Some Sunday Thoughts after Thanksgiving:

For anyone else at Grace this morning, I wonder if you were as touched by Roger's sermon on the subject of "hope" as we were. What a time of hope Advent and Christmas really is! Roger used Isaiah 49:22-23 (and some other references as well). The hope is for right now!

How wonderful that it is for all of us..."See, I will beckon to the Gentiles..." and again..."those who hope in me will not be disappointed."

I did not recognize who spoke the words from the audience, "We, of all people, should be the ones with hope..." How true!

Then someone else spoke from the audience, "I've known hopeless...and I've known hope..."

How honest!

Sometimes it does seem like hopelessness, despair, depression, and cynicism are all around us (and with good cause for it). And then there is Jesus saying, "I am come that they may have life and have it to the full..." (John 10:10). That is the opposite of the dark message of hopelessness.

I'm thankful for Roger's good messages, I'm thankful for the endless creativity of our worship teams and those who decorate the church, and I'm thankful for the honesty and sincerity of those who worship at Grace.

Lana Ringgenberg

I did not know that

And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your seed and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.~Genesis 3:15

I was thinking this morning that I am really looking forward to Christmas this year. So I started thinking about Old Testament prophecies and how for YEARS the people of Israel waited for a Messiah. They were told in subtle and not so subtle ways that He is coming and this is how. What I didn't realize, is that prophecy started in Genesis 3. The above verse is God telling the serpent what's what after the fall in the Garden of Eden. Note with me that He tells him that there is going to be battle between the woman's seed and him. Quick biology note, women don't have "seed" we have eggs, men have seed and you need the 2 of then to make a baby. But the woman he is referring to is going to give birth with out the need for a human father. Did you know this??? It is the prophecy of the virgin birth right at the beginning of creation. And note He goes on to say, you will wound Him but He will take you out. He did it first at His resurrection and ultimately when He comes back and throws him into that lake of fire (see Revelation something). God had a plan for man kind's redemption at the exact moment they needed it. I don't think I ever thought that He needed to sit and think about it, like I do when I am going to punish my kids. But that is where my comparison has gone awry. We often think about this passage as "the curse" for the fall of man. I see now it is God saying "Here's the consequences but it's not the end. I have a plan for your salvation." I love it. I hope this blesses you today too.

joy

Warrior Child

For the past five mornings I have eagerly logged onto the blog anxious to hear the Lord's message through Joy's words while sipping on the flavor of coffee I had in my house. This week I bought Raspberry Chocolate from Smokey Row and became frustrated as I could not find a compatible flavor of cream. You are probably thinking she has a coffee addiction and it is true I do! I comfort myself that there is a devotional book titled "Latte and the Lord". So, I am not the only one that believes they go nicely together!

Joy, thank you for your diligent posts and the courage to blog what the Lord put on your heart. I hope you have not felt alone, but know we were walking with you in Spirit and Prayer. As you find yourself weary I pray you are resting in Jesus' arms. The safest place for a warrior child. As I daily read where the Lord led you in scripture and listened to your heart I was warmed by the beautiful picture you painted showing us a real journey traveled with Him.

You have challenged me to ask myself what it means to be a warrior child. . . "Am I willing or can I . . . .live, do, battle, surrender, listen, or suffer bringing Glory to the Lord?" It seems life doesn't always give me a choice in the battle but rather forces me into unexpected wars. In reverent fear I share today, "I am willing" learning only the Spirit within gives me the strength or weakness I need to be a warrior child that gives all the Glory to the Lord!

Love, Lissa

Last One

Ok I didn't do all 7 days but it is a week and I am finishing this challenge. Not strong. Not perfect. But finishing nonetheless. Believe me when I say I wanted to stop with the last post. I would be the exactly what I described fearful, tired, discouraged and ready to give up. That would not be a good way to end. Besides, it's not about me. It's about the pressing on my heart last week Tuesday morning that "They need to know." Still don't know who "they" are but I am trusting Jesus does. Isaiah 55:11 says the word will not return empty but will accomplish what God desires and will achieve the purpose He desires. So I am believing God.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

"The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."-Exodus 33:14

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you." Psalm 116:7

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him." Psalm 62:1

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

I am going to let those verses speak for themselves and let myself get to bed at a decent time this evening.
Thank you for letting serve in this way.
Jesus, we come to you, weary and burdened. We long to be joined to you. Thank you that you never leave us to carry our burdens alone. Thank you that you never ask us to carry more than we can bear. We find our rest in You. In your sweet, precious Name, Amen.

Day Five

"Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome and fight with your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives and your homes." Nehemiah 4:14
The context of this passage is Nehemiah talking to the workers who are rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem after they returned from exile. It was not going to be a simple task as is usually the case when God calls us to do something. If you read the beginning of chapter 4 the workers face opposition not unlike what we face today.
They had the wall half way built and their enemies saw they were making progress and they were angry and began plotting (v7). Not unlike our enemy. He isn't just annoyed when we grow closer to what we are called to be. He gets angry. The builders response was to pray and post a guard day and night. As New Testament believers Paul translates this to us. "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
In the next verses the laborers face their own frustration, doubt and weariness. They know their enemies are watching and waiting. The Jews who lived near by felt it was their duty to tell them what an impossible task they faced.
Nehemiah responds by placing guards against the lowest places, the places most vulnerable to attack. In the face of our own self doubt about our call, our weariness, our knowledge of the enemy's desire to destroy us and our fellow believers discouraging us, we need know what areas in our walls are most vulnerable to attack. I don't know what that is for you but for me it is worrying about what others are thinking about me. I can make up all kinds of lies in my head about what someone else is thinking about me or saying about me. These lies can paralyze me into inaction pretty quickly. My guard for this is my knowledge of Christ's unconditional love and acceptance of me just the way I am, the way He made me. My sword is the word of God, specifically, "And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know that this love surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Nehemiah also tells them to not be afraid, remember the Lord, and fight. He called them to fight specifically for their families. Don't let discouragement, fear, isolation, cause you to give up. Even if you think you can't do it, you need to fight for your family. Maybe it is your family that is in jeopardy. If you ever needed to hear a word it is this one. Fight. Fight for your family. Fight because your family needs you too. Don't give up. Your family is so valuable to God he made the family before he made the church. I don't know how many other ways to say it. Get whatever help you need and fight. I can tell you from experience I know it's not easy but it's necessary. I am not going to go all Proverbs 31 on you (no one can measure up to that!) I am just going to say please don't give up.
Abba, Father, we are your children, part of your family. And just as a mother could not forget her own child, you can not forget us. You hold us tight in the palm of your hand. Give us what we need to continue, to perservere toward what it is you have in store for us. Forgive us for when we forget that and want to give up. We fix our eyes on You, the Author and Perfector of our faith.
Amen

Day Four

It's early in the morning on Saturday or late Friday night, depends on your perspective. For me, it means that this will cover both Friday and Saturday's blog. :)
Mark 9:21-24
21Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. 22"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
24Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
I hope that someday, when I get to heaven, it will be obvious to me who this father is so I can tell him thank you for being so real.
I have spoken about the fight and spiritual warfare this week but Thursday night I had a slight turn and I had a revelation in my heart.
This week, actually this month, this season, this year, has been somewhat challenging. I usually see these times as an opportunity to grow, maybe God wants to teach me something. Sometimes I look at these challenges, stressors, as enemy attacks or spirtual warfare. I am embarassed to say my thought process is "Well I must be doing something good or the Satan would not try to attack." Now I know that spiritual warfare is real. I know that it happens. But my eyes were opened to something different.
This week I have prayed, been in the Word, wrote to you about it on this blog and felt pretty good. I am ashamed to say that my thoughts and my actions elsewhere, especially with my family have not lined up with all that. It was easy for me to say "It's Satan attacking" when what is real is that I am much like the father Jesus is talking to in Mark 9.
I come to Jesus for all he is, my comfort, my provider, my strength. But I hold back on what He really wants and that's to be the one who transforms me. It's like He came into my kitchen and said "Satan is not your problem here, you are." Ugh. And in defense I say "I do believe!" and then in the next breath knowing He sees my heart, "Help me overcome my unbelief!"
He knows what He he has created me to be and I see some parts of me that are just too strong to be transformed. Who am I believing?
He says "Any thing is possible for him who believes." and I scramble to find my own solutions. Who do I believe?
He gave his life for my salvation and offers his love, mercy and grace new to me everyday and I am harsh and critical with the one's who need my love, mercy and grace the most. Who do I believe?
This is not a final answer for me. I pray it is the beginning of what is a real, transforming work.
Thank you for hearing me today.
Jesus, help me overcome my unbelief. Help me to open up the dark, hard places to your Light and transforming power. I thank you that you never give up on me. Thank you that you love me. Amen

Day Three

Psalm 18
I love Psalm 18. What is interesting to me is how my eyes were opened to it in stages as God knew what I needed to know about Him, when I needed to know it. It is a psalm that captures orientation, disorientation, and reorientation in one fell swoop. I would love it if you would join me as we break it down.
Vs 1-3-David is feeling the love and gives love to the LORD. This is a tender, touchy love. It is like the love you feel when you see a sweet baby. It's that tender.
Vs 4-6 But then life happens and things are changing. The enemy is attacking. David is feeling frightened, he fears for his life and he cries out to God. This is a cry of anguish, of being at the breaking point, of feeling oppressed. I am thankful for a God who "From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him into his ears." He cannot ignore you or not hear you anymore than you can ignore the cry of a baby. I am thankful for a God that doesn't wait until I ask nicely in a polished, pretty prayer. He hears the raw cries that come from hurt, pain, and fear.
Vs 7-15. In the past, I stopped at verse 6 and I praised God for hearing my cries. The one night when things were especially hard in my world, I read on. In my eyes, these verses illustrate how God comes to our aid when we are in the middle of an attack our enemies. I broke it down verse by verse because I wanted to see how he fights in these attacks. What I realized at the end was that God can take an attack from the enemy and use it for my good. What satan wants to destroy, God can turn it into a way I can grow. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done." (Gen 50:20). God is not caught by suprise by the failures and fallings in our life. He can use it for our benefit if we let him. If we are willing to go someplace we may not want to, if we are willing to see things we don't want to see.
Vs 16-19 Some of my favorite verses in the Bible. "He brought me out into the spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." My chest always relaxes in the spacious place. No cords around me here. No it wasn't easy, but now you are in the spacious place and it is even sweeter because he delighted in me. Not because he felt obligated or he had too. He rescues us because he delights in us. Someone told me recently that the root of "spacious" is the same root as "salvation." I think I have that right. It makes perfect sense to me.
For along time I stopped there because I like the spacious place but the psalm does not stop.
V 20-31-David recounts what he learned about God in the battle. It is a good thing to note these things. These conflicts will bring a fresh revelation of Him and ourselves. I do not ever want to go through a painful battle without being able to point to God's hand and the lessons I learned.
Vs 32-45-Suddenly there is another battle. This time is different. David finds out that God gives us the same strength to fight for ourselves with His strength. "It is God who arms me with strength." (vs32) No longer is David being pursued by an enemy. He is persuing them and WINNING! "I pursued my enemies and overtook them." (vs 37) Can you see me going "Yes!" That's right. We aren't going to play defense anymore, we are going to play offense!
Vs 46-50-He ends the psalm the way we all should-praising and thanking God for all He is for us and all He does for us and how much He loves us.
God, our Savior, you come down from on high and you save us and then you use the battle meant to destroy us to bring us closer to you and how you created us to be. In You and Your strength, we are warriors. Give us the strength we need each day. You are our Rock. Amen