

Closer Yet

Jodi Woody

Copyright 2013 by Jodi Wooy

Smashwords Edition

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CLOSER YET: DEVOTIONS FROM A WALK WITH GOD
Introduction

I have been a Christian for 44 years, but I haven't always walked with God. Some of those years I walked away, some I stumbled and bumbled my way, and some I stayed on the path. I like to think that I learned from all of it.

What you are reading now are devotions that came out of that journey. Some were written as blogs, some I used as teachings in a ladies Bible study, and some I taught to my local church. Some are short and some a tad lengthy. But I think that they would work nicely for a daily reading.

I have included some prayers in the back and there are a few poems I have written scattered throughout.

I certainly have not "arrived" and I am not saying I have all the answers, but I do know that I love God, and want to help as many as I can to know him better and to strengthen their own walk with our Heavenly Father.

1

Closer Yet

Do you hear the Bridegroom calling for His bride?  
The Father is calling all is prepared, the table is set.  
The Holy Spirit is calling, the wedding garments are ready.  
Can you hear the bride calling?

Are you ready?  
Are you washed in the blood?  
Is your lamp full of oil?  
Are your garments without spot or wrinkle?

Revelation 22:17 (KJV),

"And the Spirit and the Bride say, come.  
And let them that heareth say, come.  
And let them that athirst come.  
And whosoever will, let them take the water of life freely."

2

Push On

Peace is not the absence of war or turmoil. Peace is a sure confidence in the midst of war and turmoil. Let's face it- life can be scary, filled with bad news, death, divorce, illness, financial stress and ruin, just watch the news (or better yet, don't). But we, who put our hope and trust in God, need not fear (He is trustworthy). Though we might not always feel Him near- we can stand on His promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

We tend to want God to pull us out of our circumstances, vanquish all of our enemies (right now please), and keep us out of all trouble. But God, in His sovereign wisdom, knows the plans that He has for us-plans to prosper and not to harm us-He knows the beginning from the end. When we stumble into trouble, or a circumstance crashes over us like a mounting wave, He isn't surprised; He has already seen you come through. God, who loves us and wants what's best for us, knows that getting through is what brings strength, not running from. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" may be some popular lyrics from a song, but the saying has been around forever. We overcome our trials, hardships, and circumstance by trusting in His strength and love to see us through. When we come out on the other end, we have more confidence, wisdom and strength. We have learned more about Him and His faithfulness.

Be assured, God isn't the one who sends the hard stuff. He never makes us sick, poor, pained, lonely, fearful (the list goes on); all good gifts come from the Father above. All that other stuff, that we hate and dread, comes from living in a fallen world, from a real enemy, and sometimes from our own stupid choices, but God allows us to go through those things because He knows what we need in the future. Don't 'camp out' there, or 'set up house' there- hike up your skirt-hitch up those britches-pull up those boot straps-and go through! He promises to never give us more than we can handle. The secret is to not try and do it in our own strength. All the power that created the vast universe is at our disposal-simply ask Him to strengthen you for the journey and press on. The end will be so much better than the beginning and you will be a better person.

James 1:2-4 (ESV), "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Lord, I thank You that You go before me to prepare my way!

3

Sitters and Chasers

I went to a graduation at a small Christian school last night. I used to teach there and the single high school graduate had been one of my students for five years. I see her every Sunday and Wednesday at Church and the couple of days a week I volunteer, at the school in the office and the kitchen. But all of a sudden, last night, in her cap and gown, up on stage, giving her speech, she looked different. She was grown up. She wasn't sitting in the class room waiting to graduate. She was done-she's gone from a sitter to a chaser. Off to college in a big city in the fall, chasing her dreams. My prayer for her is that she doesn't randomly run after whatever sparkles and looks enticing, but that she sits and listens to that still small voice as well. Time spent chasing rainbows is wasted time. Time spent chasing out destiny, is time well used.

After the ceremony, the little ones sang and did hand bells, super cute, 3, 4, and 5 year olds. After wards, Mothers and Fathers were chasing little ones down, trying to get pictures. Grandmas and Grandpas were sitting, and watching, proud of their families. Two mothers sat their three year olds next to each other on chairs for a picture. A little blonde princess in an orange dress and the dark little gentleman in his vest and tie, everyone stared and smiled. She leaned in and put her head on his shoulder, he put his tongue in his cheek and got that 'deer in the headlights' look. The princess's father laughed! The mothers, grandmothers, well pretty much any woman who stood there smiled at the cuteness of it all. Latter, I was thinking of the difference in boys and girls. Boys are chasers, because they love to be chased. Girls are sitters, because they love to be caught. Unfortunately, it doesn't work well that way. The boys run by and practically beg to be chased (they really don't want to be caught, just chased) and the girls sit and look at them, longing to be captured (and they hate running in their princess dresses and glass slippers).

Sitters and Chasers. Some of us sit and watch the world pass us by. Some of us chase it down and demand all we can get out of it, only to find that it wasn't what we really wanted, the fun was in the chase, not the capture. We look at what we caught, what we hold in our hand with a death grip, refusing to give up what we worked so hard for, only to see that it is fool's gold. Can't we be both? Do we only have to choose to either sit, or chase? I say yes! Sit first; hear what God has planned for you. Then, when he shows you the path, run! Don't look back to see who's running with you, don't look to the left or the right to see what other paths are being taken, just go for it. Sometimes, we get to sit for a spell, rest up, recalculate (like Lola-the voice of my garmen), but we always have to get back up. I guess we even slow down at times, when the road gets scary, and the path gets hairy, but still...move ahead.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV), "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Father, I want to be a chaser not a sitter. I choose to run after you.

4

Cursed No More

Ephesians 2:1-10 (TLB), "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Once you were under God's curse, doomed forever for your sins. You went along with the crowd and were just like all the others, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air, who is at work right now in the hearts of those who are against the Lord. All of us used to be just as they are, our lives expressing the evil within us, doing every wicked thing that our passions or our evil thoughts might lead us into. We started out bad, being born with evil natures, and were under God's anger just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead-only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved- and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms-all because of what Christ Jesus did.

Now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through Jesus Christ. Because of his kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. Even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.

Jesus, I want to be more like you. I want to see the need in others and be there to help.

5

Letting Go of Worry

I Peter 5:7 (NLV), "Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you."

I used to worry too much! Sometimes I would worry that I worried too much! It'll make you sick if you let it go on, which I have proved in my own life over and over. Worrying had messed up my stomach, God healed it, then I would get in the nasty habit of worrying again, and then my stomach would get messed up again. We can't put everything on God. Sure He will continue to heal, but it would be no different than placing your hand on the wood stove, asking God to heal it, then turning right around and placing your hand back on the stove. We would call that insane behavior!

Worrying shows a lack of faith. It's real simple, either God can handle it or he can't. I often think to myself, "sure He can handle it, I'm the one who can't," but the Holy Spirit is faithful to remind me that I never have to face anything in my own strength. I have to choose to use His strength. If I find myself saying or thinking "I just can't handle it" that is a red flag that I have stopped looking to God! If we are worrying, that means we are trusting in ourselves, or others, our jobs, government, the economy, or even chance, instead of trusting in God. I have to choose to trust Him. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6).

Worry is not beneficial. Worry cannot change your circumstances. Worry robs you of sleep, peace and very precious time. God has been trying to get this deep in my heart, year after year; we chip away at this area in my life. I am so much better than I was, and sometimes am amazed at my lack of concern over some things that have happened. Sometimes things happen that just pull the rug out from under you. Then we get "spiritual Alzheimer's" and forget to trust, forget our Word, forget the promises, and we worry! But if we continually rehearse God's goodness, practice giving it all to him in prayer, it gets easier! Trust Him.

He is faithful. He is trustworthy. We have the victory. He always causes us to triumph. Why worry?

God, I give You my worry. I refuse to pick it up again. Thank You for caring for me.

6

God Doesn't Forget

God never forgets. Never. Ever. (Except our sin!) Aren't you glad? Did He promise you something? Well you can count on it, be patient. Of course His timing isn't the same as ours. Being patient isn't always easy, in fact, for me, it is usually hard, but that doesn't change the fact that if God said it, it is a sure thing, a done deal. It was done before He even said it. Try and wrap your mind around that one! God doesn't abide in time, He created it for us, He doesn't need it. For Him, yesterday is now, and tomorrow is now, and the future is now. So whatever we need has already been provided for us.

Proverbs 13:12 (Jubilee Bible 2000), says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life." And II Corinthians 1:20 (AKJV), says, "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." So if God doesn't forget, and ALL of His promises are yes, then why lose hope? You'll make yourself sick! Don't do it! Hope in God, He'll come through! He always has, He always will. When your desire is fulfilled you'll find life, more life, a great life! A tree is rooted and grounded! Be rooted and grounded in the source of life!

Father, I love that Your mind is always on me!

7

The Perfect Church

"It does not take a perfect church to introduce a man to the perfect Christ." -Richard Woodsome

Ok, so the title is deceiving, because there is no "Perfect Church," at least in our eyes. To the Father, the Perfect Church is His children, who love Him with all their hearts, growing His Family. We are human. Period. We have our good days and bad days. We can be the most wonderful person you ever met, and the next day is a pain in the neck. Truth. However, if we walk in love, forgiving each other our faults, and errors, then we can still fulfill God's purpose for His Church here on this messed up place. We don't have to be perfect to serve God.

Look at Peter, David, Moses, the list goes on, they were by no means perfect, but all were used mightily by God. (For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." (NKJV I Corinthians 1:26-31).

It's pretty simple. I am foolish, weak and base, so God will use me! We cannot leave the Church because there are imperfect people there. A wise man once told me that if there was a perfect church as soon as he started attending, it wouldn't be perfect anymore! We also cannot use our faults and failures as an excuse to stop serving God, or to not even start. Our imperfections should drive us to lean on the "Perfect Christ"! Next time the enemy, whether it is your own flesh, or the devil, tries to tell you that you are messed up, just tell them to SHUT UP! And keep doing whatever it is that Our Father has asked us to do. Walk in the strength of the Holy Spirit, and trust Him to lead you rightly.

Lord, I choose to let You perfect me, and until then I will do my best to bring You glory.

8

Forgiveness

I have been thinking a lot about forgiveness lately. I never really had too much of a problem in that area, except with a few specific people who had inflicted a load of hurt in my life. But I learned the hard way that un-forgiveness is like a cancer it spreads, or like a poison, affecting the other "good" relationships in my life. My problem was that I didn't fully understand forgiveness. I, like most people, thought of it as an emotion or a feeling. I had the idea that someone had to say they were sorry and repent for their actions before I could ever forgive. I thought if I forgave the behavior before they apologized, it would give them permission to continue, or validate their behavior. Thank God, I did learn, mostly through His word and good Christian counsel, that forgiveness is a choice. Basically, I had been refusing to forgive! Satan uses this to give us a "victim mentality" once we have that, we start keeping track of every wrong, perceived or real. We start rehearsing every incident mentally and verbally. Soon all we can do is spout that poison out to anyone who will listen, and it works it's destruction.

Looking at God and His willingness to forgive me, helped me to forgive. I had been forgiven much. Then thinking of what Jesus said on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," helped even more. (If Jesus could say of the men who purposely hammered those nails, or the Sanhedrin who purposely condemned him to death, or of me, who willfully sinned, sending him to the cross, before any of us had repented, then I couldn't justify withholding my forgiveness). My un-forgiveness turned into bitterness, and that resulted in mental and physical problems. God did heal me, but what He healed were only the symptoms, the real problem was my heart.

When I asked God to help me get rid of the root, it was un-forgiveness, and self-pity, two equally destructive things. I got some repentance, and others have never admitted wronging me. I was able to choose to forgive all, and the amazing thing is after a while, my emotions caught up with that choice! Now, I hardly ever think about it and I can even be around those people with no ill will. My other relationships improved, and I was able to open my heart up bigger to God and those around me. How can we give God our whole heart if it is full of cancer! He gave me the strength to do it! Un-forgiveness is an ugly thing. It will destroy your marriage, your family, your church and even your health, if you let it. Choose to forgive today!

Matt 6:14-15 (NIV), For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matt 18:21-22 (NIV), Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

2 Corinthians 2:10 (NIV), If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven — if there was anything to forgive — I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake.

Col 3:13 (NIV), Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

"Forgiveness is giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me". ~Author Unknown

"Un-forgiveness is the poison we drink, hoping others will die". ~Author Unknown

Lord, help me to be slow to anger and quick to forgive, to not be easily offended.

9

Keep Walking

Luke 13:31-34 (KJV), "The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!"

The Pharisees had been trying to trap Him into saying something they could call Him on. They had just berated Him for healing a woman on the Sabbath, and now they are "warning" Him not to go into Jerusalem, saying that Herod would kill Him. (They didn't want Him there, too many people to see His undeniable proofs of who He was). But it was Jesus' response that pierced my heart today. "Tell that fox, I am working at my Father's business! And I will be perfected." Perfected sounds great right! He is talking about His death. Then He goes on to say, "I have to go to Jerusalem because prophets don't die outside of that great city, and I am not there yet, so I will walk, and walk and just keep walking until I get to the cross." Is He bitter? No, He cries out for Jerusalem in His love. They have spurned His love. What is He thinking about on the way to the city that will cry out for His blood. He is thinking of His End and His Love, and how in death He will be Perfected! He intends to keep working and walking until He arrives. Until He can say, "It is finished!"

So when we are feeling overwhelmed, beat up, beat down, when we feel like giving up, or the end is just too far away, or maybe not what we had planned, what do we do? We work and we walk. Cast out devils, cure the sick, do what God has called you to do. Keep on the path! God knows the end. In the end, (if we keep working and walking) is perfection!

Father, keep me on the path You have set for me. Give me the strength to keep moving forward.

10

Standing in Faith

This was originally written on June 8th, 2010 (After being diagnosed with a heart condition that needed surgery)

I had to do some housecleaning today, natural and spiritual. I commanded the spirits of infirmity, self pity and despair to leave my home. Isn't it funny how without daily upkeep our houses get messy? Well it works the same way with our spirit. If we don't maintain our faith, get rid of those "un-Godly" beliefs and replace them with the Word of God, things get out right nasty. As I ran the vacuum and got rid of all the cobwebs that had been accumulating in my house, I realized the areas of neglect in my spiritual walk. You can do much soul searching while setting your natural house in order. God is so patient with us, and so encouraging. He really has been so loving to me.

One day I was complaining to God about my being ill and not receiving a healing, and like a petulant toddler said, "Jesus do you even know how I feel, you are God, were you ever even sick a day in your life?" and my patient Lord chuckled at me, just like a parent when their child, makes an illogical accusation, and replied, "Only while on the cross, when I bore your infirmities, and those of everyone else." What could I answer...besides to see Him in pain on that cross...cry and ask Him to forgive my self pity. Another day, as I lay in bed, feeling very sorry for myself and even more confused, I cried and begged, "Why do I have to go through all of this again! Why do I have to have surgery! Why, why, why!" I was in despair. I received no answer from God, no great revelation, no reason for my suffering. My mind rolled and whined until finally I was too tired to even make sense. It was then I heard, so clearly, "I love you". I sniffed, took a breath, sighed in surrender and said, "I love you too." I closed my eyes and slept in peace.

Friends and Family, God doesn't condemn us-He loves. Yes, he chastens, (for me quite frequently recently), but always from the heart of a Loving Father. Jesus knows our pain, He cried out to His Father begging for another way, but in the end, He did the will of His Father. Let us do the same. We may not like the path set before us, it may look dark and scary. But He who knows best what will light our way! He'll give us the strength, and walk there beside us. He will deliver my healing! I can count on Him! He is ever loving, and ever faithful!

P.S. The surgery was not finished due to "equipment malfunction." What the doctors couldn't fix, God totally healed!

Jesus, I thank You that You purchased my healing. That by Your stripes I have been healed!

11

Jesus My Everything

Jesus, I thank you for your shed blood. When I needed redemption, you were the Sacrifice in my place.  
Jesus, I thank you for your love. When I was unloved and lonely, you were the Lover of my soul.  
You were the bridegroom and your Father chose me as your bride.  
Jesus, I thank you for your strength. When I was weak and weary, you were the Mighty Warrior King,  
Captain of the host of heaven, and you rescued me.  
Jesus, I thank you for your Word. When I was lost and living in darkness, you were the Light that brightened my day and enlightened my future.  
Jesus, I thank you for your peace. When I was tossed on every wave, you stilled the storm and calmed my heart.  
Jesus, I thank you for your forgiveness. When I stumbled and fell, you picked me up, and were a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  
Jesus, I thank you for your gentleness. When I came to you broken and bent, you were the Master Potter who remade me into a vessel of honor.

12

Yes, No, Wait

God answers prayer. Always! Though not always the way we want, or in the time we want. When we ask God and He gives a "YES," we get real excited! When we get a "NO," it is a little harder to hear, but we know we can change our plans and count on His Faithfulness to carry us through. (As long as we trust His answer and don't run to ten people to get their advice, really looking for a pretend "yes" from our fellow human beings). Now on the other hand, none of us like hearing "WAIT," or in my case, silence, not a "yes", not a "no", just silence. After several mistakes I have learned that silence in these situations for me, usually means "wait". I have lost patience, jumped the gun, and even gave up on getting an answer. I have begged for the yes, then even begged for a no, only to seemingly, not get an answer, or to be told to "wait." Waiting wasn't easy for me most of the time, and I still struggle now and again, but God gave us free will, and he allowed me to go my own way.

It doesn't take long to figure out when you are not in his perfect will! That is called the school of hard knocks, or a "wandering in the desert experience". Ever had one of those? Sometimes God says "yes" but we never totally trust Him. Like those other ones who wandered for forty years in their desert experience. Sometimes we ask God the wrong questions, we ask for the plan of our whole lives, and He just wants to give us our next step. Ask Him a question that can be answered by a "yes", "no", or "wait". Now, due to the fact that I have been told to "wait" several times, I do it much better. I am more confident in God. He knows what's best for me. I've screwed it up enough on my own to know that His way is always better, no matter how hard it may seem, or how long it takes to see the fruit.

Psalm 116:1-19 (KJV), "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, All men are liars. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD."

Father, You know what is best for me. Because of that, I choose Your will for my life.

13

God Cares About the Little Things

(Originally written July 2010)

God is so "involved" in my life. He proves it again and again. Yesterday, I was looking for the lyrics to some songs I had written years ago, and instead found a prophecy for myself and one for my daughter from 1995. I typed them into my new computer and printed off copies for us both. Mine talked about pretty much everything I've gone through physically, since that day and God's promise to deliver me from it all! At Church, the next week, Dr. Hohman preached about prophecy. One thing he said was, "We fight our warfare by the prophecies that have gone out before us!" No coincidence there! If I had not put the 1995 prophecy away, (I had kept it somewhere obvious for a long time, but eventually it got stuck away in a notebook) had I studied it and pondered it in my heart, I never would have lost hope a few months ago, the way that I did.

God gives us what we need! He truly does! We just have to be faithful! I have several old prophecies on tape and some more recent ones on CD. I'm gonna hunt them all down and type them up, and "rehearse them" until they are stuck in my heart! Yesterday morning, I woke up with my heart racing and stomach sick. I did not have the strength to fight, I went through the motions of rebuking and confessing, but my heart was not in it. I drifted back to sleep and when I woke up I remembered a message from a few weeks ago about prophesying over myself. I got out of bed, came downstairs, and started praying in tongues. Next, I started shouting, (yes, the first 30 seconds felt stupid, and I was thankful that my window were shut), but then something just welled up in me! I did business with my flesh! I did business with the devil, and I loved on God! I did some groaning and weeping in the Holy Spirit and when all was said and done, I had peace like a blanket over me.

Then last night at Church when asked "who wants to prophesy" I couldn't sit still! I had just experienced it, that day in such a great way in my own life! I did not have some great word, for the man I spoke over, but I was obedient! Man, did that feel good! What has God been speaking over you? What did he promise in the past? Maybe you've never had a personal prophecy over yourself...well open your Bible, find some promises of God, and declare them over your life!

What do you want changed in your life? Rom 4:17-18 (NKJV), "in the presence of Him whom he believed — God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;"

We need to call into existence what we need! Don't speak about your debt, call forth finances! God said, "wealth and riches are in my house!" Don't complain about your physical symptoms! Call forth Divine Health! God says, "By the stripes of Jesus' back I have been healed!" Call forth what is not, as though it is! Let's be honest, we don't have that much more time left on this earth, we need everything God has for us to be a light unto a dying world, to walk in the abundance God wants for us so that we can help the needy, and to stand and having done all to stand therefore! I'm still learning, thank God! Every day He brings me up higher and higher! Won't you allow Him to do the same for you?

God, help me to hide Your word in my heart, not just to keep me from sin, but so I can stand on and declare Your promises for me.

14

Consider David

I love reading the Psalms. Many of which were written by David. He is a "Man after God's own heart" according to God himself-mine too. David is real in his worship to the Lord. He isn't perfect and tells us all about his faults, fears and sin. After committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband (along with several other soldiers) murdered, he writes Psalms 51, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love: according to your great compassion blot out my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." He remembers his days as a simple shepherd boy in Ps. 23, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters."

David lets us know when things got tough for him, Ps. 69, "Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters and a flood overflows me. I am weary with my crying, my throat is parched; my eyes fail while I wait for my God," and then David always hopes, expects and declares God's salvation, "O God, in thy greatness of thy loving-kindness answer with thy saving truth."

David may have begun his life as a simple seventh son of a shepherd, but his heart of thanksgiving, his desire to see God, his determination to magnify the Lore, were all things that God could use. Was David perfect? Obviously no, ask his multiple wives, his concubines, his children...but God used David mightily. He wrote songs and praises to his God. He conquered the enemies of God as a mighty warrior, and he ruled as King over God's people for 40 years.

Another lesson to learn from David, he didn't work his way to the top. He humbly watched his father's sheep and when asked came and sat at the feet of Saul, who was tormented by evil spirits, to play his harp and bring relief to his king. Before he fought his first real battle, (if you disregard the lion, bear and the Giant, Goliath), God anointed the simple shepherd boy with the heart of worship as King. Even after Samuel anointed David, he was content to wait for God to place him on the throne. He steadfastly refused to harm Saul in any way, contrary to the advice of his own men. He repeatedly said, "Touch not God's anointed" and even killed the messenger who came to proclaim the death of Saul and take credit for his undoing.

We are all human, including the great men and women of faith that we find in Scriptures. They feared, sinned, got weary and sad. They lost heart, friends, family and some even their lives; however like David, they loved God, and were willing to be used by him. So to me, the most important lesson to be learned from David is to keep your passion for the Lord white hot, fan the flames of love that is in your heart by praising Him, even when things aren't going as planned or as hoped for.

Father, I want to hear You say, "you are a man after my own heart." I want to hear the words, "well done."

15

End Days

This was originally written for a family member several years ago that asked this question: "What is your opinion of the days we are living in? And can you give me some scriptures." My Answer was: "I don't just want to give you a bunch of scriptures to read that you may or may not understand. God says that unless you are from His Kingdom, you can't understand His word. His Kingdom is His family, His Children. Everyone is not part of His family. Only those who have asked Jesus to come into their hearts and to be their Lord are His Children, He loves everyone! Every person is not one of His children. Believing in God isn't enough to enter the Kingdom. The bible says that demons believe and tremble, but they are not His (and defiantly not part of His kingdom). So first I must ask if you have asked Jesus to be your Lord. You don't have to do anything to earn it, just tell Him you need Him, that you are sorry for the wrong that you have done, against Him and others, and then simply ask Him for His love and forgiveness."

I'd like to share my answer to the question. I do believe there isn't too much time left on this earth. The Bible says that even Jesus doesn't know the exact hour, but I believe we can know the "season". By looking at everything that is going on in the world, I would have to say that we are in the season for Christ's return. He will be coming back for His Family and we need to be ready. If it ends up being hundreds of days or hundreds of years, we live like He is coming NOW. There are literally hundreds of scriptures that talk about His return, the last days, and what will be happening in the end. I have chosen a few for you to read. Please look them up in the Bible and read the whole chapters. Some Bible's have cross-references and they tell you where to look for the same subject. Some scriptures that talk about what will be going on in the world are: I Timothy 3:1, II Peter 3:3, Isaiah 9:2, Isaiah 58:10, and 60:2, Joel 2:31-32, Mica 7:8 Hebrews 1:2. It would benefit you to read the whole chapter of Matthew 24.

My favorite "end times" verse is Revelation 3:10-12 (Holman Christian Standard Bible), "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name."

Then to give you even more hope and security read all of Psalms 23 and Psalms 91! God will take care of those that are His! He loves us more than we love our own children! And more than our parents love us. I hope this was helpful. Just remember one thing, the world may be bad and scary, but God is good!

Two great books on this subject are: "Understanding the End Times" by Bob Yandian and "Prophetic Guide to the end times" by Derek Prince.

Lord, You are good. Your mercy and love flow in abundance to those who belong to You. Thank You that you will never leave me nor forsake me.

16

My Heart

Some of us are afraid to give our hearts to God, or at least our "whole heart." We have this silly notion that our heart has compartments or pieces like a jig saw puzzle. Then we think "if I give my whole heart to God, what will I have left for my family?" or worse yet, "If I give my love away, and don't get any back, then those compartments will be empty, and I'll run out of love!" We picture our hearts like a puzzle with missing pieces, just giving parts of it here and there and never getting them back. Or perhaps we have had our hearts broken and feel like it has been shattered, and the broken shards are scattered to the wind. God showed me a wonderful picture today of my heart and the truth about my heart!

God said, "Give me your whole heart, and I will tear down all walls and dividers. No longer will your heart have compartments, it will be one big open vessel. Then I will pour in My Love! I will fill the vessel with My Love. Then when you start loving others, not expecting anything in return, it stops being a vessel and becomes a spring! A spring that never runs dry! Then your love for others will be from this source and it will be more pure and strong than what you have now!"

If your heart has been broken, He can put it back together, or even better, create a brand new heart for you. Accept HIS LOVE and He will make your heart a Spring of Living Water. Why does God want our hearts? God said in Romans 2, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" and in 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, and his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."

When we accept God's love and give it to others, we show the goodness of God! When we give Him our whole heart, holding nothing back, we accept more readily everything He has for us. He blesses our socks off, and then we can bless others! When we can love, whether they ever love us back, it shows God's goodness! Give God your heart! He loves you! He wants nothing less, and is not satisfied with only part of us. He wants all of your heart.

God, I choose to give my heart to You, fully and without reservation. For you are trustworthy.

17

Today's Joy

I had to ask myself today, "Do I have joy in my life?" Not happiness, which is a fickle friend, but that inner joy in my spirit. You know the joy that has absolutely nothing to do with our circumstances. My honest answer is "not as often as I should", and some days, (especially lately, as our family is going through a trail), I have to admit, "not very often." It is so easy to allow the mundane experiences of our lives, or the frustrating circumstances chase away our joy. But, if joy isn't dependent on our circumstances, then how does that happen? I believe it is when we lose our gratitude. It's easy to take our eyes off of Jesus and put them on our problems, especially if those around us are hurting. Or to simply lose patience with our dreams because they seem so slow in coming.

Even in the midst of hard situations, we can maintain a thankful heart. Sometimes we get stuck in the 'thank-you-for" rut where we rattle off our tiny list, you know the same one every time. Mine includes hubby, kids, grandkids, food I eat, house, cars and Church, or pretty close. That just shows we are either in a hurry, or can't see past our nose. When we slow down and make the effort to be thankful, we can see so many things, people, places that touch our lives. A few examples: a babies smile, doesn't even have to by your baby, any baby smiling, the smell of lilacs on a damp spring morning. Then there are those things that we really aren't too thankful for. This category is hard for me, shoveling snow, giving the dog a bath, dealing with that one person who rubs me the wrong way. Yes, we need to be thankful for those things. God has a purpose and a plan for our lives, and part of that plan is for us to work hard, love people, be a witness at our jobs.

It seems like the last few months, my family has been under it. Most due to some poor choices of one family member and the rest either come along with the territory, or just because we have a real enemy. So though it's been tough, I have still been able to find joy in the middle of it all. If I was a spiritual superhero, I could say I held onto my joy the whole time, but sadly I am not. I can say that I know right where to find it. Because in all truthfulness, despite what I said earlier, nothing can chase or steal our joy away. We lay it down, sometimes absentmindedly, like a spare pair of reading glasses. Psalms 16:11, "You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand there are pleasured for evermore." We find our joy in the presence of God. Simple really. Sometimes we willingly lay down our joy to trade it for fleeting happiness or satisfaction. Usually that comes out of willful sin, which includes harboring bitterness, and nursing un-forgiveness. We lay down our joy when we disobey God.

How do we hold on to our joy? By being thankful, a heart full of gratitude. When we keep our minds fixed on Jesus, His promises, His goodness, and remember those who have gone before us, we can keep that unspeakable joy in our lives. Hebrews 12:1-3 (KJV), "therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrances and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and love heart."

Father, I fix my eyes on You. I set my face like flint! I will not turn to the left or the right. Your joy is my strength for this day!

18

Worldly Love

Worldly love is backwards.

Yep, backwards. When we love someone in the natural the more we get to know them, the more intimate we become, the more comfortable we get. The good side is that we can be ourselves. The bad side is that familiarity breeds disrespect. We love our parents, spouses, sibling, children and friends. Most of those we spend at least 18 years living in the same home! We have seen "the good, the bad and the ugly!" Because of that we begin to take them for granted, maybe loose respect and lots of times judge them on their faults, frailties and failures. Hopefully, we continue to love (after all love is a choice).

God spoke to me this week and said, "Don't love Me like you love them." I got the reason why, because worldly love is very shallow and I know He wants more, but I was stumped. Finally, I asked Him, how do I love You different than I love my family. (This is where the backwards part comes in), He said, "Get more intimate with me"...after that I had the whole "WHAT???" going thru my mind. In His vast patience, He explained. In drawing closer to God, thru prayer, praise, His word, fellowshipping, etc. we get to know Him better. This however can never breed disrespect! There is no "bad and ugly" with Him only the "GOOD!" The more we know Him, the more we respect Him, stand in awe of Him, and the more we want to discover and know about Him. The great part is no matter how long we know Him, we never really know Him. There is more to find out, and we can still be ourselves! In the world, we begin to finish each other's sentences; can pretty much predict the next word and behavior, but not with God.

When you think you have Him figured out, He'll do something amazing! I have decided to do what He has asked, to get to know Him better, but also to try and love "them" the way I love God.

Romans 8:28 (ESV,) "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Lover of My Soul

Lover of my soul,  
what mortal man can compare to thee?  
Thou who has shed  
thy life's blood for me.

Leave not my side,  
nor hide thy face from me.  
Stay, evermore,  
by my side for eternity.

Take this corruptible flesh,  
and clothe me in immortality.  
Oh, lover of my soul,  
What mortal man can compare to thee?

19

The Creator of the Universe

God made it all, including you! Every speck, every square inch of matter. He spoke it all into existence. Why did He create it? For you! For me. He made everything that was made for a purpose and that purpose was love. I don't pretend to know why He made some things (there are some nasty, creepy critters out there). And I do know that since the fall things have gone considerable downhill. I was pondering on all of this the other day and the enemy quoted scripture to me, "He said He made it all for His pleasure." Same old lie from the Garden. Just as quickly the Holy Spirit replied, "True! It always pleases the Father to bless those He loves!"

He finds pleasure in giving us everything. He gave us His Son. He gave us His Kingdom. What more could we ever want or need? What more could the world, or Satan ever do for us? They would both shed our blood, but never pour out their own! So, look past the twisted, fallen state of things the way they are now under Satan's rule, see the original beauty of creation. You can still see glimpses in the Rocky Mountains, the pictures sent back from Hubble, a baby's smile, a flower, it's there. Next time you see a sunset, a rainbow, pure white snow-covered landscape, thank Him for making it all for you.

How can we honor God and His gift? Walk in the authority and dominion that He gave us. Sure Adam sold out to the enemy, but Jesus paid a great price to purchase it, legally, back again! Then, He left it to us as our inheritance when He died. He didn't stop there; He rose again, and sent us His Spirit to give us the strength and to lead us on this path of victory. Don't let Satan steel back what God has purchased! Take what God has given, with a thankful heart! It's yours.

Ephesians 2:4-6 (NIV), "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."

Lord, I choose to walk in my authority as a child of the king!

20

God's Comfort

Can I be honest? We all have our moments, those days when we wonder why we even got out of bed. When all the news seem bad, at worst, and less than what we hoped for, at best. What do we do with those moments? Usually, I have a good cry (I said I was being honest). My day was like that today. Not the whole day, but enough to get the tears flowing. Then, when I got home and walked into my kitchen, there was a big piece of paper on my fridge that said: Hebrew 6:9-12, "But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

A message right from the Comforter! Sure, I am the one who printed it off and stuck it on my fridge, but I had originally printed it off for a friend who is facing a challenge this year, but decided "what the heck" and printed an extra copy for myself. God knew I would need it today.

Then my Daily Devotional said, "Trust in Him at all times." (Psalm 62)

We can't change some things. Period. But we can change how we react, and how we see things. I've had my cry, a short one this time, now I am choosing to see things through the eyes of my loving Father. I choose to accept the comfort of the Holy Spirit, who does His job well. I choose to "rely simply and entirely upon the Lord at all times," especially those moments that are hard. Amen?

Father, I place myself in Your capable hands. I have confidence in Your love and ability.

21

What Do We Do With Rejection?

Rejection...we've all experienced it at one time or another. Sometimes it was intentional, other times we may have only perceived rejection when that wasn't the intent, but it all feels the same. As a writer, I have had some of my work rejected, criticized and sneered at. I have to admit it hurt much more than the 'in crowd's' rejection in my school days. Even in the fleeting moments when I was part of that crowd, there always seemed to be something lacking in me that others would point out (my curly hair when straight was in, my love for books, my bushy eyebrows, etc). What do we do with that rejection? I used to tuck it away, sometimes daydreaming about 'being someone' great and showing them all how wrong they were about me. Sometimes it would creep back out in the dark hours of night and haunt me, it's amazing how even at thirty or forty, some cruel words or actions from your childhood can keep you up at night.

Now, I give any rejection I feel to God. My strategy wasn't working, obviously. He knows rejection..." He was rejected by men"; I even rejected Him for a season. One of my favorite scriptures is Ephesians 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved." His work made us acceptable and accepted. If God accepts us, does it really matter what anyone else thinks? I have noticed that the more I know Him, and accept His love, the more confident I become, and the more confident I become the less rejection I feel. Oh, sure, it is probably still there at times, but I don't feel it. It doesn't affect me. I've also come to realize that everyone isn't going to like me, or my art, or writing, etc. (I know, big surprise!), just like I don't enjoy every book, piece of art, pair of shoes, etc. For those that are just being mean, well...first of all I tend to think 'they'll reap what they sow', and more frequently I pray for them. As for the rest of those who I thought were rejecting me, they probably had no intention of making anyone feel that way.

As a writer and crafts-person/artist, I have to be especially careful when someone is trying to give constructive criticism. My stories and creations are like my children and sometimes I feel like that mother bear protecting her cubs. However, if I ignore all healthy criticism, I will be the only one enjoying my work. We also have to be careful about how we feel about God's 'corrective criticism' I hesitate to even use that word in association with God. He truly never criticizes, but don't be fooled, He does correct and chastise. Aren't we His work of art? He wants others to enjoy us as well.

Lord, help me to take correction and constructive criticism well. I will not be on the defensive and will show others the grace You have shown me.

22

Hope For Us

We as a whole are lacking in hope. We run through our lives busy as bees, but instead of working to bring life, we are working at self satisfaction. We see so many people who supposedly have it all, that are killing themselves with drugs, alcohol, and loose living. I have noticed over the past several years that there has been an increase in the media, books and movies about the paranormal and superheroes. My theory is that we lack heroes. I know there are plenty to be found, everyday, normal people to do extraordinary things for the good of others, but they are few and far between, at least from what we can see in the media. We have a need to know that there is someone out there who can fly in and save the world, who can free us from the evil that runs rampant.

I think for some of the same reasons we have seen an increase in the genre of paranormal. Sure some are just plain horror stories, that only frighten and horrify us, and I think those are part of the evil around us, but there are some that I think are a shadow of what we need and hope for as a society. When I read the 'Twilight' series, which I did enjoy, I thought about this at length. Edward, the vampire, considers himself a 'monster', his whole 'family' doesn't behave like the other vampires, but live by a code of ethics that isn't normal for their kind. They don't harm humans and the father figure is a doctor. I think that if we look past the whole love triangle and the shallow parts that young girls adored, we see the need to know that even if we are 'monsters' we can be redeemed and loved. We had a huge amount of vampire stories stream into the media after the success of this one story, but they all lacked the background story of fighting against the evil in our own hearts and lives.

Why do I think we so need to hear that there is a superhero out there, or that we can overcome the evil inside of us? Because we have a hero, on the scale of super-super, that died for us so that the evil inside of us is made into something good and right. He swept in, not on a web, or with cape flying, but in a manger, as a man, in our weakness and our frailty, and fully depended on the un-ending love of His Father, to give him the strength to live supernaturally, and to free us from the chains of evil that bound us.

So, you know, I do love superhero movies, and stories like Twilight, to me they are a shadow of what is really happening. They show us that we can't do it ourselves, that we need someone better than we are to help us and to show us the way. God can do that. He already did.

Psalm 46:1 " _God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."_

Jesus, You are my hero, my knight in shining armor. Thank you for rescuing me.

23

What Does God Want?

Really, what does He want?

You could ask dozens of people and get dozens of different answers. Those answers would range from- obedience, praise and worship, money (tithes and offerings), time, energy, loyalty, attention, commitment, and the list could go on. All of those things are true, but doesn't that make God sound like some ego-maniacal dictator who lounges on a throne demanding attention and glory? Who wants that for a Father?

Simply put, God wants you. I know cliché. But He wants your heart. He asks all of those other things from you because those things benefit us. Let's break this down a little. God doesn't need your money, but He asks us to give 10% (tithe for the running of the Church and the support of the staff) and offerings (to help others), because He knows that "if we give, it will be given back to us". (Luke 6:38). Also when we give to God, He promises to "Open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing" (Mal 3:10). God wants us to praise Him because praise "stills the enemy and the avenger" (Ps 8:2), it makes Satan shut up and stops his actions against us. He asks us to work because He works with us (I Cor. 3:9). He doesn't sit while we work, in fact "He works while we wait." We work because the Church toilets need cleaning and those little noses in nursery need wiping. Those things bring us together as a family.

God **is** love! He doesn't just possess, show, or talk about love, He **is** love. It is the very nature of God (I John 4:7). That's why He loves everyone. He loves the drug addict, the prostitute, the serial killer, the child molester, everyone! But don't be deceived they are not His children, or part of His family. His children are the ones who have surrendered their lives to Him. Those are the ones he promises to take care of. Because He is love and He wants all to be His children, He asks us to work together with Him to build His family. He doesn't want this love to remain one sided. What does it benefit them if He loves them, but they never experience love for Him? Those others who have Satan as their father (and they don't even know it), they need to be reached. They need to know God's love. How can they be reached if we aren't co-laboring with Christ?

Our 'work' for God, those things all mentioned in the first paragraph, and any other thing God may have asked of us, should come out of our love for God. If they are coming out a sense of obligation, duty or fear, the motivation is wrong. Even worse if they are coming out of self-righteousness and pride, it's going to be harmful to you instead of helpful. What motivates your work? It's easy to "grow weary in well doing" (Gal. 6:9) if we have the wrong attitude. I know I've been there. I've screamed in my head, "What do you want from me!" on more than one occasion. I had allowed the thoughts to take root in my heart that I was doing so much for him already, but that somehow that wasn't enough, that He was demanding more. That I was lacking. Those are just a bunch of ugly lies, God doesn't demand, we have a choice. At my worst moments of fear, illness, weakness and depression, God patiently reminded me that He loved me, that He wasn't asking for a slave (being forced), but that He wanted a daughter who served from a heart of thankfulness and love. I had gone back to Egypt (slavery) when He wanted me in the Promised Land (a place of rest, provision and peace).

God showed His love for us through the ugliness and the shame on the cross. Jesus not only poured out His life's blood on that tree, but also His great love and longing for us.

When we know Him, (not know about Him with our reasoning mind, but know Him intimately in our hearts), we understand what He wants. He wants a relationship with Him, two way conversations, and fellowship. He wants us to spend time with Him, not in work or service but in relationship. Get these pictures in your head. First, think about how you feel when your child obediently cleans their room, to the best of their ability. Now think of your little one sitting on your lap, with each of their little hands on either side of your face, looking into your eyes, and saying "I love you". Which one touches you more?

Sure their room needs cleaned and we have to teach them responsibility, it's for their own good after all (sounding familiar?), but first we want their love. The Church needs cleaning, bills need to be paid, and the lost need to be reached. But **first** and most importantly we need to accept God's love for us, and love Him back, build a better relationship with Him. We don't do that by work, but by sitting in His lap. All of those other things will get done and with the right motivation. Sounds easier, freer, and way more fun!

**Jeremiah 31:3 "Yes I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you."**

**Father, I lay down all my plans for this day, all my lists and chores, and right now I just want to be with you.**

**24**

**Not Incomplete**

Why do we as humans try to add to the work of Christ? Or why do we want to keep dragging Him back to the cross to re-crucify Him, as if the one time wasn't enough? Charles Spurgeon says, "There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in Him alone." Jesus Himself declared, "And the one sitting on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true: It is finished!" (Rev 21:5-6) Jesus told John to even write it down, so that he would always remember and so that we would have these words forever!

John shows us again in John 19:30 the scene of the cross stating, "So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." What God Himself has declared as FINISHED, can we declare incomplete? Sometimes I think we must all be crazy! How patient the Father is.

God gave me a picture of my frustrated efforts in the past. When I had been calling out to Jesus to 'DO SOMETHING'. It was a half comical movie of a woman with the emaciated version of Christ (the way the old renaissance paintings portray Him, skinny and weak). He was lying on the ground, with the white loin cloth, rolling His eyes to heaven, while this woman had Him by the wrist, dragging Him back to the cross. In her other hand she held a big spike! I had to laugh and said to myself, 'how stupid"! Then God showed me her face! Yep, it was me! I didn't even have to ask Him to explain. I got it. I know I am not the only one...admit it we've all been there at least once. But I am determined not to "crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame". (Heb 6:6 NKJV)

The work of the cross is not incomplete. We do not have to 'earn it'! There is no work that we can do that is greater than what He already did! Jesus is not a man that He should lie! He said it is finished! Stand on that!

Jesus, You did it all! There is nothing left to do, but accept the finished work. I choose to accept.

25

God Stretches Us

James 1:4 (KJV), "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

God stretches us...and I really don't enjoy the experience! I know it is good for me, but...not fun. Several years ago I took a visit to my past. Went to Washington where I spent my high school and early adult years. I love to see my family, but there is so much junk from my past that feels right "in my face." I think this time I finally buried the "old me" there. Left her in Washington! I spent way too much time re-living my past, and finally God reminded me that those memories belonged to someone else! Who I am now is a "new creation" who I was then has been crucified, and is dead and buried. A stretching time.

On the way home from that visit, our car broke down. Hadn't even made it half way! Stuck in Butte, Montana, where it was 100 degrees, and dusty (the people were so very nice and helpful). Spent two days there, pretty stressful, looking for a way home, without giving our car away. God came through and we made it back, after a long 24 hour drive straight through, in an unfamiliar truck, towing our car, no bed, no bath and we all were stretched.

My husband called it an "adventure." The same word he used one spring when our kid's car broke down on the way to their vacation in Florida, and he went with truck and dolly to pick them up. (We had more than our share of car problems that year). He said to me while our daughter was sleeping in the back seat of the big truck, "we've had lots of adventures in our marriage, and we made it through them all. We still have each other and we have God!"

Stretching has been good for us. Ten years ago, my wonderful husband would have 'lost it', ranted and raved, and been totally mad at the world, now he teases and gives God the glory. Stretching has mellowed him. Ten years ago, I would have panicked and had some anxiety attacks, maybe cried and got emotional. Stretching has strengthened me. God is faithful and He has always brought us through every "adventure". Until I am made perfect, I'll be stretched. I am determined to give way and be elastic, not to be brittle and bitter and to snap like an old rubber band.

Who will I be when I am done? More like Him... more grown up, better and more beautiful!

Father, make me more like Jesus!

26

God's Unconditional Love

At the age of 6, I was invited to an after school children's outreach at a friend's home. It was there that this beautiful Latino woman, via flannel board, showed me my black heart, and God's love for me, and how His love could clean my heart. I was a child that craved love more than anything else. I wanted to be "special" to someone. His love drew me that very day, and I accepted Him into my heart. My life has been set on a coarse for Heaven every since. There were years of backsliding, and living for the world, and my flesh, but always His love would draw me home.

At the age of 18, in one of my darkest times, Jesus came and visited me in my sleep. We walked on the banks of the Jordan, talking for hours, and He saved me from thoughts of suicide that I had been harboring. I'd like to say my life changed immediately the next day...but it took two more years to turn things around. I rededicated my life while pregnant with my daughter. After we almost lost her to a miscarriage, we returned to the only source of life, our Father God. We have lived for Him these past 29 years, not always perfectly, rarely in fact, but His love continues to strengthen, and rescue me! God's love is amazing.

He has many things in store for us, but all are conditional, except one. His blessings, healings and abundance are all conditional on our beliefs and on us receiving them. His salvation is conditional on our admittance of our sin, and our need for Him. Forgiveness is conditional, on our repentance, our call, on the condition of our willingness to be used. The list goes on. He has so much He wants to do for us and to give us, but all depend on something from us. Then there is His love. We can't earn it. He loved us before we knew Him, before we ever said "I do" to Him. We can't lose it, or every time we got angry with Him, questioned or doubted Him, He would have forsaken us.

God loves people, good people, bad people, sinners and saints alike. Jesus knew who would betray Him, yet He called Judas and loved him, and treated him like every other disciple. God's love was so great; He sacrificed Himself to redeem us from the earth cursed system. Rom 8:37-39 (NIV), "No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below — there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord."

Come to His love today; let it keep you in this evil day. Let it give you hope. Take strength from His unfailing love.

Father, I run to Your arms of love today! There I will be safe and secure, confident in Your unfailing affection.

27

Pass-Fail

I've often wondered about "tests" by God. Some religions believe that God "tests the hearts of men" to see if they will be true to Him. I always had a problem with that. God is omniscient; He knows everything, all the time. He knows...all at the same time... the past, present and future. He knows the thoughts and intents of men's hearts. He knows the beginning from the end. So, He knows our hearts better than we do. He doesn't just "read" our minds. He knows what we are going to think, before the thought comes into our head! So my conclusion is the "testing" isn't for His benefit, so He can find something out about us. I think the trials and tests help US to discover things about HIM, (and ourselves).

1 Peter 1:7 (NLT), says, "These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it-and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return." God knows how much faith I have, so this scripture is telling me that these trials are to show me how much faith I have, or don't have.

Each trial I have gone through has taught me more about the Father. Coming through financial problems showed me how much He wants to provide for me. When I stumble, I find out how much He loves me and that He is quick to forgive. When I come through an illness, I know Him as Healer. I am so glad that God is NOT grading my "tests"! Just think if He was like a school teacher. I used to give grades to my pupils to determine their grasp or their understanding of the subject, whether or not they have paid attention in class, studied their information, and their effort put forth. If they have done well and mastered the information I give them an "A"! If they didn't make the effort, or didn't pay attention, refused to read the information that I presented to them, they earn a lower score, sometimes an "F" for FAIL. God gives us what is known as a "Pass/Fail". Even if we haven't really paid attention (in church, or to the Holy Spirit), even if we don't read our information (God's Word), even if we don't study (Pray in tongues, or praying at all) as much as we should, we can still "Pass" the test. Of course some people do fail. They forsake God and turn back to the world for answers.

I love taking Tests in the natural, always have. Love to learn new things. But in the spiritual, if I got to vote, I'd say no to tests. If God had been giving me letter grades, based on my performance, I believe they would have been maybe some "B's", several "C's" and unfortunately a lot "D's"! I've never failed. Praise God for His patience and grace! But I've never earned an "A". Talk about an embarrassing report card! But these tests have "purified" me, helped me to draw closer to Him. To rely on God. I have learned how important it is to listen, pray and read the word. Not as busy work, or as an obligation, but as a way of getting more intimate with God. So...am I "counting it all joy" as James said? Well maybe not all the time, sometimes I just get frustrated, but I am getting better. I won't be asking God to test me, but when He does, I will be paying attention!

God, I thank you that Your mercies are new every morning. Every day with You is a new day, a chance to please you.

28

Stop Your Grumbling

I watched a good movie, just 26 minutes about the Tabernacle. Seeing the tabernacle was cool, but a scripture jumped out at me and I had to look it up and read the whole story. It really got me thinking. Here's the story in a nut shell. Moses brought the people out of Egypt like God commanded him and along the way they grumbled and complained. It got so bad that at one point a guy named Korah and 250 of the "leaders", prominent men, started thinking they could do better than Moses and Aaron. They said, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"

Moses set up a way that would prove to them that God chooses who He wills. There was going to be a test! The 250 men were to bring incense to burn before the Lord. Then, God tells Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the people because He was going to just destroy them all! Moses pleads for the people and God tells them to, 'Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.' Next, God caused the earth to open up and swallow those men and their families. Then God sends fire and consumes the 250 leaders who had rose up against Moses and Aaron. (I think that would have been the end of the complaining, but not these stiff-necked, hard-hearted people). They continued to grumble against Moses and Aaron (God's chosen vessels!). So a plague comes, immediately, and Aaron stands between the plague and the people and only 14,700 perish. Yet, they continued to grumble against Moses and Aaron.

So, Moses sets up another test. They were to bring the staff of the head of each tribe, writing their names on the staff. Numbers 17:6-11 (NIV), shows what happened next, "So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron's staff was among them. Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony. The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD's presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his own staff. The LORD said to Moses, "Put back Aaron's staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die." Moses did just as the LORD commanded him." Not only did it bud, but flowered and PRODUCED FRUIT! Was God saying that Aaron was perfect? NO! Aaron was a human with all of our messed up ways, but Aaron was chosen of God to lead the people. I found it interesting that the ones who "rose up against" Moses and Aaron were all leaders! How many times have we seen people in leadership begin to think that they know better than the Pastor?

Now, I come to the part of the movie that got me thinking. They show all the contents of the Ark of the Covenant. Each item put there as a reminder of something. The jar of Manna was there to remember God's willingness to provide for His people. The stone tablets, a reminder of God's covenant with His people and Aaron's staff "to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die." Only three things were placed in the Ark. All very important, enough so that God wanted them preserved and handed down for generations. They are still in the Ark! This tells me how important it is that we honor and respect those that God has placed over us as our "Mother's and Father's in the Lord." We don't judge them as more than human, expect them to be perfect and without flaw! We honor the call, the anointing, the Gift! When we grumble and complain about them, God gets mad! He wanted to destroy everyone, not just the men who rose up against Moses and Aaron!

Don't allow yourself to think that someone else could do a better job, or God forbid, that you could do a better job! God chooses who He wills! If someone else wants you to jump on their wagon of "discontent," refuse! Don't even give place to the devil. Yes, he is the one, who sets our flesh on edge against our leaders. Tell him to shut-up, and crucify your flesh. Ask God where you are called to, who you are called under, and stay, support and respect His decision. Period!

God, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. I want my heart to stay soft, pliable, and teachable. Thank You for those you have put in authority over me.

29

Who is My Enemy?

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV), "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Our enemies are not made of flesh and blood. We all know that right? We've heard it preached, taught and we've read it ourselves in God's word. People are not our enemies. But, honestly, that is hard to remember at times. We can be so easily irritated by that one person (or sometimes several different people). I have found myself, more times than I am comfortable admitting to, wanting to "lay hands on" someone because of their words or actions and it had nothing to do with prayer or imparting gifts! Or as my grandson likes to say "give them a five knuckle sandwich." It's easier to see the carrier, the messenger, than the real enemy. Our enemy is Satan. He comes to only kill, steal and destroy. He and his minions are spirit and can only operate through people. My pastor uses the term, "principalities that use personalities." That person that antagonizes, manipulates, irritates, brings division and harm, is operating under the influence, and sometimes control, of an evil spirit and most of the time they aren't even aware of that fact. There are those occasions that the only enemy is our own human nature, our own flesh, but we will leave that for another day.

There have been times that we have been hurt, or worse, had to watch a loved one be crushed under abusive behavior. We have all been affected by or witness to bullying, unfair treatment, discrimination and all of those other ugly behaviors, all products of the fallen world we live in. They stem from anger, bitterness, pride, selfishness and straight from the pit of hell. So how do we keep things in perspective? How do we not lash out in anger and revenge at those who have hurt, or continue to hurt us? How do we look past the flesh and blood person and see the evil lurking behind?

First, we have to accept God's love in our lives, His love for us and His love for others, including that person who has you wanting to behave in an ungodly way. We need to renew our minds, wash it out, with God's word (Romans 12:2). When we love God's law we aren't easily offended (Psalm 119:165). When we stand on God's word, write it on the tablets of our hearts and we allow God to fill us with His love we are slow to judge and quick to forgive. Love covers a multitude of sins, so it allows us to overlook some of the behavior (Proverbs 6:12). Another way that we can overlook the flesh is to remember at one time we were just like they were. There is a reason they are called "the lost". We were unloving, backbiting, selfish children of our father, the devil.

Quite often the ones that hurt us the most are our own loved ones, family members, spouses, our Church family. Some are even professing Christians (I would say they may still have a lot of their carnal nature there, living by their senses). How do we handle that? First off, remember that they are not the enemy! If someone has offended you, we are supposed to go to them. That can be harder than asking someone to forgive you, I know. Occasionally, you will find that they never intended to hurt and didn't realize they even did. Sometimes they know they did, but refuse to admit fault or ask for forgiveness. If it's a big deal, ask for leaders to help with the situation, if it is not a major thing, just shake the dust off of your feet and move on. Forgiveness isn't an emotion, it's a choice. You choose to forgive, whether they ever admit fault or not, and let your emotions catch up. When the behavior is continued, and the relationship is toxic, forgive, but don't stay in relationship with that person. God never intended for abusive behavior to be part of a family. Sometimes we have to distance ourselves from people and their sin. Don't be a part of sinful behavior. Forgiving isn't saying what they did was acceptable or that you will allow the behavior to continue in your life. You are just letting the junk go out of your own heart and refusing to hold it against them. Forgive, but move on! Let go of the anger, hurt and pain and allow God to heal. Satan hates that. He loses the battle when you forgive.

I am not saying this is all easy! From time to time, we will all face the enemy with the face of a friend, or at least a human face. But look past that face of flesh and see the evil lurking behind. Rebuke the devil; arrest his plans in your life and the life of the person he is using. Our enemy is not a person with a different opinion, skin color, doctrine, faith or beliefs. Our enemy isn't the rapist, murderer, adulterer or even that grouchy neighbor next door. Pray for those who seem to be your enemy, the person who is being used by Satan. Pray for those who despitefully use you. Be kind to those who have the enemy working in them. This heaps coals on the head of our true enemy. Love the un-loveable. Forgive those who have hurt you. Our enemy is spirit and must be fought with spiritual weapons. We use God's word. How does he feel about that person, the situation, your reaction? Use the blood of Jesus. Plead the blood over your life and the life of that person who has hurt you. Testify of God's goodness. What He is doing, has done, how He feels about you, and how much He loves you. Praise God, it stills the enemy and the avenger (makes him shut up and stop his attack.) Be slow to judge and quick to forgive. Satan hates that as well.

You'll see it all gets easier. You'll find yourself hurt and offended less. Your patience with people will be greater and your love stronger. Relationships will be restored. Families and Churches will have less division. We will be more careful of how we treat others. Life's too short to hold grudges and allow bitterness to take over our lives. When we do that, Satan wins the battle and gains ground. None of us want that. The person you once saw as your worst enemy might just end up being a brother or sister in Christ. God wants that. He doesn't like their behavior any more than you do...but He loves them. He wants them found and accepted into the beloved.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV), "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that your may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. There for take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with the truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness. And having shod you feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

Jesus, had I been the only person alive, You still would have died for me, but it isn't only me. You died for everyone! I pray for their salvation.

30

The Joy Set Before Us

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom 14:17) As Christians our joy should be "full." We should have "joy unspeakable". So, why are so many Christians living short of that promise? Many of us look for that joy sometime in the distant future when we leave this earth by either rapture or death. We think our lot in life is to suffer and live in misery waiting on the promise. Some believers substitute the true joy of the Lord with self-righteousness or false humility, getting a fake joy out of their performances. Even this doesn't last; they soon can't keep the performance up and fall into shame and guilt. Others give up completely and turn to the world and fulfill lusts that bring only temporary happiness and never joy.

Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus found joy in what was "set before him", joy that allowed him to suffer on the cross. What was that joy? I believe it was the salvation of the world- saving of lost souls, the reconciling of all back to the Father. Only one thing could have kept him from receiving that joy, and that would have been giving in to his flesh. Satan tempted Jesus to do just that, a way contrary to God's plan, but Jesus refused.

We too have to crucify our flesh. We talk about how the Jews, the Centurions, Rome and even ourselves, killed Jesus. All are true. However, Jesus performed the true Crucifixion (of his flesh) in the Garden... before a soldier ever touched a spike. He cried out to the Father in his hour of flesh sweating blood in his battle! In the end, HE crucified his flesh by saying, "not my will, Father, but yours." Jesus received his joy! He chose to receive it! We do the crucifying, with God's strength and help, and God gives us the joy! That joy is in conquering sin in our lives and leading others to Jesus. If Jesus' joy was in the saving of souls, shouldn't ours be too?

Time is winding down. Can't you feel how it is flying by! Are you crucifying your flesh, ridding your life of sin? Are you feeding your spirit with The Word? Are you building yourself up with your heavenly language? When the "shaking" begins, will you be able to stand? Are you "planting, watering and harvesting" souls? True revival is a heart hot on fire, in love, with God. But it is also the burning desire to see others come to the Father. Revival won't happen without both. Where is your heart today?

Hebrews 12:1-27 (NIV), "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees."

Father, help me to see Your joy. To live and walk in it every day.

31

Consider Solomon

Solomon was given the royal title of King. He wasn't his father, King David's, firstborn son. He was the son of Bathsheba. David and Bathsheba committed adultery while she was married to Uriah the Hittite. David had him murdered in battle and married Solomon's mother. David and Bathsheba conceived a son in their sin. After the man of God corrects David and he repents, the child dies. Then along comes Solomon.

David's desire was to build a house for God. But due to his "bloody hands" and because he was a "man of war", God couldn't allow it. In his place, Solomon spent seven years with literally hundreds of thousands of men to build the temple, using the finest stones, lumber and precious metals. If you read I Kings and II Chronicles you can see the splendor. David designed it. Solomon built it.

When Solomon was to become King, God asked him to ask for whatever he wanted. As a new young King, with big shoes to fill, he asked for wisdom to rule the people. God was so pleased that He gave him the wisdom as well as riches and honor. In all time, Solomon was the wisest and richest man ever to live. A great beginning.

So what happened after his coronation and the building of the temple that takes us to Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, Where he exclaims "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the teacher. "Utterly Meaningless! Everything is meaningless."

I believe chapter 11 of I Kings explains the heart of the matter. "Solomon loved many foreign women." It's not just that he married them, when it was forbidden by God, "You must not intermarry with them, because they surly will turn your hearts after their Gods." No, the real issue was his heart. He "held fast to them in love." And sure enough, "as Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to God, as the heart of David, his father had been" (verses 1-5). He ended up following other gods, including Molech who demanded they sacrifice their children by fire.

It's pretty simple, really. God knows what is best for us. When we listen, things are good. When we don't things aren't so good. Sure bad things happen to all of us; after all we live in a fallen world that is under Satan's control. But do you want to face them alone, or go through them with God on your side. It's kind of a no-brainer.

What do you love more than God? Who do you love more than God? You might not have 700 wives and 300 mistresses but what takes your attention away from Him? What comes first? Whatever it is, you better get your priorities straightened out. Otherwise you'll end up like Solomon screaming, "Meaningless! Meaningless!" We've all been there, hind-sight and all of that, thinking "that was a waste". Solomon went from dedicating the temple where God showed up in such a way, physically, that the priests couldn't even stand in his presence, to building places of worship for false gods, and he was the wisest man ever...

I like to think that I am pretty smart. I like to think that I have a pretty good relationship with God. However, if Solomon in all of his wisdom and glory could fall so far...

Priorities. We all love our families, our Churches, our hobbies, interests, some of us our jobs, etc, but we need to love God best, or as my granddaughter used to say "the most-est". Now, we don't do that by "working" ourselves up like an actress getting ready to film the big love scene. Instead, it's something we work at, and work towards. Build a relationship that nothing else can replace or compare to. Choose God, first and foremost.

By the way, Solomon recognized his error and set his priorities straight, but how much time was wasted? What kind of example did he set for his son's who were destined to rule? Read the rest of Kings and Chronicles. Things didn't work out too well for his descendants, most of whom "did evil in the sight of the Lord". What example do you want to leave?

Lord, help me to prioritize my life according to Your plans and purposes for me.

32

Am I Judging?

I have been thinking about this subject a lot lately. Some good meaning friends and family members have repeatedly said, "I don't judge," or "Who am I to judge." Of course some of them even quote Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, that you be not judged." I understand what they are getting at. We surely shouldn't be overly concerned about the toothpick in someone else's eye, when we have a telephone pole sticking out of our own. However, did not God mean for us to just "be and let be?"

First, we have to ask ourselves what our purpose in this life really is. One of our purposes for a born again believer, a follower of Christ, is to bring people into God's family and help them grow and develop once they are accepted into the beloved. I think we can all agree about that. We want people to be healthy and happy. So now let's take a look at a natural thing to shed some light on the spiritual. If you had a brother or sister who began to look unhealthy, for example their skin began to turn green and ooze with pus, would you ignore it and say, "I'm not in perfect health so how can I judge what color skin a healthy person should have," or, "I'm not a doctor, who am I to judge."

Ok, so that sounds a bit silly. Wouldn't we all try our best to convince them that there is help and hope for their recovery! Now, let's flip that to the spiritual. You have a brother or sister who begins to slip, maybe even sin...Would you not want to point out to them that they are heading down the wrong road, that there is help and hope for them? We can't get all holier than thou about judgment.  
In a good message about spiritual warfare, by our Senior Pastor, William Hohman, he put it this way (more or less): "conviction and condemnation feel the same."

The difference is condemnation (or some would say judgment) says, "you are wrong, you are in sin, you are going down, you are bad and going to hell," while conviction (Godly judgment) says, "you may be doing wrong, but turn from your sin and your life will be better, God still loves you and there is hope for you." Can you see the difference? We don't want to condemn people. That's what Matthew 7:1 means. Even Jesus said he came not to condemn the world.

Our days left here are getting shorter. God loves everyone and want them all to belong to his family. In Luke 11:23, Jesus says, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me Scatters." How can we help those who need Christ if we aren't willing to tell them that they have a need? Can we generically tell people God is good, God is love but not say God is Holy, God is just? Sin is sin people. Turning our heads or hiding our eyes from wrong in someone's life doesn't help them.

They key is our motivation. If you just want to go around and tell people how to clean up their lives and not work on your own, then you are a Pharisee and Jesus told them they were whitewashed graves. Work at getting and keeping your own life right with God, but in Love and in Jesus name, tell people when they are wrong. I can't help thinking about so many people that have fallen away because nobody wanted to confront their wrong thinking before it turned into wrong behavior. They won't always listen, and you'll hear "Don't judge me," more than you'll want to, but somebody has to do it.

Next time someone tells you, "I don't judge," you can say, "Neither do I, but I do warn people about the road they are on, so that they can have better."  
More scriptures about judging (you can judge yourself if all judging is wrong):

John 7:24 (ESV), "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

I Corinthians 6:1-5 (KJV), "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world, and if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters. Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the Church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?"

I Corinthians 5:1-3 (NIV), "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the gentiles-that a man has his father's wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has done this deed."

Jesus, I choose not to condemn others. I also choose to warn others when a warning is needed. I will point them to You, the One who can bring them to the Father.

33

Who I Am

Who I am is not who I was and who I am is not who I will be.

I used to hate change of pretty much any kind, a new job, new school, new church...they all caused me to panic. I am much better now. Sometimes, I even look forward to it, but mostly I want stability. I always have. Growing up I lacked what I called "roots." We moved... a lot. I attended five grade schools, a middle school and three high schools. I lived in eleven different homes. No, I was not a military brat, a runaway or in foster care. We just kept "moving up." When things got better for us financially, when my parents pay scale went up, we moved to a better rental and eventually built our own home. Then my parents started their own business, on the other side of the state, and we moved across the mountains of Washington. So, though I never really thought about it at the time, I know now that it contributed to my lack of security.

Amazingly, I married a wanna-be gypsy, a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of man (God knew what I needed!). I am a more plan-for-a-month-before-you-do-anything kind of woman, proving opposites attract. Since my husband and I have been together, thirty years, we have lived in fourteen homes. Most of them were homes we remodeled and sold for a profit. We've lived in five different towns in three different states. Thankfully, we spent fifteen of those years in one home, and attended the same church for thirteen years.

Over the years, I have learned that God and my husband are my roots. I am "rooted and grounded Him." So now, as I am literally pushing fifty, the things that terrified me at thirty aren't so scary now and some things even sound like fun. My husband used to joke around about selling everything, buying an RV and "hitting the road." Now, I love to travel, museums, lakes, mountains, state parks, coastal towns, historical landmarks, their all good. However, I always enjoy coming home...to a home, my home. So, needless to say his jokes almost always sent me into a panic attack. I always said, "I need someplace to have roots."

Now, we daydream about it. Most evenings you will find us on my little laptop, cruising Craig's list and EBay searching for RV's. Several weekends we have visited the local camper lots and went to look at motor homes for sale by owners. We want to simplify our lives and make it possible to spend more time with our scattered families. The older we get, the harder it is to be away from our daughter and her family that lives nine hundred miles away, and our parents and siblings that live two thousand miles away. We have learned that being connected is what "roots" are all about. Not a place.

Life changes us and God knew just what circumstances it would take to mold us. He knows what the finished product is supposed to look like, after all. I find the material things that I thought I wanted just aren't that important. People, now they are important. Making a difference and impacting their lives for good-that's a reason for living.

So what's the point?

I am better than I once was, but I will be so much better than I am now.

I John 3:2 (KJV), "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

Sometimes

Sometimes...  
Sometimes I am like Jonah, not wanting forgiveness for 'them.'  
Sometimes I am like the Sons of Thunder, wanting to call down fire from heaven.

Sometimes I am like the Pharisees only wanting to clean the outside.  
Sometimes I am like Judas, wanting God to do things my way.  
Sometimes I am like the Children of Israel complaining over Manna.  
Sometimes I am like Paul, crying 'Oh, wretched man that I am.'

But...

Sometimes I am like Mary sitting at the feet of the Teacher.  
Sometimes I am like Peter stepping out and walking on the water.  
Sometimes I am like David with a song in my heart and praise on my lips.

Sometimes I am like Abraham pleading for just one righteous man.  
Sometimes I am like Ruth leaving all behind and cleaving with love to the future.

Sometimes I am like Steven looking into the face of Christ.  
Sometimes I am even like Jesus, walking in His love and light.

34

Free To Be Who We Are Supposed To Be

Knowing who God is, is a very important aspect of following Christ. We can learn so much about Him by reading the books of the prophets in the Old Testament.

There is a study help in the Amplified Bible that says: "One may read the writing of the prophets only as a valuable contribution to History and may become enriched by familiarity with their forecasts of events which have been startlingly fulfilled, thus proclaiming the diving inspiration of the books and the wisdom and power of the God who prompted their writings. BUT, to stop there is by no means to grasp their full and outstanding purpose for today. Though the prophets God is speaking definitively to every individual and nation on earth, right now, demanding that we see ourselves as He sees us!"

Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV), "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV), "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the lord, thought of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

God's plans and purposes for us have been there forever. Even before He formed us in the womb!

Psalm 139:16 (NIV), "Your eyes saw my unformed substance. In your book were written everyone of them, the days that were formed for me when as yet there was none of them." He recorded His plans for us in His book. He wrote them down...before He even made time? "Before the days were formed for me."

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV), "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

We can't worry about our past. We can't worry about what others think.

Let's read Jeremiah 1:5-10 (The Message Bible), "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations— that's what I had in mind for you." But I said, "Hold it, Master GOD! Look at me. I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!" GOD told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.' I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there. I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it. Don't be afraid of a soul. I'll be right there, looking after you." GOD's Decree. GOD reached out, touched my mouth, and said, "Look! I've just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered! See what I've done? I've given you a job to do among nations and governments —a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish, And then start over, building and planting."

God didn't listen to his excuses. He doesn't want to hear ours. He promises to be there, and to look after us. He's given us a job to do! We have to know who He is and who we are to be able to do what He has asked. To be able to fulfill the plans that He has for us. He had wonderful, awesome things in store for His children-for you-for me! In Philippians 2:13 (ERV), He says, "It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." We don't have to do it in our own strength and wisdom!

Ephesians 3:19-21 (NIV), "and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

What are some of the plans that He has for you?

Free

From your Holy Temple  
From your Heavenly Throne  
You are watching over me.

Your death on the cross  
Purchased back your own  
Though once was bound now I'm free

I am free to love, Free to live  
Free to serve, free to give  
All for you-all for you  
The King

You have seated me there  
In Heaven with you  
Given me authority

You have called me out  
I have work to do  
Setting those in bondage free!

They are free to love, free to live  
Free to serve, free to give  
All for you- all for you  
Our King

I will go to the camp of the enemy  
I will shout from my heart-screaming LIBERTY!  
No more bondage, no more shame, no more sickness, no more pain, no more lack, no more fear, no more wait, the time is here!

We are free to love, free to live  
Free to serve, free to give  
All for you-all for you  
The King

35

Divine Forgetfulness

I have been reading through the Old Testament. I am constantly amazed at God's patience and love for people. His own "chosen people" lived in such a way, that He had no choice but to cleanse the evil. Even in all of the wrath that was poured out, The Father consistently mourned over their pain, wept for their condition. I am learning more of who He is and how much He loves me.

In Ezekiel 33, God talks about those who have stopped doing as He asked and those, who once were wicked, beginning to do as he asked. Verse 16 says, "None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he shall surely live." Even then, before Christ's work on the cross, forgiveness was in the heart of God. He promised to not only forgive, but to forget! Pretty amazing.

God has made it simple. As hard as it was for them to live up to the law then, think about how easy it is for us today. We confess out sin, admit that we are messed up without Him, and He is quick to forgive. He is Faithful and Just and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Sounds pretty easy to me. Unless, of course, you are filled with pride, or self-righteousness... Allow Him to set you free today. Free from the bondages of sin. Free from your past. Free from those wrong thought patterns and actions. Free from what others say or think about you. Total freedom.

"Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved." C.S. Lewis

Ephesians 1:7-10, (ASV), In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

II Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV), All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Father, I thank You that You have chosen to forget all of my past mistakes! You will continue to forgive me, but I will not use that for an excuse to sin.

36

Guilt Free

Psalm 103:11-12 (NIV), "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

God loves you. I know this is a repeating theme on my blog, but it's a repeating theme on God's blog (His Holy Word.) It's worth repeating. Don't you think?  
Hearing it just isn't enough. We have to believe it. Have you gotten it past your head into your heart yet?

He loves us so much; He has chosen to forget our sin. He has "removed" our transgressions from us. We have been separated from our sin. Not by inches, feet or miles, but as far as the east is from the west.

I John 3:1(ESV), "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

Jesus mediates between us and the Father. We will mess up, but have no fear, Jesus is faithful. God doesn't even see our sin, He sees His Son in us!

God loves us. We are free from guilt. I say that is "good news."

Say this out loud: "God loves me and I am free from guilt."

Now say it like you believe it! "God loves me and I am free from guilt."

Repeat this often. When the devil tries to remind you of your sin, your past mistakes, or tries to put guilt upon you, tell him to shut up. Remind him of the fact that God loves you and you are free from guilt.

Jesus, thank You for restoring my relationship with our Father! I will not take that lightly. I am free and will walk in that freedom, showing my appreciation for Your gift of redemption.

37

The Dead Do Not Inherit

An inheritance is for the living. When you go to hear the reading of the last will and testament of a person who has passed on, the room is not full of corpses. Instead it is full of the living relatives, and beneficiaries of the deceased.

God says that we are heirs and joint heirs with Christ, Romans 8:16-17 (NIV), "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with _Him,_ that we may also be glorified together." He also says that we are seated in Heaven with Christ, (Ephesians 2:6).

God gave Adam everything. Adam gave it over to Satan. Jesus took it back on the cross and went to hell to even get the keys to Satan's eternal home. At Jesus' death on the cross-we inherited everything from Him. At His death, a New Testament came into being. We inherited the Kingdom of Heaven, as well as all things on this earth. We don't have to wait until we die to have Heaven. Heaven isn't just a place. It's a Kingdom. Jesus is the King, and we are His royal family. Heaven is ours, now! Salvation and everything that comes with it, is our now, isn't waiting for us to die. Only the living receive an inheritance.

Jesus didn't die to bring us to Heaven. If that was His only purpose, we'd be there now. Jesus came to bring Heaven to us, here on earth. His Kingdom needs to be enlarged. That can only happen if we stand in our rightful places as sons and daughters of the Most High God. We have to accept the inheritance, use it, and do what God asks us to do-love Him with all our hearts, and to seek and save the lost. It's not just for our benefit. We are to heal the sick, raise the dead and set the captives free. That's our job. We can sit around a pray about it, (and prayer is wonderful!), but God wants us to act on our faith. We are Royalty with authority.

No longer say, "I am a sinner saved by grace." You were a sinner, and you were saved by grace. But if you have accepted Jesus and his finished work on the cross, you aren't a sinner any longer. Sin is the nature of another kingdom, the kingdom of darkness. It's no longer our nature. We have the nature of the King and the Kingdom that we submit ourselves under. God has made us brand new creatures, our old nature is dead, all things are new.

So what's allowed in heaven? Is guilt, condemnation? Of course not. Then you can't be guilty or condemned. You are seated in Heaven with Christ. He took our guilt. It's gone! Now only one is judged, and that is Satan. He is judged guilty. His attacks against born again children of God is unlawful. Jesus followed all the legalities in getting our inheritance for us. Satan can find nothing in us to accuse us of to The Father. The Father only see's us as righteous. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, yes, so that we can turn back to God, but He also convinces us of righteousness. He constantly reminds us of who God is and who we are in Christ. Jesus redeemed us from the curse and reconciled us back to right standing with The Father.

Does that mean we never sin? No-but if our hearts are given over to a New King, He is quick to forgive and chooses to forget. He doesn't hold it against us. If we aren't guilty is that the "ok" to sin. Paul says, "God forbid," to that. All things are lawful, but all things are not beneficial. The closer we get to Him, the less we will sin. You'll see that things that once tempted us will no longer pull us away from God.

Don't let Satan, the world, or even your own flesh tell you who you are or what to feel. Only God sees us for who we truly are. He says you are accepted in the beloved. He calls you blessed. He has called us sons and daughters. You aren't who you once were. God didn't scrub us clean-He made us brand new. He didn't remodel or remake, He built you brand new from the foundation to the attic and filled you with good things!

Father, I accept my inheritance with Christ! Thank You for adopting me.

38

How Does God See You?

How does God see you?  
First we have to answer a few more questions.

Are you His?  
Or do you still belong to the kingdom of darkness?

There are only two kingdoms. God's Kingdom and Satan's kingdom (the world's).

So, if you aren't His, He sees you as the prodigal son. The one He loves with all His heart and He longs for you to come home to Him. He's not mad at you. He doesn't hate you. You don't disgust Him, no matter what anyone else may say. He loves you. But, until you give yourself to Him, you are not His child. He won't forcibly take you into His family. In fact, He has no legal right to treat you like a son. Like the prodigal son of the Bible, the choice is yours.

Now, if you have surrendered your heart to Him, He sees you as His very own child, born of heaven, sitting there with Jesus. God sees you as sinless, righteous and holy...just like Jesus. How can that be? Because Jesus took your place, He paid the price you couldn't pay, once and for all. The Father sees you as His "beloved", "the apple of His eye." He sees you as an "heir and a joint heir with Christ." The Father sees you as the "Bride of Christ." He chose you to marry His Son. He doesn't remember who you were before He adopted you into His family. He chose to throw your sins into the sea of forgetfulness. The accuser can't accuse you anymore, not to God anyway. "But I still make mistakes, I sin," you say. Of course, we aren't perfected yet. Don't make a big deal out of it. Repent and move on. Repentance simply put, is changing your thoughts, and turning to God. Build a strong relationship with God and you will find those mistakes come fewer and farther between. Find out who He is, and how He sees you.

John 15:15 (NASV), "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."

Galatians 4:7 (NASV), "Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."

Now, the important question is:  
"How do I see myself?"

Enthralled By Your Love

They left me empty and broken.  
I searched for the one who could put me back together again.

I could not escape from the pain,  
giving myself to the darkness, trying to hide from my shame.

In this hopeless place, you found me.  
Instead of piecing me back together, you made something brand new out of me.

I am you beloved, your bride, sitting in heaven by your side.  
Enthroned in your beauty and grace, enthralled by the love in your gaze.

When I was lost, you searched for me.  
I found my worth in the price that you paid to bring me liberty.

You saw me for what I could be,  
captured my heart with your love, making me into royalty.

I am you beloved, your bride, sitting in heaven by your side.  
Enthroned in your beauty and grace, enthralled by the love in your gaze.

39

Consider Jeremiah

God called Jeremiah at a young age, telling him that before He formed him in the womb, He knew Jeremiah-consecrated and appointed him a prophet-before he was even born (Jer. 1:4-10). Jeremiah was concerned about his immaturity, but God commanded him to go and speak, and placed His word in Jeremiah's mouth. From the very beginning God told Jeremiah that He watched over His word to perform it (verse 12), and that He would use Jeremiah to pronounce judgment over His people.

Sounds like a fun calling... Obviously, God knows it was going to be rough as He tells Jeremiah in verse 17, "Now, gird up your loins, and arise and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, lest I dismay you before them." He encourages Jeremiah in verse 18 by saying that He had strengthened him. God then tells him in verse 19, "'and behold they will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,' declares the Lord." Israel had exchanged their glory for that which does not profit, chasing after other Gods. Israel had done two evils according to God. First they had forsaken Him, and secondly, they had hewn their own cisterns instead of taking His living water. The word that Jeremiah had to give wasn't an easy one. It wasn't "I haven't seen you in Church lately," or, "you need to read your Bible more." No, he was to declare them as "harlots, prostitutes, and faithless adulterers. He had to tell them that God had given them their divorce papers, because they had even polluted the land.

Jeremiah did it! That is what amazes me. In a time when false prophets were the norm, he chose to do what God told him, to say what God said-knowing that the people would not listen to him (Jer. 7:27). God even warned him in 11:18-19 that the people were plotting to kill him. Not only was he responsible for telling God's chosen people that punishment was coming, he had to do all of these strange object lessons to prove his point. He did it all knowing that they wouldn't turn their hearts to God, knowing full well that they were going to be given over into the hands of their enemy and slaughtered. Why would he do this fruitless task? Because God told him to, plain and simple. He did complain, and even cursed the day he was born. He cried and lamented the plight of his people and at one time pleaded for them. But God had had enough.

Jeremiah was beaten, cast into a cistern of mud, put in stocks. He was mocked and was made a "laughingstock" to all of those around him. Jeremiah 20:7-9 (God's Word Translation), says, "O Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived, you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, "I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name," His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." Yes, he had his moments of pity-partying, but let's move on to verse 11, "But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten."

God showed Jeremiah the destruction of His people. But He also showed Jeremiah their salvation. Jeremiah 23:5 (NIV), says "The days are coming," declared the Lord, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness." God never leaves us hopeless. True to His promise, He preserved Jeremiah as well as a remnant of His people and sent the Savior.

So consider Jeremiah...What has God asked you to do?

Did you think it was a hard thing?

Do you still?

Lord, help me to obey, quickly.

40

Chronicles of the Kings

Acts 13:22 (NIV), "After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'"

God called David, "A man after my own heart." He made a promise to this young shepherd-turned King, to always keep one of David's heirs on the throne. This line started with David's son Solomon and went all the way to Jesus (who still happens to occupy the throne and hold the title of "King.") Starting with Solomon, David's heirs were not faithful to continue in their father's footsteps. During Solomon's reign he worshipped false Gods and led the people astray. So God separated His Chosen People into two groups, Judah who kept the throne of David and ruled in Jerusalem and Israel who ruled in Samaria. Israel had a string of leaders who mostly fought for the throne, while Judah continued to have David's seed as their kings.

Read Kings and Chronicles as well as the prophets and you will quickly see that the very people that God had chosen to have as His own, turned their backs on Him. They built altars to foreign gods, worshipped and sacrificed to false gods; they even profaned the temple that David had dreamed of building for the Lord. They went as far as even sacrificing their own children to Molech, by throwing them into the mouth of the idol, which was a fiery furnace. Over and over through the lineage of those kings from Judah and Israel we read how they "did evil in the sight of the Lord," and led God's people to do the same.

Every now and then there was a light in the darkness, a prophet who really heard from God, a king who "did good like his father David." They were few and far between and all but one, never removed one hundred percent of the idols and temple of the false gods, or restored the temple worship, sacrifices and the law. Only Josiah, who was only eight years old when he became king, did. He tore them down, pulled the altars to false gods out of the temple, crushed them into dust and let them wash away in the river. Then at the ripe age of sixteen he is given the book of the law that had been sitting unused in the temple. Once again, God's children renewed their faith in Him and they repented and followed the practices set up by God.

At his death, the next king, his very own son, "did evil in the sight of the Lord." I read all of this and the one thing that stands out the most (no, not the stupidity of the people) is God's patience! If I was Him, I would have given up after Solomon...So why did He keep trying? Why did He come when they remembered to call on Him? Because of the promise He had made to King David, all those generations ago, generations of unfaithful, hard hearted, stiff necked and rebellious people, that a son of David would always sit on the throne.

So even in His anger, when He used other nations to chastise the people and scatter them from their own land, He preserves the seed of David and a "Remnant" of His people. God was faithful to an unfaithful people. He preserved the line from David all the way until Jesus, the Son of David.

So, what has God promised you? He is faithful. If He said it, He will bring it to pass. It might not always look like its coming, or come when we want it to, but it's there. He is always watching over his word to perform it, (Jeremiah 1:12). Beware- don't sin as the children of Israel and Judah did and expect God to move on your behalf. He clearly states in Zephaniah 3:12, that the remnant He preserved were, "A humble and lowly people and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord."

Those are the ones who inherit the promises.

Father, I thank You for Your promises for me. Help me to stay humble and not to think too highly of myself.

41

Search the Scriptures

John 5:39 (KJV), "Search the scriptures for in them ye think you have eternal life: but they are they which testify of me."

Jesus told the religious leader of his day that in their searching of the scriptures they had missed the main point-finding him. Learning who He is, what He does, His will and purpose for our lives, His blessings and His love.

"The Greek word for search signifies a strict, close, diligent, curious search, such as men make when they are seeking gold, or hunters demonstrate when they are earnestly pursuing game. We must not rest content with having given a superficial reading to a chapter or two, but with the candle of the Spirit, we must deliberately seek out the hidden meaning on the Word... No man who merely skims the Book of God can profit thereby; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hidden treasure." Charles Spurgeon-" Evening by Evening"

Think of those scavenger hunts as a child. How I loved those! You received your first clue-that led to the next-that led to the next. The treasure was never close at hand, or easily obtained. You had to figure out the next location from a few simple words. Sometimes the clues got harder as you went along. Most of the fun was in the searching out the meaning of the clues and the next location-but always at the end there was treasure.

If searching scripture or studying scripture (as opposed to just reading) is new to you and you don't know how to start, you have several options. You can purchase a bible study or find one online that will take you through the process of study on a specific topic. I advise you to start with either who you are in Christ or who He is. Another option is to join, or start a bible study with a good teacher who will lead you in your study. There are also many good study Bibles available with cross references and study guides that you can tackle on your own. As you grow in this you will be able to study the things that God is laying on your heart, with the Holy Spirits leading you through the hunt with clues and promises of treasure.

God, as I read Your word, I pray that you reveal more of Yourself to me.

42

Is Just Enough Enough?

We have decided, my husband and I, to downsize and simplify our lives. We are determined to live with less and to have more time to enjoy this life that has been given to us. We are content with what we have and where we are, knowing that God is bringing change into our lives. We are passing through one season onto another. I have been sorting through year's worth of accumulation, donating, selling, trashing and giving away some stuff. I also have been doing some research and study, along with my prayers and conversations with God about it all. During this time I picked up a book about downsizing written by a Christian. Right away, I got into the book. (The author voices some of the same concerns that I had had about life being too busy and about things being more important than people). Then somewhere halfway through, he says that God gives us "just enough," and he used the Manna in the wilderness as an example. That's where he lost me.

Sure, I know about the Manna. God gave them just enough, left overs rotted and got worms, He warned them, but they had to test it themselves. God tells us to be content in whatever state we are in, true (Phil 4:11), but what did Jesus show us by His example? Was he preaching the message of "just enough?" No, He said, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." (John 10:10 Amp). He fed thousands, twice. One time they gathered up seven baskets of left-overs and another time twelve baskets. "When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten." (John 6:12-13). Another time, He called to His fisherman-disciples asking if they had caught any fish. At their answer of "no," He instructed them to cast in the net one last time, to their astonishment there were so many fish, more than a normal nights catch, that it almost sank the boat! Now that doesn't sound like "just enough" to me.

I would have been "enough" for Christ to die for a few, but He died for all. It would have been enough to just get us back from the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His Father, but He didn't stop there. Not only are we forgiven our sins He has redeemed us from the curse, given us health and life, given us all authority in heaven and earth, given us His Word, His Holy Spirit, I could go on like this for hours, but for the sake of the length of this blog I'll stop here. He gave extravagantly, wondrously more than enough and promises that He wants to even give us "more than we could ask or think." Jesus never wanted us to live day by day, that was never even God's intention for the Children of Israel in the wilderness. He was taking them to the promised land, flowing with goodness. It was their stubbornness and lack of faith that got them to the dessert with Manna for breakfast, lunch and dinner. His desire for us is "MORE."

Why does He provide more than enough? So we can share. Isn't that what the gospel is all about? Sharing? I am sure that the author of that book wasn't saying for us to be selfish, in fact part of the reason he gives for downsizing is to help others and spend more time working on relationships than running. I agree with the author's point about simplifying our lives, we have gotten too busy, work, school, study groups, PTA meetings, Bible studies, ball practice, dance class, the gym, grocery shopping, picking up kids from the daycare, etc, etc, etc. But...we can't limit God because of our messed up priorities. We choose how we spend our time. We choose what has our attention. He asks us to choose Him first. Then He promises to give us more than enough so that we can share it with others. "Freely you have received, freely give."

So, right now, do you have "just enough" or maybe not even that much? Look at your priorities, look at your choices. Are you giving to God of your time, money and resources? Or are you like so many of us who have been caught up in life here on earth and just trying to get by? Sometimes we get just enough because of our stubbornness and lack of faith, but remember that isn't His will for us.

His will is and always has been, and forever will be to give us everything He has. Period.

**John 10:10** (KJV), "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have more abundantly."

Father, I thank You that You are generous! You are never stingy. You love to lavish Your blessings on us. Help me to think big.

43

Comfort and Compassion

Isaiah 40:1 (NIV), "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for..."

There are a lot of hurting people in this world, the result of the fall, Satan's attacks and our own stupidity and wrong choices. Jesus comforted the hurting and had compassion on their plight. He told the woman caught in the very act of adultery that he didn't accuse her. He told the woman at the well, who was living with her wrong choices, that he had living water for her that would change her life. He fed thousands who had empty bellies and empty hearts.

We see in the fourth chapter of Luke, Jesus standing in the Synagogue in Nazareth where he was raised and quoting Isaiah 61:1-2 (NIV), "The spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn." Then he tells them that he is the fulfillment of this scripture.

What is the good news? That God loves us that his son came to show us that love and how to love others. Jesus demonstrated compassion and comfort. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:1-2 (NLV), "Are you strong because you belong to Christ? Does His love comfort you? Do you have joy by being as one in sharing the Holy Spirit? Do you have loving-kindness and pity for each other? Then give me true joy by thinking the same thoughts. Keep having the same love. Be as one in thoughts and actions." The good news is that what we have received from Jesus, we can share with those other hurting people. His compassion and comfort came out of a heart filled with love. His compassion healed the man with the withered hand in spite of the consequences he would face from the religious people. His compassion drove the demons out of the Gaderine, healed the sick, cleansed the lepers and it forcefully nailed him to the cross. The compassion of Christ was so great that the grave couldn't hold it, or the five hundred others that came up with him.

Jesus told us that we are to preach this good news of God's love and compassion. The wonderful news that he sits on the throne of grace in all authority and power then gives us the same authority and power her on earth. The good news that he hasn't left us here alone, but has sent the Comforter, His Spirit to guide us and teach us. Jesus never put conditions on his love; he just wanted to help people. Search the scriptures and you'll see he never turned anyone down. Sure, in his home town, in the same chapter quoted above in Luke, he said a prophet couldn't do much for his own, because of their unbelief, but he still _wanted_ to help them. He never said, "It's your own fault, deal with it," but he did tell us, those who say we love him, "what you've seen me do, you do it!"

We could reach the world this way – could change the world this way. One person at a time, one smile, one hand reaching out in love, one crust of bread, one warm blanket at a time...

Lord, fill me with compassion. Shed Your love abroad in my heart. Show me where and how to help.

44

Who is Your God?

I was saved at the age of six at a small meeting after school, in the house of a classmate. I don't remember her at all, not even the school we attended, but I remember the beautiful Mexican woman, her mother, who led me to the Lord. She had lovely long jet black hair and wore a colorful dress from Mexico. Using her perfect storyteller's voice with a soft accent and a flannel board, she captured my attention that day. She spoke of our shortcomings and failures, how our hearts were black and ugly, putting a black heart up on that board for us all to see. Then she told us of a Father whose love could clean those hearts. She called that Father 'God' and explained in a simple way how much he loved us. I have no memory of the cross or of Jesus' shed blood, just a few simple words about love. Next, out came a blood red heart, cut perfectly without any frays or being lopsided, and covered that ugly black heart up, no longer visible. "God," she said, "loves you so much, he wants to be your Father and give you a new heart." Those words are words I will never forget.

A little six year old girl, a skinny freckle-faced, quiet, homely, lonely girl who had always felt unwanted and lost in a family of bright, athletic, beautiful and noisy children, found the love she had been longing for that day. His love called me, drew me and captured me that day. His love kept me and sustained me for years, I held on to that love. Time went on and without the nourishment of His word, I fell away and lost my security and acceptance, He hadn't left, I had just slowly but surely, wandered away. I turned my back on God and tried to find what only he could give out in the world. Years of ugliness and abuse, drugs and alcohol, bad relationships and wrong choices taking me further from Him, and moving quickly to an early grave...and hell.

Then, one glorious day, as I opened my heart to Him, there He was, where I had last left Him, waiting with open arms. His love was still calling me, drawing me and once again capturing me. This time there was Church Family, His Word, encouragement and support, correction and teaching. The cross and the sacrifice of Jesus, the help of the Holy Spirit all linked together with God's Love. I have learned so much more about Him in the 29 years since returning to him. God to me is and will always be love, all consuming, never ending love and acceptance. I am important to Him, special in my own way. I am beautiful to Him, wondrously made by Him.

So, it saddens me when people say God is hard, harsh and distant. That He brings earthquakes, sickness and sorrow. Some have a picture of God as a dictating deity using us for His perverse entertainment, or a judgmental King threatening to punish the smallest infraction, but of all of the false beliefs about Him, the one that hurts me the most is that He is uncaring, that He could stop all suffering, but that He just refuses to do it. All have been deceived. Satan doesn't want us to know who God truly is, that's where our power and authority comes from, knowing who He is and who we are in Him. That's why he slander's God and people believe it. We live in a fallen world that could only be purchased back by legal means; God is just and will not break His own laws. Jesus as the spotless lamb is the only one who could break the curse. He came and did just that, so now all who will believe and accept His sacrifice can live as children of God. The world is still under the rule of Satan and under the curse, so bad things happen, some of our own doing, some of God's doing and some a result of the state of things. Only good and perfect gifts come from the Father.

God has given us, His Children, power and authority over this world to bring it under the authority of Heaven. Some cry and bemoan God's supposed lack of help, when He has clearly told us to help, we are to change the world, accept His love, and stand in His Victory and strength. Take back what Satan was given by Adam when he fell. When we experience all of the hard stuff here on earth, we don't go alone, and we do get through it. He is there with us. He gave us weapons to fight, armor to protect and angels to go before us. His love is a banner over us!

**1 John 4:8** (KJV), "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

My God is LOVE. He's a Mighty Warrior King who vanquishes my enemies. He is a Strong Tower of protection; His is my place of Refuge. He is my Salvation, my Savior. He is my caring and gentle Father. That is my God.

Who is your God?

Father, You are my God. The One who loves me best.

45

Living Beyond the Cross: Part One

This lesson will be a big one so I am breaking it up into two lessons.

We tend to set up camp at the cross, when that was never the Father's intention. We have come to the cross to confess our sin, accepting Jesus' atonement...and then stayed there. Some even worship the cross. We have to go beyond the cross. The work of the cross is finished. How do I know that? Because Jesus said, "it is finished!" If it wasn't, he wouldn't have said it. Notice he didn't say, "it is being finished", "the work of the cross is continual," no he said finished. Period. We respect and reverence what Jesus did there, the price he paid, the blood he shed there, but we can't live there, can't stay there. We have to move past. Jesus said that he was the door-we don't stand in doors, we go through. Jesus was the door to the Father.

So, what's on the other side of the cross? The cross is the door to the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is on the other side-the throne room. Jesus sits on that throne; he isn't hanging on a cross. The cross couldn't hold him, hell and the grave couldn't hold him. He was destined, before the foundation of the world to sit on that throne. We are seated there with him, those of us who have accepted the finished work of the cross (Ephesians 2:5). Who sits on a throne? A king. Who has authority in that Kingdom? The king. The King of Kings sits on his throne in Heaven ruling his Kingdom and what does he call us? "Kings and Priests" (Revelations 5:10). What is the job of a king? To rule and reign, to use their authority to prosper the Kingdom.

I am learning-and trying to walk in this authority. It isn't something new to me. Our Senior Pastor always talks about "A King, a Kingdom and a Royal Family." The word says that "Faith comes by hearing, and continuing to hear, the Word of God." So sometimes we have to hear it over and over to get it from our heads into our hearts. Faith never takes place in our heads, always in our hearts. What our heads can't comprehend our heart can believe. We don't have to understand it all, just believe it all. Even the little Revelation I have received on this subject, I sometimes forget. I go back to the cross...habit, and to be honest I love to remember the love of the cross. Through some classes last week on healing and the Kingdom, some of those wrong thinking patterns were broken. Some of what I am sharing is from those classes. I hope it frees you up the way it has me.

Jesus didn't "plead the blood". He never said, "By the stripes on my back you are healed." He didn't ask his Father to heal. He prayed often, frequently all through the night, but he didn't pray for God to heal. He hadn't shed his blood; the cross was still in his future. But that didn't stop him from doing his Father's work. He healed the sick, cast out demons, cleansed lepers the list is endless. He did all of this as a man, not God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and obedience to God's will, motivated by their love, he did these mighty works. He knew his position, knew who he was. He didn't let the fact that he was here as a man stop him. He knew who his Father was and that all power and authority came from the Father. "I only do what I see my Father do, I only say what he says." He continually told the Religious people of the day that his power came from the Father.

Now, he did die, hang on that cross, shed his blood, went to Hell, took the Keys, stripped Satan of his power, and was resurrected. All of that is true, and wonderful! But he also ascended into heaven where he sits on his Throne of Power and Authority. Before he left he told us to do what he did. He told us to preach. Preach what? The cross? No the Kingdom. The Kingdom is the love of the Father that wants to see his children blessed, set free, stand and walk in their authority. To be on the offensive not just defend. Take territory; don't just try to protect the little we have. He wants his family to grow! He told us to heal the sick. We do it, through the Holy Spirit working in us. Cast out demons. Not pray them out, cast them out. Tell them to leave. They have no authority. You do.

I know some religious toes have been stepped on and some sacred cows slaughtered. Nevertheless, religion stinks! It's a set of do's and don'ts that can only dictate how to behave. It never changes a heart. Relationship with the Father, now that changes our hearts and life's. Now we do his work out of love for him. I swallowed hard at least a dozen times over the course of this class. I kept hearing this word 'but' in my head. Look at it this way, the cross, the beatings, the stripes and the blood, they were all to get us to the Throne of Grace. Important, necessary and wonderful? Yes, of course. The cross was the means to an end. The work of the cross tells us 'how' we got in the family of God, 'why' we are able to be healed, delivered and saved. 'Why' we have our authority. It is the reason we can say to the sick, "be healed," and we can say to those in bondage to sin and the devil, "be free." His stripes did heal us. His blood did cleanse us. We are healed and clean. We don't have to ask God to do these things, they are done. Accept it. Live like its true!

When we keep going back to the cross, it's as if we crucify him again. Wasn't once enough? God's word tells us it was "once for all." Just think about that for a minute...

Can you hear him calling you from the Throne of Grace?

Maybe you screwed up yesterday, you fell away, stumbled into some old sin...so what? There is Grace in the Throne room of God. Turn from the sin. That's all repentance is, really. It's already under that blood. It's already been forgiven. When we live in the Kingdom, we become his ambassadors. We find that we don't mess up as often, we stumble less. We are, like Jesus, only doing what the Father said and saying what he told us to say. We are part of that Royal Family sharing the goodness of the King. Who wouldn't want to come out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light with us? If you are one of those who declare themselves "a sinner saved by Grace," stop it! God said not to call unclean the things he has made clean. Jesus' blood cleansed us; we are clean, no more sinners but saints, Sons no longer servants. God said, he never lies.

Lord, only You could have made a way to redeem us from our sin. Thank You.

46

Living Beyond the Cross: Part Two

We need to reverence the cross, its work, Christ's sacrifice of love. Accept your place in the Kingdom, accept his Grace, and walk in your God given authority. If you have accepted the atoning work of the cross, then walk through that door into the Throne room. Walk as a Saint, a Disciple of Christ, an ambassador of Heaven, a Son of the Most High, and a joint heir with Christ. Tell sickness to leave, command bodies to be whole, command minds to be sound. Declare your blessings. Are you in a hard place? What do God and his word have to say about it? Speak God's word over it. Then don't stop with you and yours do it for others, saved and unsaved alike. No one has to earn it, it's theirs. The goodness of God turns hearts to repentance.

God just wants to love and bless people. He wants every area of our lives to be blessed, physically, spiritually, mentally, financially and any other area you can think of. He loves to bless his children and he wants his family to grow. Our job is to bring the Kingdom of light, of love to the lost world. We have to accept it ourselves first, "freely you have received, freely give." The Kingdom is a King, a Kingdom and a Royal Family. It's about a Father and the love he has for his children. He's a good Father, wanting to give good gifts to his children. The Kingdom is the all compassing; never ending love of the Father poured out through Jesus and now shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Why? So we can do what Jesus did. Enlarge; add to the Kingdom/family of God. If they don't become part of our family, then they remain with their father the devil. You are in one kingdom or the other, there is no neutral territory.

So in practical terms, if someone needs healing, we don't need to explain the whole process of the cross, the stripes, the blood, they can learn the how and the why later. We just need to lay hands on them and pronounce them healed. Tell sickness to leave, tell health to come. Tell bodies to be whole, minds to be sound, debt to leave, money to come, bless people. What's allowed in heaven? Allow it here. What's not allowed in heaven? Don't allow it here on earth. Is God poor, sick, sad, depressed, oppressed, tired...don't allow that in our lives or the lives of the one's he loves, (and he loves everyone). What is allowed in heaven? Peace, joy, strength, love, discernment, wisdom, riches, health, the list is too huge to include it all here. We don't have to wait for heaven to have it. God already brought heaven into our hearts, now our job is to bring heaven here, to earth. The governments of this world can't do it, the media, Hollywood, economics, education, those things can't bring us heaven. God's children, knowing who he is and who we are, we can!

All of creation groans, waiting for us to come into our authority.

Romans 8:16-22 (NASB), "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and if children, then heirs-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of god. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the hold creation groans and labors with birth pains together until now."

I am changing what I say, how I think and how I pray. That's what true repentance is, changing our minds, turning away from the world and the kingdom of darkness to the love of God and the Kingdom of Light. Turning from out past to our glorious future in Christ. Jesus' work on the cross provided the way for us to do that, his beautiful, horrible sacrifice...

I don't want him to remain forever nailed there.

Jesus moved past the cross, won't you do the same?

Jesus, I am so glad that You didn't stay on the cross, or in the grave! Thank You for all You did for me in both places, but thank You especially for taking Your seat in heaven and making a way for me to join You there.

47

What of Love?

What can change the heart of a man? Can polished speeches, lengthy sermons, financial security, or campaign promises?  
What do we do about those who are harder to love, the adulteress, the homosexual, the child abuser, the petty thief and the habitual liar?  
Can we change them by walking twelve steps, by bigotry, prejudices, bombings, beatings, hat mongering and un-forgiveness?  
Or is it through so called tolerance, political correctness, accepting them for who they are and what they do?  
By compromising our belief in God's Truth? Is this how we can save them from their lives of sin and misery?  
Should we stone them, mock them, condemn them, or simply ignore them, cast them out and way, out of sight and out of mind?  
No! Only one thing saves, delivers, accepts, forgives, understands and changes the heart of man...Love!  
Who then shall we love? All, yes even those unlovable, those who disagree, those who society rejects!  
Can we do it with self-righteousness, believing we have never sinned, never lived our own lives of ugliness?  
No! If we believe we have never sinned we make the sacrifice of Jesus void. We make the blood, nails, thorns, and lashes in vain.  
Who then can we love? Through Christ who loves us all, even when we were lost in our sin, His love in us.  
Love our neighbors as ourselves, Love as a groom loves his bride. Love as a father loves his child. Love as Jesus loves His church.  
And then, with this love, the truth will come out, of who He is, the hurts will be healed, the sin forgiven.  
The crooked will be made straight, despair turned into hope, weeping into joy. They won't be alone! Love is the answer.

48

Because He Loves Me

Psalm 91:1-16 (AMP), "He who [a]dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; _I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me,_ knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation."

There are great benefits for loving God. Not just recognizing that He is, not just believing He took away your sins, but loving Him.

In verse 14, God promises to do all of these things, to rescue us, and protect us, because of our love for Him. Do you want long life? Love Him. Do you want Him to answer when you call? Love Him.

There are many people who say, "God has never done anything for me." They have spouted out a few requests, maybe even begged and wept, tried to bargain or broker a deal. But do they love Him? Or are they just going thru 'drive thru' and placing an order on a fast food deity they expect a quick fix from? They don't _know_ Him, They don't have "personal knowledge of My mercy, love and kindness." He _has_ done _everything_ for them. He has made a way were there was no way, reconciled them back to Himself by shedding His own blood. He has loved them, even in their sin, and misunderstanding of who He is. All they have to do is accept His love and love him back and He is so easy to love.

I love Him, because He loves me.

Father, You have done so much for me! Of all of those wonderful things, the most wonderful is that You love me.

49

Consider Esther

I Samuel 15:22 (KJV), "So Samuel said: "Has the Lord as great 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."

As I study the book of Esther, I can't help but think she typifies the Church. Esther lived during the time that the Jews were living in exile from Israel. Nebuchadnezzar had taken the princes, royal family and the top of Jewish society with him to Babylon. Later, the Medes and the Persians had taken over the territory of Babylon and King Ashasuerus (Also known as Xerxes) was sitting on the throne, ruling over 127 provinces. He decides to throw a great feast, inviting all of the princes of these provinces, chief officers of the Persian and Median military, the nobles and governors, all of the 'who's who' of his society. Then, he invites all the men, both great and small to come for seven days of parties. His wife, Queen Vashti, not to be outdone, does the same thing for the women.

At some point during the celebration the King calls for Vashti, wanting to show off her beauty. She point blank refuses. As a young Christian, I used to think "Good for her!" Fortunately, now I have a better understanding of the rebellion in Vashi's heart. Ashasuerus is King. King's have complete authority. Period. We have no reason to assume he was an evil king, in fact later in the book of Esther, we find information contrary to that fact. Here is where the spiritual implications come in.

If Jesus is my King, shouldn't I obey His every command? Whether I understand His request, or agree with it? What if it is not convenient for me to do what He says, right when He asks? Vashti may have been beautiful on the outside, but inside she was a rebellious and disobedient woman. Her disobedience is a bad example to all of the woman, great and small, in the 127 provinces who are witnesses of her actions. What example are we, the Bride of Christ, setting for the world?

Ashasuerus has no choice, he has to divorce her, put her away! Another queen must be found. Jesus turned from the Jews, and chose a new love to pursue, the gentiles. He chose us, just as King Ashasuerus chose Esther. Unlike him, God didn't clean us up first, there were no beauty treatments to get us ready. He chose us in our mess and dirt. Our purification comes after, not before. Esther is a woman of obedience. She obeys her Uncle Mordecai, who raised her. After she was taken into the harem of the king, she finds favor with the chief Eunuch, Hegai. It is safe to assume that her humble behavior and her submissive attitude is what bring her that favor. There are countless beautiful woman there, who are all virgins. There is something different about our Esther.

When the women are allowed to take anything they want with them when they go to see the king, Esther only took what Hegai advised her to take. She deferred to the one who knew the king. It paid off for her; she is chosen above all others to be queen in Vashti's place. Once sitting in her place of honor, she continues to obey her uncle.

We are all familiar with the story of Esther. How evil Haman desires to destroy her uncle and all of the Jews, even getting the king to sign into law a day of Jew killing, with a reward. Doing as her uncle requests, she goes uninvited into the throne room, which was punishable by death. The king in his generosity and love for his queen offers to give her up to half of his kingdom. Through Esther's bravery and obedience, not only is her uncle saved, but her people as well, and evil Haman is hung on the gallows he has built for Mordecai. She put her life in the hands of the King and won the right for her people to fight back against those who would harm her. The Jews celebrate Purim to this day, marking their victory.

As modern day Esther's, we don't have to fear for our lives. We can boldly come to the throne of our King. Unlike Ashasuerus, our King has given us all of His kingdom, not just half. Our obedience is important. We have the whole world watching us!

Are we going rebel like Vashti? Or obey, like Esther?

God, I want to be an obedient child. I can trust You, so whatever You ask of me will be good for me.

50

Sound the Trumpet!

Joel 2:1 (KJV), "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;"

When Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem, after getting permission from the King of Persia, Artaxerxes, he faced opposition. There were those who didn't want the wall to that beautiful city repaired.

The people "had a heart and mind to work," they all worked together, from officials, to perfumers, gold smiths to their daughters, priest and merchants. We all know that many people make quick work. They all worked together in family units to repair what the enemy had destroyed years ago.

Word got back to Nehemiah that their enemies planned on attacking while they worked. So he ordered the workers to work with their swords strapped to their backs. They worked with a weapon in one hand and a tool in the other. Notice- he never told them to stop working. Too many times when we are under attack, we drop everything "to do battle." We stay home from Church, we don't show up for the outreach we promised to help with, we stop helping our neighbors and say we are fighting the enemy. God says, do both.

Nehemiah also realized that there were gaps in the wall between families. They were separated by some distance. So he tells them, "Whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us."

They were to "blow a trumpet" when help was needed and the others were to rally to their aide. But how many of us are too proud, too self-righteous, to even admit we need help. We think that us being in a battle somehow constitutes spiritual weakness or a lack of faith. The priests were working on that wall; the spiritual leaders were in the battle right along with the rest of them. If you think your Pastor doesn't face opposition, invite him or her over for dinner one night and ask them about it. We all battle. It is never a lack of faith to ask for help. We are called to bear one another's burdens. When we do, "God fights for us!"

Are you facing a temptation that is threatening to overtake you?  
Blow the trumpet!  
Are you fighting a physical battle that has you worn down?  
Blow the trumpet!  
Have you made a mess of your life and feel unworthy of help?  
Blow the trumpet!  
Sound the alarm-help will come and God will fight for you!

51

Letting Love Motivate Us: Part One

This is a longer lesson, so I am breaking it up into two parts.

The most important truth available to us today is this: GOD LOVES US. He loves you, He loves me.

One of the most familiar verses in the Bible is John 3:16 (KJV), "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

How many of us wish we had a dollar for every time we have heard it, said it, read it (even on t-shirts and cardboard signs at football games)? God so loved the world! He loves the lonely single parent, the latch key kid, the grieving widow, the gay couple next door, and even the child molester. God loves people! We have heard countless messages on God's love for us. So we _know_ , at least in our heads, that God IS Love. But it isn't until we hit those road bumps of life that our _belief_ in that love is tested.

God doesn't stop loving us, ever. We may go through hard times, even horrible things, but His love is still there. We may not understand why we have to face such trials, other than the fact that we do live in a fallen world, with a real enemy, and awful things happen to people. Those people, won't get saved hearing a 'turn or burn' message. In fact the few 'turn and burn' messages in the bible, weren't given to the lost, but to religious people. The lost will come into the family of God when they really believe that He loves them.

How will they know that He loves them?

Leviticus 10:17-18 (NIV), "'Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

And Mark 12:31 (NIV), The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

So it starts with two things, we have to love God, and we have to love ourselves. For some of us it is easy to love God, but loving ourselves is a whole different matter. We _know_ us. We know what ugly things we did, the ugly thoughts we have had, those things we don't want anyone else to know. But it is part of the command. If you have a hard time loving yourself, then you haven't been listening to God. He has wonderful things to say about you. Find out what He says about you, how He feels about you, what He plans for you. You'll find it much easier to love yourself. We have to change our ungodly thought patterns into Godly thought patterns. Ungodly thoughts say "I am no good, no one loves me." Godly thoughts say, "I am accepted in the beloved and God loves me."

Jesus' says in John 13:34-35 (NIV), "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

After loving God, and learning to love ourselves, we must love one another. If we can't love our brother and sisters in Christ how can we love those that are lost and without hope. We always think of loving others as a _new_ commandment, but God commanded Israel, in the book of the law (we just read it) to love your neighbor as yourself. My opinion is that part that is "new" is our loving the way Jesus loves us, unconditionally, without restraint or strings attached. It has always been a command of God. Of course, He's all about love!

Now, we come to the part where the world can see the love of God. They see it by _our_ love, for God, for ourselves, for the family of God, and for _them_. We can't stop at any of these steps. If we learn to love God with our whole heart, we won't be able to stop! God's love compels us to love others. But if we get hung up on just trying to love ourselves or other Christians, how will those who really need to know about His love ever experience it?

Ephesians 2:10, (KJV), "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

We have to show them the love of our Father. We need to be a reflection of His love.

Ephesians 2:1-7, 10 (AMP), "And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins. In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]. Among these, we as well as you, once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation). And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus."

Our acceptance of all God's goodness shows by example God's love to the world.

Verse 10 again in the Amplified. "For we are God's own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]."

We were predestined to demonstrate the riches of his kindness and the goodness of His heart. God is our Father, we are His children, and this is our "family business." He has already given us the gifts and talents to do this. We have all of heaven at our disposal to show the world how much He loves them. Just doing good works isn't enough. We have to let love motivate our good works. If we work to try to earn God's favor, we are building with wood, hay and stubble.

Matthew 6:1 (NLV), ""Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven."

Verse 16, (NLV), "And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get."

God's word is clear, our motives are important. If we work so other can see us and praise us or admire us, then their praise and admiration _are_ our only rewards. It isn't pleasing God, or building with anything that will last through the storms. We can bully, beg and harass someone into saying the sinners prayer, but are they really saved? How does that portray God? As someone who doesn't really care about them, someone who just cares about numbers-how many people I converted today.

Lord, let love be my motivation today and every day.

52

Letting Love Motivate Us: Part Two

I think about the prophets in the Old Testament. They lived in a time when God's chosen people were in blatant sin and rebellion. They had broken every command that God had given and on top of that had made idols with their own hands, worshipped the false gods of the nations around them, even going as far as offering their own children to the god Molech by casting them into the furnace. These profits had to preach a 'turn or burn' message. These were the words that God gave them to speak. Nevertheless, those men, most of them, prayed for mercy, wept and lamented over the sin of their people, sorrowed over their sure destruction. What kept them motivated? God's promises. His promise to Abraham that he would father a great nation. His promise to David, that one of his descendants would sit on the throne forever. God's promise to save a remnant who He would bring back to the Beautiful City, Jerusalem, and His promise of a savior, the Messiah. The promise of His continued love, to those who did as He commanded.

We have it so much easier. We don't have to shave our heads, cook over cow dung, marry a prostitute, tell our families and neighbors that the enemy will triumph over them, will dash their babies to pieces. We get to tell them that God loves them and wants to bless them. Our object lesson is love. We get to show them how much they mean to the one who created them. We can't be like Jonah, with his attitude of, "they should get what they deserve." He is a great example of a prophet that was not motivated by love. God had to force him to go and tell Nineveh that He was giving them another chance.

God never asked us to quote scripture at people. We use scripture to learn about God, and who He is, encourage ourselves and one another, those in our family, who know the language of heaven. We use them to declare God's will over our lives and those of others. Quoting scripture to someone who isn't saved is like speaking French to a Mexican, they aren't going to understand what you are talking about. God _did_ ask us to _show_ people how much He loves them.

It is important we know scripture that we are intimate with the Word, but that isn't so that we can prove our expertise and by our understanding of scripture somehow convince the lost of God's love. They don't recognize God's word as TRUTH. They don't know it's alive and living. Think of it this way. If you told your husband at the breakfast table that it was against Canadian law to eat toast on Tuesdays, what would he say. "I'm not Canadian." Or if one of your children tells a friend, "you can't watch that PG13 movie, my dad doesn't allow it" what would you expect the friend to say? "He's not my dad." So, why do we think giving an unsaved person scripture about do's and don'ts will convince them they need to be saved? They aren't part of the same family, or a citizen of heaven like we are.

There are Churches who quote scripture, (mostly out of context) who are portraying God as a hard task master who is ready to punish them for their sin or who hates them because of their sin. They interrupt funerals of fallen military men and women, screaming at mourning family members. They stand on street corners and spout off about the end of the world, doom and destruction. How many people are they bringing into the Kingdom. The media depicts God as a foolish old man, or an angry deity ready with a bolt of lightning. They depict Christians as bigots, and self-righteous, and unforgiving people. Or even worse, they show us as the crazy psycho people who live in corn fields, killing and torturing others.

We are all appalled by those things, but is it any better when we turn a cold shoulder to someone in need? When we are more concerned with how someone looks or smells, rather than the condition of their soul? How are we portraying God when we are too distracted to help, or too busy to go out of our way for someone who needs Him? God says that it is His goodness that turns hearts to repentance. He uses _us_ to show them His goodness.

I John 3:17, "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?"

Hebrews 13:16 (MSG), " Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of "sacrifice"—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets."

We all have ample opportunity to show God's love. It starts in our homes and radiates out through our lives to those we touch in small ways throughout our days. We have to be 'rooted and grounded' in His love. If we aren't we'll reflect the world around us, instead of the Father's heart. God's love is 'shed abroad' in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Not confined in a closet. Shed abroad. Scattered to the wind, cast on many waters, an endless supply, and more than we will ever need. His love doesn't run out. It is there for us personally, and then more for us to share. We can't always love people with our own human emotions, let's face it, some people are hard to love. But we can always love people with His love. It isn't an emotion, it is a gift. We just have to choose to use it.

Sometimes we can backslide into a place where we aren't motivated by love anymore. We may be working out of a sense of duty or for self seeking reasons. A good litmus test is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, (MSG), "If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.  
Love cares more for others than for self.  
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.  
Love doesn't strut,  
Doesn't have a swelled head,  
Doesn't force itself on others,  
Isn't always "me first,"  
Doesn't fly off the handle,  
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,  
Doesn't revel when others grovel,  
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,  
Puts up with anything,  
Trusts God always,  
Always looks for the best,  
Never looks back,  
But keeps going to the end."

Have you given up on someone? Do you look back on their past mistakes? Are you waiting for them to fail? Do you lose patience and are easily irritated with others? (That was a big one for me!) Are you filled with pride and self-righteousness? Do you put yourself constantly before others? (Now I am not saying don't take care of yourself, especially you moms, we have to have time for us and down time, that's not what I am talking about). If you answered yes to any of these things, or all of these things, then check your motives.

We know we are walking in love when we expect the best for others, put them first and keep going, keep praying for them.

Isn't that what God has done, and continues to do for us?

Father, I choose not to write anyone off. I will continue to pray for them no matter what.

53

Which Do You Choose?

Deuteronomy 30:19 (Wycliffe Bible), "I call today heaven and earth to witness, that is, angels and men, that I have set forth to you life and death, good and evil, blessing and cursing; therefore choose thou life, that both thou live and thy seed, (I call heaven and earth, that is, the angels and men, to witness today, that I have set forth before you life and death, good and evil, blessing and curses; and so choose thou life, so that both thou and thy descendants shall live,)"

I recently watched an old version of Shakespeare's, "The Merchant of Venice."  
I love the symbolism of the three chests. Whoever chooses the right one wins the hand of the fair maiden.

First there is the Gold chest! Shining and glittering with promise of wealth and riches. The inscription on this chest reads,  
"Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire."

Chest two is silver. It still has some shine, maybe not the glitter. It reads,  
"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves."

The third chest is a simple lead chest. Not worth much, no shine, no glitter, only the inscription,  
"Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath."

The first chest seems to promise much. But is what we desire always what's best for us? The answer is no! If you were to choose this one your answer would be:

"All that glisters is not gold;  
Often have you heard that told.  
Many a man his life hath sold  
But my outside to behold,  
Gilded tombs do worms enfold."  
If you chose this one, you will quickly realize the mistake. What you thought was worth it, just isn't. Sin has pleasure, but only for a season.

So maybe we can fare better with the silver chest. Getting what we deserve. Do you want what you deserve? I certainly don't. Thank God I don't have to. No choosing of this chest for me. I deserve punishment. But if you think you deserve fame and fortune and all of that, go ahead...

Inside you will find,  
"The fire seven times tried this:  
Seven times tried that judgment is,  
That did never choose amiss.  
Some there be that shadows kiss;  
Such have but a shadow's bliss:  
There be fools alive, I wis,  
Silver'd o'er; and so was this.  
If you chose this one, you will realize how foolish it is to put yourself above others, to seek only your own advancement and comfort.

Of course, we are so much wiser than the foolish suitor's. We choose the third chest, and rightly so. We hazard all, or gamble all, or give all, for true love! We see inside:

"You that choose not by the view,  
Chance as fair and choose as true!  
Since this fortune falls to you,  
Be content and seek no new,  
If you be well pleased with this"

We choose by not looking at the outside, but trusting on what is inside. We aren't seeking to gratify or glorify ourselves. We are seeking love. True love asks for sacrifice, not greed or self-seeking. Jesus chose chest three- to win your heart.

Aren't you glad?

And won't you hazard all for Him?

Jesus, You gave everything. How can I not hazard all on You? Everything I am, everything I have, is Yours. I choose You!

54

Religion or Relationship?

1 John 3:1 (NIV), " _How great is the love the Father has lavished on us_ , that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

John the Baptist was quite the minister. He was a Wildman with long hair, dressed in goat's hair clothing, living in the desert, eating things most decent people wouldn't, and preaching to a people who hadn't heard the voice of God in over 400 years. John railed at the religious leaders, railed at Herod, and prepared the way for the Messiah. His message was simple "repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," (Matthew 3:2). A stiff necked, self-righteous people who thought they were special because God had chosen them, better than anyone else, needed to hear that they were sinners in need of a forgiving Father.

As he was standing at the Jordan one day, ministering according to his calling, the religious leaders show up. Did John puff himself up, feeling self-important due to the recognition of the 'rock stars' of his day? Did he welcome them with open arms? No he yelled for all to hear, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee the wrath to come? Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance- let your lives prove your change of heart." He threatened them with hell-fire, then preceded with, "Don't just say to each other, 'We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones." (Matthew 3:9).

John is a wonderful example of humbleness. He is not week or wishy-washy. He does not compromise his message or cow-tow to the big-name-leaders of his day. He does admit that he is nothing and the one coming after him is everything. He even goes as far as to say that he is "unworthy to untie the shoes" of the one coming after. As he is standing at the Jordan that day, immediately after he warns the religious leaders, Jesus shows up, asking to be baptized. Once again, John proves the condition of his heart by humbly declaring that Jesus was the one who should be baptizing him. Jesus insists, so that "righteousness will be fulfilled." John clearly is not spouting and practicing religion. He is in relationship with God. How do we know that? Because he does as Jesus asks.

God is pleased with it, saying in verse 17, "This is my son, My Beloved in Whom I delight," and is most versions says, "In whom I am well-pleased." Moving on from John to Jesus, we see another example of a relationship. Jesus goes on to minister to the people, teaching, healing, casting out demons and feeding thousands, all proving his relationship with the Father. He only did what His Father told Him to do and only said what He told Him to say. Teaching in the temple they were all amazed at how He taught. He taught with authority, "and not as the scribes." What was the difference in their teaching? The scribes knew the scriptures, memorized them even, but Jesus knew the one who _authored_ them.

The religious leaders claimed a physical relationship with Abraham. They were all about their genealogies. God always wanted a spiritual relationship, sons and daughters, who loved Him. They would give a lengthy history of all of their ancestors, stopping at "Joseph, son of Abraham," but never went back far enough to say, "Adam, the son of God." In fact, that was one of the issues they had with Jesus. He claimed to be the Son of God, and they called that blasphemy. How little they understood the love of the Father.

Religion can't save! It can only give a list of 'do's and don'ts' that we can't ever manage to adhere to. Religion kills! (Take a look at the Crusades or so called Holy Wars).

God never wanted the law. He wanted Sons and Daughters, children to love. Relationship with Him brings life and life more abundantly.

What do you want?

Religion or relationship?

Father, my heart's desire is to be in a close, personal relationship with You!

55

He Is Willing!

God is willing. In Luke Chapter 5, a man with leprosy says to Jesus, "Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean." The Amplified says, "Lord, if you will, you are able to cure me and make me clean."

The man knew that Jesus was _able_ , but he was unsure about the _willingness_ of Jesus. But Jesus proved His willingness by reaching out and touching the leper. Leprosy is highly contagious, that is why they had to live outside of the city and had to call out "unclean" as they walked among people. Years later, leper colonies were established to keep the spread down to a minimum. So needless to say, you never touched a leper. But Jesus did. God with Us reached out in love and touched this hurting, shamed, lonely man. Probably the first human contact the man had had in years, and most certainly his first contact with a loving Savior. Jesus' reply is simple, but life changing. "I am will: be cleansed."

In Matthew 19 there are parents trying to bring their little ones to Jesus. The self-important disciples think that is 'below' Jesus to waste time with mere children. Jesus however said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs." No one was too young, too old, too rich, too poor, too pretty, too ugly, too far-gone for His love, His attention. He took time for them all.

Blind Bartimaeus knew this.

Mark 10:46-52 (MSG), "They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, "Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!" Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, "Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped in his tracks. "Call him over." They called him. "It's your lucky day! Get up! He's calling you to come!" Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus. Jesus said, "What can I do for you?" The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "On your way," said Jesus. "Your faith has saved and healed you. "In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road."

He continued to yell, as they continued to tell him "shut up." He heard the call. He knew that there was faith activated. He always knows. He went to the man who demanded an audience with the one who could restore his sight. Willingly Jesus granted his simple request. Bartimaeus lost the name "blind" that day.

Jesus is willing. God is willing. When Adam gave everything, _legally_ , over to Satan, that was no surprise to the Father. He _knew_ what was going to happen, but He willing created man and gave him dominion. Then when there was no other way for redemption, Jesus willingly shed His own innocent blood, bore our infirmities and sin, or shame and our punishment. The Ultimate Sacrifice. The Father willingly allowed His Son to pay our price. The cross proves their willingness.

Then the most amazing thing of all! They willingly forgive us for nailing Him to that symbol of shame! They willingly seat us in Heaven, right with Christ. They willingly hand over all authority and dominion that we so carelessly gave to the enemy!

Yes, He is willing.

What do you need?

Jesus, how amazing is Your willingness on my behalf. I can never deserve it, but I sure do appreciate it!

56

Helping the Poor

Matthew 25:35-40 (NLT), "For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'"

Jesus said when we helped those in need, we are actually helping Him. We also read in James 1:27 (KJV), "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world." We also have Dorcas, (Tabitha) as an example in Acts 9:36. She made coats and clothing for widows. So we are supposed to help the poor. Our church has a food pantry and help the needy in many different ways. Personally, my husband and I volunteer with the pantry, donate food and money, and my husband is always giving a hand out and a hand up. So I am making it very clear that I think charity is important and a necessary part of a relationship with God.

It's important that we do not confuse charity with socialism or redistribution of wealth. Two words we hear quite frequently these days. The definition of socialism is: "a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole." The definition doesn't sound so bad. It kind of sounds like everyone gets a say. Simply put, the way it comes out in the implementation is the government (those who govern the community) decides who does what, who gets what, and every other meaningful part of our lives. You don't personally get to _own_ anything. It's all community property. The premise is that everyone is equal, no one lacks. Unfortunately it ends up being another form of government control and the people suffer.

Now, let's talk about redistribution of wealth. That also sounds like a good idea. After all didn't Robin Hood, the man of legend, that we all love, steal from the rich and give to the poor? It's one of my favorite stories. Again, the glorified story is nothing like the reality of the actual implementation. Unlike the greedy, oppressive lords and ladies in Robin Hood, redistribution takes from anyone who _has_ , no matter how much or how you got it. It doesn't matter if you won the lottery, worked hard for forty years, or inherited your money. The powers that be will take it, and they decide who gets it. Mostly it will go to those who cannot or will not support themselves. Let's be honest now, many people refuse to work at legitimate, honest work. Those people will receive in this system along with everyone else.

Sounds bizarre, I know. But let me assure you, it is already implemented in our government in the United States. All of us who work pay taxes on our earned income. Some of us pay state and federal. Then once a year we report that income to the IRS and we receive either a refund for 'overpayment' or we have to pay in due to an 'shortage' collected. We all get to claim the same things, rich or poor. Sure those with more money have higher deductions, they make and spend more. (That's why we need them to keep the economy going!). That all sounds pretty fair. It similar to tithing, we all pay our ten percent. (We won't compare the use of the funds by the government with the use of the tithe, that's a whole other subject). In the process, and the outcome isn't so fair. We all know people who get large refunds every year. I personally know at least five families who get more than double back than what they paid in. They are happy, I am torn. I am thankful that they have what they need, but where did that money come from? From those who didn't get more back than they paid in, from those who maybe don't have children to claim, or many deductions. I know that I am paying for part of their refund along with thousands of hard working individuals, not by choice. The only thing free in this life is our salvation!

Whenever the government, or any other organization for that matter, gives something away, that money, or those materials come from _someone else_. Let's take the food pantry I mentioned earlier for an example. We help over four hundred families a year. Where does all the food come from? Donations from other families, stores and community groups. All on a voluntary basis. We aren't forced to give, but we do it out of the goodness of our hearts.

A hand out verses hand up, which is better. We've all heard the saying that goes something like, "give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will never go hungry." We need to be wise stewards of everything God has given us.

The bible says, In II Thessalonians 3:6-13 (NIV), "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." One of our early leaders when America was a brand new baby told the men who came over with him, "If you don't work, you don't eat."

God told the Israelites not to pick every piece of fruit or every ear of grain so that the poor could come in and "glean" the fields. I have "gleaned", that means going in and picking it yourself. Not driving to a storehouse where it is handed to you, clean and bagged. It's dirty, muscle using, honest, good work! God warned Pharaoh that a famine was coming and used Joseph to save countless lives by storing up the food. Then, he gave it all away, right? **NO** , he _sold_ it to them. First, he took their money, then their flocks, then their possessions, then their land, and finally he took the people as slaves. How did those poor souls feel about it? They thanked him, called it a miracle and were happy to be alive.

I am not advocating slavery! However, we need to look at some things in our great nation. The government's way of fixing things won't work. Nothing short of God's way ever does. We don't live in a perfect world, but we need to ask God for wisdom in our giving. We should all work hard. Can't find a job, volunteer! Shovel your neighbor's driveway, babysit your sister's children, go read to the little ones at the library, pick up garbage, help at the local nursing home, food bank, or daycare. Do something. We can all give of our time, and while you are waiting for God to bring you a job, or heal you so that you can work, help someone somewhere. Don't ever allow yourself to feel like a victim. It isn't 'us' against 'them'. That brings division. We need unity to really help one another. If we did that, we wouldn't need all these government systems.

Be blessed! Let God provide what you need according to His riches in Glory. Help others. Do the work of the Ministry.

Post Script: After some thought I also want to clarify that "work" isn't always done outside of the home. Stay at home moms, or dad, work! If you choose to stay home to care for your family and your home, please don't allow your house and children to be a mess. Use your time wisely. I know as a mom, who has been able to stay home at times, and has had to work at others, some days you just don't get it all done. Just make sure that you aren't spending more time on the computer, phone or watching TV than you are at your "work".

God, help me to discern between those who need help and those who are being lazy. Help me to be a good worker myself, thus glorifying You.

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Second Chances

**Psalm 130:3** (MSG), "If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped."

The Bible says that Noah "found favor in the eyes of the Lord." Because he listened and was obedient his whole family was saved from the devastation on the earth due to the flood. The only remaining eight people on the planet!

The Bible isn't clear about the beliefs of Noah's wife, sons or daughter-in-laws. We do know that Ham saw his father in a drunken, naked state and shamed his father by boasting about it to his brothers. Some even believe that Ham's sin was something even worse. We do know that from the time of the flood to the tower of Babylon was around six generations (scholars vary on the amount of time). So what happened in those six generations? Who dropped the ball? Talk about a second chance. Don't you think that the story of the ark was a favorite bedtime story for all of the kids, grandkids, great grand's, etc. They wasted their second chance.

Our own children can be like that sometimes. Growing up in church. Knowing the word, yet never having a personal experience with God. Somewhere along the long genealogy the personal relationship was let go. They 'practiced' their religion out of duty or tradition. Or possibly they started to believe that the story of the flood was just that, a _story_. Each of us has to reach a place where we build a relationship, personally with God. Unfortunately, that sometimes has to happen in the midst of a crisis.

Then there is the story that Jesus tells about the man who was forgiven a great debt, only to run out and demand repayment from someone who owed him a very small amount, (Matthew 18). What did the unmerciful servant do with his second chance? He used it to be a jerk. His end was worse than his beginning. "'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed."

His original sentence would have just been jail time for an unpaid debt. Now he was to be tortured until the debt was repaid. (Which basically would have been never). How could he ever earn enough without being able to work? He was like us. We owed a debt we _couldn't_ pay.

Before you despair, there are plenty of people in the Bible who did wonderful things with their second (and third and forth) chances. Let's do a quick rundown of a few.

Rahab, saved the spies, her life and the life of her family was spared and now she is listed in the genealogy of Jesus.

Ruth forsook all to go with her mother in law, after they lost all the men in their family. She took her second chance and placed it in the hands of Naomi's God and she too is in the genealogy of Jesus.

How about David? He was continually given another chance. He sinned with Bathseba, had her husband killed, lost the child from that sin, but repented and went on to be a great King. He invented instruments, wrote songs and psalms and instilled worship into the church.

The _whole_ city of Nineveh took the second chance offered by God, through the disobedient Johan, and the whole city was spared.

Every disciple, but Judas, took their second chance and they changed the world. Peter became one of the leading heads of the early church and went out to the gentiles _after_ having denying Christ!

There are more, in the bible, in history, and in the Church.

Lord, I will not waste any chance you give me! I am determined to walk with You according to Your will for my life.

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Perfection

Matthew 5:48 (AMP), "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect [that is, grow into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity]."

God see's the end from the beginning. He can see the finish line, the finished product. He sees His children as perfect. As the Master Potter-He designed you just the way He wanted you. The whole time with the picture in His mind of what you will be when you are complete and mature.

There is work to be done. Molding. Shaping. Kneading. Glazing. Firing. All to get us to the finished, expected end, a vessel of honor. The Master Potter _never_ makes all of His vessels the same. He isn't a mass-market-producer. He hand crafts each one individually. Some of us may have similar gifts and talents, similar calls on our lives, but we each have a special, individual personality that God uses in a unique way for his purpose. We can't judge ourselves by what we see in others. We can't think we are worse (or better) than anyone else. The Master Potter made you the way _He_ saw fit.

God looks at me and sees the finished design. To Him, I have already made it through the fire, without cracking or breaking, with no flaws or blemishes, perfectly formed and beautiful. I may see my flaws, my mistakes and struggles. Maybe I didn't let the Potter finish the job, jumping out of the fire, trying to fashion myself in the image of what I want to be, or worse yet, how others see me. I have to place myself, willingly, in His hands, asking Him, "What do you want me to do," and "Who do you want me to be." Sometimes, we have to start all from scratch and ask Him, "How do you see me," and if we aren't even close, ask Him to start over and re-make us again. It's like looking at a blueprint before the foundation is even laid.

I am being perfected, through trials, test and just plain living. As I stand on His word, and build a relationship with Him, connect with other believers and join a church family, I am growing and maturing. Those rough edges are being smoothed over just like river rocks.

I am being perfected by being patient and persevering. One pastor recently put it this way, "Persistence destroys resistance." Refusing to back down or give up. I can't grow weary in well doing. I press towards the mark. I run (or walk, sometimes plod) towards the finish line. Like Paul, I will win the prize! God's strength keeps me going. His joy sustains me. His promises give me hope. There is Light at the end of the tunnel.

I haven't arrived yet-but I am on my way!

James 1:4 (AMP), "But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing."

Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV), "Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."

Jesus, You are the only perfect one, but You are perfecting me! My trials are rubbing off the rough spots and Your word is changing my heart.

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What Are You Looking For?

Multitudes came to Jesus. He was the rock-star, the all-star of His day (minus the money and the attitude). Why did they come? What were they looking for?

Some came seeking a healer. Like Blind Bartimaeus, or the woman with the issue of blood. Some came looking for salvation. Like the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears. Some were looking for deliverance. Like the Gaderine or the Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon possessed.

There were others who came for less spiritual reasons. They were like the Roman mobs who demanded "bread and games." Who flocked to the arena to be entertained and fed, or like modern Americans who are looking for a "free ride" and a not-so-real reality show.

Jesus at the end of a long day of ministry looked around at the thousands of people and had compassion on them. He told the disciples to feed them. Of course there was some confusion on how to do that until they found the five small loaves and the two fish, and Jesus proceeded to feed them all. It happened twice. Both times there was enough food for perhaps a couple of people, and Jesus not only fed thousands, but they gathered up baskets full of left-overs. After that the people followed Him because of the food.

He also had those who asked for a sign. Something to "wow" them. Something they hadn't seen before. They treated their Savior like a wind-up toy, demanding that he entertain them. Some came just to watch Him long enough to catch Him in a lie or a sin so that they could expose Him for what they thought He was.

Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and understanding. He told those that were looking for food, that He was the bread of life and that they needed to eat His body and drink His blood. They were horrified and many left, never to return. When He asked the twelve if they were going to leave, Peter who sometimes seemed so dull, said "Where would we go? You have the words of Life."

Some came and still come to Him, hoping for a quick fix, a way to make life easier. But following Jesus isn't about an easy life or prosperity. Yes, the Father wants to bless us and give us good things, and He will. But Jesus warns us "that in this life you will have trouble." But He also tells us not to fear because He is with us. Shortly after the two bread and fish feasts, Jesus is explaining to the disciples and the multitude that the elders would reject Him, that He would be killed, and that He would rise up. Peter tried to correct Him, only to be rebuked himself.

Mark 8:34-35 (NIV), "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it."

The Message Bible says it this way: "Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?"

Before the first nail was ever driven into those kind, work-callused hands, He spoke of carrying a cross of our own. My cross is not illness, my disobedient child, my needy mother, or that awful job. No, my cross is my flesh, my ungodly thought patterns and my own will. What did Jesus say in the garden when He anguished over His own cross? "Not my will, but yours." I have to carry that cross-not indefinitely-just until I reach my own Calvary where I crucify my flesh and rise again with Christ.

Sometimes, I find myself out of the Kingdom of Heaven and back into the world. My flesh is rebelling and my mind is full of those un-truths, again. Then, I have to pick up my cross again-and take my sin to God. He is always quick to forgive. How can I crucify this flesh? Say what God says about me, my situation. Do what He tells me. Read His word; replace the lies with the truth. Fast! Pray for others. Put others first. Thank God for your child, and that job. Honor your mother and rebuke that illness.

The Kingdom of God isn't about "bread and games." It is about living in Him. Showing the world how much He cares about us. It's about walking in our authority, giving of ourselves. It's about giving and receiving. Sometimes it's about sacrifice. Living for Him instead of our own selfish desires.

Mark 8:36-37 (KJV), "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

What are you looking for?

Father, I am not looking for a genie in a bottle to grant my every wish. I am looking for a loving father who will help me be a better me.

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Where Is Your Treasure?

Luke 12:25-34 (ESV), "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. **For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."**

We are God's treasure. He sold everything (laid down His life) to purchase the Pearl of Great Price (you and me.) He is the Good Shepherd who leaves the flock safe in the mountains, to go and search for the one lost little sheep. The very one who wondered off looking for something different, that greener pasture.

Where is your treasure? What is your treasure? Is it your fine education, your forty foot yacht, your modern day castle, or the latest technological toy? Or maybe it is the recognition you get on your job, or for doing your "good works?" Is your treasure something shameful that you don't want anyone to know about? Is it simply money and possessions? What will you give for your treasure? What sacrifice are you willing to make? Your marriage, your kids, or your relationship with God?

When Jesus created everything-He created an order and a balance. God loves us and wants to give us good things, but our lives must have balance and order. First our desire should be for Him. Everything else comes after. Our greatest treasure should be Him. A passionate relationship with Him is the greatest thing we could ever hope to attain. When we do that, He adds all the other stuff to us-giving it freely.

When we hold back from Him or give our hearts over to other people and things, before Him, we lose. The sacrifices we make to keep those tarnished so-called-treasures, ends up being too much. We end up selling our soul and hurting so many others in the process. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36).

Let's get practical. The holiday season is a wonderful time. Thanksgiving-a time to thank God for all he had provided for us, a day spent with family sharing how thankful we are for each other, and quickly following that day comes Christmas. Christmas is a day set aside to remember a loving God who humbled Himself and came to us in the form of a mortal man. He is a Father who sent us gifts to make our lives better, the gift of life to a dying world. So we in turn give gifts to others in remembrance.

Sounds lovely doesn't it? But for most people those days are not all "thankfulness" and "peace on earth." They are stress and overspending, loneliness and depression. Some feel they have little to be thankful for, and some have little to eat while we all feast away. Many look at the expensive unnecessary toy, gadgets, clothes and merchandise (junk), displayed as the next-best-greatest-thing that will bring happiness, love, satisfaction, ease and envy. But it is all only stuff!

We are so shallow...and dare I say it? Foolish. Things may make us happy for a season, but most of the time they disappoint-or something newer and better comes along and we look at what we have with disdain. Who cares if the shoes I am wearing are five years old and not "in style?", or if the phone I just paid extra for last spring, because the free one was too plain, is now obsolete? How many apps can one person use? We are calling wood, hay and stubble treasure! How disappointing that must be to the Father. We step over the homeless man who smell makes our eyes water, to hurry into the mall to purchase that sale item that is supposed to represent God's gift to mankind. Seriously?

Ask Him what we can do to celebrate these special days. He'll give you something wonderful (hard) to do. Like put away the charge card and only buy what you can pay for. Maybe invite someone to share your family only meal with. Maybe it will just be bringing some food, not your leftover things sitting in the back of your cupboard, to the local food pantry. This one is a favorite of mine; make some shoeboxes for "Operation Christmas Child." All of these things build treasure in heaven, if our motivation is to please God and help others. Attend a Christmas Eve service. Not to show off your new clothes and jewelry, but to praise Him for who He is, to sit in His presence with a thankful heart.

We have Him! Is there anything that can compare to that? He is our treasure. Don't you want to give Him to others? He's the only treasure worth seeking. But He's a treasure not to hide, or horde. He is to be shared. "Freely we have received, freely we give."

God, it just amazes me that You have placed my value so high! Thank You for loving me.

Prayer of Love:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I love You. Help me to accept more of Your love. I thank You that, through your Holy Spirit, You have poured out Your love, bountifully in my heart. I thank You that You loved me while I was yet a sinner. Help me to love others while they are still in their messes, to show them Your unconditional, unfailing love. I pray that by my example, they can taste and see that You are good, that You love them. Thank You for my family. For those You have given me to love. May I be slow to anger and quick to forgive. May our relationships grow on the foundation of Your love. Thank you for right relationships, Godly relationships. Bind us together, my natural and my spiritual families, with bonds of peace and love. That with one accord we can lift our praises to You. Help us to put our trust fully in You, Lord, because You love us, and that makes you trust worthy. I pray that by our love for one another, the world will see that we are Your children-for You are LOVE.  
In the name of your beloved Son, Jesus, I pray.

Amen-so be it.

Prayer to my Father:

Dear Father (Father of my heart, love, life, peace, salvation, hope, dreams, provision, health, and family),

I love God! My heart is full of love for You. I am thankful and grateful that you adopted me! You've cleansed me from all my unrighteous acts, delivered me from every curse and every yoke of bondage, those of my own making and those that came with my family ties. You have set me free from the law. You have made me an heir and a joint heir with Christ. I am seated with Him in heavenly places, because of my acceptance in the beloved. Because You are a loving Father, Faithful and Trustworthy, because Your Word is true, You watch over it to perform it in my life. You have sent your angels, your ministering spirits, to minister according to your perfect will, the plans and the purposes, You have for my life. You have placed a hedge of protection around me, Your angels guard round about me, day and night. Because I am Your child, no weapon formed against me will prosper, and every tongue raised against me, to accuse me or curse me, is already condemned! Even what the devil has planned and prepared for my harm You, in Your grace and mercy, have turned it around for my good. Who is like You, Oh God? There is none other. Only You have creative power. Only You can save. Only You can change our hearts and minds and conform us into the image of Christ. You alone are worthy of all praise, honor and glory... and You are my Father. You call me Your child. Let my life glorify You.

In Jesus Name I pray.

Amen.

Prayer for Myself

Lord, thank You for your word. Thank You for Your promises, that are always "yes" and "Amen", to Your glory. Thank You for your love, which is shed abroad in my heart, and for the shed blood of Jesus, for Your Holy Spirit who leads and guides into all truth. Who comforts and encourages us. Who convicts of sin and convinces of righteousness. Thank You for your grace and mercy, and Your joy (which is my strength). Help me to treat others as You would, to help and encourage. To esteem others more highly than myself. To not grow weary in well doing, but to persevere and press on in doing good. Strengthen my feeble knees, and fan the flames in my heart. Help me to be bold in my testimony, in my profession of faith. Help me to be humble and teachable. I choose to run the race with patience, not turning to the right or the left, but to fix my face like flint, to keep my eyes on the prize (Jesus), and to stand against all the works of the evil one. I choose to not only defend myself and those around me from the enemy, but to be on the offensive, to attack, to go into the enemies camp and take back what he has stolen. I choose to put off the former ways of the world and my flesh and to put on the robes of righteousness that You gave me through the death and resurrection of Your son. I take on life and health and a sound mind. I accept and receive all the blessings You have prepared for me, before the foundation of the world. I choose You, Jesus, again, as my Lord and King. I choose the Kingdom of love and light, and renounce the kingdom of lies and darkness. I choose You, Lord, as my Father, because You first chose me. I thank you for coming humbly to this earth, to experience what we do, as a man, for giving up Your kingly robes and crown, for taking up the role of a servant. I thank You that after fulfilling all that was needful to purchase my redemption, You took back your crown and rule and reign as my King.

Thank You,

In Jesus Name,

Amen

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