Delay or Preparation

 

Often, I open my email box to find newsletters from various ministries and organizations. Today was no different. But it’s not that often that a newsletter hits me where it counts. Today’s uplifting messages came from Patricia Raybon, author of much, including the fabulous Annalee Spain mysteries. If you haven’t read them, I highly recommend them (here), and her upcoming book, The Sedalia Code (here).

 

She proposed a question I’m still chewing on, even after discussing it with my husband, Dave.

“What ‘delays’ in our lives might God be using as preparation?”

And, I might add, preparation for what, exactly?

We’ve been entertaining the idea of moving since Dave retired (the second time, six years ago). With two out of three children living in Tennessee, we presume that would be our destination. But we could be wrong.

The problem is, even though we both hear from God regularly, we’re not hearing a thing about this move.

I’ve heard it said that God answers our prayers with one of three answers: yes, no and not now.

We’ve been living under the assumption that the time isn’t right for a move, yet.

At our age, it will be an endeavor to move across the country. We don’t want to step out in faith and find out it was a wrong move. Moving will be expensive; we’re used to having the US Military move our belongings for us. We’re not rich, but we’re not poor – but we certainly don’t have money to waste on an expensive move if it’s not the RIGHT move.

What if?

What if we’re causing our own delays?

What if this is a season of preparation for what comes after the move, and we haven’t been preparing as we should?

What if we’re the ones dragging out the delay?

It’s felt like a season of rest. And we’re certainly in the Word of God more than ever before – but what if that’s not enough to be prepared for what’s to come?

Rather than furthering any delays, we’ve concluded that we’ll not only spend more time in the Word, but we’ll make sure it’s quality time. No more checking off a commitment for the day. It’s time to start chewing on the Word of God and making it a staple in our daily diets. There may be days when it doesn’t sit well in our bellies – but that’s just caused by lack of understanding and not seeing the whole picture.

In Matthew 18:19 Jesus tells us, “Again, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”

Dave and I make that minimum.

In Luke 11:10 He tells us, “For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.”

We can ask, see and knock together – in harmony and with unity.

And in James 1:5 we read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not [meaning he won’t show disapproval or criticize or be disappointed that we asked]; and it shall be given him.”

Maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question(s).

Starting today, I’m asking for God’s wisdom for right now and not concerning myself with what’s to come unless He puts it on my heart.

We’ll continue to pray, read God’s Word and meditate upon it, and study out what the Scriptures mean – and what He’s saying to us through them in the here and now….. doing the prep work!

Are You Being Compelled?

 

Sometimes a thought occurs to me, seemingly out of the blue. I don’t think that’s how it happens. Long before the thoughts come to me, God planted the seeds that grew into revelation thoughts.

Decades ago, we lived in England when a royal wedding took place. Fergie and Andrew, the event of the year unfolded on our television set. Later that week we went to London to see the flowers at Westminster Abbey.

But what if by some chance, someone sent by the royals showed up at my door and handed me a royal invitation? I wouldn’t have had a thing to wear! But who would see me in the crowds anyways? I’d be there to participate in the celebrations in person! What if upon acceptance, the bearer of the invitation also presented me with a gown to wear, so I’d fit right in!?

Yes, I’d have gone. No hesitation. (I couldn’t have known how the marriage would turn out.)

Let me share a few verses of scripture with you here.

“But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So, the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” – Luke 14:16-23 ESV

If you’re in God’s Word at all, I hope you’ve seen the invitation. God’s servants have come out into the highways and the hedges, seeking even the poor, the crippled and blind and lame and most unworthy among us, compelling us to come to God’s banquet.

Still, there is room.

If you haven’t accepted this royal invitation, know that you WILL fit in. Jesus has provided for you; every flaw and sin or trace of unworthiness is covered by His blood. He’s provided royal attire for you, as well – His very own Robe of Righteousness. He drapes it over you when you turn to accept His invitation and wraps His arms around you and weeps with joy that you’ve joined Him and welcomes you home.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” – Romans 8:1 KJV

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 KJV

Welcome home.

Come and See.....

 

“You don’t yet know where the next note falls……” I heard. “And you won’t know until you’re actually singing with me. I’ll let you harmonize!”

My mind envisioned a couple ballroom dancing. As he led her around the dance floor, she followed his lead perfectly, appearing to float on air. They’d been dancing together for years; she knew the nuances of his movements; they danced as one.

To every prayer, God responds – “Come closer to Me.” In the coming closer, we’ll hear His voice and the answers to our prayers. One of Jesus’ favorite things to say was, “Follow me,” and “Come and see…”

His every blessing is to bring you in sync with Him, to hold you close, to lift you up and to edify the body of Christ.

“Lord, where will You meet me?” The question doesn’t fall on deaf ears. God’s response is swift; immediate. “Right here, right now.”

Are we ready to hear that? Are we ready to engage with the Creator of everything over our concerns and desires?

Will we stop what we’re doing right here, right now – to hear what He wants to tell us?

Will we make the time to listen?

Or put it off till we have time to sit down and “REALLY” pay attention. After all, we’re actually kind of busy right here, right now.

We are created to be vessels. We can house the Spirit of God or the spirit of the world, the anti-Christ; the enemy.

Unlike the demonic entities or even our very own thoughts, our God and Creator gives us the choice to allow Him to live within us. He doesn’t want to control us; He wants to lead us.

If we already knew the way we wouldn’t need Him to guide us. We’ve been doing things our own way for so long, we think it’s the only way.

We’re wrong.

That can be a hard thing to hear.

He knows the way, every time – because He IS the way.

Is today the day? Are you ready to sit quietly and hear what God wants to say to you? He’s ALL about intimacy – with YOU.

He loves you beyond human comprehension.

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place….” - Mark 6:31 Worldwide English New Testament

And . . . ?

 

If you’re ever wondering how you can pray for me, pray that complaining words stop making their way through my lips. I know God doesn’t like it when we complain, yet here I sit – complaining far too often.

It’s silly, but sometimes I even feel like I need to complain just because others in the conversation are complaining. Perhaps my brain pacifies me with the old adage that misery loves company. Maybe complaining is just contagious.

But it’s not just when I’m with others sharing conversation. I can be happily doing the work in front of me when I fuss and complain to the Lord!

“I can’t believe the woman across the room from me is talking to her child that way, she’s making them feel so small and unseen.”

God: “And?”

“Lord, I can tell that man is cheating the system…”

God: “And?”

“That woman just stole from the store, Lord!”

God: “And?”

And just what do I think my complaining about it will do? I could just as easily pray instead of resorting to complaint.

“Father, please heal the hurt in that mother’s heart so she doesn’t take her frustrations out on her child….”

“Lord, show that man a better way to live. Open his eyes to the deception in his ways. Show him YOUR ways…”

“God, I know You’ve already made provision for the woman who just stole from the store, open her eyes to see YOUR provision.

Years ago, while complaining to God about a friend, He let me vent and then said, “You know, if you were praying for her, you wouldn’t be complaining about her.”

That was an embarrassing moment of chastisement! But I needed to hear it. It’s true for all of us.

Quickly I remembered Hebrews 12:5 & 6:

“Have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives.” (ESV)

So, I’m in good company – God chastises and corrects those He loves!

Reminds me of the words to an old song, Little by Little.

“Little by little, one step at a time, He’s changing our hearts and renewing our minds. He’s teaching us how to be patient and kind. Little by little, one step at a time.”

Tis true!

How can I pray for YOU today?

What Good Do My Prayers Do, Anyway?

 

I thank the Lord that my prayers ARE fervent and effective and so are yours!  Hallelujah!

“….The effectual and fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:16 KJV

While reading through a social media post the other morning, I realized suddenly, that my prayers are not without effect – even when I cannot see the effects they bring.

Mine is not the place to make decisions for others, but to pray God’s perfect will over their lives.

I can do that.

We’re all given free will, which at some point, we begin to exercise for ourselves. This includes our grown children, our friends and neighbors, our parents; all our relatives and loved ones. And yes, even the dictator in a foreign land.

What a sneaky ploy of the enemy to try to convince us that our prayers have no effect!

It’s a lie.

Satan speaks to what we can see with our carnal eyes, the eyes we see the world through – the eyes that look at circumstances instead of looking at what God has to say about it. And God – will always have the final word!

Hallelujah!

What an effective way to get someone to stop doing something: to convince them that it’s not doing any good at all.

What a cunning lie to plant in the mind of God’s people: to get them to focus on circumstances that seem frustrating at best.

All the while – God is at work on the hearts of our loved ones.

Guess where we were when God found us? Yes! In sin! Is there any doubt that that’s exactly where He’ll find our loved ones? (Romas 5:8)

Do not relent. Your prayers ARE fervent and effective!

“….The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16 NIV

Some may call into question my righteousness, or their own. But remember, we’re not righteous in and of ourselves, we’re MADE righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21) So don’t let Satan twist that lie into your brain. Your prayers ARE effective and powerful because you ARE righteous! Jesus did that for you! When you asked Him to forgive your sin and to live in your heart – God made you the righteousness of Christ. You put on HIS righteousness.

Keep praying. And when you pray, listen for God’s direction.

He knows better than we do where the wounds are in our loved one’s hearts. He knows better than we do what will soften their hearts and open their spiritual eyes and ears. And He knows what blanket of lies they’re comfortable beneath, and fully able to rip it off of them.

By His GOODNESS He draws us to repentance. (Romans 2:4) With His great love, mercy and compassion, He holds us all in HIS heart.

Yes, the people we’re praying for get to choose for themselves. And yes, that can look scary sometimes.

But the “odds” are stacked against the enemy. He’s a defeated foe. He was conquered right along with death, hell and the grave long before Jesus even walked the road to the Cross, way back when the Trinity came up with the plan! On that Cross – Jesus suffered and died to provide for our redemption. His work is not in vain.

Have faith, my friend. For without it, it’s impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

We don’t need to fight Satan; Jesus took on that job.

We’re to fight the good fight of faith. (1 Timothy 6:12)

And believe me, Satan will attack you on every front he finds available in attempt to steal that faith from you. BUT GOD gave you that faith. Hang on to it. Endure to the end.

You’ve still got it! Don’t rely on circumstances to be your measuring stick for successful prayer. Rely on the Word of God.

Yes, your prayers ARE fervent AND effective! Hallelujah!

“….The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” – James 5:16 NLT

 

Excitedly Sharing Marji's Podcast: Breaking Free From Insecurity

 

“I [Jesus] am in them and you [Father] are in me. May they [us] experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” - John 17:23 (NLT)

My friend Marjorie has a new podcast. Very exciting news. But even better, it’s GOOD podcast! Based on the truth of God’s Word, she’ll teach us how to ground and root our faith in God in ways that will free us and allow us to be secure in Christ and submit ourselves to whatever purposes He’s planned for us.

You can find her on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Be sure to take a few minutes to listen to what she has to say, because she’s VERY encouraging. Her topic? Breaking Free From Insecurity  

That’s the name of her podcast and a topic she’s an expert on! She’s an excellent teacher and mindset mentor, and she’s the first missionary I ever met. She has a bio included on her podcast page, be sure to read it and prepare to be impressed.

Here’s a link to her 3- minute trailer episode:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/break-free-from-insecurity-intrusive-thoughts-mindset/id1892876547

From there you should be able to find the other episodes. So far, she has the trailer plus three episodes available for us.

I was touched deeply by everything she has to say. When she brought up the fact that God the Father loves ME as much as He loves Jesus, it blew my mind. I’m sure I’ve read that verse many times, but it hit me like a colossal revelation as I let it sink into my soul.

“I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” - John 17:23 (NLT)

As you read that one short verse, realize that Jesus is speaking to His Father in Heaven and He’s praying for US! In this prayer, He emphasizes how much His Father loves us. He loves us as much as He loves Jesus – His Son, Jesus! The Son He sacrificed for us. The Son Who loves us so much that He was willing to go to the Cross for us!

How much do you have to love someone to die for them?

I’ve shared the good news of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us many times here in my blog posts. But this should shed new light on that sacrifice.

As you’re driving down the road, perhaps complaining to yourself about your day, know this – God the Father loves you as much as He loves Jesus!

When you lay your head on your pillow tonight, too tired to whisper a quick prayer, remember this – God the Father loves you as much as He loves His only begotten Son, Jesus!

When you wake up tomorrow morning, too tired to face another day, recall these words – God the Father loves you as much as He loves the Son that was separated from Him through death and raised from the dead – to pay for our sin.

When your children rebel, when your paycheck is too little, when the rain won’t stop falling, when your best friend slighted you, when your boss insulted you, when the weight scale isn’t being friendly, when you’re feeling like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, when you can’t feel at all, know this, beyond anything else - God our heavenly Father loves us as much as He loves Jesus.

Selah. Ponder on that; let that sink deep down into your soul.

In His own words, “I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” - John 17:23 (NLT)

 

Don't Keep It To Yourself

 “The next generation is your story away from glory.”

Many have made statements that sum up the same thought. Maybe I even overheard that line somewhere. But it came to mind and I want to briefly ponder it here with you.

When I look in the mirror, I no longer see the young vivacious woman I used to be.  I’m older, and I believe a little wiser. I also recognize that I won’t live forever. If I pay attention to my children and grandchildren, I notice that they too are growing older. Gray in the beards of my sons, grandchildren succeeding in their chosen career fields makes me contemplate what I’m waiting for.

The upcoming generations need to hear our stories, and the generations after them will need to hear their stories.

Some of us tend to be private people and courtesy of social media, we can sometimes feel like we’re connecting when in reality – we’re disconnecting from the people around us.

We tell ourselves, “They don’t want to hear my stories…. They want something quick and colorful; something they can read in a few seconds and keep scrolling.” Or perhaps, “I can’t share THAT story with her…”

But whether they want to hear our stories or not, they need to hear them – at least some of them.

I’m not suggesting you bear your soul to everyone. Listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit as you converse with those around you.

We need to be sharing the good that God has done in our lives so that the people God brings across our paths can stir up their faith and build up their hope as they go through their own situations.

To reveal God’s redemption in our lives may involve telling some sticky stories we don’t want to revisit. We’ll find that sharing these victory stories involve sharing the battles they came from – and this will stir up our own faith as well.

So many times, in the Old Testament of the Bible, God instructs His people to recant their history for the upcoming generations. It wasn’t merely to record their history, but to demonstrate God’s power through each trial they faced and to point out the mistakes they made and how God dealt with them, so that the next generation could benefit by it.

Granted, we don’t always learn from the past or from the mistakes of the people around us. Sometimes we’re stubborn and have to test the waters for ourselves. But while we’re biting off more than we can chew, with victory stories from those around us in mind, we’re more likely to trust that God is – and that He loves us and will bring us through.

Our world needs hope.

God has already provided that hope – through His Word, through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus – and through the word of our testimony; the sharing of our stories.is His

Cast aside the fear of embarrassment. Even the Apostle Paul asked for prayer that he would be bold with the good news of Jesus and the words of his testimonies. (Ephesians 6:18-20 here)

A favorite scripture comes to mind.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony; and they loved not their own lives unto death.” – Revelation 12:11 (KJV)