Casting nets...or stones?

"God has called us to cast nets, not cast stones."

This was a status update on my Facebook the other day. While I posted it for everyone to see--to be honest--it was meant for me because these were the exact words the Lord spoke into my heart a few hours prior.

I was sitting at Starbucks with my Bible open in front of me teaching a lesson on studying the Scriptures to one of my sweet boys...Sounds great, right--like I should be scoring some mega-Christian bonus points or something?! Just keep reading...

It's roughly 9:30 in the morning, and most people in the Starbucks are either dressed one of three way: business-casual, mothers in their work-out clothes, or people (like me) that have quickly thrown on wrinkly pants and a shirt in a hurry to get some much-needed-Monday-morning-java.  No one really paid much attention to the other because we are all totally absorbed in our own worlds…some working, some reading, some chatting with friends… Until in walks this 40+ year-old woman, and the 20-something people in this Starbucks were suddenly very aware of not what we were wearing, but staring at what this woman was wearing.  I know that I was not the only who was staring because when I glanced around it seemed that everyone’s eyes were glued on this lady.  While I could only see her from the back, I was astounded by how tight her Victoria Secret shirt and Bebe jeans were painted onto her perfectly (very obviously enhanced) shapely body...

As she walked over to put cream in her coffee I saw her 6-inch patent leather platform black stilettos.  Yep, that’s right:

6-inch.

Platform.

Patent-leather.

Black stilettos.

4-descriptive words that could be shortened and just as effective with 4-simple letters:

S-E-X-Y

And let me tell you this woman oozed everything sexy.  

Now, let me remind you that my Bible lay open in front of me as I sat there wondering what in the world this woman was thinking?!  WHY on EARTH would she dress like that?!  Didn’t she know what people would THINK of her?! There is no way those shoes were comfortable to wear, so what was her rational for wearing them other than to be intentionally seductive?

Then she turned around and our eyes locked. Instantly, my ugly, judgmental heart shattered into humble pieces.  In that moment, it frankly did not matter what she wearing, what she looked like, what shoes she wore: because the only thing I could see was her eyes.  Eyes that didn’t exude sexiness but instead were shadowed with deep sadness.  If eyes are windows to the soul, like that old saying goes, this woman’s soul was profoundly hurting and broken.  Again, all while I had my Bible out in front of me judging her, criticizing her…casting stones at her. 

Unexpectedly, she walked over and introduced herself to me.  Quietly said her name, and asked if I was home schooling my son.  We continued to speak for the next half hour and I found out that her two boys had just been kicked out of their third school—just this year. 


She was a divorced mother who was weary.  
A momma that was hurting.  
A woman who needed a friend... 


I almost missed it because all my judging heart could see was the outside, not even giving a passing thought to look further.  (Thank God for His Grace.)

After she left, I couldn’t stop thinking about John 8….and wondering if I had been there with Jesus, maybe I would have been in the back observing from afar the haughty Pharisees judge the adulterous woman… probably while nodding my head in agreement with them?  Maybe I would have even been one holding a stone ready to throw, all while pondering what that woman had been thinking?  How sad. 


Instead of having the heart of Jesus, ready to reach out to the broken and lost…I had the eyes of a Pharisee ready to point a finger of opinion based on what simply what I saw on the surface. 

This has weighed so heavily on my heart, and has been something I have had to seek forgiveness and counsel from the Lord.  2 Corinthians 5:16-21 has been incredibly encouraging and on the forefront of my time with Jesus He has shined His light on this area in my life:

“So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now…”

This is exactly what I had done with this woman in Starbucks.  The only thoughts I had towards her were critical and evaluating what really did not matter, and by doing so, I closed myself off from an opportunity to share God’s love, and fulfill what God has called me (as a Christ-follower) to do by loving others, building relationships in order to share the Good News. 

“And God has given us [as Christ-followers] this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation…So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us…”

So, again, if God has commissioned me, as a Christ-follower, to be a representative of Jesus I sadly missed the heart of Christ in that moment because I was filled with judgment.  The truth is Jesus did not come to judge the world, but as Luke 19:10 beautifully affirms, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

We are Christ’s ambassadors…not to judge the world…but to seek and save the lost through the Cross of Christ. 

I love what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:15:

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.” 

I am so thankful the Lord has admonished my heart and thoughts... drawing me closer Him, exposing what is offensive to Him, all so I can have the honor and joy to share about the Hope we have in Him with others. 

Be Still and Know that Jesus has called us to represent His Love to others who do not know Him.  We cannot accomplish this—I can’t accomplish this—if the hands we should be using to reach out to others are filled with stones to throw at them. 

Pure

"Going through the motions doesn't please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice." Psalm 51:15-17 (MSG)


"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3-5 (ESV)

Be Still and Know that the greatest thing you can ever do for the Lord is to worship him with a humbled, teachable spirit...a heart like a child's.

His Blood

"He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed." 1 Peter 2:24


But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5


Be still and know, dear friend, that His wounds became your healing.

40 I AMs

We are in the middle of a series at my church called "Stuck." My pastor was talking about how sometimes we allow negative influences to impact our perspectives of what we believe about ourselves, and ultimately what we believe about God. He went on to suggest reading the "40 I Am's" that are written throughout Scripture and confess (acknowledge, declare one's belief or faith in) them. Declaring the "40 I AMs" on a daily will help you to see yourself the way God sees you. When you begin to see yourself from God’s perspective, the opinions of others don’t alter the reality who you are in Him.

You are who God says you are all because of Jesus Christ.


1. A Child of God. Romans 8:16
2. Redeemed from the Hand of the Enemy. Psalms 107:2
3. Forgiven. Colossians 1:13-14
4. Saved by Grace through Faith. Ephesians 2:8
5. Justified. Romans 5:1
6. Sanctified. 1 Corinthians 1:2
7. A New Creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17
8. Partaker of His Divine Nature. 2 Peter 1:4
9. Redeemed from the Curse of the Law. Galatians 3:13
10. Delivered from the Powers of Darkness. Colossians 1:13
11. Led by the Spirit of God. Romans 8:14
12. A Son of God. Romans 8:14
13. Kept in Safety wherever I go. Psalms 91:11
14. Getting all my needs met by Jesus. Philippians 4:19
15. Casting all my cares on Jesus. 1 Peter 5:7
16. Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might. Ephesians 6:10
17. Doing all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
18. An heir of God and a Joint heir with Jesus. Romans 8:17
19. An heir to the blessing of Abraham. Galatians 3:13-14
20. Observing and doing the Lord’s Commandments. Deuteronomy 28:12
21. Blessed coming in and blessed going out. Deuteronomy 28:6
22. An heir of eternal life. 1 John 5:11-12
23. Blessed with all spiritual blessings. Ephesians 1:3
24. Healed by His stripes. 1 Peter 2:24
25. Exercising my authority over the enemy. Luke 10:19
26. Above only and not beneath. Deuteronomy 28:13
27. More than a conqueror. Romans 8:37
28. Establishing God’s Word here on Earth. Matthew 16:19
29. An over comer by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of my testimony. Revelation 12:11
30. Daily overcoming the devil. 1 John 4:4
31. Not moved by what I see. 2 Corinthians 4:18
32. Walking by Faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
33. Casting down vain imaginations. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
34. Bringing every thought into captivity. 2 Corinthians 10:5
35. Being transformed by renewing my mind. Romans 12:1-2
36. A laborer together with God. 1 Corinthians 3:9
37. The righteousness of God in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21
38. An imitator of Jesus. Ephesians 5:1
39. The light of the World. Matthew 5:14
40. Blessing the Lord at all times and continually praising Him with my mouth. Psalms 34:1

Bring it

I sat with a woman this week just talking about life, the ups, the downs, struggles in her marriage, and her feelings of distance from the Lord... As we went deeper into the conversation she mentioned that she and her husband have also been out of church for a while. When I asked why, especially since she feels a disconnect in her relationship with God, the hardships in her marriage, the trials of life that she is trying to navigate, she responded with: "My husband is not a spiritual leader in my home, and he just doesn’t want to go to church.”

It was so interesting to continue on in our time together, only because this has been a reoccurring conversation in my life over the past few months with several woman: A lack of spiritual leadership from their husbands, paired with, in all honestly, a laissez-faire mind-set from the wife that is subtly growing into resentment. “well…if he isn’t going to go to church, I guess we just won’t go. If he isn’t going to lead a family devotional, we just won’t have one…(insert grumbles here)” What’s even more interesting is that each of these sweet women has expressed the same frustrations, hurts and disappointments that the husband is not spiritually leading their family, but seems to give little consideration about what her contribution (or really lack of) to this impasse.

I know that is a tender spot for many women; trust me, no judgment from me as I write this post, because I GET it. By design, as women, we are wired to desire spiritual leadership from our husband…and when that doesn’t happen, it can be a source of frustration, hurt and disappointment for us, just as my friends are experiencing. Again, I GET it! But while I deeply empathize in this struggle, I passionately believe we must never, never, never use our husband’s spiritual struggles to negate our responsibilities in the role the Lord has defined for us as Godly wives. If you can relate, can I share with you a word that the Lord is pressing on my heart for those of us in this tough spot:

It is time to rise to your calling as a godly wife!

Before we ever point the finger or voice disappointment in our husbands for lack of leadership, we must stop to evaluate our own hearts, our response to God’s call on our lives, and really examine if we are fulfilling our distinct function God has designed for a Christ-centered marriage. (Matthew 5:7 “…first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”)

One of my favorite verses that speaks to married woman, and the importance of our position is 1 Corinthians 7:14:

“… For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage…”

Oh, how this verse that fills my heart with purpose! As wives, we are to BRING holiness. But, let’s be honest here…that verse sounds a little overwhelming, right? I know when I first read that, all I could think of was that I was WAY under qualified! But, before you let it scare you (like it did me!) check out the definition of holy, it might give you a different perspective on really what God is asking of us:

ho·ly
1. specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated: holy ground.
2. dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion: a holy man.
3. saintly; godly; pious; devout: a holy life.
4. having a spiritually pure quality: a holy love.
5. entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred: a holy relic.

Note definition #2, “Dedicated or devoted…” Plug those words into what Peter wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:14, and it might shed a bit more understanding on that verse: “For the Christian wife brings [dedication and devotion for the Lord] to her marriage…. “

While it is the call of our husbands to be the spiritual leaders in our marriages, we cannot overlook our call from the Lord to bring dedication and devotion in our marriage.

To bring this back to the context of the struggles of yearning for our husband to be what God designed him to be, and those ever-draining Sunday morning battles of “church-or-no-church…” Here is some straight up truth, friend-to-friend: Whether or not your husband is fulfilling his God-given duty of leadership, going to church or not, in the Word or not… You must still continue to seek the Lord, be in the Word of God, and keep going to church…even if that means going alone for a while. Continue to strive to live a life worthy of your calling, sweet friend, walking out your faith, and more than anything, trusting and honoring the Lord with your actions.

“…even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.” 1 Peter 3:1-2

Verses 1-2 are refreshing, but also so convicting for those of us who are in the middle of situations like this. Convicting and refreshing for the exact same reason: All God is asking us to do is obey Him, trust His Word…and He will take care of working in our spouse’s hearts. We don’t need to preach at our husband, try to guilt him, manipulate him, stress about pointing out every scripture we think will convict him…and frankly, we shouldn’t ever dare try to play the role of the Holy Spirit to our spouse. Instead, we must rise up, set our lives in response to God's ordained rhythm for our marriage, fulfilling the function God has designed for us. To put it simply: We need to focus on living our lives in such a way that honors the Lord, and let God use our behavior to impress into our husband’s spirit; trust the Lord that He is going to work in this situation.

And to just give you a little more encouragement and comfort for your heart if you are hurting: as much as we desire for our husband to lead our family spiritually--God desires it even more, because it is aligned with His will and perfect design!

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14

Rise up, dear sister, and while doing so, keep taking your cries to the Lord, knowing He hears those prayers, has great compassion equipping you for this journey:

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity [lacking in boldness or determination], but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

So be still and know, sweet friend, the encouraging words of Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.”

Knowing God

Take Heart - Hillsong United - Lyrics [HD]

This is an incredible song that just speaks to my heart and encourages my spirit. The lyrics are amazing!

A Love Like No Other...

em·pa·thy  [em-puh-thee] noun 1.the identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.


Recently, I had to share some news with one of my sweet boys that I knew was going to be tough for him to hear. Now before you think that I am being dramatic for the sake of this post, let me clarify that this was not petty news that might typically disappoint a child causing momentary tears that are soon forgotten by a distraction. This was news that was going to hurt his heart. Of course, being his mother and knowing that I would be the bearer of bad news to my son, pierced my heart no-less than if I had an actual knife sticking straight though me. I felt the heaviness of the situation even before I had to speak the words that I knew would bring hurt to this child that is so precious to me.

The moment of truth arrived. I don't use that phrase that flippantly--it was really a moment of truth...this was nothing that I could tip-toe around or "sand which" with positive comments. It was just a moment when all I could do was state truth and the reality of the situation. His reaction was everything that I anticipated it to be, and as, honestly, it should have been. It was sad. It was disappointing. It was hurtful. He had every right to feel the way he did...

As he cried... I’m certain my heart broke more with every tear he shed. There was nothing that I could do but simply comfort my child. I just sat and rubbed his back as his tears fell down his round cheeks. There was nothing that I could have said to make it better, there was nothing I could do to erase his disappointment, I could not change the situation. I'm pretty sure it was one of the saddest moments since I have become a mother: because there was little, if nothing I could do to shield my child from these inevitable wounds...all I could do is to be there in the aftermath to try to salve his wounds. Comfort the pain that I could not protect him from.

All truth be told, it was a moment in our lives where depravity reared, struck and injured my child. I'm probably like any other parent out there, and got caught up in blaming myself, wondering the question, "Is this my fault? Did I somehow cause this to happen to my child?” The Lord so boldly answered that question for me with a firm, "No.” And instead, had a moment of truth with me reminding me that the root of all of this was because of a very corrupt world filled with sin that burns like wildfire leaving ashes in it's ruin: total depravity at work.

I have thought so deeply about this over the past few weeks, and the other night the Holy Spirit began to speak into the situation and began to give me a word that has stretched my understanding of the eminence love God has for us. The word that kept popping into my heart was: Empathy.

As God continued to stir my spirit and work through my emotion, I realized that God was opening my eyes just a little bit further to the magnitude of Who He is. He was using the pain and love that I felt as a mother to show me on a much, much greater scale of His infinite love for us, and our ultimate rescue from the brokenness of this life.

Because we are born into sin, we habitually chose to bring troubles and heartache on to ourselves by our own corrupt choices. But then there are also times that we are caught in the cross hairs of evil, much like my sweet boy who did nothing to deserve the wounds inflicted...we might not have done anything to cause some of the wounds we suffer, but non-the-less we bear the scars.

We can, just like I did with myself, get caught up in a cycle of blame...maybe even placing it on God, Himself. "This is God’s fault. Why didn't He stop this?" But I am so confident that in our wrestling with sorrow, we forget that His heart is aching right along with ours...just as mine was hurting for my child's. I know watching my son hurt was heart wrenching for me, and I would have traded places with him and felt all that pain so he wouldn't have to suffer. If I could have I would have rescued him in a heartbeat.

Do you see, sweet friend, that is just what God did through Jesus Christ. God rescued us in a heartbeat...the heartbeat of His Son. He sent Jesus to trade places with us so we would not have to suffer.

“For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him with not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16-17)

God’s Son, His Child, who knew no blame, no sin, no fault, took the injustices of this world so that as we experience the temporary pain and brokenness of this world, we can know Hope. Because of Jesus, Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we can, “…come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Because of God’s love for us, the wounds that come because of sin, do not have to fester and infect. They can be healed.

“…it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down...He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so that we could be whole. He was whipped so that we could be healed.” (Isaiah 53:4, 5).

God knew that because sin entered this world, we would experience many troubles and unavoidable hurts. And when depravity rises, strikes and wounds us...God hurts with us, grieves with us, comforts us, mourns with us...all while whispering His perfect comfort, his perfect peace, perfect hope.

When my sweet boy was hurting, like I said before, all I could offer him was comfort…which is the same thing God offers us in our sorrows. But He actually doesn’t stop there—He gives us what only He can offer: victory through Him.

Be still and know, dear friend, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here in earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Lovely

More than I would care to admit, I battle with a poor self-image. It is so easy for me to get caught up in a cycle of comparison of friends, unrealistic media images, and hurtful words that have been spoken into my life that never seem to fade away. I really doubt that I am alone in these feelings... And if you have ever mentioned it to anyone, I am also sure I am also not the only one who has heard this phrase,

“You should not feel ugly because God made you, and He doesn’t make mistakes, right?”

While that does make sense to me, but doesn’t change this hurting place in me that feels that I am, somehow, unacceptable. And if God doesn't make mistakes, and the opposite of a mistake is perfection, why do I feel very far from perfect? Since the new year, I have become serious in prayer, surrendering this area of my life seeking God's touch. I need a break in this lopsided perspective…because I don’t want to wrestle with insecurity, and more so, I know this is a strong hold that does nothing but inhibit what God desires from me. I deeply want to be a woman that is determined to constantly reflect Jesus versus being worried and intimidated about what people think of me. My heart cries to the Lord: "Less of me, more of YOU."

Because God is my Healer of all brokenness, never turning a deaf ear to my sorrows, fulfilling the promise written of Psalm 37:4, He shined a light on this dark area in my heart though His Holy Words:

"I am dark, yet I am lovely..." Song of Solomon 1:5

Even typing this verse I feel the Holy Spirit profoundly moving, ministering and healing my heart. Without mincing words, here is the reality and truth for me: I do have flaws. Not because God made mistakes in creating me, but because man made a mistake that resulted in the introduction of sin. Total depravity infected what God created perfect...I'm not just talking about creation, but I am talking about me. Because I am human and born into a broken world, sin has made me dark in physical ways and spiritually. Let me try to explain:

Because of sin, I have wounds that have formed ugly scars on my body and on my heart that make me dark.
Because of my sin, instead of always striving to be more like Jesus, I get caught up in comparing myself to others...casting in a shadow of darkness on my countenance but also in my spirit.
Because of sin, I have struggled with eating issues that altered God's perfect design for my physical body (being almost 100-pounds overweight), but also affected my spiritual life (because upon close examination, I realized I had elevated my desire for food over my desire for Christ. Yikes.)
I could go on and on…

So, yes--when I look in the mirror I do see flaws, imperfections, mistakes.

But here is an even bigger reality and a bigger Truth that God spoke into my spirit recently:

When God looks at me though the lens of Jesus Christ dying for all of those sins I typed above….my sins…He does not see my darkness. He sees me as lovely.

So reread Song of Solomon one more time:

"I am dark, YET I am lovely..." Song of Solomon 1:5

Because of Jesus: I. Am. Lovely.

Lovely because Christ loves me.
Lovely because when I smile, I have the joy of the Lord.
Lovely because what Satan intended to darken my face with shame, God uses to make my countenance shine.
Lovely because when you look in my eyes, prayerfully you see the Hope and Peace that comes from God, Himself.
Lovely because He is in my heart as I am His…
Lovely because of Jesus.

Be Still and Know that because of Jesus, you can see yourself the same way God sees you, sweet friend: lovely.

Using the Lamp...

Yesterday I wrote about the critical need for believers to be in the Word, seek the Word, and explore the Word of God for ourselves. I know this can sometimes be overwhelming, so I thought I would put together a few resources that will serve as a catalyst for you as you seek God's Word in your life. It is so important to remember that even if you are overwhelmed, take heart: Jesus never asks you to do anything without enabling you with the power to do it…to include reading Scripture!

What You Need:
1. A Bible-Try reading several different translations. You can test them out on bible.gateway.com. Choose one that you can easily understand. I recommend either the English Standard Version (ESV), New International Verson (NIV), New Living Translation (NLT), or in some cases The Message. (If you click on the link you will be able to see a the variations of each translation of the well-known verse, John 3:16.)
2. A Notebook- I know journeling is not for everyone, but you don't have to write pages and pages of notes, maybe jot down a thought or a question, what is weighing heavy on your heart, your prayers...but you will be amazed to see how God really does move through His Word, and writing it down will help you see...and remember!
3. A Bible Reading Plan- Some days you will just want to pour over the Psalms, or devor a certain book, but if you have a reading plan it will help you stay disciplined in your devotion time and ward of feelings of being overwhelmed and temptations to just give up.
4. A Bible Study or Study Aid-There are some great devotionals out there if you prefer a devotional on a certain subject/theme (like Freedom, parenting God’s-way, building your marriage, etc).

I would love to know if I can help you further, or if you need a Bible. Do not hesitate to ask--it would be a true joy to be able to send you a Study-Bible totally free!

Here is a 6-month reading plan, broken up into 2-week sections, that should help you get started if you have never really explored the Bible on your own. These writings, stories and chapters are relatively easy to read and understand, which will help you gain confidence that the Bible was written for YOU! These are passages that are often referenced in sermons, or commonly quoted, and will help you understand the context regarding these popular verses and stories.

The Life and Teachings of Jesus:
Day 1, Luke 1: Preparing for Jesus' arrival
Day 2, Luke 2: The story of Jesus' birth
Day 3, Mark 1: The beginning of Jesus' ministry
Day 4, Mark 9: A day in the life of Jesus
Day 5, Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount
Day 6, Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount
Day 7, Luke 15: Parables of Jesus
Day 8, John 3: A conversation with Jesus
Day 9, John 14: Jesus' final instructions
Day 10, John 17: Jesus' prayer for his disciples
Day 11, Matthew 26: Betrayal and arrest
Day 12, Matthew 27: Jesus' execution on a cross
Day 13, John 20: Resurrection
Day 14, Luke 24: Jesus' appearance after resurrection

Life and Teachings of Paul
Day 1, Acts 9: The conversion of Saul
Day 2, Acts 16: Paul's Macedonian call and a jailbreak
Day 3, Acts 17: Scenes from Paul's missionary journey
Day 4, Acts 26: Paul tells his life story to a king
Day 5, Acts 27: Shipwreck on the way to Rome
Day 6, Acts 28: Paul's arrival in Rome
Day 7, Romans 3: Paul's theology in a nutshell
Day 8, Romans 7: Struggle with sin
Day 9, Romans 8: Life in the Spirit
Day 10, 1 Corinthians 13: Paul's description of love
Day 11, 1 Corinthians 15: Thoughts on the afterlife
Day 12, Galatians 5: Freedom in Christ
Day 13, Ephesians 3: Paul's summary of his mission
Day 14, Philippians 2: Imitating Christ

Overview of the Old Testament
Day 1, Genesis 1: The story of creation
Day 2, Genesis 3: The origin of sin
Day 3, Genesis 22: Abraham and Isaac
Day 4, Exodus 3: Moses' encounter with God
Day 5, Exodus 20: The gift of the Ten Commandments
Day 6, 1 Samuel 17: David and Goliath
Day 7, 2 Samuel 11: David and Bathsheba
Day 8, 2 Samuel 12: Nathan's rebuke of the king
Day 9, 1 Kings 18: Elijah and the prophets of Baal
Day 10, Job 38: God's answer to Job
Day 11, Psalm 51: A classic confession
Day 12, Isaiah 40: Words of comfort from God
Day 13, Daniel 6: Daniel and the lions
Day 14, Amos 4: A prophet's stern warning

Understanding the Meaning of Your Faith
Day 1, Genesis 3: The first sin creates a need
Day 2, Isaiah 52: Salvation prophesied
Day 3, Isaiah 53: The role of the suffering servant
Day 4, Luke 15: Three stories about God's love
Day 5, John 3: Jesus explains "born again"
Day 6, John 10: The good shepherd
Day 7, Acts 8: Conversions spread outside the Jews
Day 8, Acts 26: Paul testifies of his conversion before a king
Day 9, Romans 3: God's provision for sin
Day 10, Romans 5: Peace with God
Day 11, Galatians 3: Salvation unavailable by obeying the law
Day 12, Ephesians 2: New life in Christ
Day 13, 1 Peter 1: Future rewards of salvation
Day 14, 2 Peter 1: Making your salvation sure

Prayers of the Bible
Day 1, Genesis 18: Abraham's plea for Sodom
Day 2, Exodus 15: Moses' song to the Lord
Day 3, Exodus 33: Moses meets with God
Day 4, 2 Samuel 7: David's response to God's promises
Day 5, 1 Kings 8: Solomon's dedication of the temple
Day 6, 2 Chronicles 20: Jehoshaphat prays for victory
Day 7, Ezra 9: Ezra's prayer for the people's sins
Day 8, Psalm 22: A cry to God for help
Day 9, Psalm 104: A prayer of praise
Day 10, Daniel 9: Daniel's prayer for the salvation of Jerusalem
Day 11, Habakkuk 3: A prophet's prayer of acceptance
Day 12, Matthew 6: The Lord's prayer
Day 13, John 17: Jesus' prayer for his disciples
Day 14, Colossians 1: Paul's prayer of thanksgiving

The Holy Spirit
Day 1, Judges 14: The Spirit gives Samson strength
Day 2, 1 Samuel 10: King Saul's experience
Day 3, Matthew 3:1–4:10: Role in Jesus' baptism and temptation
Day 4, John 14: Jesus promises the Spirit
Day 5, John 16: The work of the Spirit
Day 6, Acts 2: The Spirit comes at Pentecost
Day 7, Acts 10: The Spirit guides Peter to accept Gentiles
Day 8, Romans 8: Christians' victory in the Spirit
Day 9, 1 Corinthians 2: Wisdom from the Spirit
Day 10, 1 Corinthians 12: Gifts of the Spirit
Day 11, 1 Corinthians 14: Gifts of tongues and prophecy
Day 12, Galatians 5: Life in the Spirit
Day 13, Ephesians 4: Unity and gifts
Day 14, 1 John 4: Signs of the Spirit

Women of the Bible
Day 1, Genesis 2: Eve, the first woman
Day 2, Genesis 18: Sarah laughs at God's promise
Day 3, Genesis 24: Rebekah's marriage to Isaac
Day 4, Genesis 27: Rebekah, the manipulative mother
Day 5, Judges 4: Deborah's leadership frees her people
Day 6, Ruth 1: Ruth and Naomi's deep friendship
Day 7, 1 Samuel 1: Hannah prays for a son
Day 8, 1 Kings 17: A poor widow and the prophet Elijah
Day 9, 1 Kings 21: Jezebel, an emblem of wickedness
Day 10, Esther 2: Esther is chosen as queen
Day 11, Esther 4: Esther's courage at the risk of death
Day 12, Luke 1: Mary and Elizabeth receive great news
Day 13, Luke 2: Mary gives birth to Jesus
Day 14, John 11: Mary and Martha and their brother's death

Men of the Old Testament
Day 1, Judges 6: God calls Gideon to rescue his people
Day 2, Judges 7: Gideon conquers his fears—and his enemies
Day 3, 1 Samuel 3: God calls young Samuel
Day 4, 1 Kings 3: Solomon is given wisdom
Day 5, 1 Kings 19: Elijah runs for his life
Day 6, 2 Kings 5: Elisha heals a powerful foreign general
Day 7, Isaiah 6: God calls the prophet Isaiah
Day 8, 2 Kings 18: King Hezekiah under military siege
Day 9, 2 Kings 19: Isaiah speaks God's word to King Hezekiah
Day 10, 2 Chronicles 34: Josiah sets his nation back on course
Day 11, Nehemiah 2: Nehemiah courageously begins rebuilding a wall
Day 12, Jeremiah 38: Jeremiah, in prison, refuses to change his message
Day 13, Daniel 1: Daniel risks his life in captivity
Day 14, Daniel 5: Daniel's word to a royal orgy

Social Justice
Day 1, Exodus 3: God hears the cries of the slaves
Day 2, Leviticus 25: The year of jubilee, a time of economic revolution
Day 3, Ruth 2: A poor woman finds help
Day 4, 1 Kings 21: Elijah speaks to a land-grabbing, murderous king
Day 5, Nehemiah 5: Nehemiah demands justice for the poor
Day 6, Isaiah 5: Warning to fun-loving materialists
Day 7, Isaiah 58: Worship that God appreciates
Day 8, Jeremiah 34: Freedom for slaves
Day 9, Amos 2: Sins against God by his own people
Day 10, Amos 6: Warning to the complacent
Day 11, Micah 6: What the Lord requires
Day 12, Luke 3: John the Baptist tells how to prepare for Jesus
Day 13, Matthew 6: Jesus speaks on material things
Day 14, James 2: How to treat the rich and the poor

God and Nature
Day 1, Genesis 1: God creates the earth
Day 2, Genesis 2: God creates human beings
Day 3, Proverbs 8: Wisdom's view of creation
Day 4, Genesis 7: God preserves the species
Day 5, Job 38: The greatness of nature
Day 6, Job 39: The wildness of nature
Day 7, Job 40: God's mastery of nature
Day 8, Psalm 8: Praise for the Creator
Day 9, Psalm 98: Nature joins in the praise
Day 10, Psalm 104: God sustains the earth
Day 11, Isaiah 40: The ruler of all creation
Day 12, Romans 8: The "groanings" of our present state
Day 13, Isaiah 65: Preview of a restored earth
Day 14, Revelation 22: The end of history

Two weeks on Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:
Genesis 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33

Two weeks on Moses and the exodus:
Exodus 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 14, 16, 19, 32; Numbers 14; Deuteronomy 1, 2, 4, 31

Two Weeks on David:
1 Samuel 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24; 2 Samuel 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18

Thy Word is a lamp...

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

I have heard and read this verse over and over since I was a little girl. It became, to be honest, one of those verses that I would almost skim over while reading as if it simply belongs on a coffee mug somewhere or maybe in a eloquent framed display to show off in my home. But as I continue on my own personal journey to pursue Christ, this verse has become a simple, yet incredibly profound portrait of why I, and all of us who claim Christ as our Savior, desperately need God's Word every single day.

Because I have been there myself, I know there are some of us that say we believe in Jesus, and that God hears our prayers, but still feel overwhelmed by troubles, lost when it comes to coping skills to battle depravity, and think we don't hear anything in response to our prayers. Can I give you the #1 reason why you feel like that? I guarantee you it because you are not reading God's Word for yourself. Maybe you depend on what a pastor shares from the stage on a weekend, maybe a verse a friend comments on...possibly a random post on Facebook or a tweet on Twitter? Let me tell you, sweet friends...God has SO much more for YOU! It is pressing on my heart to share with you and to encourage you to explore the Sacred Literature and allow it to speak truth in your life...you will begin to see God's heart for you, the nature of His ways, and what He is saying to you through His sweet, sweet words of love and guidance, you will begin to hear God's response to your prayers, help for your troubles, you will SEE in the Written Word that even when you feel lost...God knows exactly where you are, and He is holding you close.

There are overall themes of Scripture, no doubt: God is good, God is love, Jesus saves, God wins, hope, glorious hope, beautiful hope. But, if you are not reading God's written Word because you think you know the general "idea," honestly, you are as foolish as a poor woman framing a million dollar bill and just looking at it because she knows it's worth "a lot." Or even better, now imagine the poor woman sitting through seminar after seminar every week listening to someone else talk about how to wisely use a million dollar bill, how wonderful it is, nodding her head, absorbing the information being shared by a great speaker, only to go home and agonize and stress over unpaid bills...all while her million dollar bill sits prettily framed on the counter.

It seems pretty unbelievable right?! Sweet friends, it is no different than allowing your Bible to collect dust on a bookshelf.

Don't believe me? Let me share with you a few situations where God has responded to my life though Scripture and absolutely rocked my world...and prayerfully ignite in you a desire to explore for yourself:

1. Like any of us, I have had people that are close to me speak hateful, hurtful, damaging things into my life that crushed me. I believed what was said in rages of hate-filled attacks were actually true about me until God showed me how to discern real truth (God's truth) and Lies of man, and Satan's attacks on my spirit:

"But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere." James 3:17


2. We all have moments in life when we hurt so deeply it feels like our souls are actually bleeding. One particular time in my life I was dealing with devastating news that not only broke my heart in a way that I did not know was possible, but shattered it even more when I saw my children hurting as well. Psalm 34:17-18 became a salve on the wounds in Spirit, and one I hold very sacred today:

"The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

3. To be totally vulnerable, because of very broken places in my life, scars I carry in my memories, and trials that seem to never end, I struggle with intense fears, expectations of abandonment, a reserve to trust, and mostly a lie I believed that I am unlovable. Likeable--yes...but I always seem to wrestle with if I am someone that can be loved for no other reason but just for who God made me. Such a spectrum of issues that God responded to with words that are so beautifully written I can not begin to give justice to how it moves deep in my spirit. Every time I read this passage, these strong holds in my life shatter:

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
..because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
--Isaiah 43:1-5

Don't delay any longer. If you are not in God's Word, start today. No more excuses. Take your million-dollar bill out of the frame and use it. God's word is tangible and an incredible gift that God has given to believers. If you don't know where to start, I will be posting some resources later to help and encourage you. The Book of John is a great place to begin...I also love Romans, Ephesians, Galatians, and the Psalms. If you do not have a Bible, please let me know--I will send you one free of charge. It is my honor and sheer delight.

Be Still and Know "Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts." Peter 1:19

Running with His Grace

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith...let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. ...No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. ...So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." -Hebrew 12:1, 2

I don't think many of us cannot relate to weariness, exhaustion...maybe even a fear that a trial or a "season" may be never-ending. I totally get it, and have been there many times myself. I know the crushing weight and burden of those fears...and I also understand the temptation to try to come up with a worldly solution to speed up or end the trial that is being suffered. Isn't it HARD to wait sometimes? Especially to wait patiently as God encourages us to do in Psalm 27:14 "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous.Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."

But do you see the beauty of what God is saying to us in Hebrews 12... He reminds us that those who are close to Him, as well as those that don't even know Jesus are a witness to how we are dealing with these battles. God is telling us that He doesn't want us to just crawl and drag our way through it...He says RUN the race! Run with confidence that Christ has already laid the footwork for us to come behind Him in His footsteps. God's precious Son has already run the same race, fought the same battles, endured the ultimate fight--AND WON!

Wow...being reminded of this is like taking a deep breath of His grace when I feel like I am about to suffocate.

When life is tough, it is so easy to go into our little hopeless bubbles of self, thinking no one understands, no one can relate...and we end up isolating ourselves and try to bear these burdens and trials alone. This is not God's design! It is a tool of evil. So what do we do when we feel like we are losing the race, or we just can't "run" anymore? The answer is right there in Hebrews 12:2..."we do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Champion..." Sounds too simple to be actually work though, right? But here is the absolute truth of that statements: When we keep our eyes on Christ, we know that we, like Peter in Matthew 14, we can walk on water through the most intense storms of our lives. And when we not only can't "run" but instead feel like we are drowning in the seas of our struggles, unable to endure the crushing waves of life...look up! Jesus is reaching His hand out to us to pull us up, to save us, to walk with us on the stormy waters! (Matthew 14:24-31)

The truth continues on to remind us that when we think we are alone and no one can understand...Christ does! He understands because He humbled Himself from the sitting at the right hand of the Creator of the heavens and earths to endure everything that we would ever struggle with, to conquer every trial.

He knows what it is to be weary,
He knows grief,
He knows betrayal,
He knows heartbreaking loneliness.
He even knows the really nasty uglies of our fallen world...
...to be beaten
...to be spit on
...to be ridiculed
...to be abandoned
...treated as if He were worthless.


He knows our pain, our hurts, our inequities...He suffered them with the knowledge that upon Him winning the battle there would be unfathomable joy, and profound peace that our broken hearts are desperately seek. He had sufferance so that we may have hope and endurance through His victory. And how blessed are we, that since we are called His, that He runs beside us in this race encouraging our spirits, whispering in our hearts,

"You can do this! Keep going! You have already won because you believe in Me...I have seen the wonderful things that are on the other side of this! Keep going!"

There is such powerful hope found in John 16:31 (MSG) when Christ said:

"...The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

And be encouraged by God's promise of ultimate withstanding victory for you during whatever trial your are in right now:

"...but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain...Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe..." Hebrews 12:26-28.

Be unshakable in trials because Christ is in you...know you will endure, and you will make it through!

"...In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! ...Give it everything you have, heart and soul. ...Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take." Joshua 1:1-9 (MSG)

I pray that your heart is overflowing with encouragement and promises from His Word. We serve a God of Good. Our God is a God of Hope and Victory. Be unshakable in Him!

Be Still and Know...God is with you on this journey. Stay on course of this race! Keep your focus on Jesus, and remember He is with you and you are not alone, and He is cheering you on with His promises, precious friends!

Passionately....waiting?

"God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God."--Lamentations 3:25 (The MSG)

Does anyone else feel like the pairing of the verbs 'passionately' and 'waits' is a bit of an oxymoron? A bit contradictory?

In my mind, 'waiting' is like hitting the pause button on life...everything just stops, stands frozen, still, unmoving until the "waiting" is over. It can be agonizing, draining, cumbersome, anything but passionate!

As I walk though life with Christ, I have to continually throw myself at His mercies as I struggle to deal with waiting. To be honest, I feel that I have spent many years in an ugly out-and-out battle to simply...wait. I use the word "battle", meaning it in the full use of the term because I tend to adopt the "Esau-Syndrome" wanting to rebel against waiting. I wrestle with wanting to impulsively react to satisfy a short-term desire, want, or (what I deem!) a need--not even thinking that I am trading away God's blessings and His perfect plan and purpose for me. All because I just can't seem to grasp the concept of waiting. Especially when waiting stretches past a "season" and goes into years, that now stretch into what I call "desert lands"

...it is hard to remember God's timing is better than mine...His ways are higher than mine...and His understanding of my situations and that also of the world. I, to be honest, tend to revert to the Israelite's behavior as I walk through my personal "desert" in life. It is a constant struggle in my heart because I do not want to be so near-sighted that I cannot trust in the bigger plan that He has!

"Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. ... “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all...we wanted!” ...[The Lord directed Moses to tell the people] "...Lord heard you when you cried, “Oh, for some meat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will have to eat it. ...You will eat it...until you gag and are sick of it. For you have rejected the Lord, who is here among you, and you have whined to him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”--Numbers 11:1-20 (New Living Translation)

"But it wasn't long before they forgot the whole thing, wouldn't wait to be told what to do. They only cared about pleasing themselves in that desert, provoked God with their insistent demands. He gave them exactly what they asked for— but along with it they got an empty heart..."--Psalm 106:13-15 (The Message)

YIKES!


The more I study the concept from a Christ-follower perspective of waiting, I am fully convinced it is one of the most challenging exhortations of Scripture for me. My natural progression of emotions during waiting periods, I have noticed is I tend become fidgety, fearful, frustrated, anxious, and sometimes even angry. I find myself screaming: "Am I really expected to just to...wait ...keep hitting the pause button, and just sit around twirling my thumbs until God hits the play button and gives resolution?"

My sweet Savior has listened to me beg for understanding on this subject, and recently He has laid an incredible thought on my heart:

That waiting, despite my impatience and incredible dislike for it, is a essential element in my relationship with God and how I ultimately reflect Him to others, especially my children.

"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord"--Psalm 40:1-9 (New Living Translation)


But He doesn't stop with just promises that He will be glorified through my trials. He gives incredible promises to those of us that are waiting...waiting on Him...waiting and trusting in Him.


"He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." --Isaiah 40:29-31 (New King James Version)

This verse just fills my heart with emotion. If you have ever endured a season that seemed never-ending, I am sure you know the feelings of weariness, a dragging heart, wanting to give up, contemplation of waving the white flag. This verse is like the most pure, clean water a man dying of thirst. It is the air to a woman who can't catch her breath. It overflows with hope!

"Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!"--Psalm 27:14 (New King James Version)


My prayers have been transformed as I have gone through this quest to understand and seek the Lord in this struggle to embrace waiting. I find that instead of begging for His timing to be harried...I am begging that He will strengthen my heart. That He will give me a new song to sing, and He will never let me forget the goodness He provides for me in this desert. Not to say that I do not have days and moments when I do wrestle with feelings of hopelessness in this situation, or wondering if it will be never ending...but I must remember what the Israelites were told just as they were about to enter the Promise Land after 40-years of wondering in the desert:

"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ...For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land...and you will lack nothing....Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God...He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. ...so that in the end it might go well with you." --Deuteronomy 8:1-11 (NIV)

God is leading me in my desert. He is near, guiding us through the tough and "waterless" waiting times in our lives. Giving us exactly what we need to survive and endure it! And the confidence to know that His promises to us will come, but all in His timing. Just as the sun rises and sets perfectly, or seasons come and go in perfect order... I love how confident David is when he wrote Psalm 130:5-6:

"I pray to God—my life a prayer— and wait for what He'll say and do. My life's on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning."-- (The MSG)

One final, maybe random, thought that is massively encouraging that I discovered about the word waiting. The english word "waiting" (as in waiting on the Lord) comes from the Hebrew word "Qavah." There are several definitions to describe this word, all which I expected, except for the last definition:

(1) “look patiently”
(2) “tarry or wait”
(3) “hope, expect, look eagerly”
(4) “to bind together”

As we wait...we are not simply hitting the "pause button" on our lives, like I thought. No! Instead, God is lovingly binding Himself to us! I am a mother of 4-amazing fellas...all whom I would use a baby wrap to carry them when they were infants. So, when I hear the term "binding together," I picture the way a mother (or father) may wrap a new born child around her body to carry the child she will forever, unconditionally loves beyond description, through the day...close to her heart, safe in her arms. Isn't that a precious picture?

God knows some trials or deserts will be too much for us to endure...to long for us to travel...to heavy for us to bear. So He binds us to Him so that He can carry us through! It totally changes my perspective...the thought of God holding me close, as His child, close to His heart, safe in His arms... is all I need to hear to help me understand passionately waiting on the Lord!

"I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken." --Psalm 62:1-2 (New Living Translation)


"I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good..." --Psalm 52:9 (Amplified Bible)

Be Still and Know...that God is in your waiting. Just as a mother binds a baby close to her heart, God is holding you close to His, precious friend.