Question

Okay, so on Thursday I wrote about how the Lord asked me to "give mercy."  And thankfully it has been sticking in my head so I've had some success.  One of the things I notice is that I have to reign in my thoughts in order to line my actions and attitudes up with the merciful standard given by our Savior.  That's where I need a constant poke in the arm to remind me.  "Delete that thought!"  Is what I need to hear in my brain to help break the negative thinking habit. 

So, of course, God being God he took this a step further, and asked one of those questions that make me squirm and feel a bit uncomfortable.  Looking at my thoughts, I heard, "What if God saw me the way I saw others?  What if He treated me the way I treated others?"  Hmmmm. 

Dig into your thoughts a little....I'm not doing this alone!  Do your's go something like mine?  Things like, "I can't believe so and so can't get this job done.  What is wrong with people?  Are they lazy or what?"   Or how about at home?  "My husband never picks anything up...it's driving me crazy"  Other drivers, rude customers in the store....whatever, whoever, once we start thinking ugly thoughts about them we start to see them in a negative light and our feelings and actions follow. 

Now think about this,  Would you want God to think about you the same way you think about others?  Or would we rather He thought about us with love, saw us through eyes of mercy and acted our of a tender heart.  Tough questions. I leave you to them!  And I will carry them with me as well.

Lord, change us.  Change the way we see others, give us Your heart to love as You love.  Forgive us when we fall short.  And thank You that the way we think or act does not dictate the depth of Your love.  Hallelujah! 

Start watching your thoughts. 

Conviction

Conviction, Correction, Chastisement. Three words that make us squirm.  We don't like the way they make us feel when the Lord brings them into our day.  Feelings of guilt, shame, sadness, or anger can fill our hearts when the Holy Spirit starts working in our day.  But, I do like the results!  I do like that I learn and grow, get a chance to change direction.  I do like that the Lord cares enough and loves me enough to not leave me in the mess I sometimes live in. 

Hebrews 12:5-6  And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.  6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

I have a habit, good or bad I'm not sure, of saying "Lord, have mercy!"  I found myself muttering this phrase at work last week as another job was added onto an already overly busy day.  It was probably the tenth or twentieth time I'd done so that afternoon anyway.  But this time I "heard" the Holy Spirit answer.  "Give mercy." 

Micah 6:8  No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.  

Oh, I pray to be a merciful person.  I pray to live a life of kindness, have an attitude of humility and leave judging to Jesus.  But I struggle.  Pride and mercy do not mix.  Selfishness clouds the heart when we put our needs above others, looking out for our own interest, needing our own way. 

Philippians 2:4  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

But in all this I am grateful for those two words given by the Holy Spirit.  He instructs me in the way I should go.  He tells me I am on the right track in my prayers and I know when I ask according to His will He answers.  We don't need to fear the Lord's correction, but embrace and celebrate it! 

Psalm 32:8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Lord, thank You for correction.  Thank You that You train us, teach us and lead us.  Help us to follow, to listen, to grow and to change.  We want to bring You glory.  I know there is no desire for good in me except that which You Yourself have given.  Hallelujah!  I am grateful beyond words for this!  To You, as always, be the glory Jesus. 

Songs as Answers

We all have those days when we feel like the biggest failures on the face of the planet.  How could God possibly love us?  How do I fit into His kingdom, His family.  He must have made a mistake!  Some days just feel like they should just be crumpled up and tossed in the trash.  We've been snappy, self centered, mad at the world, distant from the Lord, everything we've done has been wrong....we all know those days, we all know how it feels when we lay down in bed at the end of the day and say, "What the heck happened?"  "Where did the Christian in me go?"  Yup.  Been there, done that.

We sang a song this past Sunday at service and it reminded me that we need reminders that we are all works in progress and we all are under construction!  The Holy Spirit being the general contractor, carpenter, plumber, and all around handyman!  Whew, sure glad I'm not going to stay like this!

Thank You Lord!  You will finish what You start in us!  Lord, on the days when we blow it big time, help us to turn to You and receive the forgiveness You freely offer.  Let us make amends where needed and not wallow in guilt and self pity.  Help us to learn and grow as we work with the Holy Spirit to move on from failure to victory, and draw closer to You.  Thank You that we don't have to be perfect to be perfectly loved by You.  And thank You for not leaving us the messes we so often seem to be.  In Jesus beautiful Name.  Amen.

Philippians 1:6  And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Don't Get Too Comfortable

When was the last time you tried something new?  Witnessed?  Stood up for Jesus?  Stepped out in faith when you felt the nudge of the Spirit?   Scary stuff!  We like to feel safe.  We like to feel comfortable, like things to be familiar and routine.  Stuff we know how to handle.  That won't make us feel unsure or uncomfortable,  We fear things that make our hearts stutter, our tummies quiver and cause doubt and what if questions to flood our minds.  But in this place of lukewarm, growth stops and complacency sets in.  It makes us bland for the kingdom.  Salt that has lost its flavor.

As I was reading Voice of the Martyrs magazine I read a quote from a gentleman living and working for the Lord in Sudan.  Ameen shares the Gospel in his land even though he has and will face persecution.  The words he spoke shook up my heart and got me to thinking.  "When people are in their comfort zone, they are getting cold.  I have to overcome my desire even to stay comfortable.  It is time for me to invest in the freedom in Sudan."

Wow.  Powerful words.  I have to admit, I stay in my comfort zone and I know I am not on fire for the Lord like I should be.  I'm more concerned about getting through the day, getting through my routine.  Do some "God time" in the morning, and later at lunch, speaking about God when I'm with people I know are okay with it, sticking with the same ministries I operate in....nothing new, nothing too bold....just average, lukewarm.  But maybe, just maybe the Lord wants a little more.  And you know what, I want more too. 

Lord set us on fire.  Share Your heart with us, send us where You will and give us bold faith, courage to change and go where You lead.  Forgive us for settling for the comfortable and lukewarm faith we spend our days in.  We want more!  Give us the desire for more, the desire not to be comfortable but to be salt and light and fearless for the kingdom.  Lord, this prayer is scary.  I like, most of us like comfortable and safe and familiar.  Let us grab hold of Your hand and step off into the unknown. 

Take a deep breath.....Go follow where God is leading!! 

Every Man

And now more from Sunday service.  Our communion mediation started in Isaiah 53:2  My servant grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground.  There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him.  Jesus was every man.  He looked like us.  Nothing special, an average Joe, just another guy walking down the street.  And yet people flocked to Him.

They saw past the average appearance to the beautiful Spirit that lived in Him.  They saw the love He had for them, the care He lavished on those around Him.  The saw the truth in His words and felt the love in His touch.  People responded to the heart of this God/Man because they knew He was real, He cared and He would lead them to heaven.

What about us?  We are all different.  Short, tall, wide, thin, blonde, brown, white, black, male, female...whatever we look like, we are "every man."  Do people see the Spirit in us?  Do they recognize Jesus in us?  John the Baptist said it best:  "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)  

People saw the peaceful Spirit in Jesus, the deep care and real love He had for them.  My prayer for all of us is that those we live with, work with, interact with will see the same in us.  There is great conviction in these words for me.  I know I have a lot of rough edges to be smoothed and polished but I also know the Lord is working on it and I am grateful for that.

Lord Jesus, thank You for coming as a human like us so we could relate to You.  My prayer now is that You make me, and all of us like You so all will be drawn to You through us, through our witness.  Help us love as You loved.  Give us Your gentle heart, and Your eyes to see through the noise to the need of those around us.  Lord, let us walk in love, walk in humility and with open eyes and hearts.  It's in Your loving Name I pray.  Amen

Start reading the Gospels and watch Jesus. 

More Reminders

Sunday service was chock full of goodies.  Little gems that set my mind racing through Scripture, recalling the encouragement found in our Father's Word. 

We started out with Jesus calling His disciples.  An unlikely group of men destined to (through the power of the Holy Spirit) change the world.  We see Jesus with a ragtag group, hanging out with fisherman, tax collectors and other sinners, everyday folk, those many would avoid.  And yet He searched for them, sought them, loved them.  Jesus Himself said it best in Luke 19:10.  For  the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.  

Not one of these people deserved Jesus' attention or calling.  Not one of us does either.  And that's where my mind went through this sermon on Sunday.  I was neither worthy not desirable, yet the Lord sought me, called me, and claimed me.  This never ceases to blow me away.  Wretched, sinful, stubborn me, and yet He calls me His own.  Ephesians 1:4-5...just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will...Down through the millennia, at the beginning of time God looked forward to the day we were born, the day He would save us.  At the start of creation, through the Cross (Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.), He saw us, called us, saved us and loved us.

Those days when we feel like such failures,  Those days when everything we do is wrong and we seem to walk so out of sync with our Lord.  Our temper flares at the littlest slight, our words sting and condemn, our faith nowhere to be found....those are the days we must remember who we are.  The days when we feel like anything but a child of God.  We remember and we come back to Him and we begin again. 

Lord, thank You that perfection is not necessary for You love to remain.  We desire to live according to Your will, but many times fall so short.  Thank You that You never change Your mind about us.  You chose us before the world began and You don't make mistakes.  Remind us of this often.  Thank You for this truth.  Let us continue to walk in it.  We know it's not an excuse for bad behavior, but an encouragement to come to Your arms when we fail, when we need help.  It's a reminder of our belonging and of Your unfailing, unending love.  It's a glimpse of Your heart and the power that is there to love even when we are unlovable.  And Lord, help us to give those around us the same compassion, the same mercy.  In Jesus' loving Name.  Amen. 

Remember. 

Remember Who You Are

I started a study called "A Jewel in His Crown" by Priscilla Shirer.  As I was contemplating some questions at the end of the first chapter I got a beautiful God visit that lifted my heart and made me smile.  I want to share it here in the prayerful hope it builds up others the way it did me. 

The question was "How do you hope to begin to see yourself differently after you read this book?"  So I started with the way I see myself now...flawed, failing, struggling to do this "Christian: thing right.  LOL  I'm not the "gentle and quiet spirit" spoken of in 1 Peter 3:4.  I'm outspoken, opinionated.  I rush to criticize, want my way and think I'm right a lot more than I probably should.  LOL.  So my answer to that question did not start out in a complimentary way.  And then God....I "heard" the thought well up in my heart, "You are a much beloved jewel." 

I know that was the voice of my Savior, sharing His thoughts on who I am.  That is how He sees me!  That is how He sees you!  Flaws and all...we are His beloved jewels.  Now jewels don't start off  all shiny, shaped beautifully, sparkling brilliantly.  No, they are rough, dirty and look to the naked eye to be of no value.  But God....

Lord, let us go out and about today remembering who You see when You look at us.  Let us remember how loved and cherished we are, beautiful jewels You are shaping and polishing to reflect Your glory.  Lord, thank You for the lift today.  Plant this truth deep in all our hearts and help us to lie accordingly.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Remember who you are!!

In a Nutshell

I am shamelessly stealing from my Pastor's sermon on Sunday.  We've been blessed enough to be able to  have virtual church services on Sunday mornings and it's wonderful.  It's the next best thing to being there!

The sermon topic was Jesus in the wilderness as told in Matthew 4.  In this section we see Jesus being compelled or driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to undergo a season of testing and temptation, a refining process that will show Jesus' worthiness to be our true hero and deliverer, our Savior, Lord, and King.  Our Pastor boiled Jesus' success down to a simple plan:  Draw near to God. Depend on His Word.

Wow.  How simple are those words?  How simple is that instruction.  I love easy to remember stuff.  If I'm given a list of do and don't, lot's of words and phrases, I can't remember them.  They are good for fleshing out our Christian walk, and we need to have all that information locked away in our heads and hearts, but I need an easy catch phrase to remind me to walk the walk and not live out of my flesh.  Those two sentences give me the reminder I need to remain close to and trust in my Lord.  My prayer is that they help you too!

Lord, thank You for wise teachers.  Thank You for godly leadership.  These dear ones you put into our lives to teach, admonish, guide, grow and share are so important.  Keep our church leaders in Your loving care, keep them focused on You, strengthen and encourage them today, and everyday.  And help us to draw near, stay near, and rely on You.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Draw near to God.  Depend on His Word.

Matthew 4:1-11  Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.  3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”          4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,  ‘People do not live by bread alone,  but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you.  And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”  7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”  8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”  10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, 
‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”  11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.