Monthly Archives: November 2013

by

Count the cost


1 Chronicles 21:24 Then King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.”

If you backtrack in this story and read a few verses back you see that the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David that David should go and erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. The Lord did not specify that David was to buy the land but David was wise in the ways of The Lord. If you go back to the beginning of the story you see that satan started the whole mess by tempting David to number the people which was not Gods will.

Today is Thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for. So many possessions, so many friends, good jobs, good health, nice houses, loving families, the list goes on and on. But how attached are we to these things? How important are they to us? What is our focus? Is the reason we get up each morning and go to work so that we can keep our stuff and increase our stuff until we have to get a bigger house to contain our stuff? I’m not against having nice things but when their maintenance and accumulation becomes our focus, above all else, we have ourselves an idol. If there is something in your possession that you are unwilling to give when The Lord lays it on your heart to give to someone else then we have an idol. We must always be aware of the fact that everything we have is Gods. He gave us the ability to make wealth. He gave us the talents that we use to make wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

Luke 14:26-30 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?    Why do you think He put these two trains of thought together? At first He is talking about what it takes to be a disciple and then He switches gears and talks about counting the cost of building a building. I think He was warning us, and the people He was talking to, not to commit to following Him without first knowing how “expensive” it can be. But the reward is much more. SHALOM. PEACE. JOY. REST. LOVE. HOPE.

Below are stories of people in various parts of the world, who have died or have been imprisoned, this week for their decision to follow Jesus.

11/27/2013 Nigeria (AINA) – Suspected Muslim herdsmen slaughtered 37 Christians in coordinated attacks on four Plateau state villages early this morning after Boko Haram terrorists killed at least 34 Christians in Borno state earlier this month, sources said.

11/27/2013 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that a seven-year-old boy in northern India was brutally tortured and murdered because of his family’s Christian faith. This inhumane murder represents just one particularly brutal incident of Christian persecution as anti-Christian sentiments in India continues to grow.

Eritrean security forces recently raided a prayer meeting and arrested 185 Christians in Maitemenay, a northern suburb of Asmara. VOM sources say the believers had apparently gathered to pray about the worsening exodus of Eritreans from the country.

Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

The cost is high but the rewards are higher.

by

Not about me…or you


Image

Mark 11:1-7 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethpage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ Say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.” So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?” And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.

In the other gospels they identified this animal as a donkey but not in this one. I picked this one because it specified that this colt had never been ridden before. I looked online to see if donkeys were super easy to allow a rider for the first time. I found that they are not any easier to train or break than a horse. In fact, they say that you can’t break them by force but instead they must be coerced or bribed into submission. So, naturally, I’m curious about why Jesus picked a colt that had never been ridden before. I know that every prophecy about Him was fulfilled and it was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” And He did just that.

Several months ago, maybe last year, I was talking with my friend, Jana, about the women’s center I am helping her with. And while I was telling her how I am always thinking of how the people I come in contact with can help with the women’s center The Lord told me I was the donkey. I was like…really?! A donkey? Couldn’t I be something a little more glamorous…I don’t know like an eagle or something? But no, I am the donkey. So then I started praying about what that meant. The first thought was the donkey that Balaam rode in Number chapter 22 because it talked and that was what I was doing…talking to everyone I met about the women’s center. But I never got confirmation from The Lord.

Then I was listening to James McDonald one day that week and he was recounting something that happened to him. There was a lady that was upset with him and called him a donkey in a letter. He prayed about it for a week and never got clear understanding about how he was a donkey and what he should do about it. On Friday, of that week, he went to lunch with a pastor friend of his. James did not tell the pastor friend about the letter. As they were walking back to the car after lunch, the friend said The Lord is pleased with all the ways you are serving Him and helping people into the Kingdom. Then the man said, you know even the donkey knew it wasn’t about him. So there it was. That was my answer. It’s not about me. My job is to bring The Lord in…in whatever way I can. Through this blog, through the women’s center, when I begin to preach and teach, and through every ordinary, mundane, daily interaction with people. And it’s your job too. As christians we are the Lords emissary on earth. We are His designated agent. And Who better to represent?

Are you representing Him in the way He would have you?

by

Authority


John 19:10-11 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Election day…albeit a small election. Just two candidates for the seat in congress that was vacated by Jo Bonner. It is our responsibility, as Christians, to pray about who God would have us elect into office. To get out and vote even if it seems to be between the bad and the worse candidate (not to say that is the case in this election). We are blessed to live in a democratic society and we should not take that for granted.

We may not like the authority we are under but we can be sure they would not be there if it wasn’t Gods will for them to be there. (Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.) This scripture is why I try to stay out of conversations about the current government. If I don’t like what they are doing I try to remember that I serve the God that put them in office and that I need to pray for wisdom and discernment for them. I also pray that their hearts will be softened to accomplish that which my God put them in office to achieve. Sometimes it is really hard but I believe that His plan and purpose will come to fruition.

Sometimes when we are going through a situation we can see what God is doing. Sometimes when we are going through a situation we wonder where God is, but after we get through it we can look back and see what He was accomplishing thought it. And sometimes we never understand why we had to go through a situation. I think this last circumstance is the hardest to accept. I heard a sermon once that helped me accept the times when I can’t understand why I had to go through hard times. The pastor was using a motorcycle game at the arcade to illustrate. He explained that there were 4 perspectives that you could choose to view the course as you “rode” the motorcycle. The first was just the road as if you were actually driving a motorcycle. The second was pulled back so you could see the rider and a little more of the road. The last perspective was the entire course, the terrain, the other participants, upcoming twists and turns etc. I liken the 4th perspective as Gods perspective. He can see everything, everybody, and how each action is going to affect His plan. This makes it easier for me to live by faith. To trust in my God, Who has a plan.

It’s a choice.

by

Seeds


ImageGenesis 1:11-13 God said, “Let the earth put forth grass, seed-producing plants, and fruit trees, each yielding its own kind of seed-bearing fruit, on the earth”; and that is how it was. The earth brought forth grass, plants each yielding its own kind of seed, and trees each producing its own kind of seed-bearing fruit; and God saw that it was good. So there was evening, and there was morning, a third day.

Wasn’t that smart to give the plants the ability to reproduce themselves through seeds? I have been thinking a lot about seeds, dirt, water, harvests etc. today. God does that with me. He gives me a topic and I’m not sure I heard Him so He brings it back to my mind over and over until I stop and get quiet enough to hear exactly what He’s trying to tell me….so here goes.

In the scripture referenced above The Lord is talking about plants but I believe the same principle applies to us. Before I was saved I can remember several instances of people “sowing” into my life. Sowing seeds of words, sowing seeds of actions, sowing seeds of love into me. And I’m sure there are some I’m not even aware of. I wonder if all the people that loved me into the Kingdom knew what they were doing or were they just letting the love of Jesus flow through them.

In John chapter 4 Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman at the well and then, after she walked away, He begins talking to His disciples about the harvest. John 4:35-38 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Did the people who sowed seeds into my life realize they were entering into other people labors and that they were gathering fruit for eternal life? It must be very gratifying to lead someone to Christ. To lead them in the sinners prayer and watch them become saved. I haven’t had the privilege yet but I do think I have planted some seeds.

In 2012 on Valentines day I went to inner healing at Restoring the Foundations in Hendersonville, NC. During my week there I was exploring the area just after sunset. The Lord took me to a rock, at the top of the mountain, that overlooked the city below. As the sky darkened and the lights in the houses below began coming on The Lord said to me, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Go and join My workers in the harvest.” My response was yes Lord!

Please join me in sowing seeds of love and hope into the lost and hurting in this world. Let the streams of living water flow through you and spill onto everyone you meet today. (John 7:38)

by

Overcomers


imageRevelation 12:10-11 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of The Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

I got the word from The Lord yesterday morning that I was going to write on overcoming but when I typed it into my bible gateway concordance I was surprised at what I found. Beginning in Revelation 2 there are interesting promises for “he who overcomes” I will list them for you below.

Revelation 2:11 he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

Revelation 2:17 to him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who received it.

Revelation 2:26 and he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.

Revelation 3:5 he who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:12 he who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

Revelation 3:21 to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

What does it mean that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony? You wouldn’t be reading this and I wouldn’t have written it if there were no blood of the Lamb. We were redeemed, from the sin we were born into, and the sins we committed and will commit, by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19) So that we could testify of Him and the ways that following Him have enriched our lives. We testify about Him in every action that we make. Everything we say. Everything we do. Once you have identified yourself as a Christian people are watching. It reminds me of the quote from Gandhi “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike Christ.” While Gandhi was in South Africa he tried to attend a church service but the elder at the door would not grant him access based on his ethnicity. This was before he went on to lead India out from under the bonds of English rule mainly through non-violent rallies and marches. He was called the father of the Indian nation. It makes my stomach turn to think about all the lost people of India that could have been saved if those Christians that he encountered had encouraged him rather than blocking his entrance to church. And while we probably won’t have that kind of influence we do still influence all the people we come in contact with each day.

If Christian means little Christ then we are supposed to be acting like Jesus Christ…right? What did Jesus do? He loved people. He ate with sinners and tax collectors. He healed people. He was a servant who put other peoples needs above His own. And He told us to do the same. Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save it (john 12:47). If that man that denied Gandhi access to the church service had known what it means to be a Christian he wouldn’t have judged him.

Are you judging the world or loving and serving the world?

by

Gifts


2 Timothy 1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

How do you choose a gift for someone you love? Whether it is for a friend or a relative or one of your children you pick something that will enrich and bring joy to their lives. And through the giving of the gift you receive joy. I especially love to give my children gifts. I remember on their birthday or Christmas morning basking in the laughter and squeals as they opened their presents. I think God is the same way. He loves us with an everlasting and complete love. He is so pleased to lavish on us good gifts. He loves to watch us receive a gift from Him. He watches as we inspect it from every angle. Jesus said in Matthew 7:11 if you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

I believe my writing is a gift from God. He started urging me to write, last year, as I began my journey through cancer and all the surgeries and treatments. I fought it. I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t do it consistently until several weeks ago when I started this blog. Then, as I began to write, I would wait for Him to show me the topic for the day. As I wrote each days blog I would pray continuously for Him to speak through me. And I believe He has. Before I allowed Him to control the flow and direction of my writing I couldn’t put two cohesive sentences together.

There are several places in scripture that talk about the gifts of God. It says in Ephesians 4:7-8,11-12 but to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
So the gifts are given to us for two reasons according to this scripture.
1.) For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.
2.) For the edifying of the body of Christ.

In the summer of 1999 The Lord told me that the gift He was giving me was to preach and teach. He told me by illuminating that part of the scripture I just referenced. I had no idea that it would take 14 years for me to step into my calling, even to the small degree that I have begun. God is faithful and He doesn’t forget. (Romans 11:29 for the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable) Even while I was so far away from Him He never forgot His plans for me. (Jeremiah 29:11) A lot of things have happened in my life in the last 14 years. I know that if I share, without reservation, He is going to use the things I have done and been through to draw people to Him. He will soften their hearts so they can accept that if, after everything I did, God loves me and blesses me and calls me His child, He will do the same for them. That is my calling and I accept it without hesitation.

What is yours? Are you being obedient?