my life after rejecting my advice on rehab and recovery options. Knowing, as well as I can know, the Lord was not moving me to offer further assistance for his own plans, I had to step aside, something I haven’t done well in the past. I was glad for my church’s message this week-end on letting God fight for us as we faithfully await His response & will include scriptures from that word. I ask the Lord for mercy if the actions I took were not part of His plan and pray for discernment to know what I can do and acceptance of what I can’t. Since I’ve been saved, I’ve revisited many poor decisions in different ways. Once years ago, my housemate at the time had his car impounded after a minor fender bender. I knew the costs for getting the car out of impoundment would increase with time, and he appeared to be doing nothing about it. He was angry because I didn’t get his glasses fixed after my dog supposedly broke them causing the catastrophe; I’d refused, doubting my dog’s guilt and scornful that he was home napping while i was at work. He didn’t ask for my help with the car, but I wanted him to have his car if he was living at my house. So after a week or so, I insisted on resolving the situation. In one day, I paid (on credit) the DMV fines, the impoundment fines, the glass repair costs, and a car payment since I learned he was way behind on his note. It is written, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). The next month he moved out over some other fight. Six months later I fronted the money to bail someone I’d known for a few weeks out of jail. The following year, my heart bled for someone with a staph infection on their leg with good stories and pill connections. Being away from the Lord, I “helped” people out of control-freak, prideful, and / or selfish motivations. The mind can easily confuse that with good will. Whatever initiates the action, not becoming bitter over the results of our choices, along with the grace of God, might help us grasp onto whatever joy or peace keeps us in touch with those who love the Lord, who offer their prayers for us. Certainly, a spirit of resentment erupts from me at times, but I’m so thankful today for the many times I’ve been bailed out of one thing or another. I praise God for the good people He’s put in my life again and again. What the Lord has done for me through the love and generosity of friends, family, and acquaintances far outweighs the expense of my foolishness.

When I was in Honduras after college, I busied myself the first year primarily by drawing phonics and mathematics worksheets for my firstgraders, watching mindless TV shows, eating, and riding my bike. I got to know the wonderful family whose house I stayed in for awhile, but other than that, I mostly socialized with other expatriates. I enjoyed talking to other foreigners and English speaking or very patient locals, but a lot of them were big drinkers, and I didn’t like the relaxing effect of alcohol. One or two drinks would perk me up, but after that, drowsiness set in and sent me home. Also, as I told someone whose large brown eyes and stories frequently entertained me, I was only good for one outing a week-end. I proved it eventually when I agreed to meet him somewhere on a Saturday night, and we both had a miserable time for while until I left. I knew the other teachers supplemented their drinking with drugs, but I didn’t want to jeaprodize my finishing the school year with a potential addiction. At the end of the school year, I’d made plans to go home for a few weeks and return for a second term. First though, I wanted to find out what kept my expatriate teacher peers so busy most of the time when I was often bored, searching for ways to fill the hours between the frustrating school days. One of the teachers, a guy from my homestate about my age warned me more or less that substance abuse was usually a one way trip. I thought the risk was acceptable since I didn’t care for the bar scene that much before. Besides, how much trouble could I get into in six weeks?

During my vacation in the States, it seemed to me only a sum of spent money and maybe one evening I couldn’t remember much of after trying yet another something new. I honestly believed I could return and enjoy a second year at the school. The first year was so difficult not having any teaching experience and very little experience with young children. By mid spring, I’d learned a lot from the other elementary teachers and teachers assistants, so over the last couple of months, my love for the job grew tremendously. Unfortunately when I returned to work, i could not shut the habit forming drug door I’d opened. Not only did I not have a good relationship with the Lord then, but after a couple weeks of subjecting my mind to minimal but near daily abuse, my thinking was wrecked. I agreed to split travel expenses for a 3 day week-end trip with another teacher and a friend of his, ideally to get away from myself. A couple people suggested this might not be wise, but I’d traveled with that teacher & a different friend before, so I rejected their advice.

We left on a late night Friday bus with plans to stay at a mountain resort for two nights and return on Monday. Immediately, i was plagued with anxiety (fear of a very weird kind) which i attributed to my activities since my return, and in the morning sunshine at our scenic destination, everything looked fresh and new. When we went to another location to dine, though, the anxiety returned. I left the table, checked into the motel on my own, and told my companions I would not be returning with them to the other place. They were not pleased since I’d agreed to split expenses with them for the 3 days. The 2nd hotel was mostly one tall building, but when i looked for my room, i learned it was in a smaller building a football field away or so. There were only a few rooms in this building on the deserted beach; each room had a lot of thin glass windows, and the door seemed like something i could kick in with little difficulty. I asked if there were a room available in the main building, but there was not; it was a holiday weekend, and they were booked. I spend the night mostly in the lobby alongside a well attended party, but the security guard walked me back to the other building two or three times where i stood for a few minutes before returning to the lobby. In the morning, I slept for a few hours and took a cab to the other hotel to find my companions, possibly because I’d missed the bus back home or didn’t know how to find it. Before I knew it, it was dark, and sitting at the bar, I learned there were no rooms available. By then, I had no cash, only a credit card which is useless for cabs, and I was up in the mountains, not even in the town where I could even investigate other options. Plus, I was strung out and exhausted. I was allowed to use the bar phone, and praise Jesus, the phone call to Mom went through. After she spoke to the hotel owner for a short time, the matron offered me her son’s old room in the basement of her house. I was so grateful for the bed, and, since I barely slept, even more grateful when the sun rose the next day. Somehow, I got on a bus and returned to where I was living. The next day, I flew back to the States for good.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess 5:16-22).

To return that day, I had to catch a flight to a larger city to make my connecting flight. I had a ridiculously huge suitcase and wondered how I would get it through the airport and onto the right plane. When I arrived at the airport in my town, a friend of my host family’s met me at the airport, took my suitcase, offered me breakfast, and got me on the right plane. I don’t think i even paid for the flight to San Pedro Sula with the money lent to me by another expatriate teacher, a retired nurse from Canada with her own problems who had no money to spare. Reading the stories of sorrow and suffering in last week’s local news, it occured to me how blessed I was to spend a morning sitting in court with my old peer last Wednesday. I couldn’t say for certain now what our prior friendship was based on, but regardless, many people lose friends and loved ones without an opportunity to pray with them and show how much they care. Even if I hardly knew this person, knowing I escaped from the pit we had in common at one time is enough to stir my heart. Other than regret for possibly not demonstrating enough faith in the Lord, I’m thankful I was able to extend a hand in a small way, rejected or not. Without saying anything about the appropriateness of tough love, a person in need of rescue has to call out for help, but how will they know to call if they are never helped.

To further demonstrate how the Lord walks us through our prior mistakes, I stopped hearing from the old friend shortly after the morning in court. My attention to this person aggravated my family and likely others in my life, so I knew i needed to let it go, but for some reason, this was difficult. (See story at top.) Coincidentally, I saw my thyroid doctor the following Monday. She mentioned some other test from my bloodwork was slightly off; I asked her what the options were. She suggested something, and thinking the proposed solution could minimize the aggravation factor I was struggling against, I said, “I’ll try it.” After being sick for two days from the side affects, it occured to me that I’d failed the Honduras test. I gave the rest to my mother for donation and asked the Lord to forgive me for again, lacking faith in His might. Regarding my friend, I might not know the real story, but as long as I’m studying the Word daily, in prayer and worship and accountable to some authority in my life, I believe a little nausea and a minor rash are the kinds of corrective measures I face for most mistakes. Today, Christ Jesus is my Lord and Savior, I believe I will avoid the trappings of my mind that could otherwise pull me back into the fire. I believe my walk with His strength in my spirit protects me from investing in the enemy’s work with no achievable good. If I err, I hope to err on the side of love as so many have done for me.

“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Holy and Awesome is His Name! (Psalm 111:9)

Psalm 111

Daniel 2

Hebrew 13 – James 1

Good morning, God! Good morning, Jesus! Good morning, Holy Spirit! Your works, Lord, are great: the beautiful trees and the morning grass in the fresh light of the rising sun remind me again that you, Holy Father, are the Truth, the God of our creation, and giver of all that is good. Thank-you that I am alive, full of joy, and able to take notice. Full of splendor and majesty is your work, and your righteousness endures forever. Almighty God, you are the author of justice; you define perfection. You cause your wondrous works to be remembered”. Bless you Lord, more magnificant than the sum of all of you’ve set in motion on this earth, that you know we need reminders of your presence to protect us from misunderstandings, confusion, and vain imaginations; you who formed our hearts and minds know what we need at any given moment. You do not delight in our failings but in our need and our love for you. The LORD is gracious and merciful. (Psalm 111:2-4)

Christ Jesus, I praise you for your love and suffering that allows us to know our God. I thank-you that your gift of life births the Holy Spirit who guides and leads us with grace, more and more as our hope is only for what pleases you and what is in keeping with your Word. Lord Jesus, you have always been with the Father, but you left your position to show us the light, the one path to eternal bliss, offering your blood as sacrifice. Therefore, Holy Spirit, let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured. Guide us in your will, so we magnify what you have done for all. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come (Hebrews 13:13-14).Holy Spirit, let us not be deceived. Nothing offered of this world we inhabit today compares to you, Holy Spirit, or what our God can do with our lives. We know every good gift and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures (James 1:16-18). Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus, hear the prayers of your people who desire to be your firstfruits, cherished and delightful to your eye. Today, Holy Spirit, let me be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Remind me that anger is a reaction and may be masked by pride and false thinking of any kind that forgets you are the God of all things, sunny and stormy. Therefore enable me to put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save souls (James 1:16-18).

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
He reveals deep and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness, & the light dwells with Him.
To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise (Daniel 2:20-23).

Beauty for Ashes

“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us’” (Luke 16:25-26).

Luke 16 tells of a rich man who delighted himself while ignoring the desperate plight of a poor man outside his gate. Both men die, and while suffering in Hades, the rich men calls out to Abraham for mercy. Jesus says in John 14, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The cross of Jesus is said to be the narrow way, the bridge by which we access eternity with God. Some years ago, after a few months of falling off the wagon with one former habit, i decided all i needed to do to conquer my addictive ways was to quit smoking. I started taking Zyban, the miracle drug for ending nicotine addiction. I was able to put the cigarettes down pretty easily after the recommended two week intro period, but I couldn’t sleep. I don’t recall whether or not I tried halving the dose or not because the substance abuser in me didn’t mind the side effect. I started drinking just a bit to help me relax. Around the same time, I developed a new fixation on someone in my apartment complex whose departure the following spring saddened me greatly. A few months later, drinking steadily was my favored pastime, & I struggled to hide its effects on me. This phase was similar to where I’d been before, but between the Zyban and the alcohol, I was suddenly awake around 4 AM daily. I started doing calisthenics while watching the morning news shows. I even tried jogging to celebrate my freedom from nicotine addiction, but it was a ridiculous exercise in stumbling around incapable of coherent thought. At quarter to seven or so, after some coffee and a shower, I eagerly awaited the morning news show’s Lifeline segment, a 15 minute message from a local pastor. I appreciated that word so much, I once shocked my sister, who’d suffered because of my lifestyle choices less than a year before, by quoting the pastor to her. Later that year, I had a breakthrough of sorts, and by fall, I was down to smoking and some other form of an antidepressant but off the liquor and living in a relatively stable manner. In December, someone moved back into the apartment complex with his mother having fallen off his own wagon. I’d told my sister, “God gives you these trials to make you stronger” with no idea that every thought I dwelled on and choice I made took me further away from the narrow bridge to life.

The parable of the rich man begins: “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores” (Luke 16:19-21). Praise God, it is no sin to be blessed, wear nice clothes, and eat well, or many of us would await an eternity in Hades whether or not we consider ourselves rich. Christ Jesus sees the need of afflicted people around him and offers them what He has: deliverance, miraculous healing, revelation of our connection to the Father. Lazarus desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Our Father wants us to be generous with what He gives us; at the very least, we can offer what we don’t need to others. As the rich man exited his gate, selected his merchandise, made purchases, prepared meals, and settled in for the evening to rest, he made choices that plunged him deeper into a life of greed. When we come to a y-intersection and veer in one direction, usually we get further away from the alternate path such that we don’t even consider an alternate destination. The dogs came and licked Lazarus’ sores. What price did my lifestyle carry for my family, co-workers, and would-be friends? The dogs of self-indulgence include time and expense helping me out of one scrape or another, aggravation and heartache that attempts to offer healthier choices were ignored, loss of support and assistance that I might have provided if I were using the gifts I’d received from the Lord.

In Genesis 11, the Lord takes notice of the Tower of Babel built by the people to reach the heavens and responds, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and…nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech” (Genesis 11:6-7). As long as we have breath, praise Jesus, the chasm is like a stronghold; initially, a genuine appreciation for the truth of the gospel as told in a 15 minute daily television ministry segment might effectively dissolve that stronghold, but eventually, as mistakes are repeated, we lose our grasp on that lifeline. When I first started working for the agency I work with today, I was new to all things telecommunications. It was an entry level position with something like a three year training curriculum. It seemed like it took forever for some basic networking concepts to take root in my thinking while I was rigorously trained in circuit order preparation and basic equipment installation. The blessed lady who processed my circuit orders left me five minute voice mail messages concerning many errors, and I made lot of errors. When I made a mistake with an equipment installation or troubleshooting effort, I generally made the phone call to explain the situation and the return visit to resolve the problem. There was a lot of order activity then, so I had many opportunities to progress along the learning curve. The blessing from the Lord this frustrating time offered me came in the form of occasional good decisions to keep me closer to the narrow bridge. Anyone familiar with substance abuser lifestyles knows the decision to go to work every day is a step in the right direction; the memories of my previous work experience in waiting tables, door-to-door canvassing, substitute teaching, car sales, and check collections represented another gift from the Lord: motivation to put forth an effort. What I lacked was acceptance that these gifts were from the Lord, and I was buying into the greed of the flesh and the schemes of the enemy. Empowering the stronghold are the often made choices in my old circle to engage in unholy relationships, sample others’ prescription medications, consume drugs in a manner not intended, and lie on Dr’s reports – choices which strengthen the power building the Tower of Babel often leading to more criminal activity previously avoided. The weighty accumulation of bad decisions might be broken up by a right choice such as going to work, experiencing a moment of repentance in a house of God, even a spontaneous act of mercy towards a Lazarus at our gate.

Paul writes, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Cor 10:4). In Genesis 11, with divine intervention, those who combined forces to reach the heavens are disbanded: “So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city” (Genesis 11:8). The saving power of Christ Jesus, the weapon of a faithful Holy Spirit filled believer, offers deliverance and eternal salvation. At any moment in time, though, enemies of the flesh and spirit might be disarmed by effectively breaking up a stronghold with truth, righteousness, and grace. While in the murky waters of sin, lost souls often choose what threatens their life. Only a person in bondage will shoot and snort their way into convulsions and pass out such that scooting backwards a few feet to climb upon a chair is arduous activity…only to repeat the choice another day. These choices might indicate a stronghold has not encountered the saving power of Christ carried by His saints recently enough to allow a good decision to defeat the unholy forces in control. While pregnant and full of attitude, I attended a small neighborhood church periodically. The messages didn’t particularly satisfy my arrogant notion of what preaching should be, but the people welcomed me lovingly despite my obvious singleness and the stench of smoke that accompanied me. I was moved to buy one of their CDs to play in my car. Strongholds were broken down, and by the grace of God, my child was born in healthy and beautiful.

Peter continues, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). While on maternity leave, my restlessness was overtaken somewhat by exhaustion so submission to the spiritual authority in my life increased by default. Of course, eventually I came to a crossroads where it would have been easy to veer back onto an old familiar road (literally). The occasion was after meeting a friend at church: just one afternoon, one time, what difference could that possibly make after all I’d done? Praise Jesus, by then, deliverance kept my path straight.

Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God” (Isaiah 61:1-2). I thank you Christ Jesus, that you came from heaven to preach the good news of our Father’s awesome love. I celebrate over your perfect holy sacrifice that restores us to Him, our Holy God whose presence alone heals the brokenhearted and comforts those who mourn. Your mercy has freed my heart and released my soul from darkness. You bring “the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3). I repent for supporting the strongholds that reject your authority, claim ownership of your work, and promote the spirits of rebellion and sorrow. I rejoice that your truth rescues me from eternal death, your Word “living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12) divides my past from my future and removes my sin as far as the east is from the west. I praise you for the Holy Spirit filled believers whose faith in Christ Jesus disperses the spirit of the enemy forcing tower builders to leave the city. Almighty God, let us “rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated” for the display of your splendor (Isaiah 61:3-4).

“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matt 18:18-20).

Strangers & Exiles

By faith Moses…refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin…By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible (Hebrews 12:24-27).

Yesterday morning, I completed my daily Bible reading early and considered jamming a little time away on my stationary bike. I enjoy exercise, especially with some good worship music, but I decided to spend the extra time meditating on the Word not fret over my waistline. My recent visits to EBR Parish Prison to gift an old friend likely influenced me, and when I started getting ready for work, my bathroom décor agreed with me.

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I have decided to follow Jesus.
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It’s not that I shouldn’t exercise. I should, but I must recognize when my need for the Word is greater. Lately I’ve wondered if my yard work project distracts me too much. I continue because I’m compelled to, and I’m in the Word, in prayer, in worship, and in fellowship with other Christians. I’ve had a number of experiences which make no spiritual sense at the time, but eventually bring me to a better place. So far, I’ve removed a few nandina shrubs some 6 feet high & several feet thick (only two all the way down to the bowling ball like roots in the ground). I just tore down a wall of these shrubs and am ready to turn this hard mass into another fertile mud pile.

The first time I attended one campus of my church today was to meet this peer who’d been prodding me to attend and insisted the church nursery was excellent. I think my daughter was less than six months old, and I was nervous about leaving her since she wasn’t in daycare; my wonderful mother cared for her while I was at work for two years. This person and I had talked about church before since I’d been to another campus and seen the pastor on TV. I knew my friend enjoyed the music and listened to the messages at home sometimes. Like me, he was trying to get his life together and particularly to restore what the afflictions of addiction had stolen from him. Unlike me, he may have known the problem was spiritual, and the answer was the Lord. Praise God, today I know, and because of His love, I have decided to follow Jesus.

In Hebrews 12, the Word of God points to the pillars of faith from the Old Testament. Other than the passage about Moses above, Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Jacob, and Joseph are mentioned. The Word reads, “If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:15-16). Each of our heroes, whose blessings we receive many centuries later, decided to follow Jesus. Sometimes, the hubbub of the world around me reminds me the opportunity to return to former traps exists, and I think, what could possibly lure me to a previous lifestyle, that land from which I’d gone out: one coated with depression and anxiety, companions to a life built on lies, one where the constantly sought after pearl hidden in the field is a short-lived surge of relief from the claws of emptiness created by tossing aside all that ties us to our Father. Any lifestyle rooted in deception has an unwelcome end, never-ending and horrific without initiating a change by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Freed from the looming questions “how will I ever get out of this?” and “what am i going to do?”, I have gratefully decided to follow Jesus.

I must humbly be mindful that scoffing at the spirit of the enemy’s antics steals credit from my support system. Most people don’t choose a lifestyle of sin so much as stumble into it, one thought leading to one bad decision at a time. The Lord tells Egypt through the prophet Ezekiel, “because you said, ‘The Nile is mine, and I made it,’ (Ezekiel 29:9), He “will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated countries, and her cities shall be a desolation forty years among cities that are laid waste” (Ezekiel 29:12). If turmoil amongst those with hope is not enough, turmoil amongst those laid waste awaits. David wrote in Psalm 99 “The Lord is king! Let the nations tremble!…Let them praise your great and awesome name. Your name is holy!” (v1,3) The decision to follow Jesus means prioritizing His Word in my thoughts, actions, and choices. His teachings, His example, His suffering on the cross of our salvation, and His resurrection become my lead, gradually in some ways, more & more so in others. This is not a default action for most of us; it takes time, attention, and training. Paul, in prison, fanned the flame of the Holy Spirit in song and was released, but fortunately, the Lord has planted me where I can worship among fellow believers, receive guidance in a small group, attend prayer services, tithe, and do something to serve others as I can: time, attention, and training.

Of course these options were available to me back in 2006 when I attended with my friend, but maybe my old root structure was still too thick to allow new growth. My recent interest in nandina removal marks my first affair with gardening, but driving to parish to deliver a money order is more like a return to Egypt. Experience in visitation and bonding procedures was brought to mind as a different car took the same path past the airport and the animal control unit. Facing unpleasantries of our past can be trying and I’m grateful my yard now offers opportunity to repeatedly hit the ground with the side of a shovel (unexpectedly satisfying and theraputic work). Often when I revisit such crossroads, pieces of my heart belonging to the Lord are cut free from dead weight that ties me down. Hebrews 12 refers to the Old Testament passage where the Lord reveals through Haggai that He will shake the heavens, the earth, and all of creation such that only unshakeable things remain (Haggai 2:6, Hebrews 12:26-27). The prophet Haggai, a few hundred years before the birth of Christ, proclaimed to the remnant of God’s people that it was time to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Hebrews 12 reads “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.” (v28-29). “Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established fairness.” You answered those who cried to you for help. You are a forgiving God, but you punish when your people go wrong. (Psalm 99:4,6,8). Holy Father, reveal to us the wonder of your works, the movement of the wind, the wondrous changes in our lives that defy ordinary belief. Praise God, your perfect Holy Spirit prompts me today. Help me glorify your name and encourage any who have ever walked in faith or looked to you for deliverance to decide to follow Jesus, again and again.

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.’” (Haggai 2:8-9)

Yards & Heaven & Heavenly Bamboo

“And this shall be the sign for you: this year you shall eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs from that. Then in the third year sow and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.” (Isaiah 37:30-31)

One thing I liked about my house when I first saw it years ago was the user friendly yard. Shrubs offered privacy. Azalea & magnolia blossoms waited to please onlookers during their seasons. Other than mowing the lawn though, I did little to maintain or improve the landscape. Suddenly, over the last few weeks, I’ve been stricken with a keen desire to replace nandina with something more attractive than haphazard. After clearing out part of the front, I attacked a small squared off area near my carport not too densely covered by stumps. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Killing the nandina might have been simple enough, but digging up the sometimes large and deep down roots that would interfere with new flowers was vigorous work for a gardening newbie. Swapping the shovel and cutters back and forth, I couldn’t ignore the image of the Holy Spirit working to unroot the tendencies in me that led me away from the Lord again and again in my life. A few choice cuts keep what is dead from resurrecting, but as I’ve heard it preached, the root must be removed for the new life to flourish.
Lately, I’ve struggled wondering how to regain a sense of intimacy with the Lord. My daily yo yo battles of one sort or another seemed to have drawn a battle plan against me. I’ve enjoyed deepening my faith by writing about the Word often, but I’ve been uninspired to write. Good opportunities to volunteer testimony have been scarce, and my tool set for sharing the love of Jesus shown to me has seemed insufficient. Recently I had a disturbing dream about my daughter and I. It occurred a couple nights after I’d asked for a vision during a prayer session following extended worship at my church. That week-end, working to dig out roots and plow hard ground, I wondered if the Lord was telling me to be patient with the process. I don’t know the significance of dreams; maybe there is none, or maybe they are a warning, but sometimes I’ve thought they represented what might have happened had I not developed my relationship with Jesus. When Jesus is accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul (Luke 11:14-23), he responds,

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil” (v21-22). I’ve thought the first strongman is like the hearers of the gospel who are sown among thorns for whom “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). Whenever we pin our faith to something/someone other than the Lord, we have removed our armor. Beth Moore said something about this also when speaking of King David’s first attempt to bring the ark back to Jerusalem; this was in “A Study of David” which I watched last month around the same time I was reading Mark 4 and Luke 11. Without looking for the quote, she basically said David’s men put the ark on a cart, not following the instructions given to Moses. She continued, when we step away from the Word and worship of our God, we put our dreams and desires on a cart, to be carried off to an undesirable destination. Faith is such a vague word, but our praise, or lack of it, choices, and actions define our trust even if they don’t line up with our heartfelt (lofty) ideal of how we’d respond to a question about our faith.

When only a little of the Word is in us, and some other thing becomes greater than it, we become vulnerable, and the spoil is divided. Jesus says in the parable of the talents (Matt 25:13-30), “But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (v29). As David’s desire to restore the Ark to Judah was good, even my good intentions can draw me away from God. My passions were so misdirected so many years; my security in knowing the right thing to do at any given moment is weak. I rely on the grace of God and the strength of the Holy Spirit within to make the really big decisions, the strategic cuts away from my roots. In my dream, I’d moved in a direction that follows Christian principles, but I’d allowed something to come against my daughter. Every choice must line up with the Word, but every choice that lines up with the Word is not necessarily right. Finding justification for my plans in the Word is too easy. If I start moving in a direction not led by the Holy Spirit, my armor falls away, and I may lose what is precious to me as David lost two men and, temporarily, the holy presence of the ark.

How do I know when the Holy Spirit is leading me? The Bible says pray without ceasing. His grace delivered me from a pit dug with my own hands, and He will still cease what could lead me astray. Regarding my garden, in a moment of frustration, also following an extended worship session at my church, I asked the Lord what He wanted me to do, hoping for a specific direction. The response I sensed from the Holy Spirit was, “I want you to be creative.” Again, I make no claims to having perfect clarity with respect to hearing Holy Spirit direction. However, the same neighbors I have now, 6 or so years ago, may have heard all manner of verbal abuse at any time during the day or night. Air conditions and TV mask a lot, but people caught up in a life of sin are often not very considerate, indoors or outdoors. My new front yard is not Ethan Allen by any means, but it’s my testimony this Easter of the transforming power of the cross, the welcoming of the Holy Spirit that happens when we stop arguing with God and accept the gift of life from His Son our Lord & Savior. He makes all things new! Thank-you, Christ Jesus!

“For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 37:32)

Called by His Name

Jud 11-13

Psa 140-141

Pro 10

Eze 7

Acts 15

I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD! O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle (Psalm 140:6-7).

Today is 10-10-10. Over the last 40 days, my church put forth great effort to reach people who need the Lord. Two outreach projects per week-end planned by various leaders in the church ministered to the needs of our city in different ways. Our senior pastor put together a DVD series for the lifegroups that included three evangelical messages to be shared with friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers in need of the gospel. Life groups support people within the church and spread the gospel to others by creating a place of sanctuary within the home, an inviting small group environment where believers can be edified and the lost can be saved. Hundreds of salvations were seen within the life groups and through the outreach projects, and last week-end, many of those were water baptized to proclaim their rebirth in Christ. It’s exciting to be part of a church that works so hard to bring people into relationship with Jesus. The forty days of harvest celebrate the great commission, but the effort is year-round. Other evangelical and edification DVD series are offered throughout the year, and leadership training sessions are held to facilitate the expansion of life groups. Every Sunday evening, a Bible Study class is available where a meal is served, and praise and fellowship occur before a brief message that reveals our need for the Lord, teaches a lesson from the Word, and shows how to apply the Word to everyday life. The classes, a continually rotating 10 week series, are available to anyone who shows up at the door. It’s a huge endeavor, and having particpated in the class or assisted with registration at two different campuses over the last year, I see people arrive eager to receive from the Lord and know each session is an opportunity for someone to receive ministry on a personal level. Back in September, I was moved to post a blog entry based on my daily reading instead of using twitter to share the Word. Previously, that was something I did on Saturday mornings, preferably when my daughter was away at the grandparents. I enjoyed the writing so much, my zealous streak kicked in with the thought to keep it up for 40 days. I can see in my blog stats that the site is not well trafficked, but I fully believe the scripture included and the word of my testimony will be found by who can benefit from it at the time it is needed. As an outreach, it doesn’t compare to individually sharing the love of Jesus, but I receive much from reading, so I am confident others will, too. If nothing else, my spirit has been built, my relationship with the Lord has grown, and I’m hopeful that a lesson both in committment and in sharing my love for Jesus will spill over to a ministry that is more interpersonal. Today’s readings remind me evangelism is a battle, and that I must be ever careful to put seeking the Lord before a zealous streak.

In Judges, Jephthah the Gileadite, mighty warrior and son of a prostitute, is asked by his brothers to fight against the Ammonites with them. He first attempts to reason with the Ammonite king, but at their refusal to listen, he leads his people to victory in twenty cities. Before the victory, he promises the Lord, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering” (Judges 11:31). Upon his return, his daughter, his only child, bounds out the door with tambourines and dances. She knows he will have to uphold his vow, and only requests some time of mourning in the mountains with her companions. Lord, I know my child, the life group member you’ve entrusted to my care, is a gift from you. I thank you that you minister to her needs. She is so sweet and full of love. Holy Spirit, remind me when a zealous streak takes its own course that my primary service to you is to love her, protect her, discipline her, and build her into a vessel for you such that her work in your kingdom brings you great glory.

The apostles heated discussion on whether or not circumcision should be required for Gentiles foreshadows the obstacles and setbacks we experience starting out in any ministry effort. Peter said to those promoting the law, “Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will” (Acts 15:10-11). Holy Spirit, help me to never pollute your will with what I think is important. I thank-you that you’ve filled me with such a love that I form convictions, but when in discussion of any kind with someone whose eternity lies in the balance, help me filter my words to remove yokes that needlessly trouble people. Their letter to the Gentiles who rejoiced at its encouragement (Acts 15:31) read, “For it has seemed good…to lay on you no greater burden than these…abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, …blood, …what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well” (Acts 15:28-29). Let my words neither deny you, Lord Jesus, nor your magnificent purpose. “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3)

The Lord said through the prophet Ezekiel, “Forge a chain! For the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence. I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their holy places shall be profaned” (Ezekiel 7:23-24). Evangelism is a battle! The moment when a contrite humbled person is ready to give up their heart to Jesus may be the result of much ministry poured into them but seemingly ignored. Let me always seek ways to diminish the significance of today’s idols and give credit to God for all things good. David wrote, “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” (Psalm 141:2) Hear my prayers for those who are in distress and still blind to their need for you, deaf to your knocking. Lord, I know by the promises fullfilled in my life already that you break strongholds. Give me a strategic word for someone in my day to day at the time it will be received and lead to victory.

“I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD! O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle (Psalm 141:6-7).

Bramble Fire

Judges 9-10

Psalm 139

Proverbs 9

Ezekiel 6

Acts 14

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:21-22).

Early in my Christian walk, a Christian counselor and his wife helped me sort through some things that interfered with my peace. I think just about any newly saved individual, particularly older ones, struggling to live in the world but not be of the world could benefit from talking to a Christian counseling team. In this country, at least, most of us have heard and rejected the full truth of the gospel a time or few before settling into a journey of faith. This means we’re probably carrying around some ideas that seriously interfere with our peace.Where we don’t have peace, we have faith in the enemy. One of the most enlightening things my counseling team taught me was that we are not often innocent bystanders. I was venting and complaining about a mock-reality situation where others do seemingly pointless things and then interpret reactions. Most likely, a lot of eye-rolling and sarcasm illuminated my not so Jesus-like attitude about such shenanigans. The counselor told me my argument that I was not doing anything was false, that because we all have our thing we do, my refusal to participate was my participation. When I rejected that response, he told me again. And again. A string of dominoes 36 years long or so started falling down very slowly. When we readily grasp a correction, the momentum of our agreement will often yeild a rapid change of heart. My distaste for that answer meant a bunch of those dominos stood awaiting further meditation. Imagine the actions and choices that stemmed from each domino all those years. My readings today remind me we reap what we sow. That doesn’t mean there are no inncoent bystanders by any means. The prince of this world is at large looking for anyone who will listen to his lies and act on them. Just today, I praise God for mercy that no act of stupidity on my part resulted in harm to my daughter. It may be that the Lord allows one tragic circumstance to avoid another, but we at least know He can turn anything around for good in His time. Regarding day to day testing of sorts, I am glad to see interactions from my counselor’s perspective. It doesn’t matter whether or not I agree with the underlying theory. By the grace of God and the love of Christ Jesus, I have peace.

In Judges 9 and in Acts 14, blood is shed against persons who shed blood. In Judges, Gideon (Jerubbaal), chosen by the Lord as the warrior to free Israelites from oppression, has 70 sons through his many wives and one, Abimelech, through a servant girl from Shechem. Abimelech garners support from the Shechem residents to overtake Gideon’s seventy sons. He murders all but one who escapes, is appointed king, and uses the same brute tactics against others who oppose him later. Jerubbaal’s surviving son Jotham issues a warning to Shechem before fleeing: “if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech” (Judges 9:19-20). Fire is what happens. When Abimelech is informed someone new threatened his position, he kills that person and their followers and the next day, he kills those who went out to see the massacre. When the Schechem leaders gather to discuss, Abimelech burns the building with them inside. When he moves on to the next town, a woman drops a rock on his head from the tower where she and others have gathered. “And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home. Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal (Judges 9:55-57). It’s interesting that Abimelech, the son of a concubine, destroyed Gideon’s family. Also Shechem happens to be where Simeon and Levi killed all the males, freshly circumcised, to avenge the rape of their sister Dinah (Genesis 34). Later, it will become a holy city to the Samaritans and is where Jesus tells the woman at the well that with His coming, worship is no longer tied to a particular mountain or city but to people who worship in spirit and in truth (John 4).

In Acts, Paul and Barnabus preach the gospel to many in Galatia generating much criticism and belief. Paul heals a man crippled from birth. “And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, ‘The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!’” (Acts 14:11). Paul and Barnabus tear their robes, proclaim the name of Jesus, and urge them to turn from vain things to the Living God. Little momentum in agreement takes effect, however, and the people are easily swayed by the apostles’ critics. “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead” (Acts 14:19). Without suggesting that Paul is anything less than a class of his own as an apostle with impeccable faith, Paul (Saul) persecuted and approved the stoning of Christians before his conversion. Many of us never aspire to the rank of Christian that attracts the devils attention, but certainly the apostles were targets of the enemy. Paul being stoned is almost an opportunity to wipe clean the slate to his accuser. His sins were already forgiven, but whatever the effect, a huge declaration is seen when Paul, revived from the stoning, goes back into the city: “But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe (Acts 14:20). The people who stoned him left him for dead, but Paul, faithful servant to Christ Jesus, returns to his work. What can his accuser say now?

The Lord tells the prophet Ezekiel to prophesy against the mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys of Israel: “Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain before your idols (Ezekiel 6:3-4). Idolatry is an act of betrayal against the Lord. Paul spoke of the Living God to the Galatians saying once nations were allowed to walk in their own ways, “yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17). The betrayal is particularly shameful where a relationship with the Father exists already because we, in some manner, already accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Growing up, I prayed nightly for stretches here and there. I would say the Lord’s Prayer, say my own prayer, then repeat the Lord’s Prayer. My prayer may have been done poorly and without sufficient reverence, but it was a conversation. When I later chose to go my own way, disregarding the warnings of the prophets/parents in my life, it was like saying, “all those talks meant nothing. Lord, the comfort you brought me, your faithfulness in hearing me, I don’t need because I believe my successes are my own and there are these other things out there that soothe my ego on demand. I’m going to pursue them now.” The Lord said through Ezekiel, “Clap your hands and stamp your foot and say, Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. He who is far off shall die of pestilence, and he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who is left and is preserved shall die of famine (Ezekiel 6:11-12). Praise God Jesus has changed everything for us. Jesus’ sacrifice allows us to recieve forgiveness for all these shenanigans. His Holy Spirit gives us strength, wisom, revelation, and comfort. He drew Paul back into the city after being stoned, dragged outside, and left for dead. When Jotham, surviving son of Gideon, issued a warning to the people of Shechem, he said, “The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’” (Judges 9:8) The trees received the same response from the fig tree and the vine, so it went to the bramble. The bramble said, “If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon” (Judges 9:15). Christ Jesus is by no means bramble, but some of us try all manner of things before we go to the Lord. When we finally go, we might find ourselves being asked, “Are you sure?” Like Wily E Coyote never gives up chasing the road runner, the flesh is never ready to succomb to the spirit. Our spirit has be be built up to bring other pursuits into alignment. Prayer, reading the Word, and worshipping in spirit and in truth are the efforts we can take to show Him, yes, I am sure. Lord God Almighty, there’s much I don’t understand, some dominos are still standing, but accept these choices and actions as evidence my invitation to Jesus is sincere and in good faith. I want to take refuge in His shade.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24).

Torches in Jars and Trumpets

Judges 6-8

Psalm 137-138

Proverbs 8

Ezekiel 4-5

Acts 13

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors (Proverbs 8:34).

Reading the Word is so encouraging. Today, I see how personal and how all powerful the Lord our God is. In Judges, Gideon’s battle against the Midianites shows the Lord Almighty walking Gideon through a task He assigns to him. During the attack, Gideon’s men blow their trumpets, break jars carrying torches, and see the Lord create mayhem in the enemy camp. The result of Gideon’s obedience is 40 years of peace for the Israelites. This band-aid fix demonstrates the glory of the Lord for all to see. In Ezekiel, the Lord puts His prophet to work in a most unnusual fashion, again to fuel belief in a room of non-believers. In Acts, Paul silences a magician who seeks to draw a preconsul away from the gospel. Paul takes authority over the enemy presence in the magician, and at Paul’s declaration, the magician’s sight is stripped from him.

Paul and Barnabus later continue their travels to find a synagogue of brothers eager to receive forgiveness through Jesus. The word Paul and Barnabus have for the city of Antioch is salvation for all. The people there receive the good news joyfully. What God is this who desires their heart to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior? The Lord our God isn’t looking for proper sacrifices from a chosen representative? He wants each one of us to demonstrate our belief. This same almighty and powerful God can and does offer forgiveness with eternal life in return. What’s so amazing about the Word is how it pulls us in towards the Lord. Paul and Barnabus deliver a message on God’s work in the nation of Israel, our need for a Savior, and the promise of Jesus. They say the Lord told them to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48-49). He invited us! Let us in gratitude choose Him!

The Lord’s interaction with Gideon shows how personal our God is. He selects Gideon and patiently heeds Gideon’s multiple requests for confirmation that he is to lead the people against the Midianites. The Lord reveals Himself as Abba Father in coaching Gideon, but His sovereign unlimited power is seen when He tells Gideon to trim down the army from 32,000 men to 300 men. Let there be no question as to who wins this battle When the Lord tells Gideon the time to attack is the following morning, He anticipates Gideon’s uncertainty. The Lord instructs Gideon to take his servant to listen in on a conversation in the enemy camp. The conversation predicts Gideon’s success. Personal and all-powerful! Lord, we know there is nothing you can’t do. He gives us peace through confirmations of His promises. Gideon and his servant overhear a Midianite telling his comrade about a strange dream wherein their tent was flattened. “And his comrade answered, ‘This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp’” (Judges 7:14). Gideon received the encouragement he needed to lead his 300 men into battle where the Lord gives him victory.

The Lord’s personal nature is seen again in Ezekiel while the Lord tells Ezekiel how to demonstrate God’s anger to the exiled nation. The Lord told him to bake barley cakes over human dung within site of the exiles. Ezekiel protests that he’s never defiled himself with tainted meat.Ezekiel’s extreme obedience is seen in this one argument. Ezekiel accepts laying on his side for 390 days with cords placed on him so he cannot turn from one side to the other. Ezekiel’s only concern is that the Lord’s assignment for him breaks laws he’s faithfully obeyed all his life. The Lord accepts this argument and says he should use cow dung instead. Ezekiel’s annointing, his execution of these uncomfortable taks, point to God’s righteousness and mercy. The Lord knows the people are stubborn, but His warning must be displayed in full force. The visual scenes He prescribes are much more intricate than the yoke He had Jeremiah wear before the exile. Yokes are suitable for exile, but the consequences our God predicts now are more severe. His words to the people through Ezekiel are: You have not obeyed my rules or the rules of the nations around you (Ezekiel 5:7). “Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers. And I will execute judgments on you, and any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds” (Ezekiel 5:10). Our God, creator of heavens and earth, goes through much trouble to warn His people of a fiery outcome. His love is personal; His righteousness is all powerful. Proverbs 8 reads, “All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them” (Proverbs 8:8). Praise God for the complete truth of the Living Word. This is the baseline for relationship with my Almighty God.

When Paul meets the magician while trying to minister to the preconsul, Sergius Paulus, he calls out the magician’s wickedness: “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time” (Acts 13:10-11). The magician is blinded as surely as people today are locked in deception after turning away from the Lord: in bondage, unable to see the light for a time. Through the faithful, the infinite power of God is displayed to Midianites, magicians, and stubborn rebels. As with Gideon and Ezekiel, the Lord assigned one of His servants a voice and demonstrated His glory. In the Old Testament, under the law, some 40 years of peace is the reward to Gideon, but the gift to us is the faith building testimony brought on by miracles that scatter the gospel to the ends of the earth. Praise God for visuals demonstrating the holiness of our God and His awesome love. Ezekiel’s witness also is for all who come later to see, hear, and believe. The Holy Spirit in us confirms the truth of His Word. The Holy Spirit is pleased when we prayerfully read the Holy Bible. He enables us to act as Paul with the magician when something seeks to turn us away from the Lord or the promises in the Word. I rebuke you, devil, full of deciet and villainy! You will not make my path crooked! Our Counselor says, “I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just…I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me” (Proverbs 8:14-15,17). Our God, powerful and personal created us for relationship with Him. Because of Jesus, we don’t have to wait for visions (as Ezekiel received) or be selected to lead an army into battle. We only need to believe Christ Jesus is the Son of God and ask Him to receive us. Lord Jesus came down from heaven to the earth to disciple us and be sacrificed to atone for our sin. Our Almighty God raised Jesus from the dead to defeat the threat of the grave. Asking Jesus for forgiveness leaves our sin at the cross, so we too can be raised as a holy spirit to rejoin our Creator. Hallelujia! God is good.

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39).