All Sufficiency

Last week, I heard a wonderful sermon by a 24 year old girl that is living out God's call on her life. Since then, I've been pondering this Scripture that she mentioned in passing. Her topic was profuse with Scripture, but this one stood out to me.

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything you may have an abundance for every good deed." (II Corinthians 9:8, NASB)

While she continued to speak, I continued to mull over this thought. I found myself circling words like grace, all sufficiency, and everything. I even drew lines connecting them together. 

But upon reflection a week later, I see even bigger words like the all before grace, and always, and every good deed. When my kids tell me I "never" say anything positive or that I "always" criticize them, I quickly remind them that "never" and "always" are very big words. So why would Paul use these words that are total, complete, final and huge?

I obviously can't speak for Paul and I would never dare speak for God...I just know this is what He's been speaking to my heart this week:

God's grace can permeate absolutely everything about me (mind, body, spirit, soul, attitude, etc.) to an ultimate completeness that is so all-inclusive that I will never lack anything that I need in order to complete any loving gesture, kind word or thoughtful expression that He would ever ask me to do.

So why do I spend so much time trying to figure out what He wants me to do or say in any given situation...because, after all, if I'm living a life of Love...everything I do or say should be what He has asked me  to do or say. (Confused yet? Welcome to the mind of an ADD deep-thinker!)

Bottom line...there's this word that's tucked only eight words shy of the beginning of this verse and it means the difference between trusting in myself to do or say the right thing, or trusting in Him: 

grace.

Do I really believe that Jesus meant it when He said, "It is finished."?? If so, then why do I waste any energy trying to figure out this thing called life? 

Trust Him to know what I need.

Trust Him to give it when I need it.

Trust Him to guide the "good deeds" He wants me to do.

And trust Him to not only do it...but with an abundance.

Ahhh...sweet freedom from worry, doubt, fear, angst, drudgery and toil.

"All sufficiency"? Yep...sign me up!

More Thoughts On Pride

I never cease to be amazed at how the Holy Spirit puts lessons and wisdom together for me. After I posted a few days ago regarding pride, I've been asking myself, "If Paul writes that it is good to boast of our weaknesses, (see 2 Corinthians 11:30) then how do I remain humble?"

I want to glorify God and shout to the nations of His Love and amazing works...but how do I remember that it has nothing to do with me?

As I have been asking myself these questions, I remembered two things that recently happened. Of course  they fit perfectly into His teaching regarding pride.

The first, was that sometimes in our family, we belly laugh so hard that it embarrasses another member of the family. Laughter is good medicine. In fact, more and more research suggests just how potent it is. On occasion, the thing that makes our children laugh most is their parents' laughter. It occurred to me that taking myself too seriously could potentially even be unhealthy.

So I determined that I should strive to do one thing every day to embarrass myself...and hopefully my kids too!

Now, I don't want to be obscene or rude, demanding or unfeeling...but if singing a little louder in church, or doing a quick shimmy in the grocery store when an 80s song comes on helps me remember my place in life...then shake on baby!

The second thing that happened was that when I recently spoke in our women's Bible study, I did not allow myself to color my hair prior to speaking. I have been in desperate need of covering my gray, but throughout the preparation was hyper-aware that I should not touch up the color. I knew this was God reminding me to be authenticate. In fact, I did not want to purchase anything new to wear either...but was deeply concerned that the older women in our group could find offense from my holey...not holy...jeans. Funny thing though...I went to the Gap Outlet to get them as cheaply as I could and tried on six pairs before I could find one without strategically placed holes. Who knew simple living and humility could be trendy?!

Then today in my study, author Mary Englund Murphy described three different types of servants in the church. While I won't transcribe it all here, I was reminded that there are certain jobs that I have not sought out because they don't appeal to me.

Yes...there is the pride that still needs rooted out.

So today, I need to sign up for a job that I abhor and do it with love, compassion and joy.

After all my Saviour went through for me and the embarrassing lengths to which He would go to have relationship with me...there should never be any task below my station in life, should there?

Chosen Because

Imagine, or remember, if you will...that day on the playground when everyone was choosing teams for kickball, baseball, football, dodge ball or whatever sport it was that they were selecting sides. Remember that fear of being the last one chosen? Okay, are your palms as sweaty as mine at just the memory?

There's an idea I've been mulling over for a few days and I've delayed writing because I so very much want to say this right. I've asked Holy Spirit to give me His words because this is such a BIG idea that I know it didn't come from me. At the same time, I want to be very careful to be aware that we are fragile, finite, clueless humans...we live in a land of smoke and mirrors...and I want God's Love to ooze out of every word I write.

So I've wrestled with this thing for a few days...and while I'm still limited to expressing it in words, I know God's timing is perfect and I have to trust Him to use this how He wants...because I am not perfect. And that's precisely what this lesson is about...my imperfection...make that imperfections!

On the 24th, I read a nice reminder in Jesus Calling to take time out to rest and not feel guilty about it. This in and of itself is a discipline that our culture needs to reestablish in our break-neck-speed world. But what threw me for the proverbial "loop" was not even anything that I'd really associated with the need for rest. Here's what author Sarah Young wrote (keep in mind this is written as Jesus speaking the words to you, the reader):

"I have chosen you less for your strengths than for your weaknesses, which amplify your need for Me."

As a long-time Christian, I am more than familiar that God's strength is best displayed through my weaknesses. That when I am weak, then I am made strong by the power of the Holy Spirit (see 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Romans 8:26) But here's what I gleaned from Young's writing on this day:

I was chosen because of my weakness!

If that doesn't hit you like a ton of heavenly bricks...read it again.

I was chosen because I doubt...because I worry...because I fear...because I'm selfish...because I am harsh...because I'm gossipy, critical, negative, ego-centric, troubled, and the list goes on and on and on! I think I sort of already knew this, but on this day, I felt God's loving Spirit reminding me that I don't have to have all the answers and I don't have to "get it right" every time because He knows I'm weaker than even I  know I am...and He's okay with that! In fact...it's exactly why He chose me!!!

Hopefully, you sense my excitement about this. If not...imagine text size 72 instead of 12 and you get the idea. I cannot begin to relate the peace this gives such a failure as myself...and not because it somehow excuses any poor behavior or bad choices/sin on my part. But instead of beating myself up when I fall short of perfection...how about if I give Him those weaknesses ahead of time and ask Him to grow me stronger in them. That way, even if it's only between Him and I, when I do hold my tongue or have faith in the unfathomable or see positive in the negative then I know it's only because of Him and there is no pride in that. No...instead there is deep humility and gratefulness for a God that chose me precisely because He knew He could fill in that deficit.

As I've chewed on this the last few days, it occurred to me yesterday (not for the first time!) that this whole "Kingdom of Jesus" thing is absolutely upside down and backwards to what our human brains think life should look like. I even said to the ladies in my Bible study group, "It's like Alice falling into the rabbit hole." So while I am thankful that God made me intelligent, discerning, a natural leader and a gifted singer...those are not the gifts that I'm praising Him for this morning. No...today...I'm thanking Him that I'm short-tempered, quick to judge, harshly critical, prone to embellish, difficult to work with, selfish, worrisome, fearful, financially challenged, have had a dysfunctional family background and am absolutely not perfect in any way. Only when I take this deformed bundle of junk to Him and acknowledge its existence can He begin to sift through it and create beauty from the ashes of it all (see Isaiah 61:3).

So yeah...in this upside down, topsy-turvy Kingdom of Jesus...I finally get what Paul meant about boasting in his weakness (see 2 Corinthians 11:30 and 2 Corinthians 12:5) My prayer is that when I'm tempted to drown in my failings, I'll allow God's Spirit to remind me that those flaws are not to be a tool of my enemy to keep me afraid and defeated.

Who cares if I'm not the fastest runner, the hardest kicker or even the sharpest maneuverer on the playground? In God's Kingdom...I'm still chosen! And not just chosen...but chosen because I can't run the bases without getting winded!

Amen!

Heaven

I think ever since I started reading Reversed Thunder by Eugene Peterson a few months ago, I've been thinking more than usual about Heaven. This was reinforced by the Beth Moore Esther Bible study as she kept referring back to God's kingdom versus the kingdom of this world and that we are all children of the King.

Yes, you were always meant to be a prince or princess.

None of this was new information to me. I've always known there are unseen forces vying for my attention, there is a kingdom of Heaven, and I take seriously Jesus' promise that He went away to prepare a place for those who love Him and are staking their eternal destiny on Him. (see John 14:2) But for some reason, thoughts of Heaven...the end of the world as we know it...and my overwhelming desire to see my Savior face-to-face...have been percolating in my mind more often as of late.

Then this Sunday at church was the final week of a month-long series regarding "The End" and Heaven was the topic. I had completely forgotten this was the sermon topic until we got there. My anticipation of what Pastor Marksberry would say almost could not be contained! My Nazarene upbringing wanted to jump up and shout "Amen!" so many times that I lost count. Instead, I had to content myself with quiet Amens and occasional glances at my 8-year old where I mimicked a loud, shouting "YES!!!"

While I sat there I recalled God's perfect timing, yet again, of an amazing conversation we had with my family the Sunday just one week prior. As family members shared visionary dreams, books they've read and the desire for the return of our Messiah,  I felt the passionate longing to see my Lord so consuming that I think I even said some stupid things just because I was so giddy I really didn't know what to say. Looking back, "Amen!" would have been enough. I'll try to remember that next time!

Some of the books that had been mentioned on the 29th at my parents' home where again mentioned by Pastor Marksberry exactly one week later. I think I need to find and read them! I can't wait.

As Pastor Marksberry referred again to "The End", Andrew Peterson's After the Last Tear Falls came to mind. Actually it was just one phrase.

 "And at the end, the end is oceans and oceans of love and love again."

I can't wait for an ending like that! Can you?

I thought of seeing our deceased grandparents and even our two little babies that were miscarried a few years ago. Yes, I was teary too many times to count.

But the thought I latched onto the most, was one that I am certain did not originate from me. The Voice that I know so well and love so much pierced through my revelry, tears and joy and whispered sweetly: "There is so little time...We have got to get busy!"

So that's where I am today...three days after this wonderful celebration on Sunday when we not only discussed eternal things,but many people were baptised to celebrate their new birth in Jesus...and having had a great conversation with a dear friend yesterday about learning to set our minds on eternal things, and look at life through God's perspective, not ours...and being reminded on Monday in Jesus Calling,  that "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II Cor. 4:18)...I am left here to ask:

"Okay Abba, where do we get started? Or rather, where do we continue going from here?"

I can not think of anything I would rather be doing with my last breath or in the moment the clouds part than sharing God's Love with a lost and dying world that so desperately needs Him. When I filter my "to-do list" through that...it changes a whole lot of things.

What about you?

Mentioned in this post:



Nativity

I love nativity scenes! We have several. I sort of collect them. We have porcelain, plastic, Little Tykes, one that Avon used to make, a nativity Advent calendar (actually two!), a handmade fabric set sewn by my Mom, one I inherited from my grandma and even a hinged stable that when you open it, you see all of the people inside. At after-Christmas sales, nativities are the first thing I'm looking for.

A long time ago, I read a story by a woman that also collected nativity scenes and her family kept a different one out all year just to remember Christmas every day. I thought that was a good idea, so ever since, I've done the same thing.

But what is it that fascinates me so about these little scenes? I mean, they're cute but it's not like any of ours are worth money. Several of the kid-friendly ones have even been slobbered on numerous times over the years. And although this word has come to mean almost exclusively "the birth of Christ"...it's actually meaning is simply, birth.

No, I don't think it's the monetary value or the cuteness or even any emotional or historical sentiment...rather I think it's something...more. After all, I've never been known to be a sentimental person. I think, for me, it's the reminder that no matter how cute we dress up the stable with shiny halos on the holy family or beams of light shining down (like the photo above)...the simple fact is that the Creator of the universe entered into the human existence the same way we all do...a bloody, wet, crying mess. But He went even further.

He was born to a woman whose fidelity and morals would undoubtedly always be questioned. If you don't believe this, there are...2000 years later, still people who question whether she truly was a virgin or not. He also timed it perfectly so that there could never be naysayers who said, "Well, His life was easy because He was born into...(insert your own words here)". No, I can't think of a more humble birth than arriving on a floor strewn with hay and animal feces.

If you're someone who likes to paint a pretty picture of Jesus, I apologize, because I've probably offended you. But I'd also like to challenge you to think along these lines for a little while. What if He'd been born any other way? Would the deeply impoverished, the orphan, the single mom, the hated and despised ever have believed the Savior could love and understand their plight? Probably not.

Just in case you think I'm making too much out of this...because we want to protect our delicate sensibilities...don't listen to my words...listen to God's:

"(Jesus), although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross." (Phil. 2:6-8)
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Cor. 8:9)

So the next time you see a Nativity scene, enjoy the beauty, delight in the wonder, tell your kids the story of Jesus...but also take a moment to imagine the dirt...imagine the smell...imagine the cold...imagine the loneliness...and take another moment to thank your Abba who loves you so much that He was willing to humble Himself...for you!

Suffering

Throughout the last month, there seems to be this common thread running through my thoughts, my Scripture readings and thus, these blog posts. Sometimes it's vague, sometimes it's obvious...but as I look back over the last four weeks...it's definitely there. The title of this post sums it up completely...suffering.

Now I don't exactly feel like I'm suffering at the moment, so I have to stop and ask the question: Why this theme? And why now?

You know, I wish I could say that every day I wake up with an absolutely clear vision of what my purpose, plan and even goals are for the day. But that's just not the way it works for me. More likely, I stumble my way through each day...attempting to keep my eyes open for how God is working and where He is leading...and hoping I understand and obey the lessons He wants to show me along the way.

So as I sit on this side of the last month and look back, this common theme rises to the surface. It's there in when I was reminded to be Thankful for the Privilege and even in the movies I watched like Slumdog Millionaire. When I shared how I felt parched in Isaiah 58. I know that may not seem like suffering, but it is a "privation" of sorts. Anytime I'm not fully standing in the Love of my Abba, my soul is in some way suffering.

And again, when feeling distant and far from God...like standing at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the deprivation can be unbearable because I have experienced the feeling of being as close as His shadow. In the absence of that, there is pain. While even contemplating a Christmas unit study with my kids, the plight of our fellow man and our response to it, rose to the surface as I picked A Christmas Carol for our curriculum.

Finally, Andrew Peterson's music has provided great encouragement in the face of The Silence of God, while Dancin' in the Minefields and the promise that There WILL be a Last One!

During this time when all of these thoughts or lessons have been running through my head, I read a section in Repenting of Religion where Gregory Boyd writes about how we descendants of The Fall, want to always have an explanation for the suffering that surrounds us. It makes absolutely no sense to us why tens of thousands of innocent children have died in the last six months from a famine in Africa. Surely behind the failed marriages or crumbling families or impoverished neighbors that we know, there has to be a place to point our fingers or even wag them if we dare! After all, haven't we been taught that we "reap what we sow"?

But Boyd writes this:
"Perhaps nowhere is the fallen impulse to reject ambiguity more evident than in the way religious people tend to interpret suffering. We live in a  morally ambiguous world in which fortune and misfortune come upon people in an arbitrary fashion. Yet the fallen, moralistic impulse to reject ambiguity inclines many to insist that those who suffer misfortune deserve it or that their suffering is morally justified because it serves a higher cosmic purpose. Indeed, these have been the two dominant explanations for evil within the Christian tradition.
It is significant that Jesus never embraced either explanation. Never once did Jesus suggest that any of the multitudes of suffering people to whom he ministered were being punished or disciplined by God through their suffering. Though he constantly ministered to "the dregs of society," never once did he ask an ethical question of them or raise an ethical suspicion about them. Nor did he ever suggest that they were suffering for a greater good. Instead, he uniformly attributed their affliction to demonic forces (e.g., Mark 9:25; Luke 11:14; 13:11-16; cf. Acts 10:38). And his only concern was to manifest the will of his Father by healing and delivering those he confronted."

"Jesus and the authors of the New Testament assumed that the cosmos was much more complex and ambiguous than allowed for by the traditional explanations for evil. They saw the world as under siege by the Accuser, whom they called "the ruler of this world," "the god of this world," and "the ruler of the power of the air" (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2). While they assumed that every aspect of creation that didn't align itself with the will of God was directly or indirectly the result of fallen human or angelic wills, they never speculated about why things unfold just the way they do. They did not pretend to know much about the virtually infinite chain of influences that lie behind each and every event that takes place. they thus didn't try to penetrate the ambiguity of the world and explain why one person was afflicted, another demonized, another crushed by a fallen tower, and another untouched altogether. They did not try to reject the ambiguity of the world by finding God's will in suffering. They rather worked in the midst of the ambiguity of the world to apply God's will to suffering." (I've underlined exactly what I'd underlined in my book.)

Thanks for bearing with such a long passage. I could not have said it better!

I know with every fiber of my being this is a lesson God's Holy Spirit wants to teach me...for myself and to be shared with others. If I'm going to minister to women...particularly single moms...I can not have an attitude that is contradictory to what Jesus taught. I can not approach the subject of a failed marriage, a rebellious child, a bankrupt portfolio seeking explanations or blame. Do we not see that we just drive ourselves insane trying to explain away the situations for which there is a "virtually infinite chain of influences"?

Holy Spirit brought me face-to-face with this attitude of blame even in myself this morning. I've been beating myself up over an area which I struggle. For days I've been asking why I fail in this time and time again. I've been trying to develop an action plan to avoid being vulnerable, my thoughts have been consumed with blame and how to fix this. And Bless His Name!...this morning, He broke through and I finally listened!

Yes, it was Repenting of Religion again: "Instead of trusting in God to love them and defend them in their sin, Adam and Eve became their own defense attorneys. They trusted their own knowledge of good and evil to protect them rather than trusting God."

And there it was...I don't have the knowledge of all things...good or evil. How can I say that any one person (even myself) is to blame for my struggle...my suffering? [Again, I reiterate...what I'm calling suffering for myself is not anything physical. I speak of a spiritual suffering only in this situation.]

Just so He knew I was listening, He perfectly timed a portion of Jesus Calling today too! "Do not fear your weakness, for it is the stage on which My Power and Glory perform most brilliantly. As you persevere along the path I have prepared for you, depending on My strength to sustain you, expect to see miracles--and you will. Miracles are not always visible to the naked eye, but those who live by faith can see them clearly. Living by faith, rather than sight, enables you to see My Glory."

To the naked eye, another may never see my struggle...my suffering...but when each day I trust Jesus to overcome my weakness with His strength, I am a firsthand witness to His miracles...His Glory.

Now here's the awesomely awesome part...the part He gave me over the weekend and because I wasn't listening very well, was delayed in my fitting it into the bigger puzzle:
"Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. And you will defile your graven images plated with gold. You will scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, "Be gone!" (Isaiah 30:20-22)

He placed this Scripture passage in my path on Saturday, and I've been thinking about it ever since. I have lived this...I have experienced this very thing. And His promises are always faithful and true! So if during financial devastation I witnessed this intimately...can't I count on Him to apply it to my life this time too? Absolutely!

When you experience suffering of any form or measure (spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, financial, etc.), God wants to be your Teacher. During this suffering, if you train your eyes on your Teacher, He will no longer hide Himself! Amen! That's enough right there, isn't it?! But wait...His Holy Spirit will also whisper in your ears His Word telling you "This is the way, walk in it". You'll know whether to turn right or left.

And the blessed consequence that happens? That's right...all of those idols veneered with silver or gold even...you realize just how false and defiled they are...that they are impure things. My new phrase is that it's "all smoke and mirrors compared to God's reality"! The crazy thing is that in the midst of the suffering...these idols I've clung to...possibly for years...I will finally wake up and say "Be Gone!"

Do you know what I'm talking about? If you've ever allowed God to work in the midst of your suffering, I can guarantee you've experienced this, even if you didn't realize it. Allowing Him full access in the midst of devastation and heartbreak can help you break free from any idol: a relationship; a house; a job; a church; a sin; a guilty pleasure; a hobby; a vice; a painful past; a schedule; a joyless future; an American Dream...any thing we place before our relationship with Him!

So while I fervently believe and pray I will share with myself and others until my last breath that there is definite ambiguity in our suffering, allowing Him to love us through it brings definitively obvious miracles!



**Endnote: I pray what I have written has not contradicted my belief that there is no grand cosmic purpose to our suffering. Rather, my prayer is that you sense God's desire to apply His will and healing to it.**

Mentioned in this post:

There WILL Be a Last One!

I cannot get this song out of my mind. And while I'm still just reveling in the thought of "oceans and oceans of love and love again," as I keep replaying the song over and over...here's what has struck me...and it's a doozy!

There will be a:

• last bullet fired
• last famine
• last trafficked child
• last lie
• last disgrace
• last hungry, homeless person
• last prison inmate
• last chemo patient
• last siren
• last war
• last divorce
• last abused girl

Do we really get this? I know I don't! In our human, finite thinking...we can only focus on what we know. And our experience tells us there is always suffering and pain...but our enemy is a crafty one. He wants us to forget that we've been promised that our sufferings are just "light and momentary affliction(s)". (2 Cor. 4:17)

But this goes further than just meaning that one day we will die and we don't have to suffer anymore. Oh....praise His Name...there will come a day when He will make all things right and we will no longer dwell in pain and suffering as inhabitants on this fallen earth. There will be one last for each of these awful things...and so much more!

There is a flip-side to this as well...and having grown up in a church culture of legalism and scare tactics, I'm a little hesitant to say it...but I feel the leading that it needs to be said:

There will also be a last person that awakens to the reality of God's Love and that He is Sovereign. That just because we've ignored Him...doesn't mean He hasn't existed since the beginning of time.

This reality no longer scares me like it did 25-30 years ago...but it does make me aware of the urgency to tell others of God's Love! Beloved...if you do not know Him...you are loved...with "oceans and oceans of love and love again". And whether you call Him Lord or have yet to surrender that role to Him...there will one day be an end to all of this...there will be a "last" for everything...and honestly...I. can't. wait!!

God's Faithfulness

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

I've been learning about God's faithfulness the last few days. His lessons are always timely, but as He has begun to lay lion-sized projects out before me...I'll admit...to be reminded of His faithfulness is very comforting.

The first thing I learned about God's faithfulness is "In a nutshell, faithfulness is believing the reality of a sovereign God." (Beth Moore, Living Beyond Yourself) This is not believing my reality...but God's. It's not projecting myself (wants, desires, good ideas, plans, etc.) on to Him...it's researching His Word, conversing with Him through prayer constantly, allowing Him to open my eyes to His promises, His ways...who He is...and not allowing satan to deceive me into believing God is someone or something that He never said He was or is. This is His reality...not mine!

This isn't easy. From day one, we have expectations, histories, environmental circumstances, cultural ideas and agendas that are thrust upon us not of our own choosing. It can take years or even decades for God to peel back all of this to get to the heart of becoming who He created us to be. One example...did you go to college right out of high school because you absolutely knew that was God's plan for your life? You prayed extensively about it and it completely resonated within you that this was God's absolute best for you when you graduated. Or did you go to college becasue that's what was expected by parents, teachers and friends...or even just because it's what everyone else was doing? Maybe God's reality for me was to serve in the Peace Corps for a year, then get some experience in entry level jobs for a few years to learn my passions and what I'm good at so I could know if and what college education I should receive.

Just a thought!

But the point is when our desire is to live in God's reality...we have to question everything we've ever been taught about societal norms and expectations...yes, question everything!

The second lesson is that Holy Spirit can begin to grow His fruit of faithfulness in me only as I believe in God's. "Faithfulness is resting in His certainty, being persuaded by His honesty, trusting in His reality, being won over by his veracity...being sure that He's sure and believing he's worth believing." (Living Beyond Yourself) Amen! I can be faithful to God's calling in my life because I can trust that He is certain, He is honest, I can trust His reality...His veracity ("habitual observance of truth" yep...I had to look up the definition!)

And then yesterday, I learned the third lesson, which for me was the most profound. Revelation 4:11 "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (emphasis mine) I know I have heard of "God's will for your life" and daily ask Holy Spirit to help me surrender my will to submit to His...but I'm not sure I've ever comprehended exactly what that means. Honestly, I think I've just thought it meant His way. I need to let Him have His way in my life. And while that's not inaccurate...it is a lot more.

"The Greek word translated as will is thelema which is 'not to be conceived as a demand, but as an expression or inclination of pleasure towards that which is liked, that which pleases and creates joy...it signifies His gracious disposition toward something. Used to designate what God Himself does of His own good pleasure.'" (Living Beyond Yourself) So God created all things...including me...as "an expression or inclination of pleasure". This isn't exactly a new thought but another thought did Wow! me.

If I'm created for His pleasure then why would I ever allow worry, doubt, fear, trouble, negativity, criticism, bitterness or stress to consume me? Does it please God when I allow satan to thwart God's reality in me through the use of these tactics? The obvious answer is No! I can't ever imagine a time when it would be in the realm (the reality!) of God's pleasure for me to be burdened down carrying any of these emotions. So how do I not give into them?...check myself back into God's reality...not my own.

My reality might be that the bills are late getting paid...my children are driving me batty with fighting and nastiness...my spouse and I may be at each others' throats...I may feel like a failure...I may have actually even failed through sin. But God's reality is to turn all of this over to Him and let Him figure it all out and show me how He would have me respond to each. Sounds a lot more peaceful doesn't it? And yes, one of the aspects of the Spirit's fruit is peace (see Galatians 5:22-23 above!).

But praise His awesome Name...He went a little further to drive this all into my head and heart a little bit further. He gave me a verse in 2 Corinthians that I can take to the bank. [I've added secondary meanings to words or cross-references from my Bible in brackets and parentheses]

"But as God is faithful (true), our word to you is not yes and no. For...Jesus...was not yes and no, but is yes [Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"] in Him (God). For as many (numerous) as are the promises of God, in Him (Jesus) they are yes; therefore also through Him (Jesus) is our Amen (so be it) to the glory (true character of God) of God through us. Now He who establishes (confrms) us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit (Holy Spirit) in our hearts as a pledge (down payment)." (2 Corinthians 1:18-22)

What the heck does this mean??? If, like me, you need to read it through a few times...maybe I can save you a little brain power by sharing what Holy Spirit put together in my heart.

#1- God is True!
#2- Because of Jesus, God's yes is yes...never no. He's not wishy-washy in other words.
#3- Because Jesus never changes, if He said it 2000 or even 5000 years ago, it's still true (yes) today!
#4- God's promises are too numerous to count and in Jesus, those promises are always yes (true)!
#5- Because of #1-#4, Jesus is the Amen (the "so be it" because you know it's true) to all of those promises which make the true character (the glory) of God shine out of our lives.
#6- Because God wants us (his followers) to look more like Him (#5), He anoints us (covers and sets us aside) to be confirmed (established) in Jesus.
#7- The seal(distinguishing marker that NO ONE can break open) that is set on us and given to us to remind us of all of this so we never have to doubt God is His Holy Spirit. And He puts right in our hearts so we're never without Him.
#8- This is yet another promise (pledge) of God's and you can put a down payment on it!

Just let this wash over you for a few minutes and ask Him to show you the promises in your life that you can absolutely go to the bank on that He will always say "yes" to. For me, it's His Love, His provision, His discipling (teaching), His mercy, His grace and I'm even learning that He won't lay a desire on my heart and help me stand firm in it unless there's a "yes" to go along with it. That's how I knew (and could go to the spiritual bank on) that He would give us a mini-vacation this summer (see Why Is God so Good to Us?). That's how I know each month even though things are tight, we will have food and clothing (Matthew 6:33). That's why I know His Spirit is always working in the lives of those who love and believe Him (John 3:8). And the biggie for me right now...I know that's why He would not lay upon my heart the plan and passion for the 24-hour Famine (see Event Page and  the Big Announcement) or Boundless Ministries or the events/service opportunites that go along with this minstry to single moms (Events Page) or even the desire to pray more and for the first time in my life passionately intercede for others (see Prayer Requests Page) if He was just going to eventually say "NO!" in the long-run.

Nope! As His desires, His passions, His will, His pleasures become mine, there' a big 'ol "Yes!" coming my way...and I can go to the bank on that!

Mentioned in this post:

I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart...

If you grew up in a typical evangelical American church like I did, you just read that title and couldn't help yourself from thinking..."Where?"

Yes, it was a catchy tune I sang growing up, but wow! Today...I really do have it deep down in my heart.

I finished (or finished again) Beth Moore's week of studying "Joy" in the Living Beyond Yourself series. Did you know that one of the major catalysts for joy in the Bible is fellow believers? So God really did know what He was doing when He showed us we should live in community with each other, didn't He?

Moore takes each day to go through 5 different catalysts for joy. There are many more, but these are the dominate themes of joy she found throughout Scripture.

1. The joy of our salvation- If pondering on just exactly what Jesus did to accomplish our forever forgiveness and potential for dwelling in Him and with Him forever doesn't bring you joy...nothing else will. (My words, not Beth Moore's!)
2. The joy of discovery- Ever found a treasure in a hidden place? The closer I want to get to God, the more unexplainable He becomes. He is a constant discovery of emotional, mental and spiritual wealth...a real hidden treasure!
3. The joy of restoration- Ever gone through an overwhelming trial or situation when the only thing that got you through was complete dependence upon God? You just knew that you were being sifted or refined and when you started coming out on the other side (because He alone brought you through!) you discovered overwhelming joy instead? Then you know what I'm talking about.
4. The joy of abiding- This is the one I blogged about yesterday (see I Think I'm Being Taught a New Lesson)
5. The joy of fellowship- Let's get into a little...shall we?

Here's some verses for reference:  Romans 15:30-32 Romans 16:19 2 Corinthians 7:4 Philippians 1:25-26 and there are so many more I could share from 1 Thessalonians, 2 Timothy and even the little book of Philemon

But perhaps the one that best sums up what I'm thinking and feeling is this: Hebrews 10:24-25

The NASB says it this way: "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

I know this doesn't mention joy directly, but it is a prescription that you must consider vital to follow if you want some joy in your life! I believe I've posted on here before how when we found out Dale was losing his job and I knew (as discerned from the comforting Holy Spirit) that this was going to be a rough and long road ahead, I made a conscience decision to not isolate our family from others. I was refusing to wallow! I had "circled the wagons" in times of crisis before and I felt like that made it more difficult and took longer to get through the grieving process. And there was grieving that needed to be done. It was a death in essence...a death of a particular way of life.

But what we found was that as people couldn't find an explanation, a rational reason for why we were going through what we were, we found ourselves isolated anyway. So despite our intentions, we found ourselves wallowing. Praise God! He didn't let us stay there forever!

He gave us an awesome couple as neighbors that continued to be an active part of our lives. God cultivated new friendships, "forged in the fire" so to speak...people experiencing their own difficult trials that could not just commiserate but could comfort and encourage us too. He was also redeeming and renewing old friendships. And if that weren't enough, He opened our eyes and our lives to relationships we would have never pursued before because they were "just too messy". But if someone can put up with my mess...I can surely put up with theirs, right?

At the same time God was changing the appearance of our lives as far as physical dwelling, finances, etc., He was transforming our relationships too. Deep joy is found in weathering life's storms together.

I am convinced and personal history bears testimony to the fact that satan can do some of his best work when I isolate myself. That's when consuming doubts, fears and worry assail me most effectively. But when I turn outside of myself, focus on others, enjoy being in their presence...even when the thought of inviting someone over and entertaining them is almost more than I can bear...I do find deep joy.

And amazingly enough, I have experienced what Paul is talking about in Romans 16:19a: "For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you..." The situation that comes to mind happened a few months ago.

During my morning prayer time, I was reflecting on all the growth I have seen in my neighbor, Cat's life since I first began to know her. I was thinking of one situation after another where God has grown her by leaps and bounds. The night before she'd even spoken of praying for someone that in the past she would not have considered doing. Holy Spirit just kept collecting these memories in my mind.  I wept as He spoke to my heart like the bragging Abba that He is and said, "Have you seen my daughter, Cat? Look at how she's grown." I had the blessed opportunity to tell her later that her Daddy had bragging on her that morning!



Do you need some joy, joy, joy, joy down in your heart? Then no matter the cost, no matter the inconvenience, no matter the embarrassment, discomfort, pain, or "mess" get out (of your home) and get into relationship with other Jesus followers. If you can't get out of your home then invite them in! And even if you think there's a relationship that's too far gone to be redeemed...I am living testimony that God can heal, will heal, shoot...delights in healing broken relationships and making them even better than they were before.

And when He does, what will you have? That's right...joy...down in your heart!