Blessed Endurance

Hello Girlfriends!

I am sharing with you a devotional I submitted for my degree program. The format is nearly the same as I usually write, except I was required to cite some outside sources. Let me know what you think!

I Love You Ladies!

Photo from http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net

Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes…And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Job 42:6,10

 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

James 5:10-11 (NKJV)

My Story

“I give up! I quit!”

How many times have I found myself exasperated, hands thrown in the air and tears streaming down my face, impatiently exploding into a fit of rage over my inability to conquer the mountain in front of me? I am embarrassed to say that the answer is more times than I can count. Even more humiliating is the fact that most of those “mountains” were truly “mini molehills”—a computer program I could not operate; a car that kept failing inspection; the third straight batch of cookies I charcoaled; or the tangled strands of a thousand Christmas bulbs that would not light. But then along comes a family member or friend to comfort and aid me: My husband who fixes the computer; my dad who changes the brake pads; my son who says he loves blackened cookies; and my friend who thinks it is fun to say “time me” as she unravels the light cords and finds the burned-out bulb. I seriously thank God for these people in my life and wish that I had their brand of patience and perseverance. But God reminds me that I possess my own sort of endurance for which to be grateful…and I am.

My endurance was birthed in the midst of great personal turmoil and testing, but it came to maturation amid the tragic trauma and trials of my oldest daughter.  I am talking about the type of endurance that probes the heart for the faith and strength to patiently persevere, yet calls into question, if only for a brief moment, everything that once towered as true and trustworthy. Trying to hold on when everything is spinning out of control can lead to this need to examine and question the reason for suffering, hoping to find an answer to appease the mind, console the heart and restore the order. When the answers do not come forth, endurance is tested and faith enters the fire—will trust in God’s sovereignty pull it out again, refined and golden? Or will doubt and despair watch it burn into ashes? For guidance, I turn to the Bible.

Job’s Story

A righteous and upright man named Job once faced these faith-in-the-fire questions. For many years, Job was a wealthy, well-respected, married man and father of ten children for whom he prayed and offered sacrifices consistently. Per God’s own admission, Job was blameless, shunning evil and fearing God (see Job 1:1-5). By all appearances, he was living a blessed life until one day when suddenly all was destroyed without cause (2:3). Job’s loss and suffering stretched beyond that which most humans will ever encounter or experience. His devastation included loss of all ten children at once and all of his property, servants, and wealth. Additionally, he was afflicted with intense pain in his body (1:13-2:10). When his family and friends came to call, they offered no comfort. His wife suggested that Job “curse God and die” (2:9). His three friends pushed and prodded him to repent of wickedness, hidden or otherwise, despite Job’s repeated pleas of innocence (4:1-31:40).

Who among us could blame Job for deploring the day he was born (3:1-26), seeking death for respite from God’s wrath (7:9,10; 10:18-22), and appealing to God for an explanation of his suffering (10:1-22)? Job could have easily thrown up his hands, crying out, “I quit! I give up!” But, Job does not die. He does not cave in to his friends’ flawed theology regarding retribution. He does not even collapse under the chastisement of a younger man who calls out Job’s pride and claims God intends to teach Job something through his suffering (36:22). Instead, Job maintains his integrity, endures his misery, and beseeches God for answers (for which he is also scolded by Elihu (3:23)).

God does indeed show up “out of the whirlwind” (38:1) to address Job’s pleas and challenges. The LORD reveals his omnipotence in His speeches, going into great detail describing His vast creative and sustaining power. He then invites Job to teach Him (38:3; 40:7). By issuing this challenge, God is not condemning Job. He is, however, reprimanding him for accusing and judging the LORD according to the retribution principle in order to maintain his own innocence. God’s message to Job is (1) I am here, (2) I am wise and in control; you are not,[1] and (3) “justice is not the sum of human life or the whole of God’s essential being.”[2] In essence, “the God speeches remind us that a Person, not a principle, is Lord.”[3]

Hence, Job’s persistence yields fruit in the end. His faith is strengthened by a higher knowledge of God’s infinite power and absolute sovereignty over creation. His understanding of the retribution principle is qualified by God’s wisdom in governing the universe. Job retains his righteousness but repents of his pride and presumptuousness. Upon repenting and praying for his guilty friends, Job’s prosperity is restored twofold in every area. “The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (42:12).

Your Story

So severe was Job’s ordeal that James offers Job’s story of perseverance as an example to the New Testament church. James 5:11 attests that the blessed are those who endure. Notice James does not say blessed are those who have health and wealth, or whose health and wealth is restored (although he does point to the Lord’s compassion and mercy in the end.) Veritably, the focus of consideration for blessed status is endurance and patience through suffering. Job and James’s messages apply as much to us today as they did to the Israelites and the new Christian church.

So, my Girlfriends, what’s your story? We each have one that would fill up this space, and maybe even a few more pages!  What malady darkens your doorstep? What are you giving up, going without, or letting go? What is this sacrifice costing you? Are your friends and family supportive and comforting, or are they frustrating your efforts to maintain your relationship with the LORD? Are your lips muttering, “I quit! I give up!” while your arms are in the air displaying your frustration and protest for all to see? Or are your hands lifted high in prayer and praise in the midst of perturbation and pressure while your voice sings of His power, grandeur and supremacy? Is your faith in the fire, or is there fuel and fire in your faith?

I pray, ladies, that you will be encouraged to follow Job “as an example of one whose patience and endurance in adversity ought to be emulated.”[4] I may not comprehend the torment or tribulation of your life, but I do know a God who does. He is reaching out for you today even if you cannot see, hear or feel Him. He wants you to know that He is close by, near at hand, just as He was with Job. The God who “laid the foundations of the earth” (Job 38:4), “who shut in the seas with doors” (38:8), and “caused the dawn to know its place” (38:12) is the same God who knit you together in your mother’s womb (Ps 139:13). Your suffering falls within the sovereignty of God, and while you may not understand the reason or the purpose, you can trust that He does. Bear with Him. Abide in Him. Patiently pray to persevere and claim your own brand of endurance. Indeed we count them blessed who endure (James 5:11).

---

[1] Longman III, T., “Job 3: History of Interpretation”, in Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry& Writings (ed.Tremper Longman III and Peter Enns; Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2008), 374.

[2] Bullock, C. Hassell, An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books, (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1998), 128.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Longman, History of Interpretation, 362.

LIFT

Graphic found at www.greatjoy.org

Greetings Girlfriends...Grace and Peace to you!

I found this graphic on www.greatjoy.org and loved the acronym....L.I.F.T. Ladies In Fellowship Together. That is exactly what we are, girlfriends, and also the topic I am going to write today.

I have been absent from my blog for so very, very long, and I cannot promise that this entry is the beginning of my return. But I am excited to be here with you today, sharing God's Word and His love with each one. I am painfully aware of how vital prayer is in this life. While I have not been communicating with you, I have been in constant contact with our Father above. Many of you know the painful, emotional and time-consuming reasons why I have drifted away from writing and posting more often; however, for those of you who do not, I can only say right now that this mother's heart has broken and bled over and over and over in the last two years. These past eight or so months in particular have been horribly difficult at times. But God is good, keeping His promises and walking us through troubled times on the way to better things. Amen!

Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! Deut 32:1-3 

Amidst the challenges we have been facing, I am happy to say that my husband and children are supporting me as I pursue a Masters of Arts in Applied Biblical Studies. Examining God's Word every day and in such detail has been a huge blessing to my life that I hope to share with others along the way. Gratitude spills from my heart for this wonderful opportunity and for the understanding my family has when I am crazy busy or under pressure to produce yet another weekly masterpiece, aka essays. Praise flows from my lips to my Savior for strengthening me with His assurance and guidance that nothing touches our lives that has not already passed through His hands.

What about you, Girlfriends? Have the dark days of desire and disappointment blackened your view? Are you struggling through difficulties and drama that threaten to drown you in the sea of sorrow and distress? While I absolutely long for your answer to be "no", reality requires me to realize that I am not traveling rough and rocky roads alone? Many of you ladies are also struggling in one way or another and cannot see nor find the strength to continue the journey.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Cor 1:3-5

You, each and every one of you ladies, are my fellow sojourners on the way to a glorious place of intimacy and presence with our Lord. On this journey, you are possibly one of many passing through present winds and pouring rain that threaten to throw you off the path. Take heart! Some others of our sisters travel in front of us, having stayed the course and survived the deluge, and now feel the warmth and gentle breezes upon their skin. If you are one of these experienced ladies, let our sisters know that the SON does shine after the storm! Beseech them to hold on to Jesus for His holy guidance out of the onslaught and into the glorious light.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Cor 12:26-27

Girlfriends, we are called to bear one another up under the heavy burdens and rejoice with each other when they are lifted. I pray today that you who have shared in the sufferings of Christ will offer comfort and care to those gals who are presently agonizing and experiencing the aching which is now a memory to you. Reach out to someone today and offer hope. Perhaps you provide prayer, or maybe you can calm fears and frustrations by simply calling and offering to listen. Think back to your time of trouble and tribulation for guidance in choosing how to minister to our sisters and their loved ones who also may be hurting. Do not hesitate and do not feel overwhelmed. Start with one. Be the one to start.

“I never look at the masses as my responsibility; I look at the individual. I can only love one person at a time - just one, one, one. So you begin. I began - I picked up one person. Maybe if I didn't pick up that one person, I wouldn't have picked up forty-two thousand....The same thing goes for you, the same thing in your family, the same thing in your church, your community. Just begin - one, one, one.”

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I Love Watermelon!

 Photo from http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/food/playing-with-your-food-just-got-cool--heres-10-examples-of--foodart

"Then they said to the woman.

'Now we believe, not because of what you said,

for we ourselves have heard Him

and we know that this is indeed the Christ,

the Savior of the world.'"

John 4:42 

Girlfriends, it is SUMMER, my favorite time of the year. School's out, warm weather, longer days, sweaty hikes, swimming, picnics, and...watermelon!

I love watermelon!

I suppose my love of season and of fruit are intertwined: Summer means watermelon, watermelon means summer. As soon as I see those massive green orbs appearing near the grocery store entrances, I begin my happy dance. Summer. Summer. Summer. Yum. Yum. Yum. I boogie my way over to the display and start thumping away. You know I have no idea why I am knuckle rapping fruit? Eventually I simply choose the biggest, most perfectly shaped one I can lift out of the bin. Slicing it open at home, I hold my breath until I see the bright redness beckoning me from inside. I grab a spoon and dig in. (Hey, if the guys can drink milk from the jug, I can eat out of my own watermelon, right?) I savor the sweetness and enjoy the thirst-quenching delight of my lovely watermelon, which I then place in the refrigerator to chill. Sweating in the summer heat stimulates my thirst, and icy, cold watermelon quenches it. All summer long, I am craving the sugary water in the melon.

Living Water 

Did you know that long ago another woman craved satisfying water? Walking in the heat of the day, carrying an empty pot, this woman from a city called Sychar went to fill her vessel. When she arrived at her destination, she found something far greater than reservoir water, although she did not know it immediately. To her surprise, a man was sitting on the well. When the woman approached, he told her to give him a drink. The woman was undoubtedly surprised, since this man was a Jew and she was a Samaritan woman. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. She voiced these facts, and the man replied, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." John 4:10 

Now the woman respectfully questioned this claim, which appeared to place this man above the great Jacob, who created the well and used it himself and for his sons. She said to the man, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?" John 4:11 

Girlfriends, the answer she received is the same answer you would get today if you were to ask this question--Where then do you get that living water? And let me tell you, as much as I love it, the answer is NOT 'from watermelon!'

"[He] said to her, 'Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.' The woman said to Him, 'Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.' " John 4:13-15

The Source 

Ladies, the man sitting on the well speaking to this parched woman is Jesus...the same Jesus sitting on your source of water, waiting for you to come seeking. Jesus knew all the things this woman ever did, and He revealed Himself to her as the Messiah. In the same way, He knows all you have ever done, and He is still revealing Himself as the Messiah yet today. Jesus called out her sins, yet continued to offer the gift of Himself, the living source of eternal life, the water of salvation, that she should no more lust after the water that does not satisfy (five husbands and present lover.) The woman accepted the drink, and she left her waterpot to return to the city and tell the men of the Man who told her all things she ever did. (John 4:28)

How about you? Are you in a spiritual drought? Perhaps you have never even tasted the living water because you mistakenly believe that if Jesus knew your sin, He would not offer you a drop.Or maybe you keep running back to that same source of satisfaction over and over and over again because your desire is never satisfied.

Girlfriends, forget the well and come to the Savior's bubbling fountain. Do what Jesus told the Samaritan woman in verse 10: "You would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." ASK! Confess your sin as an illegitimate source of temporary gratification. Give it up; leave your waterpot behind. Go forth to"worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." John 4:23

I pray today that the next drink you take will come from God and become in you that "fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

P.S. And then you can probably go have a slice of watermelon! After all, didn't God speak about the fruit of the Spirit? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control....and the one I think Paul forgot--WATERMELON!!!

Go in Peace, Sisters!

In Support of Marriage--One Man, One Woman

 There is neither Jew nor Greek, 

there is neither slave nor free, 

there is no male and female, 

for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Galatians 3:28 NIV

Hello Precious Girlfriends!

My post today is going to be a little different than usual. The photo below started me writing a Facebook post this morning that turned into a full page! So I decided to share it here as well because I think the issue is important. So here it is:

As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one,

  there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God^.

 All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”

Romans 3:10-12

I have to say that other than myself, only five of my Facebook friends in my news feed have changed their profile picture for the reason the funny graphic above refers. Three changed one way and two the other way. So I guess including mine, it is 3-3. I think that accurately reflects the split in this country, which I project will also be reflected in the split among the Supreme Court Justices. I am sure others will disagree and say their news feed definitely is swayed heavily one way, showing support for changing the definition of marriage by law in the US. 

Well, to that I would reply with a quote from one of my friends. "Why do we Christians remain silent on this issue?" I do not know why most Christians do, but I believe for myself, it is because I do love and care about other people. As Christians, we do not change our profile picture, or if we do we are very careful what to put there, because we do not want to hurt or offend the people in our lives whom we love but who disagree with us on these types of issues. Funny thing, however, those same people whom we love DID change their profile picture and do not seem concerned about offending us. So why are we so sensitive?

The sensitivity comes from Christians in America being labeled "haters" and "discriminators" and "bigots" for believing in a value system that honors God (and His statement on the nature of human union, or marriage, which is one man and one woman.) What a misconception that has been allowed to exist and spread!! I do not hate anyone; I do not discriminate. I act and interact out of love, respect, and faith in God. I simply believe in preserving the institution of God's statement about marriage. Regarding that institution of marriage, God also states that the marriage shall be free from adultery. Am I a "hater", "discriminator", or "bigot" for believing that God's statement on adultery should also be preserved and honored? I do not think so.

The truth is we have all sinned and fallen short of God's standard in one way or another. We are all in need of mercy. The point is to recognize that fact and address it with the Lord. I am not "judging" anyone by a different standard than I "judge" myself. I simply have different sin than others have. I do not expect them to condone my sin anymore than they should expect me to condone their sin. We should all support and encourage one another, in love and forgiveness, such as that we have been given ourselves by God. 

But the truth is we have to hold one another accountable to God's standard while on this earth. Accountability is not synonymous with judging. The first is motivated by the desire to see the other person move toward a positive outcome, and the latter is motivated by the desire for our own definition of justice, not God's. Yet, accountability sometimes hurts. Being told you are not living right with God stings and shocks the soul, as it should. The response to that stinging is crucial. PRIDE will harden the heart and defend the sin. HUMILITY will soften the heart and acknowledge the sin. One way or the other, that sin will be dealt with, and the sinner is in complete control of the way--heaven or hell. Eternally with God or eternally separated from Him. Pride closes the door; humility opens it. But God will allow you to choose. 

So in the end, yes, this all comes down to choice--and I choose Heaven. I choose to support a society that honors that path. My desire is for all of us to unite in Heaven. I need you to help me get there as much as you need me. This desire is not "hate" but "love". This desire is not "discrimination" but "inclusion". This desire is not "bigotry" and "closed-mindedness" but is "fairness" and "broad-mindedness".  

Although I changed my profile picture (see above), I really do not like this kind of behavior on Facebook because it promotes an "us" vs "them" attitude; we are in this life together, each of with our own sin, and that is actually what unifies us. Maybe every Facebook user should take a deep look into themselves and for one week change their profile picture to state their own sin--now that would be constructive and hopefully productive!

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. Romans 3:22-25(a) NIV
 
Blessings to ALL of my Girlfriends!

God's Remote Control

Google image.

For God alone, 

O my soul, 

wait in silence, 

for my hope is from him. 

Psalm 62:5 ESV

Hello Girlfriends!

How is life in your little part of this world? Are you enjoying peace and quiet this weekend? Are you out amongst the crowds at a mall, in a restaurant, or on a bus full of energetic teenagers traveling across country on a class trip? (For those ladies on the bus, my heart goes out to you, and surely you will be rewarded extra chocolate in heaven for your sacrifice! See you tomorrow in DC!)

Turn Off the Noise

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

Can I share a secret with you, one that my husband says is weird and I should not tell? I am still in my Friday pajamas at 9:30 pm on Saturday night. While a few of you may be shocked, I know for a fact that my true girlfriends out there are extremely jealous and want my life today. (You know who you are, and I love you so much that I would willingly trade a day with you, but suggest you bring your own pj's--I'm rocking the Minnie Mouse polar fleece bottoms with a pink hoodie. Not every girl can pull off this look!)

Today was one of those lazy winter days, sitting around the house reading and relaxing. At least, I was following that plan. My son however, in typical fourteen year old boy fashion, rolled out of bed and into the family room around noon, promptly blaring some cable programming from the surround sound. After calling his name five or six times so that I could request the television volume lowered, I noticed the noise canceling headphones on his ears, attached to an ipod. How did I miss that fact considering when I stopped hollering, I could hear nearly every word and beat from across the room? So much noise! Suddenly, I discovered my husband had also at some point plopped down in the family room, but he was too immersed in something on his ipad to notice me screaming at the top of my lungs at our son. Boys. Men. How do they successfully and consistently tune out the rest of the world and focus on only one thing? I could have hopped up on the table and started my own Harlem Shake, and I do not think they would have even batted an eyelid. (Lord knows I was wearing the proper attire for such a dance!)

Calling my husband by name, and I mean his first name and not something more colorful, I finally got some attention and had them turn the television down. After all of that effort, I swear I was ready for a nap! But instead, I immersed myself once again in my reading, soon losing track of time and my surroundings--an indication of a good author! Abruptly, loud sound boomed from the television once again, shaking me out of my story and back to the kitchen table. Can't a girl in her pajamas just get some peace around here for a couple of hours?

Once again I called out for my son to turn it down. Once again I got no response. As aggravated as a mama bear awakened from her mid-winter slumber, I pushed back my chair and stormed the living room only to find it void of any male life whatsoever. No husband. No son. Only the Discovery Channel screaming at me through the Smart TV. I grabbed the first remote I saw, scanned it for the MUTE button, which I pushed emphatically while shaking the entire unit at the tv, then the cable box, then the speaker base. No dice. Fuming, I threw pillows around on the couch until I uncovered another remote, which I also directed at the tv stand while mashing the button with a line across a little speaker. Still Mike Rowe's voice continued to reverberate off my walls. Spying a little black corner peeking out from under the coffee table, I drop to my knees and extract yet another remote from its hiding place. MUTE. MUTE. MUTE. No response. Still on my knees, I begin to pray, "God, please do not let my hand swing forward and please do not let this remote go flying from it into the television screen. Please, just shut Mike Rowe up. Please." Then I remembered...we have a smart tv. My son is constantly yelling, "Cancel" at the tv whenever the sound sporadically turns off during a show. It works for him. 

So, I crawl across the room on my knees, speaking nicely to the television...."Mute." "Mute." MUte." I am inching closer. Maybe it cannot hear me. "MUte." "MUTe." Now I am losing it and I am directly in front of the tv, red-faced, out of breath, carpet burn on my knees, shrieking "MUUUUUTE!!!" at an inanimate object. Smart TV my foot. If it were so smart, I would be able to reach out, turn a knob or push a button, and voila, silence. Instead, I have to knee walk my way back to the sofa and decipher which remotes turn off which electronics and how. After an exasperating fifteen minutes, I fall back into my chair at the table and finally relish the sound of silence.

And then the dog begins to snore....

God's Mute Button

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39 NIV

Girlfriends, hours later on the same Saturday, I am sitting here at my computer contemplating my Mute fiasco. Jesus makes it look so easy when He wants peace and quiet. I mean, He got up. I got up. He rebuked the waves. I rebuked the television, and the remotes, and the speakers, and Mike Rowe (sorry Mike). He said, "Quiet! Be Still!" I said, "Mute" and "MUTE" and "Muuuute!" and maybe some other words. For Jesus, the wind died down and was calm. For me, the noise did not die down, and I did not have calm until I completely lost control and turned everything off. Ahhhh, maybe that is God's point to me. I wanted silence so I could concentrate, hear my thoughts, focus on the words on the page, contemplate without outside distraction. God wants the same for us as well, and we have to give up the controls and turn down the volume.

“Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong." Job 6:24

Ladies, our world is so full of noise, drowning out the One true Voice we need to hear constantly in our lives. I cannot help but wonder if God is pointing a remote at us and mashing the MUTE button, but by our own will, we are not answering. Like my smart tv, we "smart" humans do not always respond as we are created to do. Much of the time, we think we have life under control and know the words to say. We think we are writing the script, directing the show, amassing the rewards. Truly, God will teach us the right way, show us where we have been wrong, if only we will be quiet. Stop talking. Stop listening to the wrong sounds. Cancel out the noise and hear Him. This is my prayer for you today...silence. peace. quiet. (And if it is enjoyed in your pajamas, all the better!) Listen...the Lord your God has something to say to you. Be silent.

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
  
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:26 ESV

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:7

Substitute Teacher

Photo credit (cropped by me): http://text2cloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Constitution.jpg

 

For He made Him

 who knew no sin

 to be sin for us,

 that we might become

 the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJ

Happy Presidents' Day, Girlfriends!

Today's holiday means a day off school and, for some, also work. For others, this Monday is like any other day on the job. For me, I have a day off both school and work because the schoolhouse has become my "workplace" once again. I recently began substitute teaching in Loudoun County Public Schools. And I now remember why I love these assignments!


First and foremost in my heart are the students I am blessed to meet. Hearing their stories, sharing their journey, and leading them through a lesson brings me joy and hopefully provides them with a renewed respect and appreciation of substitute teachers. I demand good behavior, recognizing the interruption I bring to their ordered day while also acknowledging the break I provide to the monotony of their repetitious schedule. 

I also enjoy the variety as my week can go from Physics to Sculpture to Symphonic Band or from AP US History to Advanced Weight Lifting to Special Education Algebra I. Embracing the obstacles when entering a classroom without a lesson plan or the spontaneity and flexibility required when the movie will not load or the projector breaks, I arrive prepared with an open mind and a bag full of tricks and engaging alternative activities. 

Substitute teaching is challenging to be certain. Kids in middle and high school love substitute teachers. "YES" is the word most often heard when a student enters the classroom and sees my face, followed by the obviously rhetorical question, "Do we have a sub today?" Smiles, jabs, and high fives inevitably freely flow about the room. In their young minds, a substitute means a free day, a break, a reprieve. In my mind, I am present as a stand-in for the real teacher, not a replica, but an attempt to maintain the flow and continuity of the educational process.

According to thesaurus.com, "substitution" is synonymous with replacement, exchange, swap, and trade. While I can replace an educator for a day, a week, or few months, I can never be that teacher exactly and identically. My words are not his/her words. My thoughts and ideas are not his/her thoughts and ideas. While possibly quite similar, my methods, insights, and actions will never be indistinguishable from the permanent teacher. And while I can encourage the students to behave orderly, work quietly, and follow directions, I cannot exempt them from punishment for their poor choices. Justice and fairness demands consequences for  disruptive behavior.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Romans 11:33 ESV

Girlfriends, thankfully, for all humanity, the Perfect Substitute does exist. This Teacher's words and actions are interchangeable with the One who "hired" him: God, the Father. His name is Jesus Christ, and He works in the classroom of human existence. We can all fist pump and holler, "YES" when we discover His Presence in our day. His job is not only to educate us but more importantly to redeem our souls. He actually comes to disrupt our schedule and show us a new way, a better way, the ONLY way to eternal life. Jesus wants a relationship with you, desires to hear your story, and longs to lead you through life's journey in a way no earthly soul can guide. He is fully equipped, trained, and perfectly prepared to carry you through any situation. He holds the precise and flawless lesson plan for life.

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. John 14:10-11

An interesting twist to this situation is that this Teacher is also a Substitute, for you--for me--for each and every disobedient, wayward, sinful student who deserves detention and even expulsion. Every human pupil should face harsh discipline for failure to comply and attain the perfection of God. None, not even the honor student, is exempt. "...For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God..." Romans 3:23

Ladies, Jesus is my all-time favorite Substitute Teacher and can be yours too. No other leads me like He does while also taking my just and due punishment, wiping my record clean. I know my errors. I confess them to Him daily and ask His forgiveness. I am accountable to Him and to the Father for my ways. I seek to follow His directions, complete my assignments and assist my classmates along the way.  I know I will enter Heaven with a perfect 4.0 gpa and zero punishable infractions on my transcript because I believe in Him and acknowledge His redemptive blood shed for me on a cross. My prayer for you is to ask Jesus into your life, into your heart, that we may stand shoulder to shoulder on that graduation day and walk through the gates together and into the arms of our loving, patient, forgiving Teacher!

So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. Romans 12:1-2 GNT

Girlfriends, while this analogy I have written today is not perfect for relating God's redemptive work, I pray you will ask God to reveal Himself to you in a way that you can understand so that you too may believe and be saved!

My love to all!

Trekking with Teens

 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
    the fruit of the womb a reward.

Psalm 127:3 ESV 

Happy Monday, Girlfriends!

I am refreshed after a weekend get-away with teenagers at a retreat center in northern Virginia. "Recuperating" was actually my first choice of wording but I went with "refreshed" after considering, "To which part of myself am I referring?" If my spirit is the subject, then ladies, refreshed is definitely an understatement. If my physical self is the topic, then recuperating is also an understatement! 

I love engaging with young people for the very reason why I am both in need of a nap at 10:30 am on Monday morning while, at the same time, full of joy and excitement for the week ahead. Teens are abundantly full of energy, endurance, and emotion. Keeping up with them as we explored the forest and creek behind the retreat center required climbing hills and rocks, hanging from fallen tree trunks, dodging barbed wire fences, and hopping stone to stone across the flowing water. I loved it. They loved it. And we have the wacky photos to prove it! Yet beyond the physical stamina, this weekend also necessitated spiritual and mental fortitude. The bodily energy of teens is nothing compared to the intensity with which they think, feel, and desire answers to all of life's questions, none of which allow for pat answers. I am honored that the Lord, through Gateway Church and its leadership, provided me opportunity to nurture this group of teens for a few days, despite my own short-comings and parental insecurities. 

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

I have read and heard Proverbs 22:6 more times than I can count, relying upon God's directions to me as I train my own children in the way to go. I pray fervently that the Lord will empower and enlighten me as I implement His instructional plan. I submit to His will, knowing that my parenting knowledge is feeble and my skills minimal in comparison to His ability to be our Father. Nonetheless, as I rely upon Him, I know I must give the effort He requires of me and to the best of my ability, educate, discipline, and support my children in their overall growth. Easy, it is not. My knees hit the floor, tears streaming from my eyes and worry pouring from my lips, days and nights beyond count. And while I know the Lord hears every plea and acknowledges every bent knee, my insecurity has driven me to reach out to my fellow sisters in Christ, begging for prayer and asking for suggestions and feedback.

Girlfriends, you know what I mean. Many of you have been the very women to take my trembling hands into your own, soothe my aching heart, and place me at the feet of the Jesus, petitioning Him for discernment, insight, and peace on my behalf. Ladies, God is calling us to support and sustain one another in every aspect of life, including parenting and preparing the next generation, so that we may have eternal life together?

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

On the way home from this weekend's retreat, our caravan stopped at a fast food restaurant.  While eating, I noticed an elderly woman, wearing a beautiful pink blouse with an embroidered grey sweater vest, purposely choosing to sit at a table among our lively group. The kids were giggling and swapping stories from the weekend while the lady in pink silently observed. As we prepared to leave, this woman stopped me with a question. She asked if we were a school group. When I informed her that we actually are a church youth group returning from a retreat, her face lit up. For the next few minutes, she excitedly relayed to me how her husband had worked with teens all of his life and that she absolutely adored their laughter. Listening to our kids just now had flooded her mind with memories. With joy in her voice, this spirited woman informed me that although she may look old on the outside, she is actually very young inside--so young that while recently speaking at a church, the pastor had asked her if she was available to work for their youth ministry. She giggled, explaining that she will always have the heart of a child. I nodded my head in agreement, knowing exactly what she was feeling. Then she looked softly at me and said, "God bless you for ministering to these kids." I smiled, thanked her for the kind words, and headed home with an added warmth and knowledge in my heart: No one, especially not this eighty-something year old woman, is too old to be used by God to build His kingdom and serve his children.

They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming,“The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” Psalm 92:14-15

My dear Girlfriends, God calls upon us as a community of believers to raise up generation after generation of Christian disciples, whether we feel equipped or not. Parents and grandparents cannot solely carry the burden. Youth pastors cannot operate alone.  Public school teachers cannot mention His name let alone share the the message of salvation. We who love Christ must be involved in the shepherding of our young, impressionable people. The Lord understands that not everyone wants to climb trees or sleep in freezing cold cabins or even stay up until the wee morning hours. He is not requiring the same service of you as He is of others. But God is calling your name today. Will you obey?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 NIV (emphasis mine)

 

Ladies, my prayer is that those who have given their hearts to Jesus will carve out time to mentor someone younger, whether they are a teen, a young adult, a middle-ager, or even retired/elderly. God desires that all of His children return to Him and that requires that all believers respond to His call and commands. If we are to go and make disciples, we must take that first step forward. Girlfriends, you can do it! As a parent, I thank you. As someone who was personally mentored by a host of believers, I thank you. As a youth worker, I thank you. As a citizen, I thank you. Peace and the grace of our Lord be with you as you step out in faith.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

Choice Between Life or Death

Photo from www.someecards.com

 

Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins.  

Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, 

I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me.  

To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, 

just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne.

"If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!” 

Revelation 3:19-22

It is the weekend, Girlfriends! I hope you are enjoying your day, whether beneath the sun, the snow, or the artificial bulbs of a tanning bed--a place I frequently find myself during winter months while living in northern climates! I know, I know: Bad, bad, bad for me. But like everyone who does not want to take responsibility for their choices, I blame my mom. She always says, "Tan fat is better than white fat!" I guess I could go exercise rather than fake bake, but I am not sure white skinny looks better than tan skinny. And besides, a fifteen minute nap on a hot, hard surface sounds better than an hour sweating and exerting myself in a stinky gym. Call me crazy.

So, what does this rambling have to do with my message today? Absolutely nothing other than the fact that we have the power to make choices. A choice to enjoy the day or spend it grumbling and complaining. A choice to enhance or endanger your health. A choice to be productive or lazy. A choice to live or to die. 

The Choices

Wait a minute, did I say you can choose to live or die? Do we not all die whether we choose it or not? Yes, Girlfriends, that is what I said, and yes, at some point you will no longer have the choice to continue living on this earth. However, you do have the choice right now whether your soul will live eternally in the presence of God or be forever separated from His love, power, and grace. And unfortunately, you cannot rely upon your momma, nor anyone else for that matter, to make that choice for you. Nor can you escape responsibility for your choice in the future by blaming your parents or anyone else influencing you. The choice is yours, and yours alone. 

While no one can make your choice for you, many people can assist you in the decision-making process. This blog exists for that very purpose: reaching out to women, all of whom I consider my girlfriends, albeit some closer than others. My goal is to offer insight, information, and intelligence regarding what I consider the most important choice you will ever make: accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ. If you reject Him, you are saying 'no thanks' to God's free offer of salvation. If you accept Him, your life will be irreversibly altered for the better. You will receive peace, freedom from guilt, acceptance and awareness of unconditional love, and eternal life in Heaven. 

Why This Choice?

Make no mistake, ladies, you cannot achieve this redemption in any other manner. You cannot work for it and earn it, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). No matter how hard you try, sin is a part of our nature and can only be erased from it through the blood of Jesus Christ. His atoning sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the grave were for you. He did what you cannot do on your own: paid your penalty for your sin, as we would expect from a just and righteous God, so that you can walk away free and clear of all wrong-doing. Only in this way can you live forever in the presence of God, for He is holy and pure and so must you be.

How do you become holy and pure, worthy and presentable to a perfect and loving God? Not by your own power, but by your complete submission and surrender to Jesus Christ. His work becomes your achievement. His death is the destruction of your sin. His reward is now your crowning glory. You have been given a priceless gift. Accept it. Access it. Own it. Jesus Christ is the gift; God is your only path to unending existence. 

Why Choose Now?

Girlfriends, read the key verse from Revelations at the top of this blog again. 

The Lord is speaking to you now. His Word is alive and active.

"Listen! I stand at the door and knock." 

Make a choice.

"...if any hear my voice and open the door." 

Do not simply open the door. Take it off its hinges and throw it in the fire! 

Let Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit inside you to refresh and renew your life.

"If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!”

Listen to what God is speaking to you today.
He loves you. He desires you. He wants you with Him.

"To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, 

just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne."

Victory in Christ belongs to you if only you will make a choice.

What will you choose? And when? 

Time is of the essence.

“At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens....“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." 

Luke 13:26-27, 32

Choose Life

Today, Girlfriends, I pray you will hear and respond to the knock at the door of your heart, of your soul. I long for you to experience the peace and love only a personal relationship with Jesus can provide. 
As much as I love you, He IS Love.  
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16b  
As much as I desire eternal life for you, He IS eternal life.  
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3  
As much as I want to take you to Heaven, the choice IS yours.  
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach... No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it...This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. Deuteronomy 30:11,14, 19-20a

Ladies, I am praying right now for you. And if you decide to choose Jesus, but cannot find the words to express it, know that in my heart I am concurring with you as you offer up your life and possibly use this prayer:

"O Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and cannot ever completely remove sin from my life by my own actions. I am sorry for hurting You and others. I repent and turn from my sins. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins, rose from the grave, and is alive at Your right hand forever. I open the door of my heart and soul, receiving Jesus Christ as my Savior. I know I will stumble along the way, but I want You in my life and will seek to know you more. Thank You for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Good choice!

Girlfriends, tan fat or white fat, tan skinny or white skinny, may our God Bless you this day. 
Love to All!

I Need A Miracle

photo from http://arunoday.blogspot.com

So they asked him,

 "What miraculous sign then will you give 

that we may see it and believe you? 

What will you do?" 

John 6:30 NIV

Happy Saturday, Girlfriends!
I do not usually blog on the weekends since I am normally running in a thousand directions while also trying to spend as much time as possible with my hubby. Today is no exception. If I complete my to-do list before guests arrive tomorrow, it will be a miracle.

The Bottom of the Well

Praying for a miracle is actually the reason I am writing. If you have not read my last blog, I hope you will pause now and do so. You will find that I described the story of Joseph, a man who found himself in one seemingly hopeless predicament after another. As a youth, God revealed in dreams that Joseph would rule over his siblings and family. Yet, the course of his young adult life did not seem to follow any sort of path toward the fulfillment of his dreams. He was thrown into a well, sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned, and awarded the difficult task of preparing a nation for a famine. Many, many years later, his dreams did come to fruition in the most unlikely of ways.

Girlfriends, my message to you today comes from the lonely place at the bottom of the well. As Joseph sank into the depths, crash landed, and lay broken and bruised on a cold, hard surface, I am certain he prayed. And I believe he must have prayed for a miracle, because that is what it would take to raise him from this hopeless pit. Do you know what I mean? Have you been to that place? Does Joseph's story parallel yours, now, or at some time in the past? If not, listen still, because chances are good that one day in this life, you, too, will fall face down into the abyss. God does not say "if"; He says "when..." Every one of us has an empty cistern with our name on it.

Not the uplifting, inspirational word you wanted to get on a sunny, weekend morning? Oooops, sorry! Seriously though, my intention is indeed to raise your spirits if you are in a dark place, to increase your faith and hope in the future. Girlfriends, Joseph prayed for a miracle, and he got one! He was pulled from the well. He did not die there. Miraculously, a caravan of Midianite traders passed by and were willing to buy him in order to profit in Egypt where he would be sold as a slave. Probably not the miracle Joseph expected nor desired, but he experienced a miracle nonetheless.

A Miracle: Unanticipated Answer

Ladies, God answers prayer. God performs miracles. But God will not be put into a box of our expectations and wishes. He works out of the box, in this crazy, messed up world, through unique methods only He could contrive. I mean, who among us would answer a desperate man's plea to save his life by selling him into servitude in a foreign land?  Craziness, by the world's standards, is what that response would be. But God's ways are higher than ours, and He knows exactly the resolution our problem needs.

So today, my dears, put your trust in the Only One who can perform the miracle you need. Keep your faith. Expect a miracle. But do not put a face on it, or a label, or a time/date stamp. See through the eyes of your Savior, the God who knit you together in your mother's womb. With precision, He directs the course of your life and will provide unerringly all that is necessary. Your task is the same as Joseph's: to respond positively, in faith, and produce good fruit in every environment no matter how hopeless or absurd it seems. The choice is yours to make. God gives generously, according to His blueprint, but He allows you to be the carpenter, to build something beautiful, or to sit in an empty lot waiting for what you think the supplies and plans should be. What will you do?

Girlfriends, I am praying for you today. With great expectation, I long to witness God's miracle for you and what you will create in response! Peace be with you.

But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:27 ESV