A Cycle of Faithfulness

I usually find myself studying the gospels or Paul's epistles, and rarely am I immersed in the books of history or prophecy. I guess I find them a little . . . dry or harder to understand.

I'm trying to break out of my comfort zone, though, and over the last year or so, I've studied Joshua and Judges, and now I'm in a study in Hosea.

Know what I've learned? Throughout recorded history, there's been a cycle of God's faithfulness to His children. In Judges, there is story after story of how the people of Isreal turned away from God, faced difficulties, and then cried out to the very God they'd rejected. And God faithfully cared for them. Over and over.

And now in Hosea, I see the same thing: God's people, those whom He loves abundantly, turn away from Him, reject Him, turn to other idols . . . and yet, even as God rightfully disciplines their disobedience, words of hope shine through.

Come, and let us return to the Lord;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up [the NASB says that He will "bandage" us].
After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
(Hosea 6:1-3)

I use a study Bible that tells me the concept of "on the third day" refers to a "quickness of healing."

We don't deserve God's love or healing or reconciliation. I know I don't.

But how grateful I am that God is faithful. How grateful I am that He loves me with a love I can't begin to understand.

How grateful I am . . .

Trust and Obey

Okay . . .

I have to be really honest with you. I've been feeling a bit discouraged lately. I mean, I know that God is in control and that He has a plan and that He loves me. I know this.

But it's hard when the thing that is most dear to my heart--my husband's salvation--is so OUT of my control. And the thing that I struggle with most--my health--is equally out of my control.

My husband seems no closer to coming to faith (and in fact, this weekend we had a few talks, and he seems farther than ever). And after a few weeks of feeling relatively well, I've taken several steps back with my health. So, I question why (seems like a recurring theme in these blog postings, doesn't it?).

Then this morning as I drove into work, I was listening to a podcast from Dr. Charles Stanley. He was talking about fully trusting God. Even though I don't audibly hear God's voice, He does speak to me, and He spoke to me this morning:

Do you really trust Me?

Do you really want to do whatever I ask of you?

Even if it's not what you want yourself?

I'd love to tell you that I responded with a resounding , "YES, Lord!"

But no . . . I have to say that I struggle with this. If I truly trust Him, then I have to accept that it may be His plan that Russ not come to faith for a very long time . . . If I truly trust Him, then I have to accept that I may never be fully well . . .

And am I willing to do that? I pray I am.

I pray that I am . . .

God's Amazing Grace

I'm in between group Bible studies, so along with my regular time of personal study, I've been reviewing a wonderful Kay Arthur study, Lord, I Need Grace to Make It that I did several years ago.

In the introduction, Kay writes, "Amazing grace . . . Grace that enables you to make it . . . no matter your need, no matter the circumstance, no matter the pull of the flesh or its weaknesses. The Lord is there with His grace, grace sufficient to make it."

I have to be honest with you . . . I've been feeling a bit discouraged lately. My health has taken a step back, and I'm bone-weary. I'm burdened for my husband as he traverses a valley or two--and as he seems far from faith. I'm disheartened by a silence I feel regarding the Lord's plan for my ministry. Sometimes I just have to wonder what He's doing . . . and when He'll do it.

I question why . . . why can't I feel better?

Why can't Russ find Jesus and thus find peace?

Why can't I clearly see God's direction?

And then I have to stop and remember how God has blessed me.

I have to stop and remember His overwhelming grace and mercy--and a love that flows over me even when I far from deserve it.

Indeed . . .

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me . .

Giving to Others

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another,

as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10

We have an amazing God. Truly an amazing God.

The fact that He's sovereign and omnipotent and omniscient is great enough in itself. He could do everything Himself. He could fulfill His plan without any "help" from us.

But He doesn't work that way. He chooses to use us to fulfill His plan--frail, flawed, imperfect us--to do His will.

And that's amazing.

What a gift that is. God uses us and the gifts with which He's blessed us to serve Him and to serve others. Each of us has a gift that we're called to steward--to manage well. And when we use those gifts to serve others, we bring glory and honor to Him.

If you love to organize, use your gift to help in your church office or at a local ministry.

If you love to entertain, use your gift to open your home to the people in your neighbor.

If you love to encourage others, use your gift to lend an ear or a shoulder to others.

Be part of God's plan. Use your gift, and give to others and serve God.

Great Peace

Great peace have those who love Your law,

And nothing causes them to stumble.

Psalm 119: 165

The Psalmist writes that those who love the law of the Lord will have great peace. Love the law of the Lord. What does that mean?

In the Old Testament, the law of the Lord was what is called the Pentateuch, the five books written by Moses. Anyone who wanted to know God would know those books intimately.

Today, we have the entire Bible available to us to know God. The more we know His word, the more we know Him. We've been given a tremendous gift. Loving the law of the Lord, the Bible, means that we want to spend time in it, reading it, studying it, internalizing it. Loving the law of the Lord means we want to "meditate on it day and night." (Psalm 1:2b)

But what about the second part of Psalm 119:165? What does it mean that those who love the law of the Lord won't stumble?

I believe it means that when we know the law of the Lord, when we know His words, we have a way to combat the lies of the enemy. We know we're in a battle with Satan, (Ephesians 6:12) and the only way to really respond to his lies is to know the words of the Lord. When he attacks, we can use God's own words to catch him in his lies. Jesus Himself was able to counter the lies of the enemy when He was being tempted in the desert. (Matthew 4:1-11)

If we know and love the law of the Lord, we can have peace in a growing relationship with God, and we can have confidence that our knowing God's word will keep us from stumbling.

How much do you love the law of the Lord? Do you meditate on it day and night? Do you desire to spend time with Him, getting to know Him through His word? Make a commitment with God right now to learn to love His law.

Happy Mother's Day

This is such a . . . not difficult . . . I guess, it's a poignant day. I love celebrating moms, and I'm so grateful for my own. I was able to talk with her for a while this evening, and I really love her. She's the best!

But there's a tiny bit of sadness in my heart that I don't celebrate this day as a mom myself. I've truly accepted God's plan for my life--a plan of childlessness. I really have. I'm able to do things that I probably wouldn't have been able to do had I had children.

I have health issues that have limited my capacity, and had I had children, I probably wouldn't be able to work full time AND teach part time AND speak part time. I see how God uses me through my work and ministries, and I recognize that I have time to do things I might not otherwise be able to do.

I spoke once and the lovely lady who introduced me said that some women have the gift of children. Others have the gift of time. And that's the gift I've been given.

So, even though there's that tiny bit of sadness in my heart, I know how very blessed I am. I have wonderful nieces and nephews. And now, I have a sweet great nephew (and I just learned, another on the way!).

Most of all, I have the assurance that God is using me in ways I don't always see.

I pray for each of you moms. You are blessed. I pray you know this.

Enjoy your children . . . and your grandchildren. And I pray that you thank our Lord for the gifts of your children.

The Lord is Peace

Now may the Lord of peace Himself
give you peace always in every way.
The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:13

The Lord doesn't just give peace. He is peace. Peace has been defined as state of tranquility and serenity. As you think of that definition, do you picture God? Do you think of Him as tranquil or serene? Or do you think of Him as the great disciplinarian, standing somewhere in heaven ready to rain down wrath and judgment?

The Bible makes it clear that God will judge and, like a loving father, He does correct us when we're wrong.

But He's also peace itself.

What does that mean? It means that when we're in His presence, when we sit at the feet of the throne of our Lord, we can experience His peace washing over us like a warm summer rain.

Think about God being peace itself. What does that mean to you? How might that change how you picture God? How might that change how you spend time with Him? Do you want God's peace?

All you have to do is ask.

Ask Him now. Ask Him to fill you with His peace. Ask Him to fill you with Himself.

Hear My Heart

This is a love letter to any sister who may be thinking about marrying someone who doesn't share her faith.

My dear sister in Christ,

Over the last ten days, I've celebrated our Lord's victory over death, and I've celebrated my nineteenth wedding anniversary. On Easter Sunday, I sat with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I lifted my voice with theirs in praise and worship. It was truly a joyful experience. Then this last weekend, my husband and I spent a long weekend enjoying each other. It too was truly a joyful experience.

But a part of me was very, very sad. Sadness in the midst of such joy? Oh, yes.

Part of the sadness on Easter was because, even in the midst of the crowd, I sat alone. My husband wasn't with me. It was the fourteenth Easter that I celebrated alone. But that's not what made me the saddest.

What makes me the saddest, what makes me want to weep--and indeed tears fill my eyes as I write this--is that Russ cannot share the joy of knowing Jesus. He doesn't know the resurrected Savior. And it breaks my heart. There's little that's more painful than knowing that the love of your life doesn't have the assurance of salvation.

So, here's the purpose of this letter. Please listen to me. Please hear my heart.

Don't open yourself up to this sadness, this pain. The Bible is clear that we're not to be unequally yoked. Don't think you can save him. You can't.

Pray for him. Persistently and consistently pray. But don't marry him.

Be a Christ-like example to him. But don't risk the heartbreak of sitting alone each Easter.

Please, my sister. Hear my heart.

Happy Easter!

He is risen . . . He is risen indeed!

Last night, many of the members of my church solemnly reflected upon our Lord Jesus' sacrificial death. A video was played that showed clips from The Passion of the Christ, and I was reminded yet again that Jesus didn't just die on that cross, but He also experienced torture and suffering beyond anything most of us will ever experience.

It's Saturday, and I look forward to tomorrow's celebrations.

I wonder sometimes what Saturday was like for His followers. They'd either witnessed firsthand--or had heard from others--the brutal treatment of their Lord, their Teacher. They'd
watched Him die--or at the very least, experienced the darkened sky and felt the earthquake.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be.

He was supposed to be their conquering King. He was supposed to lead them to victory.

Now He was lifeless in a tomb. Oh, how bleak Saturday must have been. They didn't know what we do.

Sunday was coming!

As you celebrate the marvelous reality of Jesus' resurrection tomorrow, I pray that you will spend a moment or two in silent gratitude for what Jesus did for us. Reflect on His amazing love for us.

For . . .

He is risen . . . He is risen indeed!

A Picture of Faith

There are times when our faith can be shaken.

An illness threatens our life.

A loved one is lost.

A catastrophe hits.

It's sometimes hard to remember that God is infinitely faithful even when it doesn't seem to be so. Sometimes, what helps me to remember is to look back at how He's taken me through difficult times. Another thing that helps me is to recall how others have been able to make it through the difficult times with their faith intact.

A picture of faith that helps to sustain my faith is one of my paternal grandmother. She was a woman who walked her faith every day of her life, even through the difficult times. She loved her Lord, and she looked forward to the day when she could spend eternity with Him.

My maternal grandfather was the same. After he passed away, we found notes in his office of how he'd prayed for people every day of his life. That life wasn't perfect. He faced the challenge of having a child who chose a very different path; that choice caused my grandfather considerable pain. But, in spite of the hard times, my grandpa's faith never wavered.

Do you have a picture of faith? Something you can look to when your own faith is challenged or weakened?

If you don't, find one. Read about someone from the past or the present who has demonstrated faith under fire. Learn from her. Be inspired.

Take a picture and keep it close.

Take Time to be Silent

The last three weeks have been quite hectic. Working full time, teaching part time, and speaking part time . . . well, it can sometimes be overwhelming. And unfortunately, when I'm at my busiest, I can let some of the most important things in my life slip to the back burner. Like my time with the Lord.

I know beyond doubt that spending time each and every day is crucial if I'm going to keep my focus where it needs to be: on the Lord. I really believe this. But I also know that it's easy to get caught up in all the other stuff.

Can you relate?

What I've discovered is that when I'm the busiest is when I need to make time to spend quietly in the presence of the Lord. I often speak about the discipline of solitude, and when I feel overwhelmed by all of my appointments and "to dos," I know I need that time of quiet even more.

So, as soon as I finish this post, I'm going to take some time to be quiet with my Lord. I'm going to read His word to me, and I'm going to talk to Him.

And may I encourage you: If you haven't done so, make an appointment with God. Right now. He's waiting to spend time with you. Right now.

The Lord Speaks Peace

I will hear what God the Lord will speak,
for He will speak peace to His people . . .
Psalm 85:8

I was driving into work, minding my own business, when a pick-up truck decided to pass me on a winding road. Just as he passed me, a car from the opposite way sped around the corner. The truck swerved in front of me, and I slammed on my brakes.

My heart beating out of my chest, I cried out as I watched the car behind me come ever closer. Praise God, no one hit anyone else, but it took the rest of the drive for my heart to calm . . . and even longer for my spirit to calm.

I had to ask the Lord to restore my peace, and He did exactly what the psalmist said He would: He restored peace to my heart, reminding me that He is in loving control of everything.

How often do we allow circumstances or other people to take the peace that God promised us? Just take it from our hearts? If we can stop and listen to God and seek His peace, He will shower us with that peace. He will whisper words of comfort. He promises.

Think of a time when someone or something stole the peace from your heart? How did you feel? Did you stop to hear God's voice? Ask God to speak peace to your heart right now.

Jesus Loves Me

You may know a simple song many of us learned as children:

Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak, but He is strong.

Why do I know that Jesus loves me? Because the Bible tells me so. That's all well and good, but it presumes that I believe the Bible.

So a good questions is: Why do I believe the Bible? That answer isn't as easy to give.

I believe the Bible because its historicity has been proven.

I believe the Bible because its prophecies have come true.

I believe the Bible because a group of ragtag followers of Christ started an amazing movement of faith that is strong today.

But most of all, I believe the Bible because of how the God of the Bible has been faithful to me. In spite of years of rebellion, in spite of fists in His face, He has provided for me, protected me, and loved me when I haven't deserved it in the least.

He's blessed me. He's offered me grace and mercy.

I believe in that God, and if He says His word is truth, I believe that too. And since I believe His word is truth, I can believe that Jesus really does love me--enough to sacrifice Himself for me.

Jesus does love me, and this I know because the Bible--God's true word--tells me so.

The Lord will Give Strength

The Lord will give strength to His people;
the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11

Often, I feel very, very weak--emotionally, mentally, spiritually. The world seems to be closing in, and I can't seem to dodge the boulders being tossed at me, right and left.

Often, I try to take on the world and its challenges on my own, and I feel the weight crushing me, pushing me down until I lie prostrate on the ground.

I can't do this, I think.

And I'm right. I can't do this--on my own, that is.

We humans are fleshly, fallen, frail creatures, and we don't have the strength to combat what this world throws at us. We are truly incapable.

But we do have Someone who can give us all the strength we need: our heavenly Father. He promises strength to us. In fact, the apostle Paul wrote, we "can do all things through Christ who strengthens" us. (Philippians 4:13)

And along with that strength, He promises peace. He will bless us with peace.

Yes, we may be incapable, but He is more than capable. We can trust in His strength; we can trust His peace.

When was the last time you tried to handle the world's challenges on your own? How did it go? Maybe you're trying to dodge those boulders right now. Ask God to give you His strength to help you through.

God is Our Hope

For You are my hope, O Lord God;
You are my trust from my youth.
Psalm 71:15

I asked Jesus to come into my heart when I was six years old. I had an unwavering faith . . . until I was seven. My father's leaving our family set into motion circumstances that I allowed to take me away from that faith, and I spent the next two decades walking along a rebellious path.

But an interesting thing happened. Even though I had walked away from God, I learned later that He had never walked away from me. That faith that I had as a six-year-old girl eventually proved to be true and worthy of trust.

When I was twenty-nine, I recommitted my life to the Lord, and as I looked back over those twenty-plus years, I realized that God had protected me and provided for me and blessed me in spite of my turning from Him. That "trust from my youth" had sustained me even when I was far from deserving it.

God was indeed my hope then--as a six year old and as a rebellious teen and as a young adult.

And God is my hope today.

Have hope in God with childlike trust and faith, whether you've known Him for decades or days.

God Keeps Us in Perfect Peace

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3

Did you notice as you read this verse that the order is reversed?

If we turn it around, this verse gives us instruction on how we too can have God’s perfect peace.

First, our minds must be “stayed” on God.

Stayed on God? What do these old-fashioned words mean? A synonym for “stay” is “reside,” meaning inhabit, dwell, live in.

To have our minds stayed on God, we must reside in Him. And to reside in Him, we must know Him intimately. And to know Him intimately, we must spend time in His Word, learning about Him. We must spend time in prayer, listening to His voice.

Second, we must trust Him.

Whom do we trust? We trust those who have proved to be trustworthy, those who have earned our trust. We can trust God because He has proven Himself worthy of our trust as He has provided for us, as He has protected us, as He has answered our prayers.

Third, God will keep us in perfect peace. This doesn’t mean we’ll never experience difficulty or suffering. It does mean that we will be able to feel His supernatural peace in the midst of the storm.

Is your mind “stayed” on God? If you don’t reside in Him, ask Him to help you do that. Do you trust Him with everything and everyone? If you find it hard to trust anyone, even God, share your heart with Him now. Ask Him to show you how worthy of your trust He is.

A Prayer for 2007

I'm not one to have new year's resolutions--at least not any more. I just got too tired of blowing it, each and every year!

A couple of years ago, I decided to focus on praying for someone or something throughout the year instead. And since my husband's salvation is nearest and dearest to my heart, this is something I always focus on, each and every year.

This year, I will continue to pray for him as he journeys toward our Lord, but I also want to offer this for those of you who also pray for a loved one's salvation:

Lord God,

I ask You to to continue to work in the hearts of those we dearly love. I ask You to give us wisdom as we speak to them about Your truth. I pray for discernment to know when to speak, when to listen, and when to just be silent in prayer.

I know that you love these special people more than we ever could, and I know that it isn't Your will that they should perish (2 Peter 3:9).

Help us to remember to persistently and consistently lift them up in prayer. Help us to live Christ-like lives in order to bring glory to You.

We ask for Your protection from the enemy who would like nothing less than to keep our loved ones from Your truth.

I pray this in Your Son's name,
Amen

May this be the year when many, many of our most precious friends and family meet our Savior.

Happy 2007!!

Merry Christmas!

How can it be that we're celebrating Christmas already?! I know it's cliched, but it is so true that the older we get, the faster time flies!

I pray that you're celebrating Christmas for the right reason: the Celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I don't know about you, but when I think about Jesus' birth, His ministry on earth, and most importantly, His sacrificial death and resurrection, I'm awed . . . and humbled. I certainly don't deserve what He did for me.

I was rereading some of my journals, and I came across this entry from February 9, 2002, that describes how this makes me feel:

Who am I, Lord, that You love me? Who am I that You stayed with me even when I turned my back on You and willingly sinned against You and took Your name in vain? Who am I that You willingly died for me, Jesus, even though You knew that I would choose to so drastically rebel? Who am I that now I am washed clean, that I am now righteous in Your eyes, Father? Who am I that You continue to bless me beyond my need, beyond my desire, beyond what I deserve? Who am I? I am Your child. I am Your beloved daughter. I am Your joy and pleasure. How can that be? How can that be? It is so far beyond my comprehension, so far beyond anything I deserve. But I am so grateful, Lord. I am so blessed and humbled and awe-struck. You are so much more to me than I could ever put into words. I can only give You my love, my praise, my worship, myself. It is all You, Lord, and I am all Yours. I thank You, and I love You.

May I encourage you to focus on God's gift to us this season. May I encourage you to take a moment to express your thanks to Him.

And may you and yours enjoy the most blessed of Christmases and a wonderful 2007!

Why?

This is a short entry . . .

My dear friend whom I wrote about previously is declining rapidly, and will likely be going on hospice care soon. As the tears run down my face, I ask "why?" Why is a man of forty-four leaving this earth much too early? Why is his bride of only three years facing the loss of her beloved husband?

Lamentations tells us that our God is faithful through every situation, even unbelievable heartache. Yet, during times of pain, we often ask "why?"

I wish I knew. I wish I could tell this man and his wife why this is happening to them. I can't.

I can only assure them--and you--that God really does love His children, and that someday, the heartache will lessen and the pain will decrease. And one day, we'll understand.

Don't Lose Your Joy

How often do we put our joy in the temporary things of this world? If we have health, if our relationships are going well, if we have a good job, if we live in the big house . . . then we find joy. So, is the opposite true? If we are ill, if our marriage is strained, if we're unemployed or live in a tiny apartment, can we not have joy?

As I've previously written, I suffer from chronic pain and often overwhelming fatigue, and just yesterday, I was convicted that I'm letting the pain steal my joy.

The question I had to ask myself--the question I ask you-- is "where does our joy really come from?" The psalmist wrote, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Our joy comes from knowing that God is with us. One of my favorite names for Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. However, not only is God with us, but He is also in us. When we accept the gift of salvation by inviting Jesus, God the Son, into our hearts, He is in us. I don't know about you, but the confidence I have that Jesus is in me brings me much joy.

So even when I feel unwell so much of the time, even when I may want to curl up in a little ball and tell the world to go away, I can find joy in my God, in knowing that I'm His beloved daughter. I can have joy in knowing that He uses me to influence and encourage others. And I can have joy knowing that, one day, these "temporary afflictions" will be no more. One day, I will feel no more pain as I bask in the light of my Savior--face to face.