I truly am a
hippy at heart. And by hippy I don’t mean the stereotypical one’s that those of
us who were raised in the 60’s and 70’s remember. Though I must confess I would
have fit that mold at various times in my life too. But by hippy I mean,
tie-dye lovin’, peace seeking, freedom speaking child of God. I think God like’s
the hippy mindset so long as He is the center focus.
Perhaps you agree. Perhaps not. Either is okay. But it’s where my mind is at this morning. I actually drew two images (one above and one below for this blog) The first was the dove below but then the blog took on a whole other direction. And thus the hippy Shari showed up.
My verse this
morning for focus was Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in
perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
So you may be
wondering how I got from the dove to the hippy? It was a short trip. It started
with my niece Holly. She’s a little hippy-ish too. And she’s been on my mind a
lot lately. She’s a single mom of three and such a free spirit. I love her. I
love all my nieces and nephews and my children because each one is so
different. I mean really!!!!! different. Out of the 12 they have a few
commonalities, but their personalities are nowhere close. Much like the church
of God.
We have a
common bond, Christ Jesus; but our personalities are what makes us who we are
in Christ, and it’s what makes each one of us cope with difficult times in a
different way.
I cope with
life struggles by relying on the freedom of Christ. That’s the hippy mindset in
me. It’s not that I want to go wherever the wind blows, that’s not God’s way; but
I want to go in the direction the Spirit leads, and sometimes that’s down weird
path that other people don’t understand.
So on a day
that I’m struggling with some issues in life I turned to this verse and found
the freedom for living that I needed.
Thou wilt keep him in
perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Perfect Peace?
What does that
look like? Well, first of all you have to tune into the first word of that
sentence. Thou. Thou is God. And it is in Him only that you’ll find perfect
peace.
It’s not that
life is perfect, it’s that we can rest in the knowledge that whatever we’re
facing is in His control. If He chooses to take us through it, we’ll go. If He
chooses to remove us from it, we’ll go out or around, but some way, somehow God’s
got it taken care of.
That sounds so
easy right? But we know it’s not always. Life sometimes stinks and it’s not any
fun, and that’s where the hippy attitude of the flower children and God’s
children parts. We’re not escaping reality, we’re living in the very real
knowledge that we serve a God who can and does amazing things in the lives of
those who serve and trust Him.
That’s where
that free spirit takes me that is my happy place!!! I can trust in Him who I have
served for 23 years and watched as He brought me through time and time again. I
know that if I keep my mind focused on the direction God, the Holy Spirit is leading,
I’m going to come out a winner. Because I’ve read the end of the book.
Just as my 12 nieces
and nephews and 25 great nieces and nephews (yes there is a boatload of us)
differ and have many talents, so does the church. Find yours, give it to God,
and then walk in the freedom His peace affords knowing He’s guiding you.
That’s my advice to my kids and grand-kids, and it’s my advice for you…
He
brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted
in me.
Psalm 18:19
Room to Breathe
Have you ever been
trapped in a small space? Even sitting in a crowded theatre where people are
shoulder to shoulder is not a feeling I enjoy. I’m not claustrophobic but I still
don’t enjoy it. It’s the same feeling that I get when trouble happens in my
life. I feel as though the walls are closing in on me, breathing is difficult and
being a heart attack survivor, those times are not what I want to experience.
I need room to
breathe. And Praise God! He provides that room through His word.
Psalm 18, another
of David, who assuredly had enemies, was likely written in his old age. Perhaps
a reflection of his previous enemies, maybe new ones. As a child of God we all
have enemies, the greatest being Satan. Sometimes I’m my own worst enemy.
Heaping and heaping things upon myself, until I’m out of room.
This morning I
imagined God swooping in , brushing my burdens away and telling Satan, not
today. She’s got no time for that. And I could breathe.
That place… that awesome
large place… is Heaven. Me seated in Heaven with the Father as spoken in
Ephesians 2: 6
And hath raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
There
is plenty of room to breathe in Heaven!
Removed from Battle
He
delivered me. I did not fight the battle because I didn’t have the
strength. If David was in his final days
upon writing this Psalm, he likely wasn’t able to physically fight the battles
any longer. Regardless of age, life’s
battles takes its toll on your strength.
It weakens the spirit and with it weakens my hope that I’ll win.
I’m
in that place this morning.
It’s
why I turned to the word of God, looking for hope in the only place it is a
surety. It’s there I found the freedom to breathe and the relief of not
fighting the battle. Just to sit and watch God as He removed me from the
battle.
Raised in Belief
Belief that I am a favored child
of the King. Raised, meaning lifted up and strengthened in the knowledge that
He who sits high and looks low, not only controls my world but the world of
those that would seek to cause anxiety and stress in my life.
He loves us! He does not want us
to fight these battles alone and He desires that we talk to Him about it and
get out of the mindset of defeat. He delights in you!
I can’t help but think about my
own children and how I delight in them. I can’t wait to see them and speak with
them. I love hearing what’s going on in their life, it’s not a burden, it’s a blessing.
I want God to do amazing things in their lives and for them to have Victory.
Is it any different for our
Father?
Take heart child of God. You are loved and
adored by your Father above. You are with Him in Heaven and He is with you on
earth. The battle is over with Him
because He goes before us. We have His word as a promise and a reason to
believe.
I
hope this encourages you today! It sure did me
It’s a thought that’s been so heavy on my mind and
heart lately. I’m not thirsty enough. Not when it comes to water in a bottle,
or the water of the Bible. I just don’t want it bad enough, knowing that it is
the quencher to the thirst within.
Why is that?
The old adage “You can lead a horse to water but you
can’t make him drink” comes to mind. There are people all across the earth that
would literally give their right arm for what I have freely flowing in the tap.
The same holds true for what’s lying beside me on the couch. The water of the
word that is all over my house, on multiple tables, bookshelves, and electronic
devices, and yet I don’t thirst enough. I read it. But I don’t thirst for it.
In Psalm 42 David writes as he’s being persecuted
by Saul for doing nothing less than trying to be of help in a position that he
knows is actually his. He is on the run, driven from his homeland where he
longs to be. Away from family and friends, away from the house of God. All
these things that I have surrounding me and yet I take them for granted.
This morning I have burdens on my soul. Ministry burdens. Life burdens. But I’m not on the run. Sunday morning, Lord willing, I’ll be in the sanctuary of Victory Baptist Church listening to the word of God without fear of being persecuted or killed because I’ve openly walked through the doors in the free country that I live and am protected by.
However, today I’m so parched by the world around me. I’m thirsting. I’m tired. Maybe you are too. Maybe you’ve had enough of bad news, wickedness abounding and world of hurting people. If you’re ready to sooth your weary soul. Read along with me and let’s unpack how David lived on the run…
Thirsting for His Presence
One of my
favorite, fav-o-rite songs that I sing is “Your Presence is my Favorite Gift of
All” by Claire Lynch. It blesses my soul! It causes me to remember that feeling
that I have when I’m in the presence of the Almighty God. It causes me to long
to be there again. Imagine David, on the run and unable to attend a worship
service that He so loved being a part of. That’s where he is in the beginning
of Psalm 42. He misses being in God’s presence. So do I.
1As the
hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:
when shall I come and appear before God?
The living God! Oh my stars if we could get a hold of that thought and take it in with every breath. God is not dead, He is very much alive! And He longs to be found alive within His church today. Not dry and dusty Christianity, but praise singing, hand raising, shoutin’ time Christianity. The real deal that comes from being thirsty.
I can imagine the hart
(deer) running to the brook after being high in the mountains away from the
water for a long time. Needing to feel that moisture running across his tongue
and down his throat into the depths of his belly. What a relief! that’s where
my soul was this morning. I needed to feel the Spirit of God like a glass of
water from a well spring. Can you feel it? Just in the reading of a few lines
of scripture I feel my soul moistening, tender, ready to receive His word.
Thirsting for His People
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
There was a time when many, many churches were on fire for God. They are few and far between. I need a church that praises and preaches the joy of God. One that I can feel the love of God through. I have that. David had that, he missed that. I long for a revival both in my soul and in my church. I want a soul stirring meeting that doesn’t want to end. We experienced one such in our church in 2010 when a 5 day revival went for weeks. We were thirsty. We not only thirsted for God but for each other. We couldn’t get enough of the fellowship. You practically had to throw people off the lot. David got that. He loved His people like that.
Thirsting for His Power
5 Why art
thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God:
for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me:
therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites,
from the hill Mizar. 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy
waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8 Yet the Lord will
command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be
with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
The Hermonians lived on a high hill, Mizar means little hill. I have to wonder if David isn’t reminded of times when regardless of being in a high place or a low place he experienced God’s power.
Am I thirsting for that? Do
I even believe it will happen? I’m ashamed to say that there are times when I
just don’t believe. Not because of God, but because of the flesh that I allow
to rise upon with me.
I went to the Orthopedic doc yesterday for my knee injury that I got at work, so I decided to get an injury lawyer for this from www.phillipslawoffices.com/personal-injury/. His diagnosis without the MRI was vague. He said it could be that when I injured it I flared up some serious arthritis. Or it could be the original diagnosis of a torn meniscus. Following the appointment I went to my friend Tracy’s for a new hair doo and she is a power packed prayer warrior. So as we discussed my knee I said, I’d rather it be arthritis than the tear. Which is crazy because the tear can be surgically healed, arthritis not so much. But I can’t have the surgery due to the open heart surgery being to close. To which Tracy responded and loudly. “Why are you not praying for complete healing?” To which I said inside my head, because I don’t have enough faith.
David was using the water
that was overflowing him, that would have drowned a lesser man, to ignite the
revival in his soul and the power to give God glory for the victory, even in
the face of little hope.
Can I get a witness that
that has got to encourage your soul!!!
Thirsting for His Praise
David was distraught and
downhearted in a way I cannot even imagine. But I can imagine it on my level.
9 I will
say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of
the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies
reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art
thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is
the health of my countenance, and my God.
I
have never felt that God forgot me, but I can tell you that I’ve felt that God
was choosing to ignore me. I always knew it was my fault. I allowed myself to
get there, but I couldn’t feel Him moving in my life. And I can tell you that I
did not praise in that moment. But David did.
When
the doc gave me the diagnosis yesterday I said, “Okay… this is what it is.” But
what if God said… “It ain’t what you think.” I didn’t even leave room for the
option.
I
need to be a little thirstier for God’s side of this discussion…
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is
of an excellent spirit.
One
might think (and often correctly) that me and the phrase “sparing words” would
never be in the same sentence. It is however a family trait. While I have no problem speaking what’s on my
mind, there are times (sometimes days upon days) that I’d rather say nothing to
anyone. The ringing of a telephone causes my stomach to go nauseous and even
messages on social media overwhelm me. I like silence. Because I know that in
those times is when I am most likely to hear God speak. And then there are
other times, if I’m honest, that I am drawn to the noise of the earth around me
because I know in the silence I’ll hear God speak, and that scares me too. It’s
crazy, I know! But it’s me being real.
Yesterday I attended the funeral of a sweet cousin who’s epitaph verse was Proverbs 17:27. He was a very well educated man with much to say, but seldom said it. This is one of the most serene funeral services I’ve attended. His daughter said it best when she said “if he spoke you should listen, because his words were weighted.” What an awesome testimony he had, all I can say is that it was a great cremation memorial with the most beautiful sympathy flowers I’ve seen in a while. A cremation services is much more peaceful for the family since their remains are with them after their passing. You can have a funeral pre-arrangement plans and hire cremation memorial services for your loved one if you want this process, you can view online all of the funeral services they have available at certain funeral homes.
As I sat there and watched his children work through their grief in front of an audience and do it so God glorifying; it did what cremation services like this should do, it caused me to reflect on my own life and the cause and effect of silence. Silence can be good, or silence can be bad, there must be balance as in everything in life. Even Cheesecake. I know that’s random… but it’s true.
The
Racket
Three
times in Psalm 46 the Psalmist says that “God
is our refuge.” Refuge being a safe haven, sanctuary or shelter. As a child
of God I understand that. I have run into that place to escape the sorrows of
the day so very many times. I’m in that place right now. I needed this word
this morning to send me to the feet of Jesus to speak to Him about the many burdens
in my life. They accumulate so quickly. Too much, too often and I’m consumed by
it. They’re a racket in my mind. God
understands. That’s why He spoke this Psalm into David. Not only for him, but
for us.
Psalm
46
1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and
though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the
mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Those roaring waters and trembling mountains that feel as though they’re going to bury us in defeat are exactly what runs us into the refuge. If it were not for that trouble, we’d think we didn’t need help. We’d be sure that it was us who could get us through the issues of the day. God doesn’t make the trouble, but He’ll get His glory in the midst of it! I witnessed that yesterday.
My cousin’s death was not a death of God’s timing. But God knew the heart of the man and used the occasion of his memorial to quiet the noise in my life and probably many others. Death has a way of putting life in check.
This is important. √
This is not. √
The River
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of
God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help
her, and that right early.
I sing a song titled “Tell Me One
More Time About Jesus” and in that song there is a line that speaks of the
Pastor’s words being like a “cool drink of water.” The Psalmist’s words are
such. So were the words of the memorial, because they all point to Jesus. Jesus
is that river, that makes glad the city of God! When a child of God comes home,
whether timely or not, you better believe there is rejoicing in Heaven! Should
there not be on earth.
I told my cousin Duke last
night when he called to see how the funeral went, that “I love a good funeral!”
We laughed, but he knew what I meant. Because we both know Jesus. And there is
joy in knowing that a loved one’s struggle is over and they are sitting beside
of Victory! Glorraaaaaay! That puts a shout in my soul.
The Refuge from the Rage
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice,
the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the
bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
You can better believe that
Satan was not a happy camper at Gassaway Baptist Church yesterday. He expected
worlds to fall apart when he moved “his kingdom.” But this world is not our home,
and this world was not what my cousin’s children had their eyes on. They were standing in the refuge of the God
of Jacob. The same God and Savior who gave Jacob a new name when he wrestled
with God in Genesis 32.
Every battle of a child of God
ends in Victory, even if it doesn’t always appear that way.
My cousin was described as a man of few words, yet he was a writer, a thinker, a ponderer… and he and I had many times talked about our ponderings of God. He left his testimony with us through his children when his daughter said, “Our dad was a humble man who wouldn’t want you to focus on his education, successes and the many things he did that no one knew. He would want us to tell you of the day he made Jesus his Savior.”
Anxiety. Not for the good Christian girl and boy, right? Umm, wrong. Multiple people have recently come to me requesting prayer for their anxious spirit. And I’m ever so glad to lift them to the Lord, believing that He will remove their fears and anxiousness and restore to them the peace that comes from knowing Christ. And then, moments later, I’m in the same predicament. What is it about anxiety that can get such a hold on the believer?
I
know my Lord is greater, but for the life of me I cannot convince that monster
that is lurking behind me. He just won’t believe it. I read the word of God and
the anxiety flees, only to return after I allow the cares of the world to creep
back in.
Most
days for me it’s manageable. I reiterate the fact again that I am not a super
saint, but God has given me this ability to shut things out; almost like
slamming the door in Satan’s face. It’s my coping mechanism and it serves me
well, until it doesn’t. It can also allow me to shut out things that I should
be managing. That’s when the stress can
get out of control and that monster lurking behind me almost feels like a
physical presence on my shoulder.
When
I had the heart attacks, it was the heaviest it had been in a long time. So
now, I try to keep a handle on things. But like most everyone, I don’t always
win my monster mayhem.
My
imaginary conversations. Oh my stars, I am so glad you people are not inside my
head. I have more conversations that never take place in reality than anyone
should. I tell people off, I rescue the distraught, I line people up and line
them out. It’s awesome! And then I come back to reality. Bury the thoughts,
shut out the world and crawl into my pity pit that allows the anxiety to take
hold over the peace my Lord wants for my life.
The
street scene in Mark 5 wrangles my angst this morning.
22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue,
Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the
point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be
healed; and she shall live. 24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and
thronged him.25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all
that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched
his garment.28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she
felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out
of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude
thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her,
came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go
in peace, and be whole of thy plague.35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s
house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master
any further?36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the
ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Two
characters who triumph over anxiety are Jarius and the woman with the issue of
blood. Both had life altering issues. Jarius was at the point of losing his
young daughter (12 years old). The woman with the issue of blood (for 12 years)
is losing hope. I don’t think these two 12 year old stories are in the same
part of scripture by happenstance. Jarius wants to keep alive his issue, the
woman, wants her issue to go away. We all have issues. Some physical, some
emotional, but all can be spirit breaking.
So
what can we learn from the word and the characters of study this morning that
will help us with our own issues? I think that there was a commonality to both
of their victories.
W.E.P.T.
I
can almost guarantee there was a lot of weeping prior to their coming to
Christ. What parent cannot identify with tears both of joy and heartache when
raising children? But the thought of losing one is beyond comprehension or
acceptance. And the woman with the issue of blood had had the issue twelve
years; preventing her from spending time with the people she loved, draining
her physically and emotionally. But using the acronym of W.E.P.T both
They
Worshipped – Both fell down at His feet
Entreated
– Both reached out to Him for a solution.
Prayed
– Both prayed for God’s mercy
Trusted
– Both trusted His answer.
And
both received Victory. Jairus’ daughter lived, and the woman was healed. And the
anxiety was stopped. Oh what power I the word of God! These were not my issues,
my issues are far less. So how can I not trust Him?
Will
the monster return… probably. But so will victory.
Whoever coined the
phrase “getting old ain’t for sissies” was so in tune with my life right now. So
by way of confession, I’ll let you in on a secret, 2018 was brutal on me and
2019 isn’t so great either!
I stopped going to
cardiac rehab at the hospital because I’m a wimp with cold weather. It was just
easier to stay home. But I didn’t want to lose the progress that I’d made so I
was doing some exercises at home. Which included a step aerobic that I really
enjoyed when it was pain free. I was having some knee issues but I was
determined to fight my way through. So as I step step stepped on my little Gold
Gym ® stepper I misplaced my foot and stepped backward really hard. I
immediately knew I was in trouble when a blood curdling scream proceeded from
my mouth that brought the critters running to my rescue. Except Callie the cat,
she is way too important to worry about her handler.
I refused to go to the
hospital because it was cold outside. I told you I’m a wimp. So I waited 24 hours,
for which worked really well for me because the temperature outside dropped to
the negatives. But after x-rays and exams it was determined (as best they could
without an MRI) that I have a torn meniscus. So I’m “peg leg pete” as my
daughter Whitney now calls me, and I’m feeling very feeble. And not just
physically.
Psalm 38 was written by
David as a Psalm of remembrance. Although there is debate whether the Psalm was
written to remember his sin with Bathsheba or the distress of Israel, for me it
matters not. I only know that it resonated with my heart today.
Physical pain, and the
pain of sin and regret take its toll on the body. It weakens me spiritually and
causes an angst in my soul.
David penned it well
when in verse 8 he wrote “I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared
by reason of the disquietness of my heart.”
Feeble Folk
Feebleness is a state
of frailty, weakness or delicacy. None of which I care to be described as. But
I doubt I’m alone. We all have times when we feel weak whether or not it’s
physical or emotionally in times of life’s woes. It brings to mind our
mortality and just how very little we are in control.
While my torn meniscus
could have been remedied by using a little common sense when exercising on
laminate floors, my sins can be remedied by using a little common sense in my
brain. Neither of which I overly skilled at. Obviously a trait King David bore
as well.
I recently have been
following a couple of gals on Instagram that are just a tad too perfect. Their
actually not, they’re very human, but they’re posts are “pretty”. Their homes
are pretty, their lives are pretty, their spirituality is pretty. They make me
nauseous. Yes. I’m sinning in thought. But it’s the truth. I can’t handle all
the “pretty” stuff. I need some reality. They really do inspire me to be
better. But I also tune into a preacher who has been an utter failure! But he’s
fighting back and roaring through the hard times and allowing me to see into
his life of blunders and mishaps and helping me to understand, I’m not alone.
When I fell off the
step, I roared both in my soul and in my physical being. I let the puppies
know, momma was hurt. I believe we need to do that spiritually as well to a
world of perfectionistic attitudes that see only the “pretty” images on social
media and in life. We come into church with our perfect attire and attitudes
having just left the brokenness of life at home and the reality that all is not
necessarily as well as it looks.
It’s why I appreciate
people like my preacher friend who lets me see his realness. Then my realness
doesn’t make me feel like a complete failure, just a recovering failure. Which
is truthfully what I am.
If there was an F.A.
meeting (Failures Anonymous) I’d go. But there’s not. And once you attend you’re
no longer anonymous. Everyone knows! So I’ll just go to church, read the word,
talk to God and share with you. My therapist. Thanks for not charging me an arm
or a leg (for which I only have one left.)
Below is the teen lesson I’ll use for tomorrows Sunday School program where I teach 9-12th grades. It’s certainly a suitable study for adults as well, after all, I teach these teens as the spiritually mature adults they are. On more than one occasion they’ve taught me.
Most days I feel like the underdog. I fail, I fall, I get up and try again. I leap in faith only to look more like a leap frog than leaping a building in a single bound. I venture a guess I’m not alone. I’ve yet to meet a saint of God (at least any I cared to be around) who thought they were an absolute success. Servitude brings a humility that allows us to remember who the real super Hero is: The Lord Jesus Christ! But even the bible recognizes the making of a hero. We’re not super heroes, but yet we too have the potential to be a hero by using the power within us. We (or at least I) fail to remember that it’s never me who has the ability to make things happens when leading souls to Christ or serving God in any capacity. But rather the Holy Spirit.
The rollcall
of heroes in the book of Hebrews gives me great hope that God can use someone
like me. So what is our role on the roll and what is our superpower.
One of my Dad’s
favorite verses was Hebrews 11:1 ~
Now faith is the substance
of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Superpower
#1 – Seeing the Unseen
Other
Christians see things in me that I don’t see. Or I don’t have the faith in my abilities
to bring them to fruition. But if we view life through the vantage point of God
what are the unseen things we’d see? And how do we see them?
Hebrews 1:3
Through faith we understand that
the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were
not made of things which do appear.
What unseen
things do you “see” in creation?
When I think
of framing I think of an incomplete project. God created this world by speaking
it into existence. “Framed by the word of God.” But there is still work to do. We
are that work for which we do by stepping and leaping in faith to show others
to Christ.
Why do you
think that unsaved people, especially those in the field of science, struggle
with believing in God’s creation?
Superpower
# 2 – Willing to Kill
The first hero
mentioned in the book of Hebrews 11 is Abel. His super power was a righteous
kill.
Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a
more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was
righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Abel killed in
obedience. Cain on the other hand killed out of jealous and pride and the
killing was of his own brother.
Why was Abel’s
killing of the sacrifice righteous?
Is
that hard for us to understand, especially if we are critter lovers?
Of course it
is! But it may be a little less difficult for those of us who are not
vegetarian. We can understand the sacrifice a critter makes for us to have a
hamburger.
Abel’s refusal
to sacrifice an animal was his unwillingness to recognize that sin required a
blood covering. It still does. But Christ made that final sacrifice on the
cross.
The death now
is our own. We are dead to ourselves and alive in Christ!
Superpower
# 3 – God Pleasers
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated
that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated
him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
What can we do
that would please God and allow the world to see this superpower?
One thing for
certain, without faith we will not please God. Hebrews 11:6 says
But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe00 th0at he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
If by seeking
God, it pleases Him, how do we seek Him? And how does seeking Him show faith?
Superpower #4 – Boat
Builders
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of
God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving
of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith.
In that day,
that was more than a little bit crazy. From this side of it we know how wise he
was, but at that point it had never rained one drop.
Sometimes if
we want to be obedient to God’s calling we have to be a little bit crazy!
Have you, or
do you know someone who’s been a little bit crazy?
Superpower #5 – Going
to the unknown and believing the impossible
Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed; he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Stepping out in
faith isn’t for the faint of heart. Abraham had no idea where God was sending him,
but he was willing to go.
Where would
you fear God’s calling on your life? Has He called you to do something you now
fear?
What
country(s) would you fear being called to?
Through faith also Sara herself
received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she
judged Him faithful who had promised.
Sarah was 90
and Abraham 100 when Isaac was born. There is nothing that God cannot do?
Write down
something that you struggle believing God will do in your life and then
remember the principles of your superpowers!
Superpower #6 – Eternal
Living
Hebrews
11:20-22
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and
Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob when he was dying, blessed both
the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith
Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel;
and gave commandment concerning his bones.
All these men
knew that there was an eternity to live for. Until their dying breath they
handed down that legacy. We should never stop believing that we need to tell
people about Jesus.
How should an
eternal mindset cause us to live?
Superpower #7 – Facing
the Fire and Water
Hebrews 11:
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was
hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and
they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to
years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction
with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of
the reward.27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing
the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.28 Through faith he kept the passover, and
the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.29 By faith they passed through the Red sea
as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Moses stood
before the fire when God called him out of the burning bush and he stood before
the Red Sea believing through the power of God they’d get through it. Even as
an infant he was placed in harms way. All this is evidence that even the chosen
children of God are not immune to heart aches and danger. His own family
rejected his wife and gossiped behind his back, but God took care of it all.
How does this
encourage you in your everyday life?
Superpower #8 – Girl
power!
Hebrews 11:31
By faith the harlot Rahab
perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with
peace.
God doesn’t
only use men for the higher powers. Rahab is listed as a “harlot” and yet she
is in the lineage of Jesus Christ. What does that tell us about the people God
will use for the Kingdom’s glory?
Rahab and her family’s
life was spared because she believed in the God of Abraham and protected His
people. She truly had girl power to face certain death if she was caught. She
also proved that God can use people even with questionable pasts.
Paul went onto
mention more heroes of the faith, but what we might find when we get to Heaven
is that in a book of the things we’ve done for Christ we too are mentioned as
heroes of the faith!
This morning as I tried to get my heart in shape for Christmas… which isn’t always easy… I kept hearing the song “Jesus is the Rock of my salvation and His banner over me is love, Jesus is the Rock of my salvation and His banner over me is love, Jesus is the Rock of my Salvation and His banner over me is love… His banner… over me… is love. If you know that tune, it is likely stuck in your head too! You’re welcome! But that’s okay, we need to remember that what ties the cradle to the cross is a love that has been there since the creation of time.
I’m not sure if the scripture came first or the song this morning but none the less it’s been a good study.
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious. ~Isaiah 11:10
From that one scripture, so many others began to run through my mind like the banner song.
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner (ensign) over me is love. ~ Song of Solomon 2:4
Here’s your sign…
and mine too. While the world is so focused on the physical things of life that bring temporal joy (which I can be so guilty of) the very evidence of our salvation which is the love of God, often takes a back seat. It’s why there can be so much stress around the holidays. Our focus is not on the main thing. The reason Christ came was to prove His love for us. And somehow or another the focus seems to get off Him and on to us.
Here’s your star…
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root of the offspring of David (root of David), and the bright and morning star. ~ Revelation 22:16
Long before the star was in the heavens proclaiming the birth of our Savior, the Bright and Morning Star had His place in the Heavens. He knew there needed to be a plan to saved fallen man, and as the lineage of Adam to Christ, with David in the midst became filled with countless characters of less than perfect reputations, the plan stayed perfect. Amazing.
Here’s Your Savior…
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ~ Isaiah 7:14
Emmanuel. God with us. Is He? Or has He been shoved to the side like the wrapping paper that was only important when it concealed the goodness. Then once the goodness of the gift was discovered the paper wasn’t important.
Do we not treat the Word of God, “God with us”, in that same manner? Once we’ve discovered His salvation we no longer find the paper important. And while the wrapping paper certainly isn’t the important part of Christmas, The Word of God, which is how He delivered our salvation to us is important for our relationship to continue. Without it, He is no longer central focus.
Here’s What You Seek…
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (His rest) ~ Matthew 11:28
I don’t know what you need this morning, but I needed to hear words of encouragement from God that would draw my mind back into the central focus of the season. Jesus. I needed that banner waving before me, draped between the two trees; one signifying life, the other death. Together they symbolize the gift of eternal life and peace through Jesus Christ. The latter of which I cast to the side in exchange for the chaos and mayhem of the season. Praise God I can’t lose eternal life or I’d misplace that in all the wrapping too!
For certain Satan doesn’t want you to know God because he’d prefer you stay in his custody. But once a soul has given their heart to Christ, Satan has to change his game plan to interfere with the Kingdom and the Kingdom’s work. There is nothing he can do to remove the seal of Salvation that God puts on His children.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Glory! But he can certainly do a lot of damage to the spiritual walk of God’s children by binding them with lies. Or at least that’s the case with me. So today I search the truth and invite you along…
Micah 7:18-20
18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
We’re not to fool ourselves and believe that God is not a Holy and just God Who doesn’t get angry. Oh… I believe He gets angry and I believe He gets frustrated with me on a pretty regular basis. But the trouble with my thinking is, I get stuck there. There in that place of God’s frustration, long after He has moved on and sometimes may never have been, I’m still there. He moved on the second I repented, but I choose to stay in that place of bondage and allow Satan to convince me that God’s frustration lingers on. And I have a feeling I’m not alone.
It’s much easier in our less than merciful flesh to view God as a less than merciful God. If every day we would remember three words that God has attested to, through His Son Jesus Christ.
Forgiven
Micah 7:18 – God delights in mercy! The other day I watched as an adult was less than merciful with a child. The children happened not to be hers. Not that that is always the case, I know parents who are less than forgiving. But on this occasion the child had misbehaved and she separated herself from him as if to say “you are not worthy of my presence.” My heart broke. Praise God our Savior doesn’t treat us in that manner. He longs for the relationship to be restored as soon as it’s broken. But we delay, buying into Satan’s lies that God is forever upset. No… God is forever merciful.
Forgotten
Micah 7:19 – How deep is the sea? I personally don’t know, but I know it’s deep! And how far is the east from the west? Really far! You can’t get there from here. And that is the geographical location of our sins. Yet Satan wants us to believe that God has them attached to His refrigerator, so that every time He goes there, He is reminded of my sin.
That’s how our minds work. Not God’s. I have to work really hard not to rehash old hurts. Because they are not in the sea. They’re in the recesses of my mind waiting for a day that I can call them to mind and be frustrated and hurt again. And have to forgive… again. If I don’t bring them up, Satan will. And so when I’m in need of God forgetting something I’ve done or someway I’ve failed, I am reminded of how someone hurt or failed me, and I attach that theory of thinking to God too. What a lie!
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
Forever
Micah 7:20 – God’s plan nor word has ever changed, but man’s sure has. The recent election was proof of that. The political rhetoric coming from all sides made it impossible to know who was telling the truth. And even if someone had a video as evidence, we still couldn’t trust that it hadn’t been manipulated in some way and voting was a very serious game of chance. And such is life sometimes. Marriages fail, friends forsake us and parents and children break our heart. So when we hear the word “forever” in the biblical sense, it’s sometimes hard to grasp.
I can’t help but think of Satan’s words to Eve… “ye shall not surely die.” So we have on one hand the thought that forever will never come, and on the other hand, that forever is subjective to the situation. And both make it hard to fathom eternity.
But God’s word will stand true and Satan will forever by a liar! He would much prefer that we didn’t know the truth and one way he can help that happen is to sabotage our relationship with the Lord. It’s not hard when fewer and fewer people keeping their relationship with the Lord first in priority. The more we put between us and God the easier it is for Satan to convince us that God is not desiring a relationship with us. And when we fail, we can’t feel God’s mercy because there’s too much distance. But guess who didn’t move?
God’s exactly where He’s always been. In eternity past, present and future. Loving us as much today as yesterday and wishing we’d just talk to Him, and skip Satan the middle man… he’s a liar anyway.
Some mornings the start is rough. The older I get it seems the rougher it seems and our 54 degree morning here in West Virginia made this morning a little crunchier. The sky is clear and the sun is shining but my bones feel like mid-November. That’s enough whining… now I’ll get to the point of today’s very short message. Weep. Pray. Do Something!
That was my mindset this morning as I attempted to wrap my head around a thought as I read in 2 Chronicles again today, trying to finish up my Bible reading list. But my thoughts were going back to scripture in the days before when the Levites had to help the Priests out because there wasn’t enough of them to do the job. My heart breaks for the little country churches across America who don’t have willing leaders, or for some of them any leaders, but for most of them, worn out leaders! I also have many friends with broken hearts for various reasons and my heart breaks too. As the tears fell down my cheeks this morning I was frustrated at my inability to fix “stuff” and people. And then the thought popped into my mind and the burden lifted from my heart.
“Weep. Pray. Do Something!”
In Psalm 126:5 David writes, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
I was sowing tears in my Bible this morning and believing that God was going to turn the mourning hearts of friends into joy one day. Maybe not today. But today I could reap the joy in knowing that God had their lives in His hands and He was faithful to answer their prayers and mine. I just needed to do something. Even if it was cry. Sometimes that’s enough.
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
On some days tears are enough. God obviously appreciates that effort, else why would He put our tears in a bottle and write it down in a book. He commemorates our weeping. That thought captured my attention.
On the days when I don’t think I’m doing anything, God takes note…
So I dried up my eyes. Sketched todays image. Wrote these few words to remind you and I both. “Just do Something.” Whatever it is, if it’s done for the Lord it’s a worthy effort.
I love you… I’m praying for those that read todays blog and asking God to help you understand what your ‘something’ is.
