He is doing a new thing!

There are times in your life where God is moving in big ways but you don't always recognize it at the time. Then there are times where He gives you an inkling. I feel as if I am in one of those times right now. I can see the LORD moving in me and my life... stirring up things, good things, God things, change. As if a fresh wind is blowing through and pushing out the old stale air and new life is breathed in. Revival, refreshment, challenge, change and in it all His plan and purpose is for me to thrive, to glorify Him.

I am not saying all this is easy. There have been hard moments in this season, in fact I am still walking through something, but I KNOW, I TRUST - GOD has got this! He has me and He does work all things together for good... He does! Believe it, not just for me but for you. There is a purpose for your life and it is completely tied up in Him. You are part of something bigger, you are part of His grand, awesome story!!! Exciting, isn't it! And in it all I desire to be fully His, to be faithful, trusting and loving Him with all I got! I don't want to complacently walk through this life, I want to really live it. And that is what I feel He is doing... bringing me lovingly to the end of myself. The end of my selfishness, my pride and showing me a better way. Helping me to hunger more for Him, for kingdom things, helping me to love others, and to seize the day He has given me. To not just exist in it but to thrive! To seek out and seize every opportunity He has for me in each new day and to trust Him that He is enough! He is enough, for me, for you - for all we need, for every circumstance, for every pain. He will see us through, even more He is our strength! He fights for us and He is victorious, and so are we in Christ Jesus! Praise Him!

Have you read through Romans 8 lately? If not, and even if you have go back to it and meditate on it! Man is it loaded with some good stuff! Promises, truth, life! My prayer for you is that whatever you are encountering right now that you will believe God and trust Him. Trust Him to be enough for you. Wait on Him and cling to His promises and above all keep your eyes, your heart laser focused on Him! If you do that - wow! Our God is incredible and there is NOTING He can not do!!!

I am not who I was - praise Him! And I am not who I am going to be, but He is in me, He is working and I am more! And He is more than enough! Blessings!

The Gift

Hi! Wow, I know it has been a while since I have posted. But hopefully what I have to share with you today will touch you as much as it did me and make up for my silence. Life is a series of choices... To me life is trying to listen to God and follow His lead. Last night God not only laid someone upon my heart but something He wanted me to do for this person.  A gift He wanted me to send them.  So I contacted an old friend and asked them via messaging for their address, so I could send them this gift. At first this person seemed a little skeptical that this was for real.  And it got me to thinking... First, how sad it is that we can't trust that someone would contact us and really want to give us a free gift.  I mean in this world that does seem highly unlikely right? Now a days there are all these scams and such.

But all of this got me to really thinking... And I thought about how God must feel. Here He is with the most awesome, free gift ever and so many people reject His gift. Reject Him. Reject His love Just put yourself mentally in this situation, that you have a free and awesome, exciting gift to share but the person you most want to share it with won't accept it.

God wants the absolute best for us. He wants to share His love and blessings with us for all eternity. The greatest gift ever! I don't know that we can fully grasp this but let us try... After all we might have to sacrifice a little money or time with our gift but in no way can our gift and giving compare to His.  He who left heaven (perfection, joy, peace...) to come to earth and be in flesh.  To endure all that that we humans endure here... to be among the ugliness and sinfulness of this world. He not only did that but he suffered rejection, torture and death to bring us this gift. He battled death and rose from the grave to give us this gift of life. This amazing gift cost us nothing but cost Him so much. I can only imagine how it grieves Him when His creation rejects Him. Rejects love!

Let us think on His goodness, His love, and let us treasure Him and the gift He has given us. This is not a gift for us to horde but to share. So though we too may face rejection in sharing this gift, trust me the greater rejection and pain is felt by Him. Let our pride not hold us back.But let love lead us forward.Love truly does conquer all.

Just so you know my old friend did not reject the gift God desired to send... And I rejoice with Him in that and cannot wait to see the blessings that will come forth from this. He is good, all the time He is good.  Let love be ever before you and let love (Him) be your guide.

Riding out the storms

Earlier, there came a sudden storm.  The wind was blowing & some rain was splattering about and I felt God was speaking to me through it.  There is no storm now.  It is as if God whipped up one to teach me something and then once I got the gist of it the storm stopped.  However, He kept right on showing me things... and I just kept writing it all down. And at the end the tug came on my heart to write it out for you here. 

First off let me ask - when the storms of life hit you, where do you seek shelter?  Are you already sheltered under His wings or are you running in the opposite direction hoping you can ride this one out on your own?

I love storms... that was my first thought strange as it may seem but I do.  There is something about sitting safe and sheltered inside and watching a storm (rain, snow, wind, whatever it may be) raging outside.  Storms can be beautiful and tragic.  But what came to my heart was the beauty of watching a storm while safe & secure, with peace & calm surrounding and filling me.  It is a poetic example of our spiritual life in and apart from God.  With God we are sheltered under His wings, safe, secure, at peace, calm in the midst of a storm raging around us.  Whatever those storms may be (uncertainty, loss, confusion, etc.).  Whatever comes against us we are sheltered, shielded, safe and surrounded by Him who loves us, who is faithful, sure, true, strong - Mighty is my God to save!

Now without Him, you are out in the storm... needless to say let your imagination run with what all that means.  It brings to mind the story of Jonah who instead of obeying God ran in the opposite direction and well a big storm came a brewing!  (Just read through Jonah ch. 1-2).  It is amazing to me that even when we have deliberately disobeyed Him, He still will look after us.  Yes, there may be consequences - being thrown over board into a raging storm, that suddenly stops and being caught safe in the belly of a fish.  Um consequence - your in a fishes belly surrounded by stomach acid, stink and ... ugh!  But you are still alive and once repentant and willing to obey you are spit up safely on land back where you need to be to get going in the right direction!  How awesome is our God! 

It also brings to mind other stories of storms raging & Jesus calming them.  Check out Matt. 8:23-27, 14:23-33. It even reminded me of Elijah when all the "storms" came by but God was not in them... He was in the gentle blowing. (1 Kings 19)  God made sure Elijah was cared for, He came and spoke to Him and told Him what to do... He provided.  God is near, are you listening expectantly?  Do you believe He cares about you and will take care of you? In Christ we are His beloved, cherished, the apple of His eye... How amazing is His love!  How great is His faithfulness!  How tenderly He deals with us... we who are not deserving are chosen, blessed, redeemed, forgiven, adopted, accepted and continually being transformed to be more like Christ Jesus! Amazing! Inspiring!

But will this do more? Will it... Not only amaze and inspire you but also provoke you to action?! To love? To faithfulness? To obedience? To not stand still in complacency? Will it get you moving, going forward to walk with Him, follow Him, obey Him?!  There is so much more - are you ready?!  Can YOU wait EXPECTANTLY on Him?  Will YOU CHOOSE TO OBEY?  When all is said and done and you leave this earth what will be said of you? What will be remembered? What is your legacy?  Where did you invest your heart, time and giving...?  Was it in the eternal, the lasting? Was it in doing Kingdom living? Was it for Him? Loving and serving others? I am not by any means where I would like to be or think I have attained it... oh no, but God is working on me!  And what I cannot do, what you cannot do on your own - we have a God who can!  He can do anything! And we can do anything through Christ who strengthens us!

Jesus - God made flesh, came to earth - amazing in itself is that fact, but even more He came for us! To serve us. He lived for us. He came to teach us, to save us, to heal us, to help us, to redeem/ransom us.  He literally gave His life while living and in death and in rising again to life for us.  What is my response to that?  How will I live? Love? Serve?  Where is my treasure?  Is my greatest treasure Him or in earthly things?  I know and you should know that He is our greatest treasure!  Will I, will you - choose Him? My portion and inheritance - all I ever want and need... all you could ever want and need too!

He who paid so great a price to ransom us all - to call us His children, His beloved, to take away our sin and make us pure, holy and right before God.  In Christ we are a royal priesthood, given power and authority to bind up the enemy, to tear down strongholds, to fight the good fight (that is not against flesh and blood), to stand firm and be equipped with every offensive and defensive weapon and shield we need - we are victorious!!!  We can be strong and courageous because God is for us, so therefore who can stand against us!  Certainly not the defeated enemy... Think about it!  Believe it and live it out!  Through Him we can do the impossible because we are not doing it, He is!  We are partnered with Him and a vessel used to do the miraculous!  What is more, He does the miraculous in us... making us a new creation in Christ Jesus... free from sins hold and alive, victorious - free! Wow!  How much better can it get!

In this world let me not cling to old ways, thoughts or be held back from full out victorious, abundant living!  Not because I can do it but because He who is in me is greater & HE CAN!  Let's do it - no holding back, but holding on to Him as we take the most exciting and wildest, most wonderful ride of our lives!  And the thing we cannot even imagine or fathom is there is soooo much more ahead.  When we see Him face to face, when we are with Him in His kingdom - everything we now know or see pales in comparison!  Are you ready - grab on and hold on tight to Him, cling to the Rock and follow Him for the greatest adventure and more to come!  To His glory and for His name and His purpose and plan and Kingdom...  Come Lord Jesus, come!

Opportunities to be Present

Hi!  I know it has been a while... lots going on lately and not too much spare time for postings.  I just wanted to drop in and share a few things that have been on my mind of late.

My Pastor recently challenged us to be very PRESENT in this New Year... I won't give you the whole sermon, but the jest is to be present - involved, available, open, serving, loving, etc with your family, friends, church, and beyond.  We are the Church and as such we are to be the hands and feet of Christ... He is our example and who we should imitate ourselves after. 

Maybe that seems overwhelming to you?!  But in truth it should be like breathing... it should become our nature... For we are not, nor can we be all that this encompasses on our own, in our own strength it is not possible.  However, we are not to rely on our own strenght but on the strength, the power, the nature of the Holy Spirit who indwells in us.  Through Him all things are possible, not through our own efforts...

I am not striving here for perfectionism... I am striving to be pleasing to God and to glorify Him.  I admit now that on my own I can't do it!  It is by His grace, love, and Spirit that if anything I write (or do) resounds with you on a deeper level, it is all Him. 

So basically it comes down to keeping your eyes on Him, loving and growing in your relationship with Him and allowing His love to be poured out through you onto others... Be open, available; & take the opportunities He gives you.

Which brings me to another thing I have been thinking about... Opportunities.  Sometimes opportunities come to us in joyous occasions, in new friendships, births, ministries, jobs... However, sometimes opportunities, maybe more than sometimes they come in the times of loss, trails, temptations, broken relationships, sickness, and such.  In these times if we can look beyond our present pain and grasp and cling to the hand of God, He will not only carry us through these times He will grow us, He will show us more of Him, of His glory.  Maybe at the time we can't see that He is there but He is... He is present... maybe we are standing in the cave and His hand covers us so we cannot see His face, but when the time is right He will reveal to us that He has been with us all along.  He is present.  He does not forsake... When we grieve He grieves, when we are rejoicing He is too! 

Opportunities... We don't often think of them as such.  We want to quickly get through these times ... we want that mountain top experience... we want to have a pain free, easy life.  A life like that does not produce within us the character of God because we then come to rely on ourselves and we can become prideful... stop seeking.  In the hardships of our lives we are given opportunities to grow... Closer to God, to grow our character to be more like Christ.  Opportunities to deepen our faith and to bring Him glory. 

Don't get me wrong... I am not perfect and I do not always grab at these opportunities as I should... I don't always acknowledge what they really are and I bemoan them.  But there are times that I recognize them even when I can't see the fruit... I choose to trust and to believe and cling to my Rock.

So it comes down to this... we have rung in a new year... many are making goals and promises that they will not keep... but let us do the one thing we can do - choose to be fully PRESENT in this year, choose to keep our eyes on Him and to believe Him, in all the opportunities we are presented with - the hopes, the challenges, the ups and downs.... Lay it all down at His feet and choose to walk with Him this year. 

It will be a journey you will never forget.  Right now pause, close your eyes and envision a road ... You can't see where all it will take or how smooth or bumpy it will be but you can see who you will travel the road with - Jesus.  Do you see Him standing there with His hand stretched out, inviting you to come and walk with Him... take that hand and never let go.  It will be a walk to remember, to cherish, to celebrate and to give much praise for.

Remember you are His.

Obedience is better

Take a look at 1 Samuel 15. As I was reading several things came to mind... so I want to highlight some key verses for you and do a sort of commentary as we go...

We see in verse 3 the command of the LORD given to Saul.

3 ‘Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

Maybe this seems pretty harsh to you but remember we are not God and we do not know fully or know what is ultimately best. This command is in keeping with the promise God had made to avenge the Amalekites (see Ex. 17:14-16). The time had come for this to take place and Samuel gave this command to Saul to utterly (totally) destroy them, that is, to "place them under the ban (herem) of holy war".

8 He captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

Here we see that Saul did not follow through on what he had been commanded to do... This is where it hit me. How many times have we been led, called or commanded to do something by the Holy Spirit and yet maybe we did it in part but not fully... and we thought well at least I did something ... and that is ok. But as we will continue to read and see no it is not... it is better to obey! Half way measures are not obedience... it is like telling our child to come here and they come half way and then decide they want to stop and sit... well yeah they did start to come but they didn't ever actually come to you.... and maybe where they decided to stop half way was a dangerous place (like the middle of the road)... to them they don't see the danger in not fully obeying us but we can. Like my poor example here God can fully see, and He fully knows what is best for us, where we can fall into a dangerous trap, etc... There are reasons we are called to do things or commanded and it is for what is ultimately best... we might not can see it in the here and now or yet but one day we will.

11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night.

In a moment he (Saul) choose to turn his back and not follow the LORD but to do things his way, for his glory... he chose self/pride over God and obedience.

12 Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal.”

See here is where maybe we will start to see more of the "heart" of the matter... Because you see in bringing back Agag, king of Amalek, as prisoner and all of the other stuff... well this would enhance his own glory and prestige... they would be exhibits of his leadership... you can see this intent more clearly as you look at verse 12, in which it tells us that Saul went and set up for himself a monument to his own honor (not God's).

Look at me, look at what I have done, what I can do... When really it isn't about us, but is all about what God has done... it is all for His glory not our own. And when we are obedient that is exactly what happens God is honored, God is glorified and God is praised. However, when we seek to do things our way... half-heartedly following God, and acting on selfish, prideful motives... well that is when we, like Saul, turn and go our own way and stop following God. We are disobedient, sinful... When we think we know better than God, we know best, glorify self... NO, NO, NO... it is SIN, it is wrong!!!

13 Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the LORD! I have carried out the command of the LORD.”

Here I have to say "oh, come on", Saul knows he has not carried out the command of the LORD. It is like the water example... Let's say I have a jug of pure water and a jug of urine.... and let's say you ask for a glass of pure water and I pour you one half way but because that I don't want to run out of the pure water & have plenty of pure water for myself, I then decide to put oh just a splash of the "other" jug into your glass... and say here you go, this is just what you asked for... well is it? NO, of course it's not! It is disgusting and you wouldn't event think to drink it!!! Well, that is sin, & it is disgusting... and half measures don't measure up.

17 Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed you king over Israel, 18 and the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.’ 19 “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?”

Here we have it again... disobedience, rushing upon the spoil (selfishness/pride)... doing what is evil in the sight of the LORD!

20 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the LORD, and went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 “But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

I am sort of laughing at him here because I can see myself maybe trying to plead my case, and make myself feel better... "but I did do that but these people..." oh it isn't me it is these people.... I was obeying the Lord.... Blame, blame, blame... it is as old as Adam and Eve (seriously). And it isn't even just the blame but hey really we had good intentions for not fully obeying... we didn't fully obey God because we thought it best to offer these things up to Him as a sacrifice, hum yeah that sounds good; yep that is why we did it. LOL - get real here people! Can you see how ludicrous this is! Well, Samuel has a few words for us when we do that ... it is better to obey!

22 Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He has also rejected you from being king.”

To obey is better than sacrifice... even if we like to think that what we are doing is ultimately going to be a gift for God by not fully following Him ... He doesn't want it! He wants obedience! Rebellion, insubordination... it is sin!!! And you guessed it, God hates sin! That is why we need a Savior... and praise Him because He sent us one! Thank you Jesus! Thank you for redeeming us, thank you for forgiving us, thank you for you loved us even in our sin!

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.

Ok, I am sure you can think of a time (I know I can) when we have let the fear of other people (what they might think or want) influence us from doing what we know we should do... from what God has commanded or called us to do.... Maybe if I say that then they won't want to be my friend any more, maybe if I tell them that it will keep them from coming to the Lord... on and on we can come up with stuff... but the truth is, well the truth ... and what sets us free??? The truth! How can a person come to salvation if you don't tell them the truth? Well any way just an example... There are many, many more...

29 “Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

I am so thankful that God is nothing like me because if He was well people would probably still be dying in sin... God's ways are sooo much higher than ours, His thoughts are... He is not like us and He does not change His mind. Praise you Lord!

30 Then he said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.”

Ahhh, and here is again another struggle... recognizing our sin and desiring to worship the LORD but at the same time still concerned over what others will think... We have to really get this... it does not matter what any other person thinks... what matters is what God thinks about you!!! Thankfully, in Christ we know that we are accepted and loved! Cling to that and walk faithfully with the always present and ever faithful, loving and merciful God!!! To His glory - Amen!

Following Jesus

I was reading this morning in Matthew 8 on the Cost of Following Jesus... It is so easy to say I will follow you where ever you go Lord. It is however, much harder to live out, as Jesus pointed out in this scripture passage (v.18-22). Because are we really willing to follow Him at all cost... even if it means we loose some friends, comforts, are rejected, despised, abused, neglected, scorned, treated unfairly, have to leave (home, friends & family behind), or even if it means we lay down our life literally?

This made me think of John 21:18-19, where Jesus told Peter what kind of death he would have that would glorify God. It made me think of Paul and the other apostles, prophets & believers who laid down their earthy lives for something far greater than themselves. (See also Hebrews 11:35-40). We seem to have too great a view of this, our earthly life and too little a view of what is eternal... the promises, the Kingdom, our God! This life is nothing in comparison to what lies ahead!

I was at a Beth Moore conference not too long ago where she spoke on our inheritance in Christ... it was amazing... one of the key points she hit home was that we are inheriting a real kingdom, we will be in the presence of God, surrounded by other people... we will not just sit around on clouds and play harps ... we will truly live! We have an inheritance in eternity, we have a portion (lots), there are eternal rewards... but all of this is nothing in comparison to fully knowing & seeing God! This life is but a shadow of what is to come... Believe it!!!

Oh that we would be encouraged by the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us (Heb. 12:1, but please go ahead and read the whole chapter-so good!). That we would press on and run the race that is before us (1 Cor. 9:25-27), to win a prize that lasts! Oh beloved ones, follow Jesus in truth and give Him your all... every corner of your heart, mind...self. When He ask you to follow Him my prayer is that you will immediately follow & obey (Matt. 5:19-20). You will be greatly blessed... Believe Him, believe His Word, His promises... believe that He can make all things new and that includes you! Oh may you be blessed, to live fruit filled lives to glorify God!