God's Friend

Did you know that God considers you His friend?  Think about that for a moment.  Let it sink in.  And before you say "Well, I don't know how that is possible.  I'm just me.  Small, fallible, human me." let me tell you I say the same thing too.  But just look at those that were considered "friends" of God in the Bible.  Abraham, David, Moses.  Look at the Apostles in the New Testament.  All friends of God.  All small, fallible, humans who made mistakes, who had highs and lows in their walks with God.  I read a devotional in "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers recently and as I read this my spirit rose within me in joy at being considered God's friend...at even the possibility that I could be His friend.  

And what is the best way to get to know your friend?  By hanging out with them of course!  I read 1 Chronicles 16:27  Honor and majesty surround Him; strength and joy fill His dwelling.  And think about Psalm 16:11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.  Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace.  Isn't this someone you desire to hang out with?  

One thing all the above mentioned Bible people have in common was they spent time with their Lord.  And the more time we follow their example, the more time we spend with our Savior, the more we know His will and are able to walk in the way He walked, in love, wisdom and power.  Our prayers and desires will line up with God's heart because He will show us His desires for us and for those around us.  

But knowing God, being His friend and walking in His ways come with effort.  We are led by the Spirit when we obey Him.  We show we are His friend by following His ways.  And the more we follow Him, the more He reveals Himself to us, the deeper our friendship becomes.  Luke 14:21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

Jesus Himself knew that if He was to walk in the Father's will, to act like a friend if you'll allow me some poetic license, was to spend time in prayer and fellowship with His Father and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  We often see Him stealing off for time alone with the Father.  

Another thing that proves we are friends with God is our belief.  James 2:23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.  Friends trust one another.  

And lest you think this whole friendship with God all relies on yourself, look what Paul told us in Romans 5:10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.  This friendship with God was initiated and made possible by Jesus Himself.  It didn't start with us.  It wasn't our idea.  And we didn't earn it.  Our job is just to do what it takes to walk in it and grow that friendship through time, faith and obedience.  

Lord, thank You.  The thought that You would call me friend.  Dare I believe!  I feel so insignificant and unworthy...and yet.  In Psalm 8:4-5 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?  For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.  Amazing.  You are amazing.  Help me and all of us to honor and revel in this friendship.  Help us to do our part to cultivate and cherish it.  And as we do this, we look forward to seeing You work through us and touch the lives around us with Your power and love.  We pray this in Jesus Name.  Amen.  

You are God's friend.  

Be a Jar

2 Corinthians 4:7  We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.  This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

It's not about us.  Lol.  Wow.  What a concept, right?  We fumble, we stumble, we get off track and we go in the wrong direction.  But we can still shine.  And we shine because the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts, piercing through our brokenness.  The Message Bible (which I like for the word pictures it paints) puts it this way: "If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives."

Three times over the last two weeks I've been reminded of this.  This morning as I opened up my "31 Days of Praise" devotional, once again I was taken to this verse.  

What can a jar do?  Nothing.  It sits there, empty, awaiting a user and a purpose.  And that's what we are without the light of the Holy Spirit in us.   Empty, purposeless...sitting on a shelf.  We may look ok, but our insides are empty.  

It's almost like creation itself.  All of a sudden Jesus finds us (and we open our hearts to Him) and it's "Let there be light." all over again (Genesis 1:3).  And it's true, we are new creations when the Spirit of Jesus renews us. 2 Corinthians 5:17  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  His creation.  His purpose.  His way.  Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Our human body, our jars of clay remain the same on the outside, we still look ordinary, go about the day to day of daily living...but what's inside is extraordinary.  It's God!  We can do everyday things, suffer through the difficulties of this life with godly attitudes, with gratitude and the power to love and share the Gospel.  And the more we do this the more of His light shines through brighter and brighter.  More glory to our God!

This morning I read today's "My Utmost for His Highness" by Oswald Chambers.  He quoted John the Baptist in John 3:30:  He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.   He spoke of Jesus.  The more we willingly let the light of Jesus shine through us by being obedient the more we become like Him.  2 Corinthians 3:18  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.  And He is worthy to receive all glory, honor and praise.  

Lord, take these jars of clay and fill them. Use us for Your purpose and Your glory.  Let Your light burst forth from our lives, giving Your light to those around us.  Let us bring You glory.  I echo what is written by Ruth Myers in "31 Days of Praise," " Thank You, that I, a common earthenware jug, contain the priceless treasure of Your life and glory, and so my every victory and accomplishment obviously comes from Your all-prevailing power and not from me."  Hallelujah!!  Shine Jesus, shine! 

Let God's Spirit shine in your life today.  

Blocked?

Do you ever feel blocked?  Blocked from a connection with God?  I have struggled with this for a very long time.  Sometimes, even though I am praying and worshiping and studying...I feel disconnected.  It's frustrating and saddening.  I've gone to the Lord over and over with this, "Take it away Father!"  I've cried out many times.  I'll be saying words of worship, and yet, even though I know with all my heart and mind that our Lord is worthy, my emotions feel flat.  I want more!  

As I was worshiping  (in obedience and full knowledge that He is worthy whether I feel it or not), at the start of my morning "God time" recently, the old familiar deadness wormed its way around my heart.  I could fully feel the wall that seems to separate me from my Savior.  A friend once told me that is what she saw in me.  A wall with me on one side and Jesus on the other and He wanted to reach me but the my wall was blocking Him.  I cried out again for the blockage to be taken away.  

The Lord answered me that morning.  And He is even answering more as I type this.  He truly is amazing.  My Father "told" me through His Word that Jesus makes His home in our hearts as we trust Him.  Ephesians 3:17  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  Unbelief, even if it's just in the little things will keep Jesus from making His home in my heart.  And it's the little things I struggle with the most.  A very simply answer from a very wise God.  

In order to connect with my Savior, to allow Him to make my heart His home, I must believe and trust...in all things.  A few weeks ago we talked about truly living like we fully believed Romans 8:28.  This new visit is building on that lesson.  I need to lose the continual questioning, doubting, mistrustful attitude I get every time something doesn't go my way or follow my timing.  Colossians 2:6-7 6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.  I think I would much rather be overflowing with thankfulness than doubt and frustration.

I got a picture in my head of my wall.  The bricks made up of unbelief, questions, doubts, faithlessness and mistrust.  I can see Jesus on the other side, longing to break down the divider and make Himself at home in my heart.  I think back to the verse in Matthew 13:58 where Jesus went back to Nazareth and was unable to perform many miracles.  "And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief."  My heart has been like Nazareth.  And I know, that I am the one who must break down this wall.  It's my decision to trust or not trust. 

Well, I've been working on this every day, every moment.  The Holy Spirit has been reminding me to believe.  And I'm getting better and better.  It's still hard.  I still have to let go of the little things into God's hands and let God be God, even if He doesn't do things my way.  I repeat often, "I trust You."  There's a long way to go, I have a lot of bricks in this old wall.  But chip, chip, chip we go!  Jesus and I will chip this wall away piece by piece if necessary, but it is coming down!   

What a mighty God we serve!  He's a way maker, a wall breaker!  Lord, thank You for yet another patient lesson.  You are so sweet towards us.  So loving and kind.  Lord, thank You for teaching me again.  And please use this message You gave me to help others, to deliver them like You are doing for me.  Give us the strength to work with You and be obedient to what You tell us to do.  And let us rest in Your timing and Your love.  In our Savior's most precious Name.  Amen.

Romans 8:28  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

John 20:27  Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

Galatians 5:6

Galatians 5:6  For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised.  What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

This was the verse I was given to study as I read "Crazy Love, Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" by Francis Chan.  (Great book by the way!  It really makes one think, pray, repent and dig deep.)   In the book Francis Chan made the statement, "Imagine if we applied this line of thinking to our lives.  What if you could truly sum up your life by saying, 'The only thing that matters is faith working itself out thru love'"

Of course after reading this passage I have questions.  There's always questions!  LOL  So I thought to myself:  What does this look like?  What does it mean, this faith working itself out through love?  And guess what!  God has the answer!

At our Sunday night service we were given the verse Jeremiah 33:1-3 as part of the sermon.  While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the Lord gave him this second message.  "This is what the Lord says--the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose Name is the Lord: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come."   And from last night's ladies Bible study: James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you.  He will not rebuke you for asking.   Our Father wants to tell us things, He wants to share His heart and wisdom with us.  He wants us to seek Him and His desires, His answers, His wisdom.  Imagine that!  This is the God we serve!  Let's praise Him!!  

The Lord gave me two answers to my questions.  He fulfilled His promises in Jeremiah and James.  He is faithful!  

     1.  Works.  Faith without works is dead  James 2:19-20  You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.  Good for you!  Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.  How foolish!  Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless.   And verse 17: So you see, faith by itself isn't enough.  Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.  Remember, Paul told us in Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Actions give life to our faith.  

     2.  How I treat God when things go wrong shows my faith working itself out through love.  I made an entry here the other day regarding Romans 8:28 and what it would be like if we lived like we really believed that verse.  If we really trusted God and wanted to show we love Him we would we would live that verse out in every circumstance of our day.  If I love, trust and respect Him I will not act like a spoiled brat when things go wrong or don't work out my way.  And when we live this verse out, we can have peace even in our tears and struggles. 

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.  

These two answers show our love for God and our love for people, thus proving our faith.  Mark 12:30-31 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.  The second is equally important.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  No other commandment is greater than these.   Faith working itself out in love.  

Thank You Lord!  Thank You for listening and answering and loving us.  Thank You for never leaving us adrift in our questions and our desire to please You.  Lord, today help us to live our faith out by loving You and loving others.  Jesus modeled this on the Cross...in obedience and love.  Let our lives reflect Him and it's in His most precious Name I pray. 

Be open to the Lord's leading on how to live out your faith today.  

Philippians 2:11-13 12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Stress, From Mom

I haven't taken anything from Mom's journal in a while and felt like I needed to back into it.  Today's timely topic: STRESS.  And since I have felt a bit stressed out lately, it's timely indeed.  I'm struggling to find a balance in my days.  I have a tendency to want to do everything, all at once, and then I'm stressed out.  LOL  It's learning a new timing to life after working for so many years and living on "fast and faster."  I still have the "I gotta get it done." mindset.  And then there is all the interruptions, the road blocks and the derailing or changing of my plans.   So I think this message comes just at the right time.  

From Mom.

Learn to endure.  Welcome the difficult things, the tiny (or not so tiny, as manifested in our minds) and ruffles that come everyday.    Say "no" to yourself--doing this, you will become strong not only to do, but to endure.  Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  

Pray.  Do you need courage?  Give me Your courage Lord.  Do you need patience?  Give me Your patience Lord.  Do you need love?  Give me Your love Lord.  Do you need a quiet mind?  Give me Your quietness Lord.  Our Lord never fails us when we seek Him.  Don't sit in self pity.  

From me.

I remember reading a line in "31 Days of Praise" by  Ruth and Warren Myers that continues to stick with me today.  "In spite of what I think or feel when I get my eyes off You, I choose not to resist my trials as intruders, but to welcome them as friends."  I realize that if we truly believe and rely on that oft quoted Scripture in Romans 8:28  "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." then we really would not stress over interruptions, changes of plans, to do lists and the seemingly inexhaustible ways our walk through this world is fraught with problems, testings and trials.  We truly would rest in the Lord, keep our eyes on Him, trust that all was within His care and plan.  Stress would be a no show in our daily living if we really threw our whole being on that Scripture.  We could say to the uncomfortable or difficult...."God has use for You in my life.  Therefore, I welcome You into my day, and not only welcome, but am grateful for."  Imagine going through your day with that mindset!  I can!

Lord, we fail so often to trust You completely.  We allow circumstances and interruptions and anything we don't like take our eyes off You.  And then we get stressed and upset.  Our peace is gone, our tempers fray, we walk in frustration and depression...Lord, this is not what You want.  Not for me and not for any of Your children.  Help us!  Help us to rely fully on the truth in Your Word...that all things serve Your purpose.  And we are Your beloved children.  I am so grateful that You are in charge of all things.  I am so grateful that I don't have to live in stress.  I had forgotten that over the last few days.  Forgive me.  And thank You for putting me back on track.  Keep us there Lord!  Remind us often because we are forgetful people.  In our Savior's Name.  Amen.

Keep Romans 8:28 memorized and in your heart.  Work on truly believing it.