Renewed Focus, New Direction

This is an exciting time of the year for me. God faithfully uses the holiday season, from Thanksgiving through Christmas to the New Year, to stir my heart, clean out dry and useless areas of my life, and bring fresh direction for the coming year.

It begins at Thanksgiving with remembrance of God's specific faithfulness during the past year. I live in gratitude for each new day. Yet Thanksgiving seems to intensify my memory, and I verbalize my gratitude for His obvious presence in my life. Worship arises as I remember all He is and all He does for me.

In the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, He reminds me of what “preparation” is really about. Even as I sing the familiar Christmas carols, I hear a fresh call to prepare my heart for more of Him and to make room for His work.

As the New Year approaches, He gives me increased expectation for knowing His specific calling and purposes for the coming year. And then He gives direction. There is a sense of freshness and new beginning that brings hope and faith for the future.

Too often in past years, the busyness, focus on buying, wrapping and giving gifts, overload of preparations, overload of food and so many other distractions have drawn me away from sitting and listening to His voice. Quality time with Him can easily be set aside.

In the midst of "celebrating," Jesus is often relegated to the corner of the room as we focus on Santa Clause, reindeer, gifts - what we want, what others want. Each year, the mention of true Christmas, celebrating of Jesus as God with us, is not only diminished but is increasingly stripped from public areas. As that happens – and it is happening – we can easily get caught up in the world’s focus and ways. And when Christmas is over, we find emptiness and longing that has not been satisfied with events or things.

Like in the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42), Jesus is God, Emanuel, right there in our midst. The gift of Christmas is not just His birth, but it is His ongoing life, with us and in us. And we have the opportunity to be with Him as Mary was, but our distracted focus causes us, like Martha, to miss His presence and the treasures He has for us.

The world’s ways continue to daily strip away at human hearts and bring deceptions of relative thinking, entitlement attitudes, and self-gratification. This will not only continue in the future, but is growing stronger in its influence.

God is not surprised at the direction of the world. So for our sakes He cautions us, Do not love the world of the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-27).  He tells us to make the intentional choice for Him and His eternal love rather than for the fading world. He enables us to make that choice, but He does not make it for us.

In the midst of the world around us, we sometimes forget to ask what He wants from us…what gift we are to give, first to Him and then to others. At the same time, we fail to ask in faith for what He has for us. He has given us many promises, but  as we fall short in laying hold of those promises, we fail to see them manifest in our daily lives.

God is continually pursuing us and drawing us to Himself. He has invited us to live in His love. As the pull of the world increases, those of us in the Kingdom should be aware of the increasing hunger in our hearts for things of God. Watch for it. It is there as His Spirit is giving us greater discernment between worldliness and Godliness, and He is constantly feeding us with deeper love of the King. We have only to respond to His Spirit and His revelation.

He tells us His desires is for our joy to be full (John 15:11). He wants to abundantly satisfy us with Himself, with His presence, with fellowship with Him and with other Christians. He wants us to stop settling for the empty and alluring things of the world which are void of eternal value and actually work against Him and His plans for us.

Allow this week be a time of reflection. While many people make resolutions which are often attempted in their own strength and fall by the wayside within weeks or even days, I pray that we who are children of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, will respond to His comforting Holy Spirit, and that we will know and embrace His direction for our lives for the coming year. His plan for our lives always begins with our spending quality time building our relationship with Him. Then, as we partner with Him, seeking Him and desiring to walk in obedience, He will faithfully give us the power and strength to fulfill His purposes. He will work in us so we will become more like Him and less like the world. And He will open our hearts and minds to understand the vast extend of His amazing love for us. That is life-changing.

May 2013 find you intentional in seeking Him and receiving all the goodness He has for you.

One nation under God, indivisible...

In 1892, these words, so familiar to Americans, were written into what is today called the “pledge of allegiance” to the flag of the United States of America. The author was a Baptist pastor named Francis Bellamy. Interestingly enough, the words “under God” were not added until more than half a century later, in 1954.(1)

This pledge was written after the Civil War in which we were a radically divided nation whose citizens went to war against each other. The pledge focused on the concept of a “republic.” I will not take time here to delineate between a “republic” and a “democracy” though the differences are critically important. Yet, the principle written in these words is not an earthly governmental concept, but is a spiritual Kingdom-of-God truth.

God has been building into my life in practical ways, the perspective of His church being “one body” and “one head.”

We hear much to day about “identity.” As God is bringing us into a greater understanding of our identity in Him, we must have revelation of our corporate identity in the Body of Christ. If we focus only on our individual identity without understanding the strategic view of where and how we are linked into Him and into each other, we have only a partial and sometimes fragmented view. God clearly shows us that we are part of something far greater than we have yet understood.

• For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same  function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.(2)
• And (God) put all things under His feet, and gave (Christ) to be head over all things to the church, which is His body…”(3). 
• We are “fitted together” as stones of a building (4) , and together are a dwelling place for God’s Spirit (5).
• God instructs us to be of “one mind” having compassion for one another (6) and tells us to guard, to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (7).

How can this be practical in our lives? Is that even possible? God has given us a picture of how He sees His children, living and functioning under God, the head, and truly indivisible. But is that more than a concept for our minds and theology, or is it something we can apply to our daily lives?

God will not tell us His will and His plan without giving us the ability, the grace and power to walk in His Word.

Our earthly concept is that there are many Christian churches and many denominations in many states and nations. We readily acknowledge the theologies and beliefs that divide us. But God says there is only ONE body, ONE Church. We are not a pile of body parts which is a mutilated body with no life. We are connected, and we are to keep our focus on the head, Jesus Christ, who gives us life. If we are willing to grasp that the Body of Christ is truly one and not fragmented parts, it will change how we think, how we pray and how we treat other Christians.

Recently, the husband of a friend was critically ill. As I spent time with my friend, I found myself praying for her as though it was me. The Lord brought to mind His instructions to remember prisoners as if you were in prison with them; and remember those suffering ill-treatment, for you yourselves are still in the body (8). That told me that I was to live as though I were in her situation. I experienced, in a deeper way, the amazing supernatural work of unity and oneness that the Holy Spirit brings into our hearts.

However, a few days later, the Lord said that until I prayed for her husband as if it were my husband who was in the hospital in a coma, I was not praying effectively. The thing that broke my heart was that after the Lord said that, my prayers did change. I began praying with a deeper urgency and crying out to God desperately for his life. I realized I had been praying for her husband as if we were separated, not as if we were one body. The Lord shifted my understanding and my heart, which changed my actions. God's instructions for us to bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (9) is practical rather than theological.

It is time for us as Christians to grasp the concept of only one Body of Christ and begin to live with His love for one another. As we do, we will find our prayers expanding for people that we have never met in nations we have rarely if ever heard of. We will feel compassion that is beyond us. And we will begin to walk in deeper unity and love that will demonstrate to the world that we are His disciples (10).

Unity is a principle of the Kingdom of God. The world cannot duplicate it, so will present a  counterfeit based on tolerance and void of Truth. Without being “under God” we can only have a distorted understanding of unity. But with the Lord's wisdom and His leading, we can grasp the reality of being one body under and connected to one God, and we can move into a new dimension of life in His Spirit.

In the days ahead, I pray we will understand this truth and walk in it in practical ways, treating each other with the unprejudiced and undivided love and care Jesus demonstrated.

(1) http://www.oldtimeislands.org/pledge/pledge.htm
(2) Romans 12:4-5
(3) Ephesians 1:22-23
(4) Ephesians 2:21, 1Peter 2:5
(5) Ephesians 2:22
(6) 1 Peter 3:8
(7) Ephesians 4:3
(8) Hebrews 13:3
(9) Galatians 6:2
(10)John 13:32

Yesterday, my husband spent all morning in the small town near our home. He used his chain saw to cut up a very, very large pecan tree that was struck by lightning last week. The tree split and fell to the ground. Because it was a hazard, it was going to be cut up and hauled away. Some would be thrown away and some used for firewood. But Charlie brought home large pieces of wood from the tree to use to make beautiful bowls and other wooden articles.

On our few acres in the country, next to our old farm house we have a large horse barn. Because Charlie and I don’t have horses, we turned one side of the barn into a storage room and Charlie built a workshop in the other side.

The outside of the barn is not much to look at. But the inside, where he works, is really an amazing place. It is where he creates works of art on his lathe, and where he cuts and prepares molding and trim to use in remodeling our old house. He has done a great job on the house, though the remodeling is going very slowly. That’s because the two of us are doing all the work ourselves.

Charlie calls his work place, “Redemption Workshop.” He chose that name because the tools and supplies used to build it were mostly discarded from other peoples’ projects. The excess lumber and roofing material from a new house nearby was thrown in a dumpster. Evidently laws restrict builders from using wood purchased for one project on another project, even though it is brand new lumber. So the extra supplies are normally thrown away, and either taken to the dump or burned…unless someone finds and redeems them. Charlie was able to rescue much of the lumber and tiles from the dumpster and use in his workshop.

Many of Charlie’s tools came from peoples’ trash because they were broken. Some were purchased at garage sales from people who had previously bought them and no longer had a use for them. He has spent much time rebuilding and repairing broken tools that people threw away. And with little money and a few part replacements, the tools work as good as new.

Redemption…to purchase back, ransom, rescue or liberate; to regain possession of a thing; to save. (1)

To redeem something that was once valuable and restore it to usefulness requires, first of all, vision to see beyond the present condition or circumstances. My husband has the ability to see “beyond!” He can look at an old piece of furniture and imagine what it would look like if it were repaired and restored. If complete restoration is not possible, he can envision how parts of it can be used to make something else beautiful… recycling it, if you please.

Redemption takes someone who will stop, consider, and is willing to see with a different perspective. It takes the ability to see potential that may not be obvious to the casual viewer.

To redeem something is often costly. It takes investment…investment of time, energy, and willingness to continue working until that object has been restored.

Perhaps redemption of an object or tool seems easier than the redemption of a person. But God’s heart is to redeem mankind. Redemption was so important to God that “…God gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people…” (Titus 2:14). And, that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believed in Him might have everlasting life”
(John 3:16). God loves people and gave His own life for the purpose of redeeming them.

There are many people in the world that some would consider beyond repair, or worthless. Other people themselves feel that they have been abused, broken, and even discarded, disqualifying them from any future value, purpose or destiny. They spend their lives in hopelessness.

But redemption looks beyond. God see us, not as we are, and not as we see ourselves. He looks past the faults, the cracks, the broken places. He knows what caused the brokenness and He is able to bring healing. Not only can He bring healing, but His work will go beyond healing and turn the broken places into places of strength.

God sees potential. He knows the original design – His original plans and destinies for our lives. He knows what we can become. And He already knows how to heal and restore us to our original purpose. Out of His great creative power, and His amazing grace and love for each of us, He has already set in motion all that is needed for our redemption.

Will you enter God’s “Redemption Workshop” and allow Him to repair, rebuild and restore your life? Will you let Him make you into a vessel of honor? Will you yield to His plan and let Him chizel away what does not belong, and mold you into what He intended you to be?  He wants to. He is able. He is waiting with delight, knowing the vessel of beauty you can become in the hands of the Master Craftsman.

(1)  American Dictionary of The English Language Language, Noah Webster 1828, c 1967, Vol II 52.

Solid Ground

My husband and I live in an old farm house that was a one-room school building in the 1890’s. The house is not built on a slab foundation, but sits on very large tree stumps. 

The school was turned into a house in the 1930’s and then more rooms were added during the next 20 years.

Over the years, the stumps have sunk into the ground. The crawl space below the house is not big enough for any larger than a skunk. We did discover that it was big enough for a skunk when she moved in to build her nest and have her babies. But that is a story for another time.

Because of how the house is built, when it rains, the house settles. And when there is draught for months, the house settles. That means that with Texas weather, the house is constantly shifting.  When it settles, doors will not lock, walls crack, floor tiles separate, along with other challenging situations which all require constant maintenance and repair.

Our lives can be like that. When we are not built on solid rock, our lives will shift and form cracks. Doors can remain open to our hearts for things other than Truth to enter.

So, how do we know what is a solid foundation, worthy of building our lives upon?

Scriptures tell us that life should be built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. The promise is that then, when the storms come, we will stand. Building on Him as a foundation means that we live trusting in His unlimited and unconditional love for us, His death on the cross for our sin, and for His provision of eternal life. These blessings come only through faith in Him.

Because God is love (1 John 4:8 ), everything He does flows out of His heart of love for us, His creation. We were created to be in close personal relationship with Him. He desires that, and has made a way for it to be possible.

So, in the spiritual world, what is considered “sinking sand,” or ground that is not solid?

When we do things man’s way, our own way, we shift and change. When we try to earn love, earn favor and earn eternal life, we sink deeper and deeper. Salvation is not something we can earn. We cannot be “good enough” to enter heaven.  Heaven is what we call eternal life in God’s presence.

We cannot earn what is given freely. Because God knew man could not be “good enough” to earn eternal life with Him, God came in the form of man and gave His life to pay the price for sin and selfishness that we could not pay.

God’s grace and mercy are absolutely free, but, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer says in his book The Cost of Discipleship, grace is not cheap. God’s gift of eternal life requires a response from us. We must accept His free gift. That takes humility. We must accept the fact that we cannot acquire eternal life through good works or doing things our own ways; it comes only God's way. When we accept that God knows alll things, and we do not, then we ask Him to come into our lives, to guide us, and to give us what He knows we need. And He does. We then freely receive from Him what He died in order to give to us.

We must believe God. May people believe “in God.” But we must believe God; we must put our trust in what He says is truth. We must believe what He says and not rely on our own opinion, reasoning, education, or what other people decide. Theories of man can easily rob us of truth. God’s word is Truth. If we believe anything contrary, then we are believing lies which causes us to sink further and further into the unstable ground.

God’s word is truth. Jesus Christ is called “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6.) He wants us to know Him; He wants us to know how to live with Him for eternity. He desires to bless our lives abundantly here on this earth, as well as in eternity. If we seek Him, He promises that we will find Him.

Rather than continuing to build our lives, our ideas, and our perspective on things that shift and change, things that cause fear, doubt, anxiety and worry, we can put our trust in the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Let us lay hold of that which is absolute truth and which will not change. Let us stand firm, trusting Him, and living a life of peace, contentment and blessing…all that comes when He is allowed to guide our lives. Then our lives are built on solid rock and we will not be moved, no matter what the circumstances.

What is truth?

If you took the time to examine what you believe and why you believe those things, then perhaps you have done some deep thinking.

As I asked myself the questions, again, and searched for honest answers, I came to some interesting realizations.

The reason “why” I believe or do not believe some things goes back to the source of information, and how reliable I felt that source was. If I didn’t believe certain things, it was because I didn’t trust the messenger. If I did believe things, it was often because I did trust the person who told me.

Who you believe is critical in the process of developing your belief system. However, it is rarely wise to believe anything people tell us without verifying truth for ourselves.

Every person has limited understanding and perspective. There are many who share “information” with us. That information is usually presented as “fact” or “truth.” We are familiar with some advertisers, politicians, even religious leaders as well as numerous other people who freely give us their views and even selective information in order to persuade us to believe them and maybe even join them in their cause, or, in some cases, send them our money. As I have shared, we choose who we will believe or not believe.

And those who love us the most also share their knowledge with us. But even their knowledge is limited. They may be sincere about what they believe, but their understanding may still be wrong, or partial, at best.

The question is,” How can we know truth?” Is there really an absolute truth? Aren’t all things relative? If so, how can we find what is true and what is not?

There is an ancient story about a person who built a house. He loved the ocean and decided that he wanted to be as close to the water as possible. So he built his house right on the beach…on the sand. However, when the weather became rough and the wind blew, and the rain came, the house fell apart because it was built on the sand. It’s foundation was not strong enough to hold the house together when the storms came.

My husband and I live in a very old farm house. It was built in the 1890’s. It is built on very large stumps of hardwood trees called Bodarc. When the weather changes, the house shifts. There are times when we are sitting in our study and the doors on the closet will open by themselves…because the house has shifted and the lock on the door no longer fits together.

The rest of that ancient story is about another man who built his house on a very large piece of solid rock. The weather never affected his house. It stood for centuries, because the ground it was built on never shifted or changed.

The story leads us to believe that the strength of a house is as good as the stability of its foundation.

If we translate that analogy to our lives, then our lives are as stable as the foundational truths in which we believe. Those foundational truths impact our thoughts and our actions. Our beliefs are not only important, they are critical to the strength and endurance and quality of our lives.

If our beliefs are based on the economy, or political figures, or anything that is made by man, they will change because people and man-made institutions do not stay the same.

If that is so, then where can we find truths that do not change?

And that is the life-changing question. What is truth and where can we find it?

There is absolute truth that is dependable and does not change. It is found in the One who created the universe, the earth, and mankind. Truth is found only in God, the Source and Creator of all things.

And then you ask…”which God?” Aren’t there many? And if so, how do you find the right God? Aren’t there many God’s because different people need different things? Can one God supply all things to all people?

There are many gods. But there is only One who was before all things.

We are told, “In the beginning, God…” He existed before anything was created.

Because He is the Creator of all things, it is for Him to teach and inform the ones He created. Who are we to teach the Creator what is true and what is not? We were not here in the beginning. He was. He alone would know.

If you do not know this God who created you, I encourage you to simply tell Him that you want to know Him and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will do that. He wants you to know Him. And He wants you to know truth…absolute truth.

What do you believe and why?

I am in the school of “faith.”That is not unusual for a Christian. Faith is basic to Christianity. Actually, faith is basic to all religions and to life in general.

Every person has the innate ability to believe. Faith –believing – is an active part of our lives. Daily we put our trust and confidence in numerous things or people, without even thinking about it. Often we take faith for granted, rather than stopping to consider what faith really is and what, if anything, it means to our lives.

It is important to know WHAT we believe and determine the focus, or object(s) of our faith.

· As we sit on a chair, we believe in the law of gravity and assume that the chair will support our weight. 

· When we go to sleep at night, we trust that the sun will come up in the morning and we will have a new day. We trust in and depend on the seasons of nature.

· Healthy people, without even thinking, walk and move with no problems and build their lives around a busy schedule that involves physical strength and activity. We take for granted our next breath.

· Many people get up in the morning and go to work at a job, trusting that they will receive a pay check for their hours of work.

We walk through life, rarely considering what we believe, until those things we have trusted fail.

· For example, if, when you were young, you ever had someone pull the chair out from under you just as you sat down, causing you to fall on the floor, you might hesitate before you put your whole weight on a chair.

· You may take food, shelter and a job for granted…until you lose your job. Then you begin to question how you will feed and clothe yourself or your family.
· Your life may be active and routine until you have an accident or are diagnosed with a major health issue which can change your life instantly.

These are some simple examples of how we live our lives believing and expecting certain things to happen.

Our beliefs are influenced by our experience, what our parents or teachers have taught us, what we have seen in the media or in other peoples’ lives, or a convincing friend. Often we are trained to believe certain things. But personal experience can completely and instantly change our belief system and override what we have been taught.

It is absolutely critical for us to understand the power and the responsibility we have to examine and choose what we believe and what we do not believe. We are not to simply accept statements as fact without considering them first. If we do not have a sound foundation for our beliefs, we can be easily influenced by advertisers, politicians, or anyone with a personal agenda who uses emotional and persuasive speech. I personally do not want to be ignorant or manipulated by emotions or human reasoning that sounds good but is not truth. Our choices are our responsibility.

Many people know what they believe, but don’t stop to consider why they believe it. I am examining not only those things I trust or take to be true, but even the foundations for those beliefs. Will you, too, consider the following questions?

· How do I define truth?

· What do I trust, even without taking time to consider? And why? Do I trust in the world systems of government, education, economics?

· Am I easily persuaded by the power of words or emotional appeal? Or do I need to know historical and documented facts before I accept something as truth.

· Does it matter what I believe? Or do I think that sincerity is more important than what I believe?

· What do I believe about people? Are people born basically good? If so, what makes some good and some bad? Which am I, a good person or a bad person? Why?

· Do I trust people? Do I distrust people? If so, what happened to make me distrust or trust them?

· What do I believe about God? Is there a God? If there is, what is He like? How do I know? Where did my concept of God come from? Does it matter?

· What do I believe about myself? Why was I born? Is there a purpose for my life? If there is, how can I find it? If there is not, then what motivates my life each day?

· Am I totally satisfied with my life?

These questions might seem insignificant or a waste of time to even consider. And if you believe that, then you will probably not even read as far as this sentence. Or you may quickly answer the questions without thinking or rethinking them, believing that you already know the complete answer.

These questions are important to some core issues of life and of our world. If you are willing to take a few minutes to consider each one, it could be life-changing. The concept of what we believe and why we believe it are basic to who we are and what we do. As the world changes, and as my understanding grows I periodically revisit the issue of faith and check the basis for my beliefs.

Faith reaches far in to our being and is a defining issue of our lives. Will you open your heart and mind to consider what you believe and why you believe it?

Dear Friends,

It has been far too long since I last wrote of "lessons learned." I am still learning, but the process of life has been very full and, it seems, has squeezed out the time for contemplating and writing.

However, one of the words God has given to me recently, is that I am to be "intentional." That is the opposite of hap-hazard or accidental. It seems that far too often my life goes by and unplanned things happen. The urgent begins to dominate, and the ordinary gets relegated to "later." When "later" comes, I most often don't have energy to deal with it. And when the events of life are not intentional, I wonder where my time has gone, or I spend far too much time and energy cleaning up the messes that have been created as a result of lack of planning or organizing.

Life is not meant to control or overwhelm us. When that happens, it is a sure sign to me that I am not seeking first the Kingdom of God, and that too much of my life is not under His control and blessings. So, with that as background, I am working at being "intentional" about more things in life.

1. My first priority is to daily seek God dilligently. The exciting results of seeking Him are that we find Him, as He has promised. And then, as if finding Him were not enough, He says He rewards those who dilligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Wow. Why would we not seek Him with those two promised results?

2. My second priority in to invest quality time into the lives of my family: of course, my precious husband (we celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary next weekend), my children, and my 5 grandchildren. That has eternal impact and thus, eternal value.

3. God has told me to be "intentional" in relationships. He has given me precious friends who add truth, accountability, joy, encouragement to my life. He has also given me relationships with people who challenge my Godliness, sand off the rough edges, and sometimes simply bring me to my knees. Those all have purpose and I am grateful for each one of them. God has told me to invest time and energy in each relationship that He brings into my life.

4. I am going to try to be intentional about this blog. It will change over the next few months. Rather than writing long epistles, which can be overwhelming and boring...I plan to write shorter blogs that get more quickly to the point! And I plan to write more regularly. There...I said it. It is in print! That would be called COMMITMENT.

The subjects will continue to come from what God is teaching me through the processes of my life...because, as my husband often says, "You can't teach what you don't know and you can't lead where you don't go!" So, I share from my life and all that God is teaching me.

Today, I must go be intentional about preparing hundreds of apricots that are ripe and falling off of our tree. How like God...when He gives us fruit, there is a responsibility that goes with it. So, I am off to be responsible with the gift of apricots!

Where to Turn in Crisis

In the past few days I have spent much time communicating with friends who are in crisis situations; one with her child, one facing the possibility of cancer, and another who is dealing with the diagnosis of a disease that the doctor’s say has no cure but which may have devastating implications on her future quality of life.

In every case, I have gone to the Lord in prayer. I have called upon His Name, reminded Him of His word, and trusted in His character. I have been overwhelmed with the privilege of knowing God personally and sensing His presence. I have been filled with peace, and know that He is faithful. I delight in knowing His power and His love is being poured out toward these precious sisters who know Him and have served Him with their whole hearts.

I wonder how people face situations like these if they do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and do not experience the power of His love. How do people deal with fear without knowing the one who conquerors fear? How do they face the unknown of the future without knowing the infinite God. What do they trust if not the secure promise that He has a good plan for their life?

What about you? Where do you go for help? Do you personally know the God who made you for relationship with Him? Where do you turn for answers? Have you experienced the love of the eternal Father and the comfort of His Holy Spirit?

Where do you turn if you DO know God? Do you still trust in things of the world or in human reasoning? Do you have a heart that instantly turns to Him, in the good times as well as in the challenging times? Are you experiencing all of God that you can? Are you living in His Presence moment by moment?

He makes the difference, not only in crisis situations, but in the big and small events of everyday life. He wants to be involved in every detail of your life.

I have talked in this blog about the lessons I learn though daily life. I have learned that we can only live one day at a time. We face each situation as they come along. We do not know the future for our personal lives, our family and friends, or our nation. We cannot control the future.

When crisis comes, we are faced with our own humanity, limitations and inability. But if that is all we understand, we can become hopeless. No human has the answers to life. No human has the power of life. Hope comes when we turn to God who is the giver of Life.

God reveals cures to mankind. God has given us some answers…but only those answers that He chooses to give to us. And if you read that and become angry, wanting to blame God for withholding information and revelation, then I challenge you to consider that He is God; we are not.

The nature of humanity is that when we have power or knowledge, we often take the credit, not giving the glory to God. But He is the source of all good things (James 1:17). In our humanity, we even can take things that He gives us for good, and use them for our own purposes and for destruction. God is wise in what He reveals and in what He withholds. He is also wise in when He gives and withholds. And all He does is for our good.

Where do you turn when hard times come? There is One who is always there. You may ask, “If God is there, loving me, why did this happen?” I cannot give you the answer to that question. But, I do know God and His faithfulness.

This is not simply "optomistic thinking." My confidence in Him comes from knowing Him personally for many years, and seeing Him work in my life in ways that are unmistakenly supernatural and from a loving Father.

We live in a fallen and less than perfect world. At the beginning of time, mankind chose to lean upon his own understanding rather than to trust God. That has been the nature of man, ever since. Much of what we have to deal with in life is a result of that fallen condition. But, out of His love, God has made a way for us to turn to Him, put our trust in Him, and experience His presence and guidance, no matter what our circumstances.

We each have a choice and a free will. Choose this day for yourself whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15). Choose this day, whom you will trust. You can turn to God or not.

He is there waiting for you to come. He is there, with forgivenes, love, healing, peace, understanding, and comfort. He knows everything about you, and He is FOR you, NOT AGAINST you. He is pursuing you with His love and presence.

Being "In Season"

Recently I removed all of the dead vines from the sugar pea crop we planted in early spring. They are dried up and no longer producing fruit. Why? Because they are out of season. The weather and atmosphere is no longer conducive to their bearing fruit. In years past, we have had sugar peas through June. However, this year, with temperatures of 90-100 degrees beginning in May, the plants could not hold up under the heat.

Have you ever felt that your life was out of season? Have you felt like you missed God’s timing? I have.

There have been times in my life when I would not let go of something…a relationship, a ministry, a position, title, work. All of those things were “in season” at one time. They were gifts or callings God had put in my life. They were blessed by Him and were part of His will.

But there came a day when He said to let go. It was God’s best at one time, but then was time to move on to move forward into the new season. That is often because our assignment in that place or in that role has been completed.

He uses each season to prepare us for what is ahead. He uses each gift for a purpose. He knows the timing of our lives and of His will and His plan. And if we remain beyond His call, the fruit of our lives can begin to grow sour, rot or shrivel up and die. And often when this happens, we wonder what went wrong.

Why does this happen? Why does the fruit not remain? Why does our work lose the freshness it once had? If the work is God’s call AND God’s timing, it will remain fresh. But if it is seasonal and has accomplished its purpose, then God wants us to move forward to the next work He has prepared for us.

We have a tendency to cling to what we know. We are either comfortable, or we are afraid of the unknown.

He constantly is changing us and our circumstances so that we can grow and mature. However, He, Himself, never changes. He does not have to grow. He “is.” And He is perfect. We are the ones in the process of “becoming.” God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). But earthly life is constantly changing. Those things that do not change and grow are mostly dead. He is wanting to teach, stretch us, grow us into maturity and into more abundant life (John 10:10). He knows what it will take to prepare us for eternity. And staying where we are, doing the same thing, the same way, and becoming complacent and safe is rarely God's plan. There are times when He keeps us in a place in order to build endurance and perseverance.

I must add here that if we give up on something before God says to, then we can abort the work and it never comes to fruition. There is a great danger in starting a good work God has ordained and then stopping along the way. Please know that just because something becomes difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable does not mean that God wants it to end. That may be the very situation or condition that will bring about growth and fruitfulness. Finishing strong is important and critical to doing God’s will.

The question is not how long do we stay with something. But the entire point is that God directs our lives and the timing of our lives as well. We do not. We are not all-knowing; God omniscient and knows all things. We do not have the master plan; He is the master planning and the one who created the plan for our lives. We do not have the answers; He does. We do not see the future; He IS the future because He is eternal and not limited by time or space.

If we seek to direct our lives according to our own desires and plans, we will easily become “out of season” and the works of our lives will dry up.

Seek God. Seek His plan alone. Diligently desire the timing of His will as well. His plans for you are for good and not for evil. They are for a future and a hope Jeremiah 29:11). Surrender to His love and goodness, and allow Him to direct your life. Then you will be instant in season and constantly bearing good fruit.

Rooted in Culture

Different areas of the country have different kinds of soil. Some have sandy soil, others have rich black dirt. And the composition and texture of the soil impacts what plants will grow, as well as the quality of the fruit produced.

The soil in our area of Texas is hard clay. It must be worked extensively before anything will grow. First we must break up the ground and then add compost, fertilizer, and sometimes sand or potting soil in order for anything to take root.

Each of our individual lives and perspectives have different kinds of soil also. We are rooted in the soil of culture.

Culture, as defined by Webster (Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, 1967, G. & C. Merriam Co, pg. 202), is: the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties especially by education; a particular state of advancement in civilization; the characteristic features of such a state or stage; behavior typical of a group or class.

Many people influence our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual education and training, and thus play a major part in the building of our personal culture which includes our morals, concepts and perspectives, our character, and our behavior.

Culture reflects the traditions and priorities of those who taught and trained us. Our character is either a reflection of those teachings and influences, or rebellion against those who tried to mold our ideas and behavior, or a combination of the two. As we grow up, we decide what values we will retain and what we will reject.

We most often associate "culture" with race or nations. But culture can be much broader. Within America, the north and the south have different cultural values. Even political parties have their own culture. Each family has its own culture which includes family traditions, values, and rules considered to be acceptable and proper conduct. The familiar family atmosphere is often our accepted “norm.”

When we experience situations that contrast or divert from our own cultural ideas and perspectives, we can either become defensive, wanting to justify why our values are right and acceptable, or we can open our minds to the fact that not everyone is just like us, and not every person believes what we believe or acts as we act.

There are unlimited kinds and numbers of categories of cultures: racial culture, national culture, gender culture, class culture, drug culture, professional culture, gang culture, church culture, sports culture, generational culture. Each culture has its own system of operation, language, set of rules and expectations, dress code, standards, prejudices, along with many other aspects, often unspoken but that are more obvious with close observation and participation.

Each culture has its boundaries, and sometimes it barriers. If you don’t know the language, the obvious spoken statements as well as the underlying and hidden meanings, you experience alienation from the cultural group. Cultures develop their own methods of communication, such as sign languages, facial and body expressions, acronyms. And each culture has a list of things, whether acknowledged or not, that are acceptable or unacceptable ways of operation.

I am learning many lessons from the study of culture. Most of all, I do not want to be blinded by my own concepts and ideas. Secondly, I desire that the ideas of each person I meet become tools that lead to relationship and deeper understanding rather than those differences being barriers or divisions.

I am a Christian. And recently I have become keenly aware of religious culture. Most religions, including Christianity, have sets of rules and expectations. Many of those traditions and expectations are not God’s making, but man’s ideas and traditions.

Our cultural perspective and ideas can become barriers to understanding other people, other generations, other nations and races. Rigid thinking and belief that our way is the best or the only way, excludes most of the world. We can easily be blinded to our own narrow-mindedness, which results in comparrison and becomes judgment or criticism. Comparison brings further alienation and division. That is the root of denominations.

These barriers rob us of unity and understanding of the truth that there is ONE BODY of Christ. We are not a pile of body parts, but are linked together. Yet, we often detach ourselves from others with whom God has called us to be unified. This is addressed extensively in 1 Corinthians 12, as we are told that not all parts of the Body are the same. No one part can determine that the other parts are not valuable or necessary. It is God, our Creator, who designed each of us and calls us to a working unity as ONE body.

"See to it that no one takes you captive through philisophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

When Charlie and I travel to other countries, we pray that we will not teach anything cultural, but that God will give us His truth that is for ALL people. His truths and principles apply to every person that He has created, no matter where they live or what their cultural perspectives.

I am not advocating "universalism." I am not saying that any idea is valid if the person is sincere. God makes it very clear that He alone is the standard of truth, because He IS The Way, The Truth and The Life.

What I AM saying is that man's ideas are not the standard; God's are. If WE try to determine how people should believe, think, act or respond, we will never agree. The key to life is seeing from God’s perspective rather than our individual, earthly and limited perspective.

God tells us to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2), and reminds us that it is in knowing that truth that we are set free (John 8:32.) This is His instruction which enables us to see people with His heart.

Only as our minds yield to God’s ways, His Word, His truth, and His perspective can we begin to see beyond ourselves. As we come close to Him and experience the truth of His Word, we are humbled, and the pride of clinging to our own views is laid down at His feet. He fills us with His Spirit, His understanding, His love for others, and His wisdom. With His enablement, our hearts become unified with other believers around the world, believers from every tribe, every nation and every language. We become vessels of hope and of shared passion.

As we become deeply rooted in His Kingdom culture and perspective, we begin to bear good fruit. His Kingdom is the only culture that allows us to grow in Godliness.

Be alert and watch. Understand that Kingdom culture rooted in love is different from religious culture that is rooted in legalism and law.

I encourage you to look closely at the soil of your life. Ask the Father to show you any ideas or perspectives that you think are normal, but that are not in alignment with His Word of Truth. He will be faithful. When He shows you, as you submit those those thoughts and ideas to Him, He will transform your mind. He instructs us to bring…”every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:5). He wants to be soil of our lives. He desires to be intimately involved in our thought life, our attitudes and our actions. He wants to purify our character and all that flows from our heart and mind. He has the power to mold us to be more like Him and make us to be a partaker of His nature and character.

As our roots grow deep in the soil of His presence, He will break up the hard, prideful ground of our minds and hearts. He will nourish us with His Holy Spirit and Truth. We will produce Godly fruit in multiplied measure and abundance. His presence is the soil that produces spiritual life, not only in the future and in heaven, but now and on this earth.

What must I do to have eternal life?

You may be familiar with a story in the New Testament (Luke 18:18-27) about a very wealthy man who came to Jesus. He was called a “ruler.” He was a magistrate or a person with authority and influence, besides his wealth.

This man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what shaIl I do to inherit eternal life?”

People all over the world are asking this question. They are getting different answers. Some are told to literally kill those who do not believe as they believe. Others kill with their judgments or accusations, their words, justifying themselves and comparing themselves to others. Some are working hard, doing good humanitarian works, trying to earn God’s favor. Many believe if they just live as a “good person,” God will reward them at the end of their life.

However it is imperative that we know what God says about eternal life and how we can obtain it. He alone knows the answer and He reveals the Truth.

First of all, Jesus questioned the young man who called Him “good.” The young man approached Jesus as a “teacher.” And Jesus was pointing the young man to God, who alone is good.

Jesus knew that this young man was relying on good works to bring him close to God. Jesus confirms what is in the man’s heart as he reminds the young man of the commandments. And the man affirms that he has kept the commandments since he was young.

Yet, we do not know why the young man was asking Jesus this question. Was he wanting affirmation that in keeping the commandments, he would find eternal Life?

Jesus had just told a story (Luke 18:10-14) of a man who kept the law, but who walked in pride. This man was a Pharisee, a religious man who studied the law, and taught law to others. The Pharisee stood in the temple praying “with himself,” thanking God that he was not like other men. He reminded God of all the good things he did: fasting twice a week and giving tithes. But Jesus contrasts the Pharisee to a sinner who was standing far off, not willing to lift his head toward heaven, and crying out for mercy. This man admitted to God that he was a sinner and needed God and God’s mercy. Jesus finished the story by commending the sinner who humbled himself and turned to God, rather than the man who walked in pride.

It is at the end of this story that the young man brings his question to Jesus. Perhaps his heart was touched, as he knew he had followed the law. I have often wondered if this young man, even after all the good things he had done, knew he was missing something. Did he sense that he did not have eternal life even though he followed the commandments? Jesus' teaching constantly pointed to His being the only way to eternal life with God (John 14:6).

Jesus told the rich man that he lacked one thing.

Do you look at those who have much more of the world's treasures and believe they have everything? Do you believe that earthly treasures are proof of favor with God? Do you ever feel that if you had MORE money, more things, more earthly possessions, life would be better or easier? Yet Jesus constantly looks at the heart, and sees what is lacking. The treasures of the world are not the answer to life. In fact, in James 1:9-10, we see that God does not look at earthly riches the same way we do. He is not impressed with ease and comfort, and He, Himself, lived without a place to lay his head. He knows what has lasting value and what does not. He provides what is truly needed for us to have LIFE.

Jesus told the man to sell all he had, all his earthy treasures, give it to the poor, and to come and follow Jesus. That is the thing the man lacked, and that would give him treasures in heaven.

I have heard it explained that this story teaches us not to love the things of the world. The rich man refused to let go of his earthly riches to gain eternal riches. His love for money and things was a substitute for a relationship with God.

God has called us to lay down everything, and surrender to Him. We are told many times and many ways, that if we love the world, we do not love the Father (1 John 2:15-1-7). The things of the world as passing away, but knowing God and having relationship with Him has eternal impact. It will never die.

Yet, we often settle for those things of the world that we think have value. God says, we cannot serve God and mammon – earthly riches (Matthew 6:24). We have to choose. God will not allow us to have a divided heart. We must forsake, lay down, all things to serve Him. Or we will forsake Him to love and serve earthly things.

God wants us to surrender all things to Him. That is not just a one time event, but is constant, as we our love for God increases and we are detached from the world. Asone of my favorite songs says, "And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace" (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Helen Lemmel).

However, there is more to this story. The young man became sorrowful at what Jesus said. He was very rich.

Jesus saw his sorrow and told us that it is very difficult, in fact impossible, for rich men to forsake the world to enter heaven. Why did Jesus tell the young man to forsake the world if He knew it was impossible?

In the next few verses, we hear the rest of the story. Those hearing asked “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus answered, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

God knows that we cannot surrender in our own strength. We cannot lay everything down. We can want to surrender. We can try. But the nature of man is to cling to things he can see, to reason how to provide for himself, to do things our own way.

God is telling us that eternal life is not something we can accomplish. It is impossible for man. Even surrendering to His will is not something we, alone, can do.

How then can we have eternal life? It comes ONLY through trusting the God. It is possible for Him.

When we face situations that we know are impossible for us, we have a choice. We can either keep on striving to do things our way and try to control the situation or do what we think is best; we can become sorrowful and walk away, becoming hopeless and defeated; or, we can turn to God, and trust Him.

We have no indication that the young ruler turned to God. He faced the impossible, but we are not told the outcome. Perhaps it is not for us to know, but only to use as a sign post to examine our own lives.

What do you have in your hands? Are you holding on to something? Is it good works, knowledge and obeying the law like the Pharisee? Is it power, influence and wealth like the rich ruler? Is it your failures and your sin, like the poor sinner?

Out of His amazing love for us, God is constantly pursuing us no matter who we are, man or woman, rich or poor, black, brown or white, old or young. He wants every one of us to have relationship with Him forever, beginning now. The goal of His life and death was to provide a way for us to be with Him, for us to be forgiven, for us to have eternal Life. He alone has made the provision.

Whatever you are holding tightly in your hands, the answer is to turn to God and trust Him. He will do what is needed. Do not let your ability separate you from God. Do not let your inability separate you from God. Do not allow possibilities or impossibilities to keep you from God. Turn to Him and trust Him in all things. There is nothing He cannot do. Your faith in Him and His power is the link, the connection. Our work is to trust in Him alone, and receive all He has done for us. That is the way to eternal life.

Can ALL THINGS be used for good?

Last month I wrote about using what we have for God's purposes. Sometimes we have more than we think. Often we are the last to recognize and have confidence in our areas of giftedness, especially when it comes to our spiritual gifts. We are aware of our learned ability…to write, play an instrument, study and learn a certain subject such as a language. But spiritual gifts must be revealed and discerned by the Spirit of God. That is not always as easy for us to comprehend.

However, my thoughts today focus on those things we "have" that are not polished, educated, perfected, or when they are obviously not an asset to our lives and to the Kingdom. What if my life seems overloaded with something that is normally used for destruction, to damage lives?

Today when I look at my heart, I see only things I wish were not there. I see attitudes and feelings that I deem unusable or destructive. The strongest thing in my life right now is anger. I have been walking through a situation that I have no control over. The only thing I can control is my response to the situation, and recently I have not done a good job of that. The situation is wrong according to God’s Word and is hurting people I love. I have spent years dealing with the wrongness of this situation, praying for those involved, and seeking God’s help in allowing me to resond with forgiveness, power and love that only comes from His Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

The situation has become gradually worse and more painful, until a few months ago, there was a revelation that the depths of depravity were far worse than I had expected. Since that day, I have walked in sadness, sorrow and grief. But my sadness and sorrow have turned to anger.

So, when we face a situation like this, is it possible that even a heart full of anger can be useful? Of course it is. People use anger every day. They use it to destroy reputations, relationships, character, hopes,dreams, confidence, and even lives in some cases.

But I am not talking about destructive “use” of what is in our hands. One reason I am angry is because the situation has had such a destructive impact on lives. I don't want to do the same thing. Is it possible for this strong anger to be used for God’s purposes?

I believe it is possible. I am aware that the possibility of my anger being turned into something productive for the Kingdom of God is totally out of my ability. However, Jesus said that what is impossible for man IS possible for God (Mark 10:27). I am trusting Him to show me, to lead me, to guide me.

In Romans 8:28, God says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” ALL things? What about my anger? Does He really mean ALL things?

If you back up to verse 27, you read, “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” That tells me that no matter what my thoughts are or what is going on in my life, God Himself knows what is on my mind and He is praying for me, praying God’s will into my life. How amazing is that?

These scriptures are for me because I love God. I have answered His call to give my life to Him, so my desire is for His purposes and His will to be done. He is interceding for "the saints." Saints are not perfect people, but are those who love Him and seek His will in their lives.

Verse 29 shows us part of God’s purpose for His intercession “For who He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…”

God knew you and me before we were created inside of our mothers (Psalm 139:13-16). And His planned purpose for mankind, from the very beginning of time (Genesis 1:26), was and still is that we will be conformed to His image. God’s plan is for us to be like Him, to have His character and nature of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22). He desires that so much, that He has promised that if we love Him, then He will use every situation, every possible thing that comes into our lives, for the purpose of making us more like Him.

This past week I have not looked much like Jesus. My anger has been polluted. Some of it is about Him. Much of it is over injustice, wrongness, deception, rejection, lies, and peoples’ unwillingness to do what is right. But some of my anger is about me, about what I want and what I feel. And as a Christian, when I am angry, I then often feel guilty, telling myself that I should not have any negative feelings toward another person.

I know that He has forgiven me. But I want more than forgiveness. I want change. Just as coal, under pressure, can be turned into a diamond, or a grain of sand in an oyster, can become a pearl, I want to see those things in my heart be turned to something valuable. I am putting God to the test; I am holding Him to His word, believing and asking Him to show me how He can use even my anger, my sorrow, and even a wrong situation, for my good and for the good of those I love. I am trusting that as He intercedes for me according to His will, that He will use ALL these THINGS, including my emotions, wrong thoughts, lack of understanding, guilt, hopelessness and even my anger, for my good and use it to conform me to His image.

Another way this can be used for good is for me to pray, pray, pray. I pray for myself, with confession and repentance, and acknowledgement of God's desire and ability to "cleanse me of all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). I pray for all those involved in the situation, including those causing the problems. I pray for people I don't know, across our nation and the world, who are walking through similar situations. I especially pray for those walking through these kinds of difficult situations who do not know Jesus, and are trying to find peace without Him.

I want to know how God sees my heart and what He thinks about my feelings. I want Him to use this to teach me more about Him. I want this situation and my reaction to it to be redeemed and somehow turned to good. I want to defeat the enemy with my prayers and with my coming through this situation in victorious thinking and acting. Through all of this I pray for God to bring me into closer relationship with Him. Only a personal and powerful God can preform such a miracle.

An encounter with Mary, the mother of Jesus

I was young, with my whole life before me. I had many questions: How can one person be significant to God? What is His purpose and will for my life? How can I know what that purpose is? I know it sounds strange for a girl to have these kinds of thoughts. In Jewish families, the sons were considered to have the greater purpose, and the daughters were to grow up to be good, healthy wives and have sons. Eve, was the mother of our race; Sarah had purpose in the son of her old age; Rachael and Hannah grieved until they had sons. It’s not that I minded the idea of having children. But was there more to life?

I was a very ordinary girl in most ways. Yet, I spent much of my time thinking. My mother said I was a daydreamer, but I didn’t mind. Many times I felt that my pondering was a kind of prayer…though not the sort of prayers we were taught to say in Jewish homes. I wondered if God ever heard my thoughts and questions.

My name, Mary, means “myrrh,” which was incense used in the worship of God. Because of my name, I believed my life was to be spent worshipping God. But myrrh was also used to prepare a person for burial, and I wondered how that fit into who God created me to be.

The plan for my life was set before me. I was young and betrothed. Joseph was a good man. My father had chosen well, and I was not displeased. Joseph was gentle; a man of God – but, just how much a man of God I had not yet seen. He was talented, a craftsman, who knew wood and could use his hands. He would provide well for our family. My family had never been rich, but we had what we needed. I would soon be Joseph’s wife, and live a good life, and hopefully give him sons.

Then, one day…one day God… Have you ever had a day when God entered your life, and you were never the same again? That day my life was changed forever. It’s as if I had entered into another world or kingdom. I met God’s will face to face. I responded, and my life was never really mine again. It was guided by a different power. It’s hard to explain, unless you’ve experienced it.

It was an ordinary day. People were going about their lives as every other day. I don’t even remember what I was doing…but all of a sudden, right before me stood a being like I had never seen before. An angel. I was so afraid, I couldn’t move. He called me by name. He said the Lord was with me and that I was blessed among women. I didn’t understand. He must have seen my fear, for he told me not to be afraid; that I had found favor with God. Was this real? God’s favor was expected to rest on those who were mighty, rich, or even wise. But on me?

He told me I would conceive a son and would call him Jesus and he would be great and rule on the throne of David. He said the Holy Spirit would overshadow me, and the One to be born would be called the Son of God.

“How can this be? What does this mean? Nevertheless, let it be unto me, your hand-maiden, as you have said.”

I later thought: I stood face to face with an angel. He was talking about the God who created the universe, had set fire to a bush without consuming it, had delivered a whole nation out of bondage and had parted the sea so they could cross over on dry ground, and who made the sun to stand still. And what do I ask… “How can this be?” Of all the questions I could have asked! But he didn’t get upset with me; he simply said, “With God all things are possible.”

God of the impossible. What a mystery, yet a reality. God overshadowed me with His Spirit. It was as though I myself was in a womb of His presence. My life had entered the realm of the impossible, and I surrendered.

He would have to do the impossible…with my family. My mother had prayed all my life, like the other Jewish mothers, that her virgin daughter would be the mother of the coming Messiah. Would she believe it? And her friends? It is one thing to believe God’s word. It is another thing to believe it for yourself.

The impossible…Joseph.

New life was growing within me. What a miracle. I immediately went to stay with my relative, Elisabeth. She understood the impossible, being full of child in her old age. She said she believed God could do anything. And she understood who my child was to be. I was able to talk freely with her. We sought for wisdom together before I returned to my family.

Then, there was a quiet marriage to Joseph. With God nothing is impossible. Truly, he
proved that just with Joseph. My condition was punishable by stoning. But Joseph, too, had an encounter with God, and he knew this was God’s child. His love for God and for me became sacrificial.

He was a simple man, and felt the weight of responsibility for both me and this child. If he ever heard rumors, gossip, or accusations he never let on. I sometimes believed God chose me because He wanted Joseph as His son’s earthly father.

Herod called for a census, so we had to travel to Bethlehem. We were almost there and my time was near. There were no rooms in the town, and it was time. We were finally directed to a stable. There came the pain and the travail. I was away from home and family, with only Joseph, me, and the animals. And then the birth of a perfectly formed baby. He looked so human… He acted so human… He cried so human. Yet there lay the very presence of God. In this child was the hope of the world. Who would think that the burden of an entire world would rest on these tiny shoulders? The weight of government would be upon them.

Shepherds came, praising God and telling stories of seeing thousands of angels. Wise men came who had followed a star, traveling a great distance to bring lavish gifts for the child.

On the 30th day of his life, when we took Jesus to the temple for purification, an old man named Simeon took the baby in his arms, looked into heaven, and said that his life had now been fulfilled. He said, “I can go in peace… I have seen the salvation of the Lord and the Light to the Gentiles, and the Glory of Israel.”

A Light to the Gentiles, and the Glory of Israel? The Glory of Israel had dwelt in the temple, but had departed from Israel because of our nation’s sin. Now this child was being called the GLORY OF ISRAEL. I knew He was God’s child, but there was so much I didn’t understand.

Simeon looked at me and said, “This child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, for a sign which will be spoken against. Yes, a sword will constantly pierce even your own soul also, so the secret thoughts and purposes of many hearts may be revealed.”

A sword…pierce my soul? What could he mean? A sign spoken against? Wasn’t this child to be a king? The Savior of the world? We had such joyful anticipation of a glorious future with the coming of the Messiah. Yet these words reminded me of the prophet Isaiah of long ago. Was it like so many other things about God… perhaps not according to man’s thoughts or ways? I wanted to ask again… “How can this be?” But I knew it would be as God intended, and according to the impossible.

I have often thought back and pondered these things… the angel Gabriel, Elisabeth and her son John, Jesus’ birth…the stable. The stable…kings were born in palaces. Stables were for lambs. I thought about the star, the shepherds, the wise men and their gifts, Simeon. Then in a dream, Joseph was told that we were to go to Egypt…a place that was bondage to our ancestors became a place of protection for us and the child.

Joseph and I both felt responsibility for training this child. We followed Jewish traditions in our home and Joseph spent much time teaching Jesus the law. I remember the time when he was twelve and got lost in Jerusalem. We were there to celebrate Passover. On the way home, we realized Jesus wasn’t with us or with our relatives. We returned to Jerusalem and it took us three days to find him. By then I was near panic. We had lost God’s Son. When we found him, I was so relieved. But I WAS his mother, and I scolded him. He looked at me with a look of wisdom beyond his years and said “Mother, didn’t YOU know I must be about my Father’s business?” I felt pain inside, that sword piercing my soul. I wondered how much he understood of His mission.

As I watched him grow, I knew in my heart that the day would come when he would leave. That’s true about every child. If you’ve ever had to let go of your child, I promise you, you have never been closer to God than when you gave that child up. He understands.

In Jesus there was submission to us as his parents, but it came with an inner submission to God. HE was always obedient, but I knew he was obeying a higher voice.

Many times the 700-year-old words of the prophet Isaiah stirred in my heart. I could easily grasp the words that God would give a sign and a virgin would give birth to a son. I knew its reality; I was part of the fulfillment of that prophesy of Almighty God. But there were other words that were more difficult, even painful, to try to understand concerning the Son of God.

One day, Jesus heard his cousin John was nearby, preaching, and He left home and went to find John. I thought back to my visit with Elisabeth, so many years ago before when neither of our sons were yet born. Her child, John, had leaped within her, and she called me the mother of her Lord. I knew Jesus had to focus on doing the Father’s will. He had a unique purpose. But little did I know what the next three and an half years would hold.

I heard of many miracles he performed. I saw some of the, like when he turned water into wine at the wedding of a friend in Cana, a few miles northeast of Nazareth. Yet, in our town, He could do only a few miracles. The people had seen him grow up in our house, and they did not believe who He really was. Their human reasoning kept their hearts from seeing and understanding; Jesus called it unbelief. It is possible to focus on what we can see with our physical eyes, or what our own mind thinks is right, and miss the Truth.

Jesus was a controversial man which of itself was not unusual in our days. But He was different. He didn’t claim to be a prophet who knew God. He claimed to be the Son of God. I knew who He was and where He came from, and yet at times I didn’t understand. The religious leaders were the ones persecuting him, and they had taught that a Messiah would come.

Only three years after he began preaching and working miracles, He was arrested.

I wondered if God had forgotten what He said about a King and Savior? Yet words of the prophet Isaiah came back to me, “He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter…He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken… …He poured out His soul unto death… And He bore the sin of many…

Surely God didn’t mean my son would be “slaughtered and stricken”? I had seen many times that God’s ways are not our ways, but I couldn’t imagine God allowing this to His Son.

Then came the reality of seeing Him beaten, almost beyond recognition, carrying a cross, going to his death. I stood helplessly at the foot of the cross, watching His life drain out. My heart was breaking. He was beaten, bruised, a crown of thorns, and then the nailed Him to the cross. My soul was pierced as never before. Again the question came to my mind, “How can this be?” I kept thinking this was a bad dream… or that God would do the impossible and bring Him down off the cross. Where was the angel? Didn’t God have the power to deliver His own Son from death?

I stood with young John who was flooded with guilt, shame, and sorrow, for having deserted his closest friend. And here before us, Jesus was dying. John was wondering how he could live with such guilt and grief. Then, in the midst of agonizing death, yet so consistent with His character, Jesus reached beyond himself and focused his attention on us. It was as though he was experiencing our sorrow, our struggle and our pain. “Mother, behold thy son. Son, behold thy mother.” In those last few minutes of His life, with labored breath, His concern was for us.

We heard Him say, “It is finished.” And He died.

I find it difficult to describe the next few days. All seemed final, hopeless. Death is so strong. Yet somewhere within me, something was stirring. The God I knew…the God of the impossible…what would He do?

On the third day, my friend Mary went to the tomb, but the stone had been rolled away, and the tomb was empty. She came back saying she had seen Jesus and talked to Him. He was alive. I dared to hope. We had seen Jesus raise Lazarus and others from the dead. It was becoming more clear. He had told us that He was the LIFE. How can life die? Then He appeared to us. It was true. God of the impossible had raised Jesus from the dead. Death did not have the final word. Life could not be quenched. The Joy of God had passed through the poverty of a manger, persecution of the religious, the torment of the cross, and He came through in victory. Jesus was the Christ, the son of God; Savior and Lord. He was the Way, the Truth and the Life. He was the way to the presence of the Father. He was all He claimed to be.

I had the unique privilege of carrying Jesus Christ, the Son of God within me...
TWICE. Once, He was birthed OUT of me. Once, He was birthed INTO me, as I received His Holy Spirit. He would never leave me again. Now I was fulfilling God’s purpose for my life, empowered in a new way. I was Mary, one called to worship to God.

Father God had a unique purpose for my life. He has a unique purpose for yours. I was an ordinary, humble girl who believed God, and surrendered to His will. Is there anything keeping you from surrendering to His plan for you? Are you willing to believe God will do all that He has said He will do? Will you grasp hold of the God of the impossible?

You will have tribulation and will face times when it seems that the final word has been spoken and all seems hopeless. As I stood at the foot of the cross, my emotions could see no further than the pain and agony of the moment. But, God is a God of resurrection. Death does not have power over life. God brings life to that which is dead. If you are in a situation that seems impossible, reach out to God who is more powerful than death.

There are times when the pain of life and rejection seems to control our lives. And often it is religious people who do the hurting. Yet, I heard Jesus, as He was dying on the cross, ask His Father to forgive even those who sentenced Him to death, thinking they were serving God by crucifying Him. Even in His painful death, He had no anger, vengeance or bitterness, only forgiveness. Can we do less? He gives us the power to be like Him and to forgive.

Will you celebrate the resurrection life by reaching out to God this day? He is pursuing you with all of His heart. He died on the cross so you could have eternal relationship with Him. Will you yield to the overshadowing of His Holy Spirit in your life? Allow Him to be born into you, and then revealed to and through you. Allow the Creator, who lavishly loves you, to take control of your life. Let God do what is totally impossible for you to do. Believe that He will fulfill those things He has spoken and promised to you. Now is time.

(This is my perspective of Mary, mother of Jesus, based on Luke 1-2; Luke 3:21-23; Luke 22:54, Luke 23:16-46; Luke 23:52-Luke 24:12; John 2:1-11; John 19:1-John 20:31; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53; Genesis 4:1-2; Genesis 17, 21:1-8; Genesis 30:1-24; 1 Samuel 1:1-2:19 and other scriptures.)