Jesus Culture - Holy

Just one look on Your face
Just one glance of Your eyes
My whole world is changed
My whole world is changed
Oh I seek only to see Your face
I don't wanna go anywhere without You God
Without Your presence
Oh let me see Your face
The beauty of Your holiness
Take me into the holy place

And only one word comes to mind
There's only one word to describe
And only one word comes to mind
There's only one word to describe

Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

And only one word comes to mind
There's only one word to describe
Only one word comes to mind
There's only one word to describe
And only one word comes to mind
There's only one word to describe
Only one word comes to mind
There's only one word to describe

Holy, holy Lord God Almighty
Holy, holy Lord God Almighty

There is no one like You, You are holy, holy
There is no one like You, You are holy, holy

Holy, holy Lord God Almighty
Holy, holy Lord God Almighty

As Christians we are called to be holy (1Peter 1:15-16). Funny how little you hear about that these days. It used to be preached about a lot more, but often times those preaching it were laying down some self imposed rules to live by; things that God never equated to holiness. Perhaps this is why people have steered from talking about it. The word holy has been sullied by the misrepresentation of its meaning by legalistic ministers and now there’s this fear of running people off at the mere mention of it. Many have defined holy as perfection. In their efforts to get people to live perfectly they have veered from the course and fallen into the trap of legalism. And based on what we read throughout the Bible, legalism is never going to cut it. It is based on the works of man. I think about all of those religious rituals that were required in Old Testament times. Don’t get me wrong, they had a purpose. Because Christ had not come onto the scene, there was a need to be cleansed from our unholiness. But once Christ came, the need to practice all of these rituals was eliminated. Christ was the perfect sacrifice. The one time sacrifice. All we needed was him.

So once we’ve been saved, how are we to be these holy people that God has called us to be? Can this be achieved in our own strength? Let me pause here for a minute and say that if perfection in the truest sense of the word were the requirement to be considered holy, then in our own strength we could never attain holiness.  And that would be a cause for frustration and discouragement if we thought we could never be pleasing in the eyes of God. That being said, I doubt very seriously that the Bible would tell us to be holy if it were an impossibility. So, let’s look at 1 Peter 1:13-16 for a moment.

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

These verses cause me to believe that part of being considered holy revolves around us being obedient children who no longer conform to the evil desires we once had prior to the revelation of Jesus Christ. If you think about it, all sin comes as a result of disobedience to God’s word. Some may claim ignorance (they didn’t know it was sin), but let’s be real here…if you didn’t know a crime was a crime, do you think you’d be able to tell the judge you didn’t know it was wrong and get off scott free? Oh, you could tell him, and he might show you a little mercy, but ignorance isn’t an excuse to commit a crime. And grace isn’t a license to sin. Yes, we will sin. And when we sin we have a mediator, Jesus Christ. But I believe that true repentance is required if we are striving to live holy lives. We cannot think that a ritual of confession is all that is required. Our hearts must be grieved by sin. We must want to turn from sin.

When we accept Christ into our hearts, he comes to live in us. Our sins are forgiven. So, even though we in our own strength can never be perfect, we now have the perfect one living within us. And he has made provision for those times when we do mess up and sin. In 1 John 1:9 it tells us “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” I like that. It’s an awesome feeling to know that when I sin I can come to Jesus for forgiveness. The slate is wiped clean. And you know, it’s like I am perfect. Not because of anything I’ve done, but because of the blood of Jesus.

I was thinking about David and Bathsheba. Now, if you know the story you know that David committed some pretty awful sins. But David was still considered a man after God’s heart. Why? Because he had true repentance for his actions once he was confronted by Nathan the prophet. You can read about that repentance in Psalms 51. The part I like most in that passage is found in verse 4. It says: “Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” Even though David had committed these sins against other people, ultimately the sin was against God due to His disobedience.  David realized that God was not seeking some ritualistic sacrifice, but rather a heart that was truly sorry for the sin. God’s desire was a broken and contrite heart. So what does this mean? To me it means that you are crushed by the fact that you’ve sinned against God and you want his forgiveness. Your desire is to turn from the sin and not repeat it. Have you ever had this revelation of the sin you’ve committed and it kind of hit you like a ton of bricks? That’s exactly what happened with David. Maybe you have committed a particular sin and you would say you were sorry, but later you’d do it again. And then the guilt and condemnation would come. And maybe these accusations by the accuser only hindered you from repenting because you felt like God was mad at you or something. You felt like God couldn’t possibly forgive you. Years ago I was really struggling with a particular sin. One day I was praying about it and God showed me a visual image of what he saw when I did this…it was like a light bulb came on. I was totally crushed by it. My heart was grieved. This wasn’t condemnation; it was conviction. And let me assure you, there is a difference. Condemnation offers no hope, but conviction is filled with hope. So when you hear those voices in your head telling you that you are this horrible person that God cannot forgive, you can be sure that it’s condemnation at work. But when you have a revelation of your sin, and there is heartbreak, it is conviction.

All this being said, let me say that even though I know I can never be perfect, I know that I will continually strive to live a life pleasing to God...a holy life. And where I fall short, the blood of Jesus is there to cover me. His grace is sufficient. May I never take that grace for granted...

~jan~

The Desire for Our True Comfort Zone

The other day I was visiting my dad at the nursing home. I mentioned that he had a doctor appointment the next day and he made the comment that doctors were a waste of time, that they never did anything for you. When I started telling him all the stuff they did for him he said, "yeah, but they don't know how I'm feeling inside." Well, this comment made me probe a little deeper.  I asked, "What do you feel inside, Daddy?" He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said, "neglect." Now, in years past I may have wanted to say, "Now you know how I felt all my life." But you know, that's not what I thought. I actually felt bad for him. When I think of the word neglect I immediately think of someone who is not cared for. So it upset me that he would feel he wasn't cared for. He's probably had more visits from family in the nursing home than he ever had at home. But visits don't always make a person feel cared for. Honestly, he probably doesn't even remember the visits five minutes after we leave. So perhaps this accounts for his feeling neglected. The only reason I can think he would feel this way would be that he's not at home. Being that he has Alzheimer's he probably misses having something or someone familiar around him at all times. He feels discomfort at an unfamiliar place, surrounded by unfamiliar people.

As I was thinking about this, I got to thinking about how, as Christians, we too can feel a discomfort. This world is not our home. It's just a temporary home. So even though we can function and carry on, our hearts are longing for our true home, our true comfort zone. Think about if you go to a foreign country. While you may have access to the basics of life (food, water, etc), you will still feel awkward, especially if you don't speak the language. And if you are there for a long period of time you will eventually have a strong desire to return to your own home, and to your own family. You will desire to be in that place of comfort.

We are creatures who like to feel comfortable. There are days when I would love to just pray, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus." But when I think about all the lost people that would go to hell if he came today, I am less inclined to pray that even though I may be feeling a weariness in the struggle to live in this world. I don't want to see my loved ones go to hell. I don't want to see your loved ones go there either. God's desire is that all men come to repentance. He is patient. And as believers, that should be our desire too.

Brandon Heath - The Leaving Eden Sessions: Leaving Eden

Sometimes we may have this notion that our lives are supposed to be perfect. We look around and see those who seem to have it all. But do they really? Our own hopes get dashed when we see the effects of the fall of man. ..sickness, disease, poverty, hatred, child molesters, murderers, and the list goes on and on. It can be quite depressing at times. And to some, it can seem hopeless. But you know, there is hope. And that hope is found in Jesus Christ. When we come to accept Him as Lord, we can have a peace even in the midst of turmoil. And we can rest knowing that our eternal future will be spent in the most perfect place...the very presence of God. So, we may have left the idea that life is perfect, but we can trust that it's all going to get better one day. Don't know about you, but I am looking forward to that day.

~jan~

Your Love Never Fails

Nothing can separate even if I ran away

Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes

But you have new mercies for me every day

Your love never fails

You stay the same through the ages

Your love never changes

There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage I don't have to be afraid

Cause I know that You love me

Your love never fails

The wind is strong and the water's deep

But I'm not alone here in these open seas

Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide

I never thought I'd reach the other side

But your love never fails

You stay the same through the ages

Your love never changes

There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage I don't have to be afraid

Cause I know that You love me

Your love never fails

You make all things work together for my God (repeat)

You stay the same through the ages

Your love never changes

There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage I don't have to be afraid

Cause I know that You love me

You make all things work together for my God (repeat)

You stay the same through the ages

Your love never changes

There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage I don't have to be afraid

Cause I know that You love me

What It's All About

Wow! It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only a couple of weeks away. All around me, people are shopping for gifts, going to parties, etc. Me…well, I’ve been tied up with other things. And I haven’t even begun to shop. It’s not like I have a lot to buy for though. Financially, I can’t do what I’ve done in years past. And even though I struggle with the idea of not giving gifts to certain people, I will not allow myself to add another debt by using credit cards. I don’t think it’s wise. But you know, many people do just that. And then they struggle all year to pay off that debt. Sometimes they can’t pay it off in a year and they just add more debt each year. And this is really what the credit card companies would like us to do. We do all this for that one moment of feeling good. But what happens the next day? Do we suffer the big let down? The eye opener of knowing that somebody has to pay for all of this stuff. And the knowing that the somebody is going to be us.

Christmas is supposed to be about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But somehow that focus has gotten lost in all of the hustle and bustle of shopping for the greatest gifts for our friends and family. I often wish we could go back to simpler times when it wasn’t all about the gifts. As a child I grew up poor. Our Christmas gifts usually consisted of some homemade outfit my mother made and maybe one or two other things from a few family members. Mama always had us sing Happy Birthday to Jesus before we could open our gifts. And I remember one year when we didn’t put up a tree. Instead we laid out an open Bible. When we would have the family party at my Grandma’s house she always made us read the story of Jesus’ birth and some other readings that always pointed to the true meaning of Christmas.  Gifts were pretty low on the totem pole back then. I think that  many people who grew up like me always wanted more for their kids so they went above and beyond what they should have. And like I said, they probably ended up in debt. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’ve done my fair share of overspending to make my kids happy. I wanted them to have things I never had. I wanted them to fit in, to not be made fun of. I suppose I thought getting something spectacular would somehow make them popular. That was something I always longed for, but never had as a child. Popularity. But here I am all these years later and I see how fleeting those things are. Who cares if you were the popular kid in school when you get to be my age? What you’ve done for the cause of Christ is what will stand the test of time. I often think about what people might say about me when I die. I would hope it revolved around what I did for others. An expensive gift will eventually be forgotten. It may wear out or become outdated within a year’s time. But the memory of an act of kindness can last a lifetime in some cases. And isn’t that what life is all about? Showing the love of God through our actions, not our words.

In closing let me remind you to remember the reason for the season...Jesus!

~jan~

Nothing But the Blood

In Old Testament times an animal sacrifice was required year after year. This blood sacrifice was the atonement for sin. The problem was, it didn't last. But thank God he had a better plan. That plan was to send His Son, Jesus to die on a cross for us. The sacrifice that Jesus made was one that eliminated the need for any other sacrifice. And when he made that sacrifice we were provided access to God Himself. In Hebrews 9:11-12 we're told:

"But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he entered into the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

The good things to come would be the access his bloodshed would provide to the Father. I want to relate that to another verse. Let's take a look at Hebrews 10:19-20 which says:

"Therefore brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh."

The Amplified translation says "...we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and the virtue] in the blood of Jesus." Did you catch that? We have FULL FREEDOM and CONFIDENCE to enter.

If you recall, Matthew 27:51 tells us how the veil was torn from top to bottom when Jesus was crucified. This was something man could not have done. Okay, so what is my point here? In Old Testament times High Priests had to pass through a veil which led to the Most Holy Place. This was where the presence of God was. So now we have the veil being torn, thereby giving us access to the Holiest (God). And we can access Him freely, without fear. That is the result of Jesus' bloodshed. Amazing, isn't it?

We live in a country that grants us freedom. It is a marelous thing. If you've ever been to another country, you know just how great this freedom is. But you know, the freedom that Jesus offers is so much more precious. It is the freedom from the bondage of sin. There is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. That is the requirement. The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23), so clearly we all needed a sacrifice. Once we accept Jeus as Lord of our life, the chains are broken. And we can come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy and help in times of trouble. We can now walk in the freedom of Jesus Christ. We can be free from fear, we can be healed as a result of that bloodshed, we can have peace and a joy unspeakable, and we have hope for our eternal future. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking this is a far better plan than the previous covenant. Jesus' blood was the perfect remedy for our sin.

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Taking God At His Word

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3

 

The trials we face are a test of our faith. How we respond to them determines not only our maturity level, it reveals exactly how much we really trust God and take Him at His word. Do we read His word but fail to believe it in our heart? Or do we trust it completely even when we don't see the answers or a change in our circumstance as quickly as we'd like? Over the years I have struggled at times with believing wholeheartedly. Not that I didn't want to believe. But when you've been raised without a father figure (or with a bad one) how you view your father often times becomes how you view God. With my dad, he made all these promises but never kept them. The things he was supposed to do for me, my brother and sister (his children) were done instead for my step sisters and brothers. Dad always told us he loved us, and while I believed he did, I didn't think love meant taking care of your chilren. It was more like lip service. As a result, I developed this mentality that even though God said He loved me and made promises, those promises were really meant for someone else. I had a very difficult time thinking that God would do anything for me. I had tried so hard to do all the right things to make my dad love me, want to be with me, and to be the father he should be. Nothing worked. So how could I expect any of my works to make God love me? I could never be good enough, never do enough. Could I trust His word? One day I had this revelation. God loved me and it had absolutely nothing to do with what I could do for Him. I didn't have to be the straight A student, didn't have to win awards. He loved me flaws and all. Most importantly, He loved me while I was an enemy. And still He sent His son to die for me knowing I didn't deserve it. He made a way where I didn't have to work for salvation. No religious rituals or manmade rules and regulations. Whew! What a relief! As I tried to absorb all of this it was like God was telling me, "I've got it covered. Just believe." So I let down my guard, and tore down those walls that had kept me at arm's length and I decided to give God a chance. It has certainly been the best decision I ever made.

 

Romans 5:8 says: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

 

If that doesn't say it all, I don't know what could. He died for us while we were sinners. He didn't wait for us to get all cleaned up, as some would suppose. He didn't wait until we did enough good works. We were enemies of God. So who dies for an enemy? God's only Son, Jesus, that's who. And that is true and unconditional love.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yoursleves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast."

 

Did you catch that? There's nothing in that statement that says we can do anything to earn salvation. God offered us a gift and we can choose to receive it or not. Think about it like this: if a friend gives you a gift, you receive it, you open it, and you enjoy it. Well, hopefully you enjoy it anyway. But the point is, God gave His son. We can receive Him as our Lord and Savior and then we get to enjoy the benefits of being a child of God. We become co-heirs with Christ. How incredible is that?

  

Galatians 3:29 tells us: "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

 

And in Romans 8:17 we're told: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

 

 

All I can say is woo hoo! Thank you Jesus!  

The Click

While reading Stumbling Into Grace by Lisa Harper I had to smile when I read that she has a group of friends she calls cousins. I too have a group of friends. We call ourselves the click. But let me point out that, even though we love sharing times together where it's just us, none of us is the type of person to isolate others from being around us. We all love people. We all have other friends, and we are friendly to those we encounter at church and otherwise. On occasion I may be a bit shy about speaking to people I don't know, but I am working on that. Anyway, the term "click" was sort of pinned on us by another person. We thought it was funny so we just continued calling ourselves that.

After facing a significant loss Lisa came to realize how much she needed her group of friends. In the book she writes:

"Individual friends didn't have enough hands to help me gather up all the broken pieces. If I tried to lean on just one person during the painful season, I probably would have flattened her. I needed a cohesive posse of prayers and compassion. I needed the Christian version of AA or Cheers-a place where everybody knew my name and my junk."

Reading that reminded me of how unique each of my click friends are. They each bring something different to the table. But you know, we all have common bonds as well. When I think of Genia I know that she is a woman of the word. She speaks the truth in love and can at times give you a good dose of "suck it up" if you need it. She leans toward mercy and compassion when dealing with teens and less mature believers. And she has a fabulous humor. She keeps me (or should I say us) laughing. Now Debbie is one of the wisest women I know. She has learned how to control her tongue more so than me, so I find that quite inspiring. Don't get me wrong though. Debbie can speak out bold and strong when she has to. She doesn't fudge on things concerning the word, and she will speak up for the rights of others when they are treated unfairly, especially her family. Her speech is always tempered with mercy and grace. She reminds me of the Proverbs 31 woman. I've always said that if I needed someone to sympathize and offer me a shoulder to cry on it would have to be Maria. She will listen no matter how whiny a person is. She knows how to weave in some encouragement, but you never leave her feeling like you've been scolded for your meltdown. She kind of reminds me of a grandma. You know, they spoil you and love on you and let you get away with stuff your parents wouldn't let you get away with. But then they always know how to persuade you to see it like your parents do. I suppose that is why she makes such a good grandmother. And last, but certainly not least, we have Sister Diane. She is French Canadian and she keeps me laughing. Diane is quite blunt, but every word she speaks is motivated by love. She wants to see us grow and mature in the faith, and speaks the word every chance she gets. You never have to guess what is on her mind. Diane is also a prayer warrior. I know that she would pray no matter what time of day or night. She's a rock I can lean on. I said she keeps me laughing, and often her humorous side stems from a language barrier. We (the click) have pretty much learned what she means when she says things in her own unique way. But it's still funny sometimes. Outwardly Diane may appear to be stern, but she has a heart of gold.

I have been blessed with a special group of friends, and there are days when I wonder how I fit into that picture. All I know is, I'm glad God connected me with this very special group of ladies. My life has never been the same since. They are more than just a casual friend. They are counselors, advisers, teachers, and sometimes comediennes. All together they are my click.

A Review of "Stumbling Into Grace" by Lisa Harper

I recently received a free copy of Stumbling Into Grace by Lisa Harper (from booksneeze.com) to review. There was no requirement that I give a positive review, just an honest one. I have never read any of Lisa's books before and looked forward to delving into this book based on the comments of others, along with knowing her to be a speaker at the Women of Faith conferences. Also, the cover of the book looked absolutely intriguing. After reading the book, let me honestly say that I wasn't disappointed. I love books that set things up with stories, but back those thoughts up with the powerful truths found in the Bible. This is what Lisa does. She's not just giving you her personal little tidbits for the sake of telling her life or some cute story; she's expressing things that bring us back to spiritual truths. And isn't that what life is? A journey of life lessons that all seem to be pointing us back to our Creator? She writes in a diary style and sprinkles it with humor throughout. And one thing she seems to point out clearly is God's grace. It's an easy read, for sure. She always closes out with prayer and a little question section. These questions could possibly be used in a group setting, but are also questions you can ask yourself. There are a variety of topics touched on in the book. Criticism, forgiveness, binding things, the power of touch, honesty, and more. I would say that if you like devotional type reads, then this is the book for you.

Sign at the Holocaust Museum

The Power of Nazi Propaganda

Several people have asked how I felt after going through the Holocaust Museum on my recent trip to DC. It's really difficult to explain the emotion that wells up inside you when you see the atrocities committed upon not only the Jews, but those with deformities, blacks, Jehovah's Witnesses, homosexuals, etc. If you have a weak stomach, then this would not be the exhibit for you. Very disturbing images. Hitler's agenda was subtly put into motion and many didn't see it coming until it was too late. Even after the killings had begun many of the Jews still didn't know that was what was happening. They would lie and tell the prisoners that they were going for a shower, only to send them to their death.

 

One has to wonder how so many could follow Hitler blindly and without question. As I pondered how such a horrible thing could happen I thought about what most likely kept it fueled once the plan was put into motion...fear and prejudice. This is not too hard for me to understand being that I grew up in a generation where prejudice was common. Not that it has been fully eradicated now, but it was far worse back then, and in years prior to my childhood, prejudice was pretty much the norm. People were afraid of anyone who was different. I would imagine all it took to convince people to comply with his plans was a few military men who made an example of anyone going against Hitler's demands. And I can't in all honesty say that I wouldn't have felt that same kind of fear they did, although I would hope that I would have had the courage to stand up against evil even with the fear of death looming over my head. It had to be a difficult place to be in. Hopefully I will never have to know what I would do in such a situation, but let me tell you, if it happened once, it could happen again. So many things are being pushed into our lives even now. Things we don't agree with, but have failed to stand against in numbers great enough to rule in the voting system. Some think it's not a Christian's place to be involved politically. I disagree. Yes, certain things are bound to happen eventually, but in the meantime, we as believers should rise up when we see injustice. We should make our voice be heard when right is called wrong and wrong is called right.

 

Years ago I read a worship book by Terry Law entitled, "How to Enter God's Presence." In it, he told a story about how a bird was placed in a cage with a snake. In the beginning the bird stayed up high in the opposite corner, afraid of the snake. But the snake just laid there staring. After a while the bird became mesmerized by the glitter in the snake's eyes so he hopped down onto the floor. That went on for a while until the bird moved closer. Keep in mind that the snake didn't ever move. He continued to lay there gazing at his prey. Eventually the snake opened his mouth and the bird jumped in and was devoured. If we as a people stare at sin too long, we too are likely to start thinking it's not that bad. We will be heading toward destruction and not even realize it. As I thought about this story I wondered if those who may have thought Hitler's treatment of the Jews was horrific in the beginning were swayed into being a part of it through subtle tactics. Isn't that how sin is? We may think something is bad, but the more we compromise or rationalize, the less wrong it seems. And let's face it, sin can be fun for a moment, but then it takes a rapid turn and you're caught up in something so big, somewhere you never dreamed you'd be. Okay, so I'm veering from the subject of the Holocaust Museum, but really all of what I said could apply here. If people had paid attention, had stood up when they saw through Hitler's schemes, perhaps this wouldn't have happened. It goes to show just how easy people can be swayed by charismatic personalities. And how simple it will be for the antichrist to come onto the scene and be well received.

 

There is so much more I could say on the subject, but for now, I'll close...oh wait...one more thing...Did you realize that the United States of America turned the Jews away when they sat on a boat in Miami? Some have this notion that the United States stepped in and saved the day...and to some degree they did...but not in time to prevent countless deaths....I love my country, but felt such shame knowing that they had the opportunity to help and refused. So there you have just one more of the many emotions that came on me...

Review of "Billy Graham in Quotes" by Franklin Graham With Donna Lee Toney

When I was sent a free copy of "Billy Graham in Quotes" by Franklin Graham with Donna Lee Toney to review, I was excited to receive it. Billy Graham has been a big influence in my life since the time I was a child, even though I didn't even realize it at the time. You see, my grandmother was an avid fan of Billy's. Any time he was on television she was sure to be watching. Her life was greatly influenced by his messages and mine in turn was influenced significantly by her. As I grew older she would call any time a crusade was going to be broadcast.
I knew going into this that it wouldn't be one of those books I'd read in a day. And I was right. There is so much to absorb. Some of the quotes I read I could clearly recall him saying. There are a variety of topics, including: abortion, the blood, faith, grace, greed, judgment, pride, and many more. Billy is a man of God who has stood the test of time. His life has been lived in the public eye and he has maintained his integrity and devotion to God. You don't have to guess whether his words are from God's Word or not. He didn't compromise the message in order to draw crowds when he was preaching. He spoke a simple message. And that is conveyed throughout this book. It is definitely a book I will refer to time and time again. So would I recommend it? Yes, I would.

Motivation

I am needing to lose weight. Some days I wonder how I can get motivated to do that. I am not really the diet type. I don't usually like healthy foods. Many of my friends are losing weight and to be honest, I am a little envious. Most of these people are on a low cal diet that requires they eat certain foods. And, as you can guess, I don't like most of those foods. As I read their weight loss and see their posts about what exercises they've done, it does motivate me however. I may not be able to do what they are doing, but I am able to do something. So I have tried to incorporate more healthy foods into my menu, and add some exercise. I may not get the rapid results they do, but if I can keep it up, I will hopefully get some results. If not weight loss, at least I'll be a more healthy me. And that is what's important.

When Someone Is Hurting

I watched two of my grandsons last night and I was asking the youngest (2 years old) if he wanted me to rock him because he was getting sleepy. Of course, he said no. It was then that my 5 year old grandson looked at me, and with tears in his eyes he told me, "My mama had to rock me because my heart was broken." More tears started rolling down his cheek. I asked what happened. He told me that his hamster had died. It reminded me of the many pets I've had over the years and just how heartbroken I was when they died. As a child I wasn't the most liked person, so pets were like my very best friends. They didn't expect me to be cool or rich or smart or funny or anything that the peers around me expected. They loved me unconditionally. And that love helped me endure the trials I went through. So I knew all too well how my grandson felt, and I sympathized with him. I gave him a hug and let him climb up in my lap and I rocked him as he gently wept. But you know, there are many parents and grandparents out there who might not have thought this was a big deal. I've heard people tell their kids stupid things; things that didn't help heal the hurt. Their words were unsympathetic. Perhaps they were even things that would cause the child to be less compassionate when they grew up. When hearts are hurting we need to show a little compassion. It may not seem like a big deal to us, but to the one hurting, it is a very big deal. And they need to know you care. It shows the heart of the Father. When we hurt, He hurts. And we're to be imitators of Him. If our brother or sister in Christ is hurting, show a little love. If you don't know what to say, just offer a shoulder to cry on. Listen as they speak. You don't have to pretend to know how to respond. Flippant statements often do nothing to help ease their pain. Just as I held my grandson, you too can just hug the one whose hurting. It can't erase the pain, but it can show you care about what they're going through.

Memories of Marie

In 2005 we had a family reunion. My daughter in law made a tape of part of it. Over time we really didn't think much about it. She never had it transferred to dvd and it was a hassle to try to watch it from her tape. At the time, we didn't know that 5 years later my cousin Marie would no longer be with us. I guess we should have known. She had already been diagnosed with lupus and with breast cancer. But we were all believing for that miracle. And throughout the journey we would see glimpses of hope that she would beat the odds. Sadly, she didn't. On January 12, 2010 she passed away. Her battle that started in her breasts (she had a double mastectomy) had spread to her liver, her colon and eventually her brain. Watching such a vibrant woman deteriorate was heart breaking. But even through the struggles, she was always positive, always seeing the good in her situation. She bragged wholeheartedly about God and how He was working all around her. Her excitement and joy were truly something to behold.
My husband and I had the video transferred to a dvd, and a couple of weeks later we received the tape and dvd's back. I knew what was on the tape, but wasn't expecting the surge of emotion that came forth as she began to speak about her sister, and those who had prayed for her. I often wonder why God chose not to heal her. She was a prime candidate. She was always giving Him glory. She was a woman who thought more about the needs of others than the needs of herself. She didn't whine and complain. She didn't blame God. So why didn't she get healed? I guess I'll never know the answer to that in this lifetime, but I'm sure that God has a plan in place through it all.

"Put Your Dream To The Test" by John C. Maxwell

When I received a free copy of "Put Your Dream to the Test" by John C. Maxwell I was super excited to read it and offer a review. I am always seeking good books that teach me something and I am generally pleased with John Maxwell's teachings on leadership so this book seemed to be a good fit for me. I suppose I went into it with extremely high expectations. But what I soon discovered was that this book was a difficult read for me. Being that I am a person who bores easily, I need books that capture my attention right off the bat and then are interesting enough to hold my attention throughout the book. I love a book that I am hard pressed to put down. That wasn't really the case here. Oh, don't get me wrong, there were some good points made in the book and John Maxwell does like to encourage people and help steer them in the right direction. But some of it seemed repetitious and I often found myself wanting to skim read. That's a tactic I use when I only want to grasp the valuable information. Some of John's questions may nudge you to dig deep inside and examine whether what you're dreaming is truly your own dream, and if you have the potential to actually fulfill the dream based on your level of passion and commitment. The questions are:

1. Is my dream really my dream?
2. Do I clearly see my dream?
3. Am I depending on factors within my control to achieve my dream?
4. Does my dream compel me to follow it?
5. Do I have a strategy to reach my dream?
6. Have I included the people I need to realize my dream?
7. Am I willing to pay the price for my dream?
8. Am I moving closer to my dream?
9. Does working toward my dream bring satisfaction?
10. Does my dream benefit others?

I once read a quote that said, "A vision minus a plan equals a dream." This statement kind of says the same thing that John Maxwell is saying throughout the book. Dreams don't just happen by osmosis. There is going to be work involved. There will be plans made, strategies, and involvement of others along the way. You can't just sit around and wait for God to do all the work for you. You will definitely need a passion that compels you to pursue the dream and a desire so strong that you are willing to pay the price to get there.

My First Book Arrived

Today I received my first free book from http://www.booksneeze.com/ and I am pretty excited about it. Of course, I haven't read it yet, so no review is ready. I chose "Put Your Dream to the Test" by John C. Maxwell. So be looking for my review soon.

Booksneeze

Okay, so my blog writing has been scarce as of late. I've had a lot going on. In an attempt to discipline myself I signed up for booksneeze.com. It is a site that sends you free books if you'll review them on your blog and elsewhere. This may at least motivate me to write something with a purpose rather than just log on and apologize for not writing. Don't get me wrong, it is still my intention to post other things. In fact I may go work on something right now...

Transforming Our Thinking

Have you ever just wished you could have a brain transplant? Not a literal transplant, but removing all that old yukky thinking and replacing it with thinking that is pleasing to God. This is a possibility, but it takes commitment. When we are born again we become new creations. But the old thinking is still there and needs to be replaced. So how do we do that? Ahh...I thought you'd never ask. Seriously, the transforming of our mind comes as we study and meditate the word of God. Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." All throughout scripture we see the importance of meditating on God's law, contemplating His ways. In Psalms 1:1-2 it says, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law he meditates day and night." There are two points that really stand out in these verses. The first, of course, is that we are to delight in the Law of the Lord and to meditate it day and night. But notice the first verse. This verse is speaking about who we hang with. It's been said that if you want to be wise, hang with wise men. Our friendships are important. Who we get advice from is important. Our unions in marriage are important. Remember, the word says that we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. That's not to say that if you are married to an unbeliever that you should divorce them. But if you haven't married, you shouldn't be dating those who don't have an intimate relationship with Christ. You can save yourself a lot of trouble if you heed that warning. Who you hang with will play a definite role in how you perceive things. Anyway, we should be meditating God's precepts. We should contemplate His ways. We should delight in His statutes. What we put into our hearts will flow out. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Once we have God's word so deeply embedded in our hearts, we will begin to think and act accordingly. Our mind will be like the mind of Christ. And we will begin displaying the fruit of the Spirit, as detailed in Galatians 5:22. We will show love to the unlovely. We will be joyful when our circumstances seem impossible. We will have peace even when we don't see the answers to our problems. We will be patient. We will be kind to others, gentle in our mannerisms. And we will have self control.

Colossians 3:2 tells us, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth." If our focus is on God and His kingdom, we won't be so inclined to stress about this life's trials. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things." Too many times we look around us and we want to see the bad in the world. But we need to be thinking about God's promise to us. We need to be aware of His greatness, of all that He did for us. We can walk through trials knowing that this home is temporary and that God will see us through whatever we face.

Unshakable Faith

Yesterday's message at church was entitled, "Unshakable Faith." As one might guess, the scripture passage was found in Hebrews 11, the faith chapter. So many times we think about all the marvelous things these incredible men of God did, but we fail to remember that their walk wasn't always one of ease and comfort. They faced adversity. Yet they endured these things and remained faithful in the process.

There are many preachers out there who think that all Christians should be prosperous and shouldn't have to face trials. But is this a scriptural viewpoint? In Hebrews 11:33-35 we see all the great things about faith...through faith kingdoms were conquered, justice administered, some escaped the jaws of death, were strengthened and made powerful to fight battles.But then it goes on to say in 35-38 that some were tortured and refused to be released, faced jeers and flogging, chained and put in prison, stoned, sawed in two, put to death by the sword, they went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated, wandering about in desserts, caves and mountains, and holes in the ground. Now, does this seem like the glamorous life of faith we often hear portrayed in pulpits across America? Our lives may not always be these wonderful bed of roses where everything comes up smelling sweet and looking beautiful. We will face trials. But if we have that unshakable faith, we can endure even through trying circumstances, knowing that God is there in the midst of it all. We may not always know why we are going through these things, but we can rest assured that God still has a plan and we still have His promise of a better life to come. God is not a man that He should lie so we can stand strong as we trust Him to fulfill all that he has promised.

Still Here

It's been a while since my last post. I think I say that a lot. These past couple of weeks I haven't been feeling well, and this kind of diminishes any desire I might have to write. I am on the mend, but still not 100%. I haven't decided if I need to go back to the doctor. I was on antibiotics for 5 days, but still have a slight cough. My doctor had asked me to call if it didn't clear up...I may need a chest x-ray. Yuk! I can't decide though if the cough is from the chest congestion (if so, it's not nearly as bad as it had been) or from my sinuses draining. Last night my face was hurting, which made me think sinus issues. At any rate, I am planning to write again. I just need this down time so I can get healthy again.

Giving Up Our Demands For Comfort

by Jan Jackson Peterson

 

I was reading "A Call To Die" by David Nasser and in it he said that when we follow Christ we give up our demands for comfort. Ideally, this should be true. But often times Christians get comfortable and they end up stuck in a rut, afraid to step out in faith when God calls them to action. Destinies are thwarted and opportunities missed when we walk in fear. And yes, I've been afraid to do things that God wanted me to do so I know all too well how it feels when you realize you just missed a God moment. Years ago I was singing on a praise team and God was speaking something to my heart to speak out to the congregation. I was planning to sing a solo and stayed up after the team went down. In the meantime, the pastor went up to speak about some event. I was standing there waiting to sing the special as the pastor was talking and I could see the clock in the back of the room. Time was ticking by and when it came time for me to sing, I decided not to speak the word I felt God had given me...for time sake. And maybe because I was just a little bit afraid that it wasn't God. Anyway, I went and sat down and listened to the pastor preach the message. Right near the end the pastor says, "I don't know why I'm saying this...I just know God wanted it said..." As you can imagine, it was the exact thing God had spoken to me. I had this horrible feeling in my gut knowing that I had missed my opportunity. And you know, I didn't like that feeling. I'd like to say that was the only time I ever missed it. Sadly, that's not the case. It can be quite uncomfortable when God is requiring something we're not used to doing. But it's an incredible feeling when you know you've stepped out and it was God. Another time I was singing with a team and the lead singer had stopped singing and the music was just playing. In the back of the room I saw a woman weeping and praying. I started getting words to sing. It was like God was telling me, "Sing this." Well, I was having this battle in my mind as I was standing there. It was kind of like, "I'm afraid. What if it's not You God?" And then it was like I heard a voice saying, "Ill meet you there." I couldn't get a peace so I finally stepped out and sang the song. Or let me rephrase that...I sang one line of a song. I didn't know from line to line what was gonna come out next. Talk about walking by faith.  But God met me in that moment and sang a song through me. After the service was over, the woman who had been crying in the back of the room came up and told me that I was singing an answer to what she was praying. I thought, "Wow! That's incredible. It really was God."

When we learn to fully trust God with our lives and to rely on Him no matter what He may ask, we can know that He will direct our steps in a way that will fulfill His plans and purposes. Changes (in us, in our location, etc) may be required in the process. So we have a choice to make. Be obedient and go with the changes or refuse to change. Stepping out of our comfort zone may also be required. But as my pastor friend used to say, "Rest assured, God's will will be done." So yeah, even if we miss it or refuse to accept change God will still find a way to get the job done. But that should never be an excuse not to obey. God doesn't want to bring harm to us. The things He requires are for our good, for the good of others, and most importantly, for the building up of His kingdom.  So yeah, when we choose to follow Christ we should be ready to give up our demands for comfort. And we should definitely be ready for change.

A Must Read

http://thematthewsstory.com/2011/02/04/a-spade-a-spade-a-heart-a-journey/

If you have been following the Matthews Story, this is a must read...and even if you haven't, please take a moment to read it. Check out their story and I am sure you will be deeply touched.

Because of Ezra

Many months ago I received a prayer request for a little boy (Ezra Matthews) who was battling a deadly cancer. I followed the posts, hoping to see that he was improving, that he had been healed. I prayed for this boy. I prayed for his family. Their story deeply touched my heart. In November, he passed away. It was sad.
As I was reading the blog about Ezra's passing these were the last words of that particular post...


Please, be changed because of this. Recognize the flawed world we live in, and work to help the ones you can. Really work. Recognize the hurt in the world, and recognize the grace that gives us a chance to still be beautiful.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”


I sat there thinking, "How can anyone who has read these blogs not be changed by this?" This is a story of faith, determination and courage in seemingly impossible situations. My heart ached when I read Ezra had passed, and yet, I didn't even know him. But what I do know is that a child suffered. And that hurts. And now his parents suffer. And that hurts. If there were anything I could do to ease their pain, surely I would do it. But you know, the only thing we can do is move forward and be changed as a result...changed enough to take action. Changed enough to seek a cure for a cancer that has taken this child's life. We strive so hard to end Breast Cancer (and that is good...it's another passion of mine), but there are so many other things out there that we have no idea about. I had never even heard of neuroblastoma before reading this blog (www.thematthewsstory.com). Any time a child suffers, I suffer with them, whether it's from illness, abuse, lack of food, etc. I can't end all of the world's problems, but I can do some little something to help. And I can spread the word. Maybe I don't have millions to give to the cause, but if I give $10 and you give $10 and someone else gives $10 and so on, then that will add up. Okay, so maybe you have no money to give. How about some time? Can you volunteer? Can you spread the word via internet? Can you blog about it? Maybe arrange a fundraiser? Sew a craft to give to a child? There are many ways we can participate in helping a cause. Be creative and find a way that you can help.

This family has created an organization called Because of Ezra (http://becauseofezra.com/).  Their tragedy has spurred them on to help other families like theirs, to help other children. This amazes me. Please take time to visit both sites. Read the older posts and you will see what this family went through.

Called to be A Watchman

In Ezekiel 2-3 God is calling Ezekiel to go and speak to a the Israelites. They have rebelled against God. More than once God says, "And whether they listen or fail to listen." He doesn't want Ezekiel to be swayed by whether they receive it or not. And notice, in 3:8 where God says He will make Ezekiel as unyielding and hardened as they are. Not in a bad way though. He will unyieldingly speak what God has told him to speak. This got me thinking about America. This nation was founded on Godly principles. More and more we see people turn from God and go out to do their own thing. Sin abounds, and the sad thing is, people think it's okay. It used to be when a person sinned their conscience would bother them. But after allowing one thing after another, their conscience has been dulled. What they once thought was wrong has become right in their eyes. They try to justify by saying things like, "well, I haven't murdered anyone." But you know, the Word says that if you have hatred in your heart you have murdered. They say, "I didn't have sex with that woman! (or man)" But God says if you lusted in your heart, you've committed adultery. Constant exposure to sin makes the lines between right and wrong blurry. The Word however, makes it clear. The thing is, most people who are sinning aren't reading the Word. So it's safe to say that many don't know what God has to say on the subject. So whose responsibility is it to tell them? Ezekiel was called as a watchman. His job was to warn the wicked. And you know what would happen if he failed to warn them? Their blood would be on his hands. Scary thought to know that you will be held accountable for not warning people.

The New Testament tells us to preach the Gospel. But before a person can receive Jesus as Savior, they need to see their need of a Savior. That means they have to realize that they are in sin. It's kind of a touchy situation when we witness. Not everyone is willing to hear that they are a sinner. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that most people don't want to hear that. They get defensive. But you know, whether they receive it or not, we should be not only sharing that there is hope in Jesus, we need to let them know the reason they need what He offers. I was thinking about Kirk Cameron and his approach to witnessing. He lets people know that they have lied, they have stolen, they have committed adultery in their heart....and then he proceeds to tell them the remedy for sin. I think we can learn from him. Maybe you're uncomfortable with that type of witnessing. We don't have to do it exactly as he does. Sometimes we build relationships with people and just by hanging out with us (Christians) they should see a difference. Our light should be a beacon that shines bright in the midst of darkness. Our actions should reflect Christ in us.

 

So what about the believer who is caught in sin? Ezekiel is speaking about God's chosen people, those who have rebelled. That's another issue entirely. They know God. They know of His goodness. But they have veered from the course, so to speak. In today's times you may call it backsliding. Galatians 6:1 says, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." And over in Matthew 18:15-17 we're told, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan and a tax collector." So basically we're to go to the sinning brother and let him know he is in sin. We shouldn't do it boastfully, as if it could never happen to us. That's pride and as a Christian, we should all know what the Bible says about pride. Our primary goal should always be to lovingly lead our brothers back to Christ, to repentance. James 5:19 says, "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

No Caving In

I am seeking to draw closer to God this year. I want to be that woman that He would have me be. Sometimes becoming that woman may require me to go through things that aren't entirely pleasant. But hey, like the song says, bring the rain. Whatever is required to make me into the woman that God desires is ultimately what is best for me, even if I don't think so at the time. I was thinking about people like Joseph, Moses, Esther, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, Paul, etc...all of them went through things that weren't pleasant. In the natural, those things surely were stress inducers. But you know, they all stood the test, trusting God and they didn't cave to the pressure. And I can't cave to the pressures I'm facing. Jesus is with me in the fire. He will never leave me or forsake me. I can count on that.

Trusting God for the Impossible

This year has already started off bad for me and my family. I have questions. My son has questions. Why would God allow greedy people to steal from my son when he has done nothing but be good to people (even to those who are attempting to sue him for $400,000)? What about reaping what you sow? I just don't understand it. But you know, I trust God has a plan in all of this mayhem. I do pray that it won't cost my son his home...and I pray that those who are trying to hoodwink him out of money because of their greed will be exposed and that justice and truth will prevail. Where fraud is, let it be revealed. Where slander is, let it be silenced. If abuse plays a role in this (as some believe), give the one suing the courage to put a stop to it (the abuse and the lawsuit). I have to believe that God won't allow this to proceed. So my prayers today and in the days ahead will revolve around this situation. God can do the impossible. And right now, this looks to be an impossible situation; one that my family might never recover from.

Oh Lord, hear my prayer..

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

Look at the nations , and watch-and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5

What I love about Habakkuk is the humanness we see when Habakkuk questions God in chapter 1, verses 2-4, saying:

"How long O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to You, Violence! but you do not save? Why do You make me look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted."

Does this express how you feel when you watch violence and wickedness all around you? Do you wonder why God doesn't intervene? Do you ask why he doesn't come rescue us? Well, if you have never felt that way, good for you...but in all honesty, I can say that I have asked similar questions. Don't get me wrong...I trust God knows best. And yes, He can offer peace even in the most tumultuous of times. Still, I see the wicked harming people and getting away with it...and it angers me. And many times they don't get the punishment that they deserve. Or should I say the punishment I think they deserve? But then....well, I have to stop for a moment and think that I didn't get the punishment I deserved either. Hmm...not a pleasant thought, comparing myself to the crazy criminals out there. As humans, we expect some kind of justice here on earth, and unfortunately, that doesn't always pan out. There are always loopholes and tricky scheming lawyers who know how to manipulate the system. And many victims walk away feeling that justice has not been served. Ahh...but God is the final judge. We must remember that.

Okay, so I got sidetracked from the original verse I posted at the beginning. If I were to put this separate from the events surrounding it many would take it as a word for today. This was a word to Habakkuk about a specific event. But you know, it may also apply to today. God was going to use an unconventional method for dealing with the situation at hand. And Habakkuk didn't seem too pleased about it. Funny how God is always using things we would never expect, and doing things in uncommon ways. We pray for one thing, expecting it to work out a particular way and He does something entirely different. And guess what. It always amazes us when we look back on how it was accomplished. God's ways are not our ways. So why does this surprise us? And sometimes what we think we want or need isn't always the case. But God knows all that. He sees the bigger picture. We just need to trust that no matter how things look, He's got it under control. Not always an easy thing to do when you're in the midst of a battle, is it?

Years ago a friend of mine used to sing a song "He'll Do It Again" and it spoke about how God had worked in times past, and how we could trust that He would do it again. As I said, it may not happen in our timing or in our way of thinking, but God will get us through anything we encounter when we learn to fully rely on Him. He can offer us peace when our world is filled with turmoil. He can give us strength when we feel weak. He can encourage when we feel discouraged. He can offer hope when we have no hope. God is good like that.

In closing, let me remind you that God loves you. And He is the giver of good things. Does this mean that our life will be one big bed of roses? Well, maybe...if we consider that roses have thorns as well as that beautiful flower. We will face trials and tribulations in this life. Those things can grow us and mature us into the man or woman God desires us to be. And that my friends, is what it's all about...becoming a vessel that God can use for His glory.