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
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
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.
"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.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
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
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
Saturday, October 24, 2009
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
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
Thursday, October 22, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Day Two
Thanks to Max Lucado's new book Fearless who opened my eyes in a fresh way to this passage. Thank you to the Holy Spirit for his prompting and conviction.
Mark 4:35-41
Have you ever just been strolling through life marveling at all Jesus has done for you? Have you ever witnessed his healing and his miracles in your life or those around you?
Have you ever just felt like "Life is good, I am in God’s will, walking with Jesus, in tune with the Holy Spirit"? You feel like you know Jesus and his character and you trust him. What a sweet place to be. That is the place those disciples were before they got on that boat with Jesus. Now for Peter, James and John, as fishermen by trade, the boat was a natural place to be. For Matthew the tax collector, probably not so much, but he has committed to following Jesus so on to the deck he climbs.
It has been a long day and Jesus is obviously worn out. He finds a quiet spot under the stern and falls asleep. While he is sleeping a storm kicks up. It seems reasonable to think that as fishermen some of these men should be able to handle this right? This can’t be the first time they got caught in a storm. I can understand why Matthew is losing his cookies but the rest of them, come on. But the word that is used for this particular storm is seismos. Yup, as in earthquake, seismos. I wonder if it was like a typhoon. I don’t know that but I learned that the only other time that word is used is to refer to the earthquakes at Jesus’ death and resurrection. So this is pretty major. So the disciples looked at each other and said “Let’s wake up Jesus and he will fix this. Look at all we have seen him do thus far!” Right? WRONG! They wake him up with a frantic “We are drowning! Don’t you care?!?” Wow. I would like to get a little righteous indignation going about those disciples and say “Are you kidding? How could they say that to him? How can they so quickly forget all he has done?” and then the Spirit convicts and I get that feeling in my stomach that says. Ugh. Been there, done that.
Jesus gets up and says to the waves “Quiet! Be still!” and everything calms. I can’t help but think that if he had turned to the disciples and said the same thing the calm would have come. Maybe not in the storm, but in the disciples. What he does say to the disciples is “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Emphasis mine) I have read this passage several times lately but tonight God added the word “still” to my Bible. Here comes another Ugh.
Of course the disciples were terrified. Not only was there a fresh revelation about Jesus and His power there was an exposure of their hearts.
When the storms of life come you can plan that there will be a fresh revelation of God but also know that there will be an exposure of our heart. And what we see may frighten us. I praise Jesus that he didn’t get off the boat in the next chapter and say “You guys are worthless. I am going to find some other disciples who have more faith, who aren’t so afraid.” He didn’t do that with them and he doesn’t do it with us. He wants us to stay close to him and hear his teaching, see his healing, and knowing his love. He knew the wind and waves would obey because he created them. He knows how we are created, and he knows what he is creating us to be and he won’t give up on that. The only one who gives up is us. Hang in there sister.
Jesus, thank you for your love. Thank you that you never give up on us. Thank you for your awesome power to calm the storms or to calm your children. Give us hearts to receive the love and peace and calm that only comes from you. You are Elohim, our Creator. Amen
Mark 4:35-41
Have you ever just been strolling through life marveling at all Jesus has done for you? Have you ever witnessed his healing and his miracles in your life or those around you?
Have you ever just felt like "Life is good, I am in God’s will, walking with Jesus, in tune with the Holy Spirit"? You feel like you know Jesus and his character and you trust him. What a sweet place to be. That is the place those disciples were before they got on that boat with Jesus. Now for Peter, James and John, as fishermen by trade, the boat was a natural place to be. For Matthew the tax collector, probably not so much, but he has committed to following Jesus so on to the deck he climbs.
It has been a long day and Jesus is obviously worn out. He finds a quiet spot under the stern and falls asleep. While he is sleeping a storm kicks up. It seems reasonable to think that as fishermen some of these men should be able to handle this right? This can’t be the first time they got caught in a storm. I can understand why Matthew is losing his cookies but the rest of them, come on. But the word that is used for this particular storm is seismos. Yup, as in earthquake, seismos. I wonder if it was like a typhoon. I don’t know that but I learned that the only other time that word is used is to refer to the earthquakes at Jesus’ death and resurrection. So this is pretty major. So the disciples looked at each other and said “Let’s wake up Jesus and he will fix this. Look at all we have seen him do thus far!” Right? WRONG! They wake him up with a frantic “We are drowning! Don’t you care?!?” Wow. I would like to get a little righteous indignation going about those disciples and say “Are you kidding? How could they say that to him? How can they so quickly forget all he has done?” and then the Spirit convicts and I get that feeling in my stomach that says. Ugh. Been there, done that.
Jesus gets up and says to the waves “Quiet! Be still!” and everything calms. I can’t help but think that if he had turned to the disciples and said the same thing the calm would have come. Maybe not in the storm, but in the disciples. What he does say to the disciples is “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Emphasis mine) I have read this passage several times lately but tonight God added the word “still” to my Bible. Here comes another Ugh.
Of course the disciples were terrified. Not only was there a fresh revelation about Jesus and His power there was an exposure of their hearts.
When the storms of life come you can plan that there will be a fresh revelation of God but also know that there will be an exposure of our heart. And what we see may frighten us. I praise Jesus that he didn’t get off the boat in the next chapter and say “You guys are worthless. I am going to find some other disciples who have more faith, who aren’t so afraid.” He didn’t do that with them and he doesn’t do it with us. He wants us to stay close to him and hear his teaching, see his healing, and knowing his love. He knew the wind and waves would obey because he created them. He knows how we are created, and he knows what he is creating us to be and he won’t give up on that. The only one who gives up is us. Hang in there sister.
Jesus, thank you for your love. Thank you that you never give up on us. Thank you for your awesome power to calm the storms or to calm your children. Give us hearts to receive the love and peace and calm that only comes from you. You are Elohim, our Creator. Amen
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Day One
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it life to the full.” (John 10:10)
This may not be a new verse to you but I want to break it apart for you and hopefully open your eyes. You can not fight an enemy unless you know his tactics. Thanks to my favorite devotional as always, Sparkling Gems from the Greek, by Rick Renner, for helping me understand this better.
The word thief in the Greek is klepto which means obviously to steal. The picture that it paints is of a thief who is so artful in the way he steals that his exploits of thievery are nearly undetectable.
Jesus wants us to know that the devil is cunning. Satan knows that if he is obvious his actions will be recognized. I hate it when he has taken my joy or my peace and I haven’t even realized it until it was gone!
The next interesting word (and this is what struck me the most) is “to kill” which you think means to take someone’s life right? Actually no, the word is thuo, which means to sacrifice something that is precious and dear. Ugh. What Jesus is saying is that if the enemy can’t outright steal it from us, he will then try to tell us we need to sacrifice or give up what is or was precious to us. He doesn’t want you to have a blessing. He will create daily stressful situations to cause you to conclude that you must sacrifice what you really love. Think your marriage, your relationships with your children, your home, your peace, your contentment. I hope I am not the only one that is smacked in the head by that.
As if those two things weren’t bad enough, Jesus went on to say the thief also comes “to destroy” or apollumi-something that is ruined, wasted, trashed. So if the thief can’t take it, or convince you to sacrifice it then he will try to ruin it.
So since I believe I need to be vigilant for Satan’s schemes, I also do not want to give him too much press so I am going to devote more words (I will know because I did a word count) and time to the Good News.
Jesus went on to say, “…I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” The words “that they may have” means to continually possess. Not talking about a full life on Sundays, or good days or great hair days. No, continually possess. The life Jesus is giving is zoe. This is a life that is filled with vitality. And “to the full” or “abundant” depending on the version you are reading is periossos which is beyond what is regular, extraordinary, exceeding, super-abundance! So Jesus is saying
“I have come that they might have, keep and constantly retain a vitality, gusto, vigor and zest for living that springs up from deep down inside. I came that they might embrace this unrivaled, unequaled, matchless, incomparable, richly loaded and overflowing life to the ultimate maximum.”
In this life we will struggle and Satan will push your buttons. He will try to get you off track or cause you to cast your dreams to the side. When this happens you tell him to shut up and hit the road. Usually it’s not nice to say shut up but in this case it is necessary. You can let him know you are on to his games and you are not going to bite any more because you are choosing Jesus and the life and love He has for you. You are not a sucker for this anymore! You have Jesus in you and that is the only Power you need to draw from to face this once and for all. You are not on your own.
Don’t let anything be stolen, don’t give up what matters most to you because you think that will make things better and don’t roll over and let the enemy of your soul destroy what is precious to you. Receive the abundant life!
Father, I pray for courage for these women. I pray that through Your word they will see how they can and will fight a Holy fight. Open their eyes to Your presence around them. Give them discernment to see the enemy’s ways and above all give them a victory and abundant life that only comes from you. You are the Most High. Amen.
This may not be a new verse to you but I want to break it apart for you and hopefully open your eyes. You can not fight an enemy unless you know his tactics. Thanks to my favorite devotional as always, Sparkling Gems from the Greek, by Rick Renner, for helping me understand this better.
The word thief in the Greek is klepto which means obviously to steal. The picture that it paints is of a thief who is so artful in the way he steals that his exploits of thievery are nearly undetectable.
Jesus wants us to know that the devil is cunning. Satan knows that if he is obvious his actions will be recognized. I hate it when he has taken my joy or my peace and I haven’t even realized it until it was gone!
The next interesting word (and this is what struck me the most) is “to kill” which you think means to take someone’s life right? Actually no, the word is thuo, which means to sacrifice something that is precious and dear. Ugh. What Jesus is saying is that if the enemy can’t outright steal it from us, he will then try to tell us we need to sacrifice or give up what is or was precious to us. He doesn’t want you to have a blessing. He will create daily stressful situations to cause you to conclude that you must sacrifice what you really love. Think your marriage, your relationships with your children, your home, your peace, your contentment. I hope I am not the only one that is smacked in the head by that.
As if those two things weren’t bad enough, Jesus went on to say the thief also comes “to destroy” or apollumi-something that is ruined, wasted, trashed. So if the thief can’t take it, or convince you to sacrifice it then he will try to ruin it.
So since I believe I need to be vigilant for Satan’s schemes, I also do not want to give him too much press so I am going to devote more words (I will know because I did a word count) and time to the Good News.
Jesus went on to say, “…I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” The words “that they may have” means to continually possess. Not talking about a full life on Sundays, or good days or great hair days. No, continually possess. The life Jesus is giving is zoe. This is a life that is filled with vitality. And “to the full” or “abundant” depending on the version you are reading is periossos which is beyond what is regular, extraordinary, exceeding, super-abundance! So Jesus is saying
“I have come that they might have, keep and constantly retain a vitality, gusto, vigor and zest for living that springs up from deep down inside. I came that they might embrace this unrivaled, unequaled, matchless, incomparable, richly loaded and overflowing life to the ultimate maximum.”
In this life we will struggle and Satan will push your buttons. He will try to get you off track or cause you to cast your dreams to the side. When this happens you tell him to shut up and hit the road. Usually it’s not nice to say shut up but in this case it is necessary. You can let him know you are on to his games and you are not going to bite any more because you are choosing Jesus and the life and love He has for you. You are not a sucker for this anymore! You have Jesus in you and that is the only Power you need to draw from to face this once and for all. You are not on your own.
Don’t let anything be stolen, don’t give up what matters most to you because you think that will make things better and don’t roll over and let the enemy of your soul destroy what is precious to you. Receive the abundant life!
Father, I pray for courage for these women. I pray that through Your word they will see how they can and will fight a Holy fight. Open their eyes to Your presence around them. Give them discernment to see the enemy’s ways and above all give them a victory and abundant life that only comes from you. You are the Most High. Amen.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Lessons learned
Lissa, I'm with you, if I could I would give up cleaning, laudry, maybe not cooking, just wish someone would do the clean up. I used to get so hung up on having everything done, the house had to be spotless if someone came over, after all that was a reflection on me. If someone dropped by unexpectedly, I would find myself apologizing for how the house looked. Now you need to understand that I had three children in 3 1/2 years, and worked part-time, so keeping things done up was no easy feat. What I have learned over the years is that those who truly care about you could care less about things like a neat house....they just want to spend time with you. Our kids won't remember that the laundry was always done, the carpets vaccumed etc.....but they will remember the fun things you did with them. I encourage all of you mom's with children still at home, enjoy these years, before you know it you are longing for the days of spills, choas and toys everywhere. I get a taste of that from time to time when all my beautiful grandbabies come over, I am trying to enjoy these times and just walk carefully, those little legos can be brutal to the feet:).
If money was not an object, I won't change much about my life (except to not work), but I would love to share it with those I love so they could slow down and enjoy the life God has given us.
If money was not an object, I won't change much about my life (except to not work), but I would love to share it with those I love so they could slow down and enjoy the life God has given us.
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