NOT PERFECT - JUST FORGIVEN

My "perfect" child went through a period when he was hurting.
He felt alone and unloved.  How could I not see? 

http://youtu.be/rVcCKe2sz0Y - Give me Your eyes - Brandon Heath  - lipsinked by Myke Fox

When Tyler was in middle school, he went through a period of time when he felt alone and unloved.  He wore black all the time.  Larry and I thought it was just because he was trying to find himself - some fashion statement that would make him special.

But he was hurting.  We saw what we wanted to see.  He was always surrounded by friends who loved him; he had parents who thought he was amazing.  Yet this 12 year old boy felt alone.



In high school he shared some of the feelings he had had when in middle school.  His English paper began: "There is no God and if there is he doesn't care about me."  Now that will get a mom's attention.  He continued to explain how depressed and discouraged he had felt, that is until someone noticed.  His friend Ben took the time to really listen to Tyler.  When Ben asked how Tyler was, he didn't let Tyler get off with "I'm fine."  He knew something more was going on.  Ben showed Tyler that someone did care Someone besides his parents.  After all, according to Tyler, we had to care because we were his mom and dad.  Ben started asking him questions about the bible, making him think about spiritual things.  A funny thing happened, Tyler started seeing God's goodness and love.  He began to realize that God had put Ben in his life to point Tyler to Jesus.  God really did love Tyler after all. 

Just this week, I've learned a valuable lesson about making rash judgments.  I've been reminded that everyone has got junk that they are dealing with.

Violence at home
Drug Addiction
Illness in the family
Death of a loved one
Financial hardship
Marriage problems

These are just a few of the situations I've seen this week that people around me are dealing with.  Had I not taken the time to show interest in the lives of others, I would not have known that the man who tends to fly into a verbal rage when things get stressful - that man is dealing with a child addicted to drugs and he doesn't know how to help.  The woman who seems distracted and unable to focus on anything - her husband beat her up and her kids had to stop him from hurting her. Her marriage may be over and that weighs heavy on her.  Or what about the woman who has a family of her own but still must go every day to the nursing home to make sure her mom is okay?

This week, I had a prayer request for a family whose 18-year-old son had been swimming with friends and he drown.  That's what they're dealing with this week and the rest of their lives.  Everyone is dealing with something and that "something" can affect how they act around us.  Maybe if I realized how much others are hurting, I might be more compassionate and less quick to be offended or angry at things they do or say.

Mark 6:34
“And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.”

Someday, I want to do a search of all the times that the Bible tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion.  Doesn't this verse just touch your heart? Our Savior, the Son of God, has great compassion for the hurting and the lost.  "He saw many people and was moved with compassion towards them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd".  Do I see what Jesus saw when I walk into a room, or when I'm shopping at the mall when I'm at work or school, or sitting in church? Do I have compassion when I walk among the lost in my community?  Or do I walk right past without giving them a second thought?

People are hurting, but they don't trust others enough to open up. We're consumed with looking good on the outside, and we hide who we really are. We put on our masks and only show the world what we think will be "acceptable".  And why do we play these games? We do it so that people will like us and respect us, and maybe, just maybe they will be our "friend".  How many of us truly let others see who we really are - on the inside?

Being transparent is scary.  It means no more secrets.  No more lies.  No more pretending.   That's not easy for most of us. We are afraid that if our friends knew the truth, they wouldn't be our friends anymore.

How truthful are you when you go out into the world?

If you and I aren't always truthful about what's really going on in our lives and the struggles we're facing, don't you think that there are lots of people just like us who look good on the outside but on the inside, they are falling apart?

We are isolating ourselves from people who just might surprise us and be more than willing to come alongside offering encouragement and understanding. And even worse, when we don't open up and share our struggles, we may miss opportunities to help someone else who is going through the same thing we've already gone through and survived.  When we are transparent and real, we open the doors for others to be transparent, too.

Galatians 6:1-3
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

1.  If I see a fellow believer overcome by sin, Jesus says to gently
    and humbly to try and help that person find his way back.

2.  When I try to help someone who is struggling, I must be on guard less I
     fall into the same sin.

3.  Jesus wants me to help others who are burdened -  to come along side
     and help them to get through the struggle.

4.  And if God puts someone on my path who needs help, I should never
     think I'm too busy or too important to stop and help, however I can.

This is the law of Christ.  He taught his disciples to help others, whether it
was a physical need or a spiritual need.  And we are to be His Hands and Feet.

And don't underestimate the people around you.  You may just be surprised at how much they care and how willing they are to help if you share your struggles.  You might just find out that they need some encouragement, too.  And when we help each other, we become the true Body of Christ.

Holy Father, give me Your eyes for the hurting and suffering around me.  Help me to really see each person you put in my life every day, whether it's the cashier at the grocery store or man who cut me off in traffic.  Let me see those crossings of paths as opportunities to be Jesus to a hurting world.  Lord Jesus, You were never too busy to help others.  You were never too tired.  Please forgive me when I think that what I have to do this day is more important than taking a few minutes to encourage a friend who is suffering. Lord, teach me to listen, really listen not just to the words someone says, but to the unspoken words, the body language that clearly shows pain.  Lord, I realize that I may not be the one to help every friend who is struggling in silence.  Not everyone will be able to open up to me, but Lord, help me at least give them the option of letting people know I care.

I've got a long way to go, Lord.  I need You to prompt me to put myself out there so that others won't see me as someone who has never struggled.  I want people to know that I have struggled and You've gotten me through every time.  I will be Your witness.  You are so faithful.  I love You, Lord.  May my life reflect Your goodness and kindness and compassion to everyone you put in my life.  It's in Your precious Name, Jesus, that I ask these things. Amen.  

This song says it so much better than I can.  Mark of Casting Crowns shares how he felt as a young boy growing up around "perfect Christians".  If we never let down our masks, if all people see is our plastic church faces, we will miss out on opportunities to witness for Christ.  If others don't know how God continually gives us victory over our own struggles, they may think there is no hope for them.  But when they see that we aren't perfect, we are just forgiven, they might just want to know our Savior and experience the Peace that only He can give.

Thank God that Ben took the time to see Tyler through Jesus's eyes.  Thank God for putting Ben in the right place at the right time so that he could speak Life into Tyler's life.  Because Ben cared enough to be the hands and feet of Jesus, Tyler came to know his Savior in a powerful way.  Tyler is now committed to living his life for Christ.  He knows the love of God - personally.  He has been forever changed because someone cared enough to see with Jesus's eyes.

I'm so proud of Tyler.  Since that day when he began to fully understand how much he is loved - not just by his parents and family, not just by friends, but by his heavenly Father, he has been a faithful witness to God's love and compassion.  He sees others with Jesus' eyes, just like Ben did.  Tyler has a powerful testimony.  Just ask him.  God is using him to help others, just like He used Ben.

 http://youtu.be/tA0sJXOGeNE  - Stained glass Masquerade - Casting Crowns

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong
So I tuck it all away like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

*Chorus*
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade.

Is there anyone who’s been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who’s traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is CONVINCING
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay

Chorus x2
Well if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small

Feeling unloved?

http://youtu.be/I-G8IfjPAII - You are loved! - Josh Groban


Someone loved you enough to die for you.  You were destined for punishment but someone stepped in and took your place.  He took your lashes, he took your torture.  He took your sins with Him to the grave and gave you the gift of Eternal Life.

If you ever feel unloved, like no one cares, just read through these verses.  This is just a small portion of the passages that God chose to put in His Written Word for us to know.  HE loves you beyond your wildest imagination!  Other people may let you down and disappoint you, but Your God will always be with you to get your through any circumstance.

Yesterday, I was so tired when I left for work.  My mind was fuzzy and unclear.  I didn't get to sleep until very late and then woke way too early!  But before I left for work, Larry prayed over me.  He asked God to give me a clear mind so that I could do my job well.  He asked for protection for me. 

I left home and was pulling through a green light onto Hwy 205 from a side street.  This has always been a very dangerous intersection - many accidents happened in the past.  But a traffic light was installed a while back which makes it much safer.  Yesterday, I brain was fuzzy so I paid close attention to the green light I had anticipating that it might possibly turn red.  I was ready to stop if it did.  The car in front of me cleared the intersection, I followed right behind, again watching the light.
Just as I got through, a car came whizzing through the intersection right through his red light!  It was a near miss.  Just a couple seconds earlier and I would have been t-boned by this fast moving car.  I had been so focused on watching to make sure the light didn't change, I didn't even see this car on 205 approaching me.  I cried when I realized how God had protected me from certain injury, possibly death.  There's no doubt in my mind HE saved me from that accident. 

My mind was foggy that morning, but Larry prayed for my protection and my Father provided it. 
God does things like that all the time and we don't even realize it.  I know I'm loved by the Creator of the Universe.  He shows me every day if I'll just pay attention.

Today, I pray that you feel His loving presence and compassion, His great care and understanding, as you go about your day.  By the way, the best way to move past feeling unloved is to show love to someone else.  Look around you, there are people who are hurting and need to know the Savior's love.  Think about it.  If you who are so blessed in so many ways have moments of feeling unloved, what about all those other people who struggle every day just to survive?  What about those families who are ripped apart by divorce or illness or addiction or death?  If you feel unloved, show love to someone else who might need it.  You'll feel better and so will they.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_MyC6kJzPg - Unfailing Love by Chris Tomlin

You have my heart
And I am Yours forever
You are my strength
God of grace and power

And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love

And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My unfailing love
Unfailing love

You are my rock
The one I hold on to
You are my song
And I sing for You

And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love

And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love

And everything You hold in Your hand
Still you make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love

And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love

I will praise You
Praise you God of earth and sky
How beautiful is your unfailing love
Unfailing love

And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love

Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love

Exodus 20:6
But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

Exodus 34:6

The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

Psalm 5:12
For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.

Psalm 25:7
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.

Psalm 31:7
I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.

Isaiah 54:8b

But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”says the Lord, your Redeemer.

Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then My faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

Ephesians 1:3-5

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted

to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.

Ephesians 2:4-5

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

Ephesians 3:10-19

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display His wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which He carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

and so on and so on and so on..... so many verses about God unfailing love.

Prayer:

Holy God, how many times have You told me through Scripture "I love you with my unfailing, never changing love"? When will I start believing You? I can't comprehend that the Creator of the Universe, who holds all things together with just a word, You, Almighty God, would love me, a sinner. I'm am in awe and so very, very thankful.

Father, please give me the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. Please help me experience the love of Christ, though I know it is too great for me to ever fully understand. Make me complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You, my loving Father. Thank You for the ultimate proof of your love, the sacrifice of Your precious Son so that I could be forgiven and made righteous through His blood and righteousness. Oh, what an amazing love!.

What an amazing Savior! All praise and glory to You forever and ever! Amen.

Who am I? 

http://youtu.be/mBcqria2wmg - Who am I?  - Casting Crowns

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Ephesians 1 - ESV

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. ⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, ⁸ which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.
¹¹ In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰ that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

I don't begin to think that I have all the answers about predestination or election.  I do know that the idea of God choosing us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in vs 4 makes me feel loved and especially cared for.  He chose me to be His precious child!

Verse 5 says He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ "according to the purpose of His will".  Again in verse 9 we see that same phrase - "according to the purpose of His will".   This first chapter of Ephesians makes it clear that according to the will of the Father, we are chosen, predestined to be His children (through adoption in Christ Jesus).

We have obtained an inhertiance having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will so that we who hope in Christ might praise His glorious Name.    "To the praise of His glory" is another phrase we see several times in this passage (1:6, 12, 14).  He chose us for all the spiritual blessings we read about in Chapter 1 and our response to so great a blessing should always be thanksgiving and praise.  When we praise Him we lift up His glorious Name.  How can we who have been adopted by the Father because of what Jesus did not praise Him continually?

Ephesians 1 shows us how the Father chooses/predestines us, the Son redeems us and then the Holy Spirit indwells in us, sealing us for the inheritance we will receive (vs 13).  How can we not praise God?

Predestination shouldn't scare us; it should bring us comfort to know that before the foundation of the world, God the Father had a plan.  He chose us to be His children through the work of Christ, our Redeemer.  The Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - One Holy God co-existing in 3 persons - has a plan.  HE has lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight, making it known to us the mystery of His will - according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to UNITE all things in Christ, things in heaven and on earth.

We are chosen to be His ambassadors of praise so that others can come to know our loving God.  Our lives should be living testimonies to His great purpose and love for His children.  When we get the love thing right, people around us will be drawn to our LORD.  We will be One, united in Him, just as HE purposed before the foundation of the world.

Verses 15 begins with "For this reason" .  What reason?  Because God presdestined us to be His children through Christ and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit so that we can rest assured in the Hope we have that comes from belonging to Christ. 

Romans 8:28:30
²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.

Doesn't that bring comfort to you as a believer?  All things work together for good just as He purposed before the foundation of the world.  He really does have the whole world in His hands.  God is Sovereign and His plan will not be thrwarted.  Our job is praise Him for His great love so that others will come to know His amazing plan for them, too.

 Holy God!  I praise Your glorious Name!  You are my gracious Father, my wonderful Savior, my constant Comforter and Strength!  How can I fail to praise You with all I am?  Be lifted up in my life today so that others can see Your love in me and come to know You more intimately.  Help us believers to become One, just as you are One.
Gorious God I am thankful for all those whom You have chosen to be Your witnesses and I  do not cease to give thanks for them, remembering them in my prayers.  I pray that You,  the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give them the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of our Savior, so that they will have the eyes of their hearts enlightened, that they may know what is the hope to which You have called us, and they will know the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints.  God please help them to understand the immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who believe, according to the working of Your great might  that was worked in Christ when You raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly places,  far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Holy God, You have put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church,    which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.  Praise Your Holy Name!

The Tree
There's a tree in my backyard.  It's an oak tree and the squirrels and birds love it.  I can sit and watch that tree and all the activity surrounding it for hours.  The tree is old.   It's survived all kinds of weather:  drought, heavy winds, hail...  But it stands strong because it has deep roots. That tree was growing long before our house was built.  It was sitting in the middle of a pasture with no sprinkler system watering it, no store-bought fertilizer, no pruning by my over zealous husband who thinks all trees should look like palm trees.  = )   God maintained my oak tree.  He made it grow. 




Jeremiah 17:7-9

 ⁷ "But I will bless any man who trusts in me.
I will show my favor to the one who depends on me.
⁸ He will be like a tree that is planted near water.
It sends out its roots beside a stream.
It is not afraid when heat comes.
Its leaves are always green.
It does not worry when there is no rain.
It always bears fruit."

 

 

This morning I was reading this passage, and I got to thinking about how often God encourages us to be like trees with deep roots.   He wants us to be able to withstand the droughts and high winds and hail that will come into our lives, just like my oak tree.  He wants us to still produce "fruit" even when the storms come.  And He promises that we can do that IF we delight in His law and meditate on it day and night.

Psalm 1 ESV

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

This week Larry and I watched a movie about a little boy whose father was killed on 9/11.  The father was this little boy's whole world.  They were not only father and son, they were also best buddies.   The little boy was unique, different in a special way.  Others didn't find his uniqueness appealing so he didn't fit in very well with other kids, but his dad always encouraged him and loved him - he believed in him.  When the dad died, the little boy had no one he felt he could trust.  No one who understood him.  He was lost.

As I watched this story unfold I thought about how thankful I am to have the Everlasting Father to count on when times are difficult.  I love my family and my friends but they may not always be around to help me when I struggle.  People die - just like the little boy's dad.  People move away.  People get their feelings hurt and turn their backs on us.   People get caught up in their own problems and no longer can be bothered with our needs and hurts.  People are human and they will always let us down.  But God, our heavenly, eternal Father, will never leave nor forsake us.  That's where we must learn to put our trust. 

I have found that the more I meditate on His Word, the more I come to trust in His faithfulness and love. Reading through the Old Testament, it becomes very clear how much Jehovah God longed for a relationship with the Israelites.  He was so merciful for so long - through all kinds of horrible behavior and betrayals by the Israelites.  Yet HE was ready to welcome them back if they would simply trust in Him and turn away from idols made with human hands.

Trusting God comes from knowing God, and the only way we can come to know Him better is to listen to His Voice speaking through His Holy Word.  We must take time to have conversations with our Father.  Reading His Word, meditating on what He is saying to us in those words, praying and asking for discernment and wisdom so that we can understand exactly what He wants us to hear from the passage - that's how we communicate.  Sometimes, too, just sitting in my backyard watching the birds and squirrels scamper around my old oak tree, I see how great our Creator God is.  He didn't have to make this world so beautiful and fill it with such amazing and unique creatures, but He did.  Have you ever considered that God created every color we see in the Universe?  Think about your favorite color.  God designed it!  God made hot pink!!!  He made purple and green and blue... I can see so many different designs and colors just in my backyard!   Oh, yes, sitting quietly on my back porch, I draw closer to God, and I learn to trust the Creator who provides for my trees and all the little animals and birds every single day.  I know I can trust Him to provide for me, too.

Here is Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, and for us, too.

Ephesians 3

¹⁶ I pray that he will use His glorious riches to make you strong. May His Holy Spirit give you His power deep down inside you. ¹⁷ Then Christ will live in your hearts because you believe in Him.

And I pray that your love will have deep roots. I pray that it will have a strong foundation. ¹⁸ May you have power with all God's people to understand Christ's love. May you know how wide and long and high and deep it is. ¹⁹ And may you know His love, even though it can't be known completely. Then you will be filled with everything God has for you.
²⁰ God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by His power that is working in us. ²¹ Give Him glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. Give Him glory through all time and for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 52:8-9

But I am like a healthy olive tree.
My roots are deep in the house of God.
I trust in your faithful love
for ever and ever.
⁹ I will praise you forever for what you have done.
I will put my hope in you because you are good.
I will praise you when I'm with your faithful people.

http://youtu.be/nXVwHONoLjE - Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing - Chris Rice

"Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him.
"For there are more on our side than on theirs!"

“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”

 

I had a lot of trouble writing this message.  Maybe it was Spiritual Warfare.  I'm sure the Enemy wants to keep us off guard - not thinking about the war that he is waging against us. I struggled putting the words down but I know God will open eyes of anyone who needs to hear this - which I think is all of us.  He can use even my feeble attempt at drawing attention to the War going on among us and in us.

Jesus, You are my strength.  You are mighty to save and more powerful than any thing that will come against me today.  Thank You for saving me.  Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts, words and actions.  Today, help me to stand firm, to resist the enemy, to call on YOU, my Savior.
You have already defeated Satan and he knows it.  So now, he goes after Your followers to hurt You. Please keep me from being his tool, his instrument of evil. Help me to remember that the battle is already won. Help me to put on the full armor of God.  Dear Lord, keep me from doing anything that brings dishonor to Your Name.  Most of all, LORD, keep my thoughts pure, because that's where all sin begins.  Remind me to bring every thought under Your authority.  I don't want my head filled with anything that is not from You.  You alone are my God.  Today, help me stand firm with Your strength and victory.  In the Power of Your Name I pray. Amen.


From Jesus Calling:

Do not be surprised by the fiery attacks on your mind.

When you struggle to find Me and to live in My Peace, don't let discouragement set in.  You are engaged in massive warfare, spiritually speaking.  The evil one abhors your closeness to Me, and his demonic underlings are determined to destroy our intimacy.  When you find yourself in the thick of battle, call upon My
Name:  "Jesus, help me!"  At that instant, the battle becomes Mine; your role is simply to trust Me as I fight for you.

My Name, properly used, has unlimited Power to bless and protect.  At the end of time, every knee will bow (in heaven, on earth, and under the earth), when My Name is proclaimed.  People who have used "Jesus" as a shoddy swear word will fall down in terror on that awesome day.  But all those who have drawn near Me through trustingly uttering My Name will be filled with inexpressible and glorious Joy.  This is your great hope, as you await My return.

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yesterday, at least 4 times, I heard messages about Spiritual Warfare. 
One speaker made a statement that caught my attention.  He said the moment I became a Christian, Satan became my enemy.  MY Enemy!  Mine!  He hates Me and wants to hurt ME and everyone I love.  He hates me because I love Christ.
He will use whatever he can to destroy my life.

Satan despises the honor and adoration we give to Christ.  Christ has everything Satan wanted and although our Savior defeated him, Satan still has a little time before he must face his ultimate destruction.  During that time, he is lashing out at anyone who brings glory or honor to Jesus. BE READY!

He is out to bring me down, to weaken my faith, to destroy my influence, to make me doubt that God loves me, to discourage, depress, defeat me.  I am his mission's goal, and he is obsessed with that goal. He has a plan for my demise.  Usually, he uses my weaknesses, but sometimes he uses my strengths.

For those of us who can sometimes feel a little self-righteous, he'll even use the "good things" we do to bring us down. He can use our ministries for the church to steal us away.  We can get so busy doing things for the Lord, that we don't spend time with HIM.  We stop reading His Word.  Maybe we spend so much time on our ministry, we fail to care for our family in the way that God intended.  Busyness is one of Satan's power tools.  Anything that takes our attention away from Christ is not good, no matter how good it may look to those around us.

He uses our successes, too. Financial success can mislead us into thinking we don't need Jesus.  After all, we provide for our families, we give to the needy...  It's very easy to think it's our hard work and our insight and our understanding that brings us our material wealth.  But ultimately, everything we have comes for our Father and when we forget that, we become prideful and we take our eyes off our Savior. Satan loves to use that weapon:  PRIDE.
,
The Enemy is crafty.  He's been engaged in battle against believers for centuries, and he knows exactly which weapons to use against each of us. He has a personalized plan just for me and one just for you, too.  Peter warns us to "Be Alert!" because the devil is prowling around just looking for opportunities to catch us off guard.

What weapon does Satan use against you?  Think about. 

Romans 1 lists some sins that Satan uses against us:

Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.

I can read this passage and feel pretty good about myself until I look closer. 
Matthew 5:28:

"But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

The sin starts in our thoughts.  My thought sins may not be "lust", they may be bitterness, resentment, self-pity, etc.  But those kind of thoughts will cause just as much damage as lustful thoughts.
Have you ever head someone say "it just happened.  We didn't mean to have an affair.  It just happened."

No, it didn't just happen.  You thought it about long before you took action.  You let your mind think about what it would be like long before you made your first move.  That's why God tells us to capture our thoughts and bring them under the authority of Christ.  Stop the thought.  The action will never happen.


1 Peter 5:8-9
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

http://youtu.be/1gbBrlAVm20 - Your Great Name  - Natalie Grant

 His Name is powerful.  Call on Jesus when you feel attacked.  Call on Jesus when you don't feel attacked, because you are being attacked whether you feel it or not.  Satan is YOUR enemy.  Don't forget it.  He won't. 

Resist the enemy and he will flee from you.  He will flee for a season, but first, YOU must resist.  God gives us the weapons we need to defeat the Enemy. 
He tells us to put on the whole armor of God.

Ephesians 6 
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And don't forget this last weapon.  PRAY.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

This battle we fight every day is real - whether we realize it or not.  When I think about how vicious Satan is, how much he wants to destroy anything that is good or sweet or kind, I tremble because I know too many days I walk around completely unaware.  My guard is down and I'm vulnerable.  But praise God!  I do not fight this battle on my own.  The Creator of the Universe can call down His heavenly army to protect me.  Just because I can't see them, doesn't mean they aren't surrounding me.

I think of the prophet Elisha's servant who was so afraid because the enemy was surrounding them and there was no way out... no human way out.  But Elisha prayed and ask God to open the eyes of his servant so he could see what Elisha saw.

2 Kings 6:15-17

When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.

“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”

Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

Whom then shall I fear?  Satan can tempt me, he can use every trick imaginable, but I have the LORD on my side. He's my Savior. One word is all I need, "Jesus!".  At His Name, every knee will bow, even Satan. 

That beautiful, powerful, sweet Name!

http://youtu.be/NgHu0YyYbnU - Names of God

HOSANNA in the highest!



Psalm 118:24-29
This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
²⁵ Please, Lord, please save us.
Please, Lord, please give us success.
²⁶ Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
²⁷ The Lord is God, shining upon us.
Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!

²⁹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

Sometimes my words of praise seem so inadequate - I take that back.  They always seem inadequate. 
But I want to praise God.  He has been so good to me.  Sometimes when I pray, I just say "thank You, thank You, thank You."  That's the only thing that comes out of mouth!  Every thing else I try to say sounds so planned, so rote.  But I want to say more.  I want to give full praise. 

When the words just don't come, I can always turn to the Psalms and use the writer's words to praise God. Today, I am using Psalm 118.   I can say these beautiful words and mean every single one.

Casting Crowns (and Steven Curtis Chapman) has a song - Listen to our Hearts - that expresses our desire to praise God with words when there are no words that really can express our love and awe.

 http://youtu.be/171BPOFxJVw - Listen to our hearts - Casting Crowns

 ..."words cannot express the love we feel but we long for you to hear, so listen to our hearts, hear our spirits sing!!!"

"We will use the words we know to tell you what an awesome God you are but words are not enough to tell you of our love... so listen to our hearts." 

I'm so glad that God listens to my heart and not my fumbling words.  I'm so thankful that the Holy Spirit presents my prayers and praise to God for me.

Romans 8:26-27
²⁶ In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. We don't know what we should pray for. But the Spirit himself prays for us. He prays with groans too deep for words. ²⁷ God, who looks into our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit. And the Spirit prays for God's people just as God wants him to pray.

There is one word that says more than any other expression of worship I can think of.  Hosanna!
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people shouted "Hosanna, hosanna in the highest!"

Matthew 21

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

¹ As they all approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage. It was on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent out two disciples. ² He said to them, "Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you get there, you will find a donkey tied up. Her colt will be with her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them. The owner will send them right away."
⁴ This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would come true. It says,

⁵ "Say to the city of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you.
He is gentle and riding on a donkey.
He is riding on a donkey's colt.' " —(Zechariah 9:9)

⁶ The disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt. They placed their coats on them. Then Jesus sat on the coats. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their coats on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ Some of the people went ahead of him, and some followed. They all shouted,

"Hosanna to the Son of David!"

"Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" —(Psalm 118:26)

"Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. The people asked, "Who is this?"
¹¹ The crowds answered, "This is Jesus. He is the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Jesus Clears Out the Temple

¹² Jesus entered the temple area. He began chasing out all those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the people who were exchanging money. He also turned over the benches of those who were selling doves. ¹³ He said to them, "It is written that the Lord said, 'My house will be called a house where people can pray.'—(Isaiah 56:7) But you are making it a 'den for robbers.' "—(Jeremiah 7:11)
¹⁴ Blind people and those who were disabled came to Jesus at the temple. There he healed them. ¹⁵ The chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did. They also saw the children in the temple area shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" But when they saw all of this, they became angry.

¹⁶ "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.

"Yes," replied Jesus. "Haven't you ever read about it in Scripture? It says,
" 'You have made sure that children and infants  praise you.' " —(Psalm 8:2)

I don't want my words of praise and adoration to become empty and meaningless.  I hope this one word will trigger thoughts of adoration and praise for you like it now does for me.  When God brings "Hosanna" to your mind today, remember to praise Him for all He is, all He has been and all He will forever be for us.  He is our blessed Savior and God.  Today I will sing:

"Hosanna, Lord!  Save me, God--thank You for saving me! Heal my heart and make it clean - Deliver me from myself--break my heart for what breaks Yours - show me how to love like You love me -  Use me for Your Kingdom's cause - thank You for Your provision!

I need Your help--Your help is here!"  Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest!"
I found this devotional a couple of years ago and when I read it, singing "Hosanna" became much more meaningful to me. 

The Cornerstone Devotions for Teachers
Hosanna!

I was searching for just the right phrase tonight while praying and was so excited when God gave it to me! I was in that place where you want to ask God for help (maybe 'beg' is a more accurate word), but at the same time you're trying to stay in His peace and claim victory over the situation...
I played a song called "Hosanna in the Highest" and while singing, I realized I didn't know what I was saying. What does 'hosanna' mean, anyway? I stopped the song because I knew I'd get more out of it if I understood the words. Thanks to (believe it or not) Wikipedia, I had a powerful answer within seconds. 'Hosanna' is a Hebrew word meaning 'please save' or 'save now', which seems kind of strange when you consider that people shouted when seeing Jesus enter Jerusalem, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" What they were saying was, "Please save us! Blessed is He who saves us!"
So here's the amazing quote from Wikipedia that tied the two seemingly contradictory phrases together: "[Hosanna] is a cry for salvation, while at the same time a declaration of praise". I never saw that before! What a perfect word..."Save me, God--thank You for saving me! Deliver me from myself--thank You for Your provision! I need Your help--Your help is here!" That was exactly what I was trying to express. Yes, hosanna in the highest!!

http://youtu.be/ZeJZBcAMXWc   - Hosanna in the Highest!

Are you a mighty warrior?

http://youtu.be/xj8wHfBKoRU - You raise me up - Josh Groban

Just exactly what could ever be too hard for me if I just remembered that the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, is living inside me giving me His power and strength to face any obstacle?  If like Paul, I could remember the promise that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, what could I possibly fear?

I have come to see the struggles God allows in my life as evidence of His love for me, and proof that HE believes in me and trusts me to keep my eyes on Him and give Him control.  I don't always feel courageous or powerful.  Too many times I don't feel qualified or good enough or strong enough for the battle I face, but God believes in me even when I don't.  He knows I won't alone.

When I'm feeling scared or like I can't face the mountain in front of me, I remember Gideon. 

Gideon was afraid.  He didn't feel strong enough for the challenge God had for him.  But God knew Gideon better than Gideon knew himself.  God believed in Gideon. 

Judges 6 - Gideon

Yet again the People of Israel went back to doing evil in God's sight. God put them under the domination of Midian for seven years. Midian overpowered Israel. Because of Midian, the People of Israel made for themselves hideouts in the mountains—caves and forts. When Israel planted its crops, Midian and Amalek, the easterners, would invade them, camp in their fields, and destroy their crops all the way down to Gaza. They left nothing for them to live on, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. Bringing their cattle and tents, they came in and took over, like an invasion of locusts. And their camels—past counting! They marched in and devastated the country. The People of Israel, reduced to grinding poverty by Midian, cried out to God for help.

The Israelites were so far away from God.  They worshiped Ba-al and had Asherah poles to honor the mother-goddess Asherah.  They did evil in God's sight.  They no longer were following Jehovah God.  And God allowed the Midianites to terrorize the Israelites for seven years because they would not return to Him.  What were they thinking? They worshiped man made idols when the Lord God Almighty had delivered time after time.  After seven years, the Israelites finally called out to the only True and Living God.

 7-10 One time when the People of Israel had cried out to God because of Midian, God sent them a prophet with this message: "God, the God of Israel, says,
    I delivered you from Egypt,
      I freed you from a life of slavery;
   I rescued you from Egypt's brutality
      and then from every oppressor;
   I pushed them out of your way
      and gave you their land.
    "And I said to you, 'I am God, your God. Don't for a minute be afraid of the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living.' But you didn't listen to me."

 11-12 One day the angel of God came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the wine press, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of God appeared to him and said, "God is with you, O mighty warrior!"

Gideon was so afraid of the Midianites that he was basically threshing wheat in a hole so that he would not be seen by the enemy. The angel of God appeared  and said "God is with you, O mighty warrior!"   I'm guessing Gideon wasn't feeling much like a mighty warrior at that moment.

 13 Gideon replied, "With me, my master? If God is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, 'Didn't God deliver us from Egypt?' The fact is, God has nothing to do with us—he has turned us over to Midian."
 14 But God faced him directly: "Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven't I just sent you?"

The angel of God may have been a special messenger angel sent by God, but some believe this could be an appearance of Jesus Christ - since verse 14 says "God" faced him directly.  This could very well be another appearance of the Son of God just like when Shadrack, Meshack and Abednigo were in the firey furnace with another figure who appeared to be "divine" according to Daniel 3:25 the 21st Century Kings James Version - 25 He answered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Listen to Gideon.  Does this sound at all familiar?  Gideon began to list his shortcomings, all the reason why he couldn't do what God has asked him to do.   Do you have a tape like Gideon's that you play when God shows you something He wants you to do?  Do you convince yourself that you're not smart enough, not good enough, too this or too that..?  Are you the runt of the litter - like Gideon?  If God asks you to do something, it doesn't matter if you don't have the strength, He works best through our weaknesses anyway.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
⁹ But he said to me, "My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak."
So I am very happy to brag about how weak I am. Then Christ's power can rest on me. ¹⁰ Because of how I suffered for Christ, I'm glad that I am weak. I am glad in hard times. I am glad when people say mean things about me. I am glad when things are difficult. And I am glad when people make me suffer. When I am weak, I am strong.
  

 Back to Gideon:

15 Gideon said to him, "Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan's the weakest in Manasseh and I'm the runt of the litter."
 16 God said to him, "I'll be with you. Believe me, you'll defeat Midian as one man."
 17-18 Gideon said, "If you're serious about this, do me a favor: Give me a sign to back up what you're telling me. Don't leave until I come back and bring you my gift."
    He said, "I'll wait till you get back."
 19 Gideon went and prepared a young goat and a huge amount of unraised bread (he used over half a bushel of flour!). He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and took them back under the shade of the oak tree for a sacred meal.


SIGN Number One

20 The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and unraised bread, place them on that rock, and pour the broth on them." Gideon did it.
 21-22 The angel of God stretched out the tip of the stick he was holding and touched the meat and the bread. Fire broke out of the rock and burned up the meat and bread while the angel of God slipped away out of sight. And Gideon knew it was the angel of God!
    Gideon said, "Oh no! Master, God! I have seen the angel of God face-to-face!"
 23 But God reassured him, "Easy now. Don't panic. You won't die."
 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to God and named it "God's Peace." It's still called that at Ophrah of Abiezer.
 25-26 That night this happened. God said to him, "Take your father's best seven-year-old bull, the prime one. Tear down your father's Baal altar and chop down the Asherah fertility pole beside it. Then build an altar to God, your God, on the top of this hill. Take the prime bull and present it as a Whole-Burnt-Offering, using firewood from the Asherah pole that you cut down."
 27 Gideon selected ten men from his servants and did exactly what God had told him. But because of his family and the people in the neighborhood, he was afraid to do it openly, so he did it that night.
 28 Early in the morning, the people in town were shocked to find Baal's altar torn down, the Asherah pole beside it chopped down, and the prime bull burning away on the altar that had been built.
 29 They kept asking, "Who did this?"
    Questions and more questions, and then the answer: "Gideon son of Joash did it."
 30 The men of the town demanded of Joash: "Bring out your son! He must die! Why, he tore down the Baal altar and chopped down the Asherah tree!"
 31 But Joash stood up to the crowd pressing in on him, "Are you going to fight Baal's battles for him? Are you going to save him? Anyone who takes Baal's side will be dead by morning. If Baal is a god in fact, let him fight his own battles and defend his own altar."
 32 They nicknamed Gideon that day Jerub-Baal because after he had torn down the Baal altar, he had said, "Let Baal fight his own battles."

33-35 All the Midianites and Amalekites (the easterners) got together, crossed the river, and made camp in the Valley of Jezreel. God's Spirit came over Gideon. He blew his ram's horn trumpet and the Abiezrites came out, ready to follow him. He dispatched messengers all through Manasseh, calling them to the battle; also to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. They all came.

SIGN Number Two

 36-37 Gideon said to God, "If this is right, if you are using me to save Israel as you've said, then look: I'm placing a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If dew is on the fleece only, but the floor is dry, then I know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said."
 38 That's what happened. When he got up early the next morning, he wrung out the fleece—enough dew to fill a bowl with water!

SIGN Number Three
 39 Then Gideon said to God, "Don't be impatient with me, but let me say one more thing. I want to try another time with the fleece. But this time let the fleece stay dry, while the dew drenches the ground."
 40 God made it happen that very night. Only the fleece was dry while the ground was wet with dew.


I love this story.  God spoke to Gideon, He performed the miracle of bringing down fire to light the sacrifice, but still Gideon wasn't sure that God would be with him in battle. 

Show me the wet fleece, God! 

Have you ever felt that way?  All Gideon could see was his own shortcomings and weaknesses.  How could he possibly lead his people against such a great army?   The Israelites were so far away from God.  They worshiped Ba-al and had Asherah poles to honor the mother-goddess Asherah.  They were no longer were following Jehovah God.  And God allowed the Midianites to terrorize the Israelites for seven years. Can you imagine?  They worshiped man made idols when God had delivered time after time.  So the Israelites called out to God.

And when they called out to God, He delivered them once again.

We can trust God.  He is all knowing, all powerful, all seeing, and He loves us.  I guess I don't always need the wet fleece.  Do you?

Holy Father, forgive me for needing to see the wet fleece so many times.  I don't know why I ever doubt You.  Every time You lead me to a hard place, I make excuses, I have so many reasons why I can't do what You ask me to do, but when I finally listen and obey, the end result has always been amazing.  Those times when I face my Midianites with Your strength, I feel Your powerful presence in a mighty way.  Help me to trust You and Your plan for my life.  Help me to do whatever You have for me to do.  Whatever battle, I know You will be right next to me, protecting and giving me everything I need to stand firm. For I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.   All praise and honor to You, Sovereign God, forever and ever. I pray these things in Jesus' precious Name, may You be glorified in this mighty warrior.  Amen.

http://youtu.be/DMZ8D6nTKhg - The Battle Belongs to the Lord