A Birth Announcement

Did you know that an elephant’s pregnancy is 18 to 22 months long? Can you imagine being pregnant that long? Waddling everywhere. Belly stretching beyond its normal shape. Feeling that baby kick, move and squirm. Enduring the baby sitting on your bladder or up in your ribs.

Since I’ve never been pregnant, I wouldn’t even begin to know how that feels, but I do equate the time that we began trying to have a baby until our first baby was placed in my arms as my pregnancy, and it rivals that of the elephant.

Most women anticipate the birth of their baby for 7-8 months depending on when they discover they are pregnant. When you go through fertility treatments and adoption, you are anticipating the birth of your baby from the first time you try to conceive and fail.

Our daughter has a wonderful adoption story. Hers is an open adoption, and I was allowed to be in the delivery room when she was born. It is something I will always treasure and remember. Three years of fertility treatments, failed adoptions, and depression culminated in the climax of hearing my baby’s first cry. It was something I had waited for and anticipated for a very long time. Sometimes the waiting was just excruciating as many of my friends became pregnant with ease.

For this child I have prayed and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart.
                                        -  1 Samuel 1:27

Every year beginning with Black Friday shopping, people anticipate Christmas morning. Unfortunately, the anticipation is not for the birth of the Christ child but for the presents under the tree.

This year, I challenge you to be in anticipation of the birth announcement that a Savior has been born. Anticipate the birth of your Redeemer. Anticipate the birth of the perfect sacrifice.

I remember sending out our daughter’s birth announcement. It was with great joy that I finally got to tell everyone we were the proud parents of a baby girl. She was actually due at the end of December, but true to her personality, she came in her sweet time. Our birth mom had to be induced at the end of the first week in January, and our daughter came out overdone. She was content to stay where she was and was in no great rush to make her entrance.

But when she made her entrance, my husband and I were blowing up our phones calling all of our family and friends to tell them the good news. She’s here! She’s here! She’s perfect, and she’s here!

My eyes still tear up when I think of that day.

And as excited as we were and as many calls as we made and as many birth announcements we sent out which was a lot, it could not compare to God’s birth announcement.

God had told His children 400 to 500 years before He would be sending a child who would redeem them. He gave them prophesy after prophesy, and then silence because His children were not listening.

Fast-forward 400 to 500 years, an announcement to Mary and Elizabeth and her husband began the ripples of anticipation once again that a baby was coming, a King, a Redeemer.

And when Jesus, Immanuel was born, the heavens could not contain the celebration. Luke 2:8-14 says the angels came out of heaven. They pierced the pitch dark sky. God’s glory was around the angel announcing the birth of His one and only Son. If you remember, God’s glory was so bright He had to hide Moses in the cleft of the rock, and Moses was able to see the back trail of God’s glory only, so can you imagine how bright this glory was in comparison to the darkness of the night?

The angel told them not to be afraid. The angel told them a Savior had been born and where to find Him. And then a multitude of angels start pouring out of heaven praising God, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!” 

Isaiah 6 tells us that 6 seraphim angels were praising God, and their praise was so loud it shook the door posts. If 6 angels can shake the door posts, then a multitude could shake the foundation of the earth. Think of the loudest concert you have ever been to and magnify the volume by 10, and it still wouldn’t do this announcement justice. Those shepherds’ insides were vibrating with the praise of the Most High God.

Now that was a birth announcement worth anticipating. And do you know what stands out to me about the birth announcement? In verse 11, “Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord was born for you…” He was BORN FOR YOU! God is excited about the birth of His Son, but He’s excited because His Son’s birth was for YOU!

Are you anticipating the birth of your Redeemer, or are you stressed because you haven’t gotten your shopping done?

Are you anticipating the birth of the One who is your Savior, or are you focused on the lights and tinsel on the tree?

Are you anticipating the birth of the One who wrote history before time began, or are you anticipating making memories with your family?

Love your family and friends enough to be excited and anticipate the birth of Jesus and share your faith with them. They need to know you are anticipating a birth announcement.

When Holidays Are Not So Jolly

When Holidays Are Not So Jolly

 Beautifully decorated Christmas trees, Christmas shopping, cooking, eating with family and friends, driving around looking at Christmas lights, Christmas cookies, children’s choirs. All of these things sound so warm, happy and exciting, don’t they?  Or do they? For some, just the mere thought of the holidays brings on a sense of dread, or at best, hesitancy. There are countless reasons for these feelings such as grief, loneliness, depression, divorce, financial stress, family conflict, illness, and painful memories of childhood Christmases. It seems that so many people who have lost loved ones in recent days, and so many people are grieving. I believe this will be a good place to start.

The empty seat at the dinner table. Dishes that only she cooked. The turkey he smoked in the smoker. Decorations that you put up together. Years of traditions. Perhaps, you’ve gone through a divorce or a major life change. All of these things can lead to grief. It is important to recognize and acknowledge it for what it is. There does not have to be a physical death for there to be grief. Loss is loss. There is no timeline for grief. Whether the loss is within the last month or if it was years ago, grief is real. It means you loved. 1 Corinthians 13:13 states “Now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.” By acknowledging our grief, we acknowledge our love. It is unrealistic to expect yourself to feel happy and joyful throughout the holiday season when you are mourning a loss. This Christmas may not be like Christmases in the past, and it may not look like ones in the future. It is ok. With grief, sometimes the whole point is just to get through today. There is no right or wrong way to grieve as long as you are not harming yourself or others.

If putting up a tree and decorations just seems to be too much, then skip it this year.  It is ok to skip those things that just seem to be overwhelming or that cause you pain.  If you have children who are counting on a tree and decorations, consider asking friends to come help put up the decorations. If going to all of the parties, choir performances and special events is too overwhelming, just choose those that mean the most to you. Some people even choose to go on vacation during Christmas or have a nontraditional meal and use paper plates instead of the good china (you might find that you really like the idea of using paper goods in the future instead of having to wash all of those dishes!)  Consider online shopping, gift cards or even just a heart-felt, handwritten letter to each family member.  Whatever you choose to do, it is important to remember that no one has to understand or approve of how you choose to do Christmas this year. Do what works for you and do only those things that are meaningful to you.

Make sure that you rely on loved ones who care about you. Do not make the mistake of trying to hold it all in and pretending all is well.  Proverbs 17:17 emphasizes that friends are given to us not only for the good times but also for difficult times: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.” You will find the load you carry is easier to bear when shared with those who care about you. If you feel uncomfortable talking with someone who is close to you, you might talk to a minister or a licensed professional counselor or marriage and family therapist.  You might also consider journaling to get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper. No one has to read it. It is just for you.

Remember to take good care of yourself physically, as well. Eat well and eat those rich foods only in moderation. Go light on the sweets! Drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated. Minimize or avoid alcohol consumption.  Alcohol is a depressant which can make feelings of depression worse.  If you find yourself wanting to drink alcohol to deal with your grief, get help by talking to someone.  Get some exercise by going for a walk. Keep your regular schedule as much as possible by getting up and going to bed each day about the same time as usual. Rest when you feel tired.  Grief is exhausting and lack of sleep leads to further exhaustion which makes it even more difficult to cope. 

Lastly, take good care of your spiritual health. Sometimes going to church during the holidays can be painful when you are grieving. You might consider going to more casual evening services instead of the morning service or attending small group meetings such as Sunday School or life group meetings. Consider using a daily devotional that is geared toward those who are grieving. Stay in the Word – Psalms is a wonderful place to begin. Psalm 34:18 says “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.” He cares for you! He wants to comfort you if you will only let Him.  Above all else, pray! Pray for strength and comfort, but also pray for others. Thank Him for each of your blessings.  Even in the midst of difficult times, we have so much to be thankful for. Often times, being grateful can turn our thoughts from our own pain and onto the One who is our Comforter.

Remember that the holidays will come and go, and you will survive them one day at a time.  You will always feel a sense of loss because you loved, but the grief will not always feel so overwhelming. Please remember that you are loved and are being prayed for!

*If your feelings of depression become intense and you feel that you may harm yourself, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for help. Holidays are difficult for many people, and help is available!”

Holiday Miracles

Have you ever heard of miracles happening during the holiday season?

Have you ever prayed for a miracle during the holidays.

Sometimes God provides the miracles, but we fail to acknowledge them as such.

This Thanksgiving week, I observed what I will call a minimum of three miracles. I’d like to share them with you.

1.     A young widow who lost her husband due to brain cancer found many things for which to be thankful. She was even grateful for grief. That’s a God thing. That’s God working in her and through her, sustaining her, upholding her with His mighty arm.

2.     A mom whose 15 year old daughter died of cancer finding things for which to be grateful. She was grateful death came quickly. She was thankful there was no regrets. She and her daughter had lived life to the fullest, lived life loud, lived life vibrantly the last several months Cam had on this earth.

3.     I saw a young lady meet her birth family for the first time. God’s grace and mercy was enough, so they could begin to build relationships where there once was none. If you have never been part of an adoption story, you may never know the significance of this, but if you have, you know the weight of it.

The holiday season is not easy nor joyful for everyone. Sometimes the season doesn’t live up to the hype and disappointment rears its ugly head. Depression can be a constant companion for many. But I encourage everyone to look for things for which to be grateful. If these women can find things, surely you can too. I cannot fathom walking in their shoes. As a matter of fact, I can’t even let my mind go there. But the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “give thanks in everything.”

There have been times when my sister and I have felt so beaten down that we struggle to look for something for which to be grateful. So we come up with some of the most off-the-wall things. Please feel free to use any of these if you are that desperate. (Keep in mind, we use levity to help us cope.)

1.     Bellybutton lint because that means we have an inny-bellybuttton.

2.     Toe jam because that means we have more than one toe. Toe jam requires more than one, and some people truly don’t have more than one or any.

3.     Nose hair because without it that bug that flew up Lori’s nose would have traveled to her brain.

4.     Dirty laundry because it means we have been blessed with clothing for our family.

5.     Scrubbing potties because it means we have indoor working potties, and in some countries this is a luxury.

6.     Molded cheese in the fridge because it means our family had plenty to eat, and there was excess. To many this is unheard of.

7.     Fighting kids because our kids are well enough to stand-up to each other and aren’t in a hospital or worse.

8.     Music or TV that’s too loud because it means we have the gift of hearing.

Do any of these apply to you?

Philippians 4:8 is a verse I have to remind myself of on a regular basis. “Whatever is true; whatever is noble; whatever is right; whatever is pure; whatever is lovely; whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” Things in my home and family are not perfect. We struggle. We are constantly battling to protect our family from principalities and evil forces, but if I can just keep my focus on these things, if I can keep my focus on Christ, I can find something for which to praise Him, something for which to say, “thank you.”

I’d like to pray for those of you who are struggling. You feel like you barely survived the Thanksgiving holidays and don’t know how you will manage Christmas.

Abba Father,

Thank you. Thank you for loving us and being with us even when we are in pain. Thank you for never leaving us alone. Thank you for never leaving us in our struggle. Thank you for never wasting anything in our lives.

I want to lift up this sweet girlfriend to you. You are her wonderful Creator. You know her most intimately. You know her need before she does. You go before her turning the darkness to light, making rough places smooth (Isaiah 42:16), but sometimes God it’s just hard. It’s hard because we can feel so overwhelmed, and the void and emptiness seems to want to swallow them whole. But God, I know You have a hold of her and won’t let go of her.

Please surround her with growing, mature, godly girlfriends who will encourage her. Help my girlfriend to have the courage to take the next step to follow after you. And above all, heal her and bring her through. God, in Isaiah 43:2 it says you are with us when we pass THROUGH the waters and the rivers which will not overwhelm us, and that we will not be scorched when we walk THROUGH the fire. In all of these trials, God, we are passing through. We don’t stop there. We don’t live there. Satan wants us to think we have to stop and live, but that’s not your plan. So, give her the courage to make that next step.

Lord, I pray she feels Your Spirit. I pray she feels Your undeniable presence.

We will give you all the praise and glory.

Amen

Wide Open Spaces

I do not fare well in close quarters. I have to talk myself off the ledge, so to speak. It is okay, Kristy. You’re not going to die. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Focus your thoughts. If I don’t do that kind of self-talking, I will be bugging out. So, I love verses about open spaces. God knows my weaknesses and fears and how to best handle them.

Exodus 3:8 I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…

When I read that verse, another verse immediate came to my mind.

Psalm 119:45 I will walk freely in an open place because I seek your precepts.

I love this verse. Every claustrophobic person on the face of the planet should love this verse. The reason the Psalmist can walk freely in an open place is because he sought God’s precepts first. The psalmist knows he can walk freely because his borders or walls are forever before God (Isaiah 49:16) and he’s under God’s protection.

What is a “precept?” It’s a command or statute, an appointed mandate from God. The psalmist writes often regarding the precepts of God.

Do you know what I can do more freely in an open place as opposed to a closed or small place? BREATHE! I can draw in a deep breath and exhale, releasing the tension and stress that is bound in my body. Job 32:8, But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Isaiah 42:5, Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads forth the earth and that which comes out of it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it…” God gives us the breath in our lungs giving us life.

Then Exodus 3:8 reminded me of Psalm 23. Verses 1-3a, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He make me lie down in green pastures” (open spaces to breathe deeply); “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul”… (the milk and honey of life).

Isn’t God good? His Word is so rich. It’s nourishment for our weary souls. Whether you need open space to breathe in deeply to take Him all in or if you need solitude, He provides the milk and honey of life.

Abba,

Thank you for the breath in our lungs. Thank you for breathing life into us every moment of the day. Thank you for providing the milk and honey of life. Help us to never take it for granted.

Amen.

Heart Conditions

For about a year now, I’ve been working out at the gym anywhere from 2 to 4 days a week. I’m up to 35 minutes on a cardio machine and about 20 to 25 minutes weight lifting. I do the fat burning mode on the cardio machine, and when the bars spike, I amp up my heart rate. When the activity bar is flat and low, I lower my heart rate by decreasing the speed of my movement. For 30 minutes I am revving up my heart rate and letting it settle then I cool off the last 5 minutes. I sweat like a boar hog. I take a rag with me on that machine because I’m just pouring sweat.

My heart, your heart is a muscular organ that needs exercise. It needs activity. A fatty, lazy heart doesn’t do anyone any good. It’s amazing what can happen when there’s a healthy heart, a heart that beats for Christ.

In Exodus 35 – 36:7, the word heart is used 6 times in my Holman Christian Standard Bible translation.

                35:20 whose heart was moved

                35:22 had willing hearts

                35:26 whose hearts were moved

                35:29 whose hearts prompted them

                36:2 whose hearts the Lord had placed wisdom

…whose heart moved him

Do you know what the hearts of the Israelites prompted them to do? GIVE. They gave to the Lord. The gave to the Lord from their resources, their time, and talent.

And do you know what God gave them? They were given the ability to do the work laid out ahead of them in building the tabernacle. Some received the Spirit from God. Some received wisdom and understanding and ability to do any craft necessary in building the tabernacle. He gave some the ability to teach and instruct others the skills necessary for the job at hand.

Do you know what the result was? MORE.

Every morning the Israelites were bringing offerings, and in Exodus 36:4 it says, The people are bringing more than is needed. The children of Israel had to be told to stop giving. They had to be TOLD to stop giving.

Exodus 36:7 says, The materials were sufficient for them to do all the works. There was more than enough.

If you notice, the willing heart, the prompted heart, and the moving heart were all compelled to act in according to God’s will. These hearts freely gave to the benefit and glory of God and His mission. They weren’t focused on themselves, how they’ve been done wrong, harboring sin, ….

But it started with a willing heart, a heart that was moved, a heart that was prompted. How can God prompt your heart if you are bitter, negative, angry, or simply don’t care. You, my friend, have a heart of stone. If you don’t feel God’s presence, don’t see His hand moving, don’t have a desire to be used by God, there’s a good chance you have a heart of stone. But don’t worry. There’s a fix for that. I love this verse and have prayed it over loved ones. Ezekiel 36: 25-27, “…I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances.”

So, what kind of heart do you want? What kind of results do you want in your life? Our Heavenly Father is in the heart transplant business. He is the original pacemaker of your heart. Are you allowing Him to work in it?

Father God,

Thank you so much for loving us regardless of our weaknesses, our stubbornness, our pride, our hardened hearts. Please give us a heart for you. Give us a heart transplant. Give us a willing heart, a moving heart, a heart that beats after you.

We love you,

Amen.

Choose

Is life just plain hard for you right now? Do you have trouble dragging your weary self from bed? Are troubled thoughts bullying your peace? Me too. I think we all have days like that, but sometimes, those days turn into dark seasons that threaten to steal our hope and our perspective.

Here’s the thing. When we let ourselves get all bent-out-of-shape, it doesn’t affect only us. The people we love suffer. They may even wonder if it was something they did that messed us up. Our influence suffers. People watching us may think, “Jesus doesn’t seem to make much difference in her life. I’m in better shape than her. I don't need Jesus.” Christ Himself suffers. Like the prodigal son’s father grieved his son’s rebellious absence, Christ longs to have us near and well.

It’s so much easier to wallow in our shame and self-pity than to bathe in His grace. It’s so much easier to focus on what’s wrong than on what’s right. It’s so much easier to stay down than to stand up.

Sometimes, we just have to make a decision that today, things will be different.

Today, I choose joy.

Today, I choose to trust God.

Today, I choose to behave like the free, blessed Child of God I am.

Will you join me in giving this “today” to God? Even if you’re in the middle of a bunch of ugly uncertainty? Even if you're rejected or misunderstood?  Even if you just don’t feel like it?

Lord,

I can’t get over how easily I get off-track. Forgive me for allowing less-than-stellar circumstances, other people’s behavior and my own fickle feelings have so much power over my life. Enough! Today, I will choose differently.

Today, I choose joy.

These trials I’m facing will show me Your face like nothing else can. Test me however You need to, Lord. Make me strong through struggle. Keep me reaching my empty hand into Your bottomless bag of wisdom. Keep me practicing my faith until it’s doubtless, single-minded and solid (James 1:2-8).

I resolve, right now, not to let another human being steal my joy. Why? Because the joy is not mine. It is Yours on loan to me. How dare I allow other people play keep-away with something so precious? I will cling to Your joy like priceless treasure. I will not let it out of my sight. “The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Though I feel like retreating, I choose to charge forth in joy, knowing You are my shield and my defense against anything I’ll face. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:12 NIV).

Today, I choose to trust You.

Lord, You see the decisions I need to make and the things I need to say and the changes I need to make and the challenges I need to face. I choose to trust in You with my whole heart, so there’s no space for doubts to creep in. With my gaze fixed on You, I can’t go wrong (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Though You’ve lavished my life with supportive people, none of them are as trustworthy as You. We hurt each other with careless words and cold shoulders. We fail to show up when it matters most. We get so caught up in ourselves we can’t see the needs right in front of our faces. But, You, Lord, see us. You understand us. You meet us in our muck and lift us out. Forgive me for demanding God-like devotion from people made of clay. I will trust in You, and You alone.

When I trust in You, fear has no room to roam. When I trust in You, anxiety has no leg to stand on. When I trust in You, my feelings are tools not taskmasters.

Today, I choose to behave like the free, blessed Child of God I am.

Forgive me, Lord, for slamming closed prison bars You died to fling open. I am free, and I will live free.

Forgive me, Lord, for letting sin weeds overrun my soul’s garden. Let’s get our hands dirty, Lord. Help me pull every last weed, Lord, and plant the fruit of Your Spirit in their place. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).

With those qualities growing lush in me, I’ll represent You well, no matter my circumstances. No matter how other people behave. No matter if I’m in the mood or not.

My circumstances are the same today as they were yesterday. But, today, I choose to be different. Today, I choose You.

In the joyful, trustworthy name of Jesus, who gives me hope, I say, AMEN and AMEN

Hold Still

Hold Still

I have the cutest little dog named Riff. He's a snuggler. He's ridiculously cute. He always brings a smile to my face. I don't know what I'd do without my little furry comfort ball.

But Riff has a problem. He's prone to ear infections. I have these drops that clear the infections right up, but Riff flails and fights so much that I rarely get the drops in his ears. So... he's constantly scratching and rubbing his ears on the carpet to relieve his discomfort. I can't tell you how many times I've said, "Riffer, if you'd just hold still, your ears would be all better!" He doesn't listen. He fights the treatment that would provide his healing.

I can be a lot like Riff. How ‘bout you?

God has the remedy for all that ails us. Those broken places. Those sin callouses. That bad blood between us. It takes time and God’s special treatment to make us well.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees” (Hebrews 12:11-12 NIV).

I find myself flailing and fighting the urge to run. I don't want to hold still and let God do what He needs to do to make me well. Healing hurts, and, frankly, I've had my fill of hurting.

But I have to do this. I have to let God do what only He can do. I'm not a silly dog who doesn't know better. I'm an intelligent woman who has seen God's power at work in both my life and in others. I know the present pain will provide future freedom.

I will hold still. Will you?

Lord,

Why does healing have to hurt so much? You could fix me with just a raise of Your all-knowing eyebrow. Part of me wishes You would.

But then I look back on all the good work You've done in me so far. None of it came easy. I thought the pain would kill me, but it didn't. I know pain is a pathway to knowing You better. And, well, that's the whole point of me being here. To know You and to love You and to help other people to know and love You, too.

So, do what You need to do, Lord. I will stay right here in this hurtful, holy place. I will hold still for as long as it takes to be well and whole.

I will hold still and remember who You are. Be glorified in me, Lord (Psalm 46:10). 

I will hold still and let You complete the good work You've started in me. Make me more like You, Lord (Philippians 1:6).

I will hold still and watch You fight for me. Be my defender and my safe place (Exodus 14:14).

In the faithful name of Jesus, I pray, AMEN

Time to Wear Your Steel-Toed Boots -- This one is rough

I learn so much about God from parenting my kids and from my kids in general. I jokingly say that my son keeps me on my toes and my knees at the same time. Now that my kids are teenagers (When did that happen?!), the lessons come more from their mouths than from my parenting them. Does that make sense? For example, “If our body is the temple then aren’t we to always act like we are at church?” My sixteen year old daughter asked that question.  She was referring to 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have from God? You are not your own…” This starts a whole conversation about how we are to live our lives outside the church walls.

James 3:10, “Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.” Matthew 5:11, “It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth – this defiles a person.” What you think about, what you meditate on leads to your words and your words to your beliefs and your beliefs to your actions.

Are you being a hypocrite acting one way on Sunday and then cursing your brothers and sister every other day of the week? Are you sweet as sugar come Sunday morning, but you have stirred up strife, spread gossip, and spewed hate during the week? You are not fooling God

If you wouldn’t speak it in the church building, you shouldn’t speak it anywhere. Do you cuss in the church walls?

If you wouldn’t think it in the sanctuary, you shouldn’t think it anywhere else.

If you wouldn’t behave like in during big church or worship, then you don’t behave like it out in the world.

We are the church. We are the body of Christ, and too often people who call themselves “Christians” act just as hateful and lost as the world in which we are to be light. You can’t be light and have darkness in you. You can’t serve God and mammon. You can’t praise God and then curse His creations. I don’t care if you are a Republican, Democrat, Independent, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, African American or critically Caucasian (that me, I’m very fair). It doesn’t matter what your personal stance is on the NFL and kneeling, your position on Obama or Trump, your thoughts regarding gun control, birth control or the budget.

If you can’t say something nice, then keep your lips shut. You can respectfully disagree without name calling and being degrading. You can still be kind and friendly to those who don’t view the world as you do.

If you can’t say something nice, you need to pray. Pray for yourself. Pray for the person that you want to speak evil of. Pray for the situation and for God’s healing.

If you can’t say something nice, then meditate on God’s word until He gives you the words He would have you speak. Because what you speak, reveals more about you, your heart and your mind than it does about the person you are slandering or gossiping about. It shows your weakness and shallowness and not their deficits.

You see, my Christian girlfriends, there’s going to come a time when someone in the world is going to need someone who loves Jesus to show them hope, to show them a different way, and even if you have disagreed with them on the NFL, gun control, birth control, Obama/ Trump, if you have done so with the love of Christ and with respect, guess what! There’s a good chance they will come to you to discuss what is going on in their lives. But if you haven’t been living like the temple of Christ outside the church walls, if you haven’t spoken words like Christ outside the sanctuary, then you have BLOWN IT!

Today, ask yourself. Am I being the temple? Are the words I speak the ones He gives me? Are the words I speak words I would say at church?

Father God,

You are such an amazing Father. You use everything in our lives. You don’t waste anything, any opportunity, any possibility, and you don’t waste us or the gifts you’ve given us.  Thank you.

Abba, please help us to live a consistent life of a growing Christian not just in words but also in our actions. Help us to speak respectfully when disagreeing. Help us not to be offended by every little thing because we do not fight against people (flesh and blood) but against principalities. Help us to be the temple everywhere we go and to everyone we see and speak to.

In your sweet Son’s name Jesus Christ,

Amen.

When the weight of words is lost...

Day of Reckoning. Day of Atonement. Day of Repentance. At one point in time in this society, those words would strike fear, would cause a person to pause, or would make a person think about their actions and choices. Revivals might have started over a weekend and would be extended for weeks because people were hungry for the Word of God. I haven’t heard or seen these things, but my parents and my grandparents have recalled these in times past.

So why do we not feel those things now?

Desensitization. Callousness towards sin. Blatant disregard for the cost of sin. Those are a few reasons I’ve come up with for where we are today.

What if we were living back under the law? What if we had to watch, hear, and smell the Day of Atonement? Would it change anything? I’ve been reading in Leviticus 16 about how Aaron would have to sacrifice a bull for his sin and the sin of his family. Then he would sacrifice a male goat. He would put some of the blood on the horns and all sides of the altar, sprinkle some to cleanse and purify and set Israel apart from its sins. When he finished purifying the most holy place, the tent of meeting and the altar, then he would present the live male goat. Aaron would place his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wrong done by the Israelites. Then the goat was released in the wilderness carrying away all their sins into a desolate place where the sin would be released. This happened one time a year.

Jesus took the place of the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat for us, thereby, fulfilling the law, and it was done once for eternity. Our sin costs a high price. Isaiah 53:6, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Our sin was laid on the head of Christ. The crown of thorns pressed into his head was our sin. The blood he shed on the cross was his sacrifice. His time in the grave was the wilderness where our sins were released, but unlike the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat under the law, our Savior overcomes. He overcame death. He overcomes the sin that was placed on Him. And He did it all for us, for you.

Words, words, words. Blah, blah, blah. Reread that last paragraph until it really sinks in. Don’t let them just be words. Your sins cost the life of an innocent man. A sinless, perfect, spotless lamb slain to cover your sins. When was the last time you felt the weight of that? When was the last time you repented and confessed your sin? Just because you call yourself a Christian doesn’t mean you’re perfect.

When was the last time you rejoiced and celebrated the liberation and freedom you have in Christ? When was the last time you shared the joy only knowing Christ can provide? When was the last time you told someone about the hope you have for the future? When was the last time you talked to someone about your home in heaven?

I’m so thankful for the blood, the cross, the victory. I’m thankful we have freedom and hope for tomorrow. I’m so thankful we are no longer under the law requiring the slaughtering of animals to cover our sins.

I want to challenge you today to talk to someone about what God has done for you. We live in a sick and dying world who needs Jesus. Who are you to withhold Him?

Soul Clutter

Soul Clutter and What To Do About It

A few weeks ago, I had a rare attack of orderliness and decided to deep clean my bedroom and organize my closet. I filled my car trunk with giveaways and stuffed three garbage bags with junk before I came to my senses. Several times, I thought to myself, “I bit off more than I can chew here,” but I kept going until every drawer and every surface was clean and neat. Boy, did it feel good!

Sometimes, our souls get cluttered. We allow our worries, insecurities and sins to pile up and make us sluggish. Everywhere we turn, we trip over our clutter, until the Spirit whispers, “Let’s clean up this mess.”

The key to clutter is to stay on top of it and not to let it pile up. One of my favorite go-to prayers comes straight from God's Word: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV).

It's a prayer we can't pray too much. The more we allow God free-rein (and free-reign) in our hearts, the more He'll keep our soul surfaces free of worries and full of peace. Free of insecurities and full of God-confidence. Free of lies and full of truth. Free of sin and full of right living.

Does your soul need some decluttering? Mine, too. Let's go to Jesus.

Lord,

 My soul is not in tip-top shape. Please forgive me for letting so much yuck pile up. This is not Your best for me. Please, declutter my soul and cover it with Your joyful fingerprints.

 "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV).

 I am worried.

Worried about the future. Worried about things that may not even happen. Worried about things I can't control. 

 I hear you, Lord, urging me to cast those cares on You like a heavy stone thrust into a deep pond (1 Peter 5:7). I hear You say to me, "Seek first [My] kingdom and [My] righteousness, and all [your needs] will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33 NIV).

 I am feeling insecure.

 I've been leaning on my own strength, my own skills, my own smarts, and, oh, how I fall short!

 I hear You, Lord, urging me to rest under the shadow of Your wing (Psalm 17:8). I hear You say to me, "Beloved, rest secure in [Me], for [I will shield you] all day long, and the one [I love] rests between [My] shoulders” (Deuteronomy 33:12 NIV).

 I am believing lies.

 You'll never change. You're not worth fighting for. Your future's bleak.

 I hear You, Lord, urging me to listen to the Voice of Truth (John 8:32). I hear You, Almighty God, say to me, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:35 NIV).

 I am cluttered up with sin.

 Pride. Unbelief. Bitterness. Jealousy. Idolatry. Ugly words and even uglier thoughts. Please forgive me as I turn from these festery, defeating things.

 I hear You, Lord, urging me to let You wash me clean (Psalm 51:7). I hear You say to me, “I [don't] condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11 NKJV).

 It's funny, Lord. The more I hear You, the less I hear the accuser's taunts. The more access I give You to my soul, the more beautiful it becomes. Keep decluttering, Lord, until every surface shines with Your likeness. 

 In the powerful, purifying name of Jesus, I pray, AMEN
 

What's cluttering your soul? Let God help you clean house.

"Goppeldy-goo" Hebrew for "Clear as Mud" Southern for "I do NOT understand"

Have you ever read a verse and thought, “Well, that’s a bunch of goppeldy-goo” or “That was clear as mud”? Both of those are Southern for the same thing. It means we didn’t understand it…at all.

When I hit those verses I really have to take my time and break it down, so I get the depth of the words, the richness of the truth, and the treasure of its meaning.

Deuteronomy 10:16 was that verse for me. It says, Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.

Part of it, I immediately associated with because God had called me stiff-necked before. After we had gone through fertility treatments and a failed private adoption, it seemed as if God was silent even though I was praying many times a day, pouring my heart out to Him. Because of what I perceived as silence and an uncaring God, I became angry and depressed. What kind of God wants me to call Him “Father” but won’t even talk to me? It was during this time, my employer moved me to Dallas for training for 3-4 months. I was without my husband, my church and my friends which made my depression go even deeper. On August 28, 2000, I called my momma at 10 PM doing the ugly, snotty-nose crying, ranting and raving like a lunatic about how I was so furious with God.

She allowed my steam to die down when she asked me, When was the last time you had your quiet time? I told her I wasn’t talking to God. She told me a quiet time was when God talks to us, and that the next morning I was to get up and read the Proverbs of the day before my feet hit the ground. Still being defiant I told her I hadn’t brought my Bible with me. This was serious because it goes everywhere I go. She assured me the good Gideons had left a Bible in the stand next to my bed, and she was right.

The next morning before my feet hit the floor, the first verse I read was Proverbs 29:1, Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.(NIV) That was God’s first words to me. Can we say two-by-four to the forehead? Yes, yes we can.

So when I read Deuteronomy 10:16, my mind immediately jumped to Proverbs 29:1, and I recognized myself in the Deuteronomy verse. Then I had to reread Deuteronomy 10:16.

The first thing I notice is there are three parts of the body identified:

1.    Foreskin – Jewish males are circumcised on the 8th day after their birth. The foreskin is removed based on the Abrahamic Covenant.

2.    Heart – The inner most organ. May refer to soul or conscience, the seat of emotions

3.    Stiff-necked – Stubborn, prideful, rebellious

The next thing I want you to pay attention to is the word circumcise. It means to cut off, to destroy, remove impurities, and purge.

So to summarize up to this point, you must purge your heart of evil, wicked, prideful ways.You are no longer to be stiff-necked stubborn people. You have to cut away things and desires of the flesh and ask for the heart of the Spirit.

Why does anyone have to do this?

You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. James 4:4

It’s that “friendship with the world” that causes us to be stiff-necked.

It’s that “friendship with the world” that causes our heart to become calloused and in need of circumcision of fleshly desires because you cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24)- Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18

Do you see? Whatever you feed flourishes and whatever you starve dies. If you feed the flesh, fleshly desires will rule your heart which results in the need for you to ask God to circumcise your heart. But if you feed the Spirit, then the Spirit thrives in your life.

And just for the record, Deuteronomy 10:16 isn’t something you can do for yourself. The only way to apply this verse in your life and to succeed is to pray Psalm 51:10 - 12, Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

God is faithful. You pray Psalm 51:10-12 in earnest and He will do whatever it takes to circumcise the fleshly desires out of your heart and return the joy into your life. It won’t be pleasant, pretty or fun, but it will so be worth it.

Did you have any idea this verse could take you to this place and convict you so, or is it just me? Conviction and redemption is what this verse has brought to me. I pray that you will take time to work through this verse. Meditate on it. Cling to it. And release those ways that are not Christ-like.

Job -- What Comes Before Restoration

Too often when Job is taught or read, people like to skip this pivotal concept of relationships and go right to the happily ever after portion of the story where God restores Job and doubles his original blessings. To what concept or truth am I referring?

FORGIVENESS.

Let’s face it, Job’s friends were horrible. They made the testing season more painful than it had to be.

·         They wrongfully judged Job.

·         They gave bad instruction and advice.

·         They put words in God’s mouth.

·         They condemned Job.

How could these words and actions not hurt Job or his relationship with them?

Job 42:10, After Job had prayed for his friends… God had confronted Job’s friends and had instructed them to take a burnt offering to Job and ask Job to pray for them. One good point for Job’s friends, they listened to God and obeyed. They had to humble themselves and go to Job and ask for prayer.

In real life, do we always hear an apology from the person who hurt us? No. But does God deal with them? Absolutely. You may never see or know, but you can trust God to work things out.

In Job’s life, his friends asked for prayer. Job had a choice. Did he have to pray for them? No. Proverbs 15:21-22, If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. If your enemy/one-time-friend asks for prayer or forgiveness, give it to them.

Forgiveness is not for their benefit. It is for yours.

If you never hear the words, “I’m sorry” or “Please forgive me,” you are still commanded to forgive. In the Lord’s prayer, we are to ask for forgiveness AFTER we have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:9). Forgiveness does not mean it was okay what the other person said or did. Forgiveness is not a sign of weakness. As a matter of fact, the greater and deeper the hurt, requires greater determination and strength in order to forgive.

You live long enough on this planet, and you will be hurt. You will be hurt by a parent, sibling, friend, coworker, spouse, and/or child. What you do with your hurt shows where you are in your walk with God. If you hold onto your hurt, anger and unforgiveness which turns into resentment and hate, then not only is your walk shallow but you cease to grow in your faith. If you learn to turn over the hurt and person who caused the hurt over to your Heavenly Father, then He can begin the healing process in your heart. There have been times I was hurt so deeply I had to turn them over to God too many times to count, but I knew I didn’t want to swallow the poison of bitterness, hate and resentment.

Let’s look at the last word of that phrase in the verse: After Job had prayed for his friends… His friends screwed up. They weren’t the best of friends, but even still Job called them friends. Forgiveness does not mean we have to continue a relationship with the one who hurt us, but if God leads you to do so, then do it. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to pray for the person who hurt you, especially when that person is close to you. Obedience to God on your part can bring restoration to broken relationships. He had done it more than once in my life. Job 42:2, I know that You can do anything, and no play of Yours can be thwarted.  There is nothing too big for God. He can help you forgive. He can show you how to forgive, and He can restore. Question is, Are you going to obey?

Let’s look at the rest of Job 41:10, After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his prosperity and doubled his previous possessions. The following verses read, All his brothers, sisters, and former acquaintances came to his house and dined with him in his house. They sympathized with him and comforted him concerning all the adversity the Lord had brought on him. The things Job craved from his friends when he was at his lowest, God provided in His timing.

God may have restored Job’s possessions, but Job would never have his children back. There was still grieving to be done, sympathy to be given, and comfort to be provided, and Job’s brothers, sisters, and others came to do just that. God did give Job more children, but it didn’t happen overnight. Restoration takes time. Healing takes times.

If you are going through a testing season, know God has not abandoned you. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Isaiah 42:16). But also remember restoration first requires you to forgive.

Job -- What comes BEFORE restoration?

Too often when Job is taught or read, people like to skip this pivotal concept of relationships and go right to the happily ever after portion of the story where God restores Job and doubles his original blessings. To what concept or truth am I referring?

FORGIVENESS.

Let’s face it, Job’s friends were horrible. They made the testing season more painful than it had to be.

·         They wrongfully judged Job.

·         They gave bad instruction and advice.

·         They put words in God’s mouth.

·         They condemned Job.

How could these words and actions not hurt Job or his relationship with them?

Job 42:10, After Job had prayed for his friends… God had confronted Job’s friends and had instructed them to take a burnt offering to Job and ask Job to pray for them. One good point for Job’s friends, they listened to God and obeyed. They had to humble themselves and go to Job and ask for prayer.

In real life, do we always hear an apology from the person who hurt us? No. But does God deal with them? Absolutely. You may never see or know, but you can trust God to work things out.

In Job’s life, his friends asked for prayer. Job had a choice. Did he have to pray for them? No. Proverbs 15:21-22, If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. If your enemy/one-time-friend asks for prayer or forgiveness, give it to them.

Forgiveness is not for their benefit. It is for yours.

If you never hear the words, “I’m sorry” or “Please forgive me,” you are still commanded to forgive. In the Lord’s prayer, we are to ask for forgiveness AFTER we have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:9). Forgiveness does not mean it was okay what the other person said or did. Forgiveness is not a sign of weakness. As a matter of fact, the greater and deeper the hurt, requires greater determination and strength in order to forgive.

You live long enough on this planet, and you will be hurt. You will be hurt by a parent, sibling, friend, coworker, spouse, and/or child. What you do with your hurt shows where you are in your walk with God. If you hold onto your hurt, anger and unforgiveness which turns into resentment and hate, then not only is your walk shallow but you cease to grow in your faith. If you learn to turn over the hurt and person who caused the hurt over to your Heavenly Father, then He can begin the healing process in your heart. There have been times I was hurt so deeply I had to turn them over to God too many times to count, but I knew I didn’t want to swallow the poison of bitterness, hate and resentment.

Let’s look at the last word of that phrase in the verse: After Job had prayed for his friends… His friends screwed up. They weren’t the best of friends, but even still Job called them friends. Forgiveness does not mean we have to continue a relationship with the one who hurt us, but if God leads you to do so, then do it. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to pray for the person who hurt you, especially when that person is close to you. Obedience to God on your part can bring restoration to broken relationships. He had done it more than once in my life. Job 42:2, I know that You can do anything, and no play of Yours can be thwarted.  There is nothing too big for God. He can help you forgive. He can show you how to forgive, and He can restore. Question is, Are you going to obey?

Let’s look at the rest of Job 41:10, After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his prosperity and doubled his previous possessions. The following verses read, All his brothers, sisters, and former acquaintances came to his house and dined with him in his house. They sympathized with him and comforted him concerning all the adversity the Lord had brought on him. The things Job craved from his friends when he was at his lowest, God provided in His timing.

God may have restored Job’s possessions, but Job would never have his children back. There was still grieving to be done, sympathy to be given, and comfort to be provided, and Job’s brothers, sisters, and others came to do just that. God did give Job more children, but it didn’t happen overnight. Restoration takes time. Healing takes times.

If you are going through a testing season, know God has not abandoned you. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Isaiah 42:16). But also remember restoration first requires you to forgive.

Job -- With friends like these, who needs enemies?

As I write these blogs, speak or teach, I am very transparent and vulnerable, but believe it or not there are times when God deals with me for my own good solely. There are things between myself and God I don’t reveal, and if I do it’s at His direction.  One time God was leading me and dealing with me privately, when a girlfriend of mine caught a glimpse or saw one aspect of what was going on in my life.

After just seeing one small piece of my life, she began telling me how the cow ate the cabbage. If you don’t speak southern, it means she began telling me how I needed to be doing things. Truth is what she said made perfect sense to her, but she had no clue what was going on behind the scenes. She had no clue what God had been revealing to me which was in total contradiction to the words coming out of her mouth.

She wasn’t speaking God’s truth over me or to me. She was speaking her truth. She never even asked questions to dig below the surface. She just started banging me over the head with her truth.

With friends like these, who needs enemies? Have you ever heard that said? That’s what I felt like, and I’m wondering if that is what Job felt like with his three friends.

There are several things I want us to see regarding Job’s friends. I want you to review how you conduct yourself with those around you – family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances.

First off, these three men started off on a good foot. They came and sat with Job for seven days and nights. When they saw Job and the condition he was, they wept for him, tore their robes and grieved with Job. Their initial intent was to sympathize and comfort him.

If those friends did nothing else but sit with him in silence, this would have been more than enough. Sometimes the only thing required or needed from us is our presence. People don’t need our words of wisdom or platitudes. They need to know we are with them and that they are not forgotten.

These friends most likely found Job living at the dump. This is where piles of ash was kept. He had become destitute, and his friends went to where he was at the lowest point in his life. That’s what good friends do. No matter how low you are, they know where you are. They are with you. They may not provide a hand out, money, food, clothing or shelter, but they are with you wherever you find yourself.

Unfortunately for Job, this is where the strength of the friendship ends. You see, these friends felt they had a right to speak to Job, to judge Job, to correct Job, and they didn’t have the first clue of the truth. Each friend has their moment to speak their mind. One even goes as far as to say he was speaking on God’s behalf. What he said was platitudes. What he said was not of God. In Job’s eyes, Job saw how little his friends really thought of him.

After Eliphaz’s speech, Job says in Job 16:2, I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters. When you are speaking with or dealing with a loved one, what is your job? Are you judge? Are you called to correct – and sometimes we are. Sometimes we are called according to 2 Timothy 3:16, All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, to rebuke and correct with Scripture. If you notice when reading through Job, these men didn’t use Scripture.

Job, however, didn’t need correction or rebuking. He was a righteous man. What Job needed was comfort. How often have you spewed words of condemnation, judgment, correction when really your words should have been a balm for their soul? Job 16:5, Job tells his friends what he would do if he was in their shoes, Instead, I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation from my lips would bring relief.

Girlfriends, before you speak in reproof, rebuke, or correction, before you speak at all, I pray you are spending a lot of time in the lap of our heavenly Father. I pray the words you speak will be only the ones God gives you. Proverbs 10:19, When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.  If you say more than the words God gives, you are sinning. If you speak words God doesn’t give, you assist Satan during the testing season of a righteous person. If you speak words God doesn’t give, you may end up having to eat those words.

In Job 42, God speaks to Job’s so-called three friends. He tells Eliphaz, I am angry with you and your two friends for you have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has. God is so angry he repeats himself – Job 42:7 and 8. I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want is God angry with me and repeating Himself.

These three know-it-alls were instructed to offer a burnt offering for themselves in Job’s presence, and when Job prays for them, God will accept Job’s prayer. Talk about humbling. If you find that you spoke out of turn, without God’s leadership, without God’s word, then you need to make it right. You must go and ask for forgiveness. Matthew 5:23-24, Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. This verse is not a suggestion. It’s a command.

Girlfriends, what kind of friend are you when testing occurs in the lives of others? Let your words be few.

Job - If You Have the Gift of Gab...

.....STOP TALKING AND LISTEN!

What would you consider to be the toughest experience of your life?

What did people say to you that either helped or hurt?

Job had some well-intentioned friends. Unfortunately, they relied on clichés and religious rhetoric to attempt to “help” Job. Despite their best intentions, they really botched things. They said things to him like “You are self-righteous. You know God punishes the wicked. You must have sinned, and now God is punishing you. Repent so that He will lighten up on you.” (My paraphrase). One friend REALLY crossed the line and blamed Job’s deceased children, “You know your children were sinners- bad people - and that’s why all of this happened to you.” (my paraphrase) Job was one self-controlled, righteous man not to have assaulted them at that point!

One friend told him something I have actually heard people say to those who are suffering: “If only you would pray harder and have more faith, God would take it away” or “If you would have had more faith, God would not have allowed it to happen to you in the first place.” Sometimes we just cannot help ourselves from sharing our so-called wisdom, can we?

Friend Eliphaz said something to the effect of, “I know we shouldn’t be talking to you when you are exhausted and so overwhelmed, but I really can’t help myself. I have to give you my opinion.” Girlfriends, I am going to say this firmly in love, so sit down and remember these four words: STOP TALKING AND LISTEN! No matter how much you think you know or how much wisdom you feel you have to share in the moment, DON’T! My favorite quote from Job to his friends on this subject is found in Job 13:5 “If only you would shut up and let that be your wisdom!” People do not need to hear what we have to say. They need for us just to listen and support them. They need to be able to bare their souls and share their burdens and their hurts.

Can you think of a time when you were going through something so difficult and just needed a listening ear, but what you got was a lot of unsolicited advice, so-called “wisdom,” and maybe even criticism? How did that make you feel? How much better would you have felt, if that person would have just been quiet and listened? When is the last time that you sat and listened to a girlfriend’s heart and her pain and did not offer any advice or unsolicited guidance?

Discipline yourself through prayer to just listen. It is hard at times but, oh, so worth it! After you have listened to your girlfriend’s heart, keep checking on her. Do not just let her pass out of your mind. Job’s friends and relatives stopped coming by just like people stop checking on others today (Job 19:13-16). Let her know you are there and then check on her. Pray with her. Love her. If you are the sister who is hurting, let others do this for you.

In the face of such adversity, how is it that we are supposed to respond? We trust God, but we are humans. These God-given emotions that we feel are real. So, how do we balance all of this out? First of all, seek the support of someone you trust – a loved one, a minister or maybe a professional counselor. Do not go through this alone. Know that it is ok to feel anxiety, grief, anger, depression and other emotions at times, and I really believe that God is big enough to be able to take our anger toward Him when we feel hurt. It’s just not good to camp out there with these emotions not doing anything to work through them.

I am amazed at Job’s responses to times of trial. In Job 2:3, God said of Job, “He still retains his integrity.” Just a few verses down, the Bible says, “Throughout all of this Job did not sin in what he said.” I pray God can say that about my response to trials!  Job later told his hurting wife, “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” (Job 2:10). However, he was a normal human and also responded in ways that we sometimes respond. He asked God, “Why?” He felt hopeless. He wondered if he was being punished. He felt despair. He felt God was being unfair toward him. He lost his sense of self-worth (Job 10:15). However, he also exclaimed that he still had faith because “I know my living Redeemer, and He will stand on the dust at last.”

It is so important that we maintain our open communication with our Redeemer. He loves and cares for us and hurts for us when we are hurting. In our limited knowledge and perspective, it is important that we trust God who has infinite wisdom, power and knowledge. We need to humble ourselves, repent of any known sin and humbly trust God and His sufficiency so that He will get all of the glory!

Note: If you are experiencing severe depression or anxiety, please speak with a licensed mental health professional for help. If you have suicidal thoughts or feelings, please talk to someone you trust and call 911 or go the nearest emergency room. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.

Job - Depression Documented

Christianity and mental health issues tend to be two topics that we do not often hear mentioned in the same conversation. Many of us just do not seem to know what to do with this apparent paradox and how to reconcile the two. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 16 million adults in America suffer from depression, at least 18% of Americans report experiencing ongoing anxiety (this is estimated to be as high as 30% because many do not report), and an estimated 5 million are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a given year.  Most everyone will experience significant grief at some point in his/her lives. John 16:33 says, “…You will have suffering in this world…” Given this guarantee of some measure of suffering in this life, I think it is time that we broach this subject of Christianity and mental health and shed some light on it to give us all a bit of clarity. There is no better example of this in the Bible than the righteous man, Job.

First of all, it is important to acknowledge that suffering comes to everyone, the righteous and the unrighteous alike. As is obvious in the story of Job, God does not keep Christians from danger and suffering. Matthew 5:45 tells us, “…For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” There are those who preach the “health and wealth” gospel, but this is a blatant lie. The first verse of the book of Job reports that “he was a man of perfect integrity who feared God and turned away from evil.”  This does not mean, of course, that Job was perfect. Only Jesus was perfect. It simply means that Job had a consistent spiritual relationship with God. If bad things happened to a man about whom this was said (and has an entire book of the Bible solely about his life!), why would we presume that we will live a life free of trouble?

We all respond differently to difficulty in our lives: anxiety, depression, grief, anger, and the list goes on. Job experienced all of these emotions, as well. After his children all died in a terrible wind storm, all of his sheep and servants burned up in a freak lightning storm, Job 1:20 describes his grief: “Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head.” These were all symbols of deep grief at the time. In Job 3:20, Job laments, “Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter?” Job was suffering that kind of grief that hurts to the bone. It was the type of grief that you can physically feel in your heart and in your bones. “…his suffering was very intense.” (Job 2:13) The worst possible things that he could possibly have imagined happened – all in one day!!! He expressed the understandable emotion of anxiety. He said “I cannot relax or be still; I have no rest, for trouble comes.” (Job 3:26).

He became depressed. Who would not feel depressed at this point? He was scared and felt that God was being harsh and had abandoned him. He said rash things and later admitted that his utter devastation and grief led him to say things he did not mean. I have been guilty of thinking of Biblical characters as being somehow above the rest of us, maybe not quite like normal, modern-day people. This man was depressed! His world as he knew it had been turned upside down, his plans for his life were ruined, and his wife told him to just curse God and die (Job 1:9). Let’s not be too hard on Mrs. Job, though – she had also just lost all of their children and their wealth all in one afternoon. People say and do rash things when they are upset. Then…THEN…his friends come in with all of their self-righteous “wisdom” and make matters worse.

His friends really did have good intentions. Job 1:11 states that, “They met together to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.” They felt compassion and sympathy for him and wept out loud, tearing their robes and throwing dust on themselves. They loved him so much and were so moved by his suffering that they could not help but grieve for him. Do you have friends like that? Are you a friend like that? If not, you should be.

We are not meant to hold things in and go through life alone. We are not meant to plaster on our fake, Sunday morning, Christian smile and pretend everything is OK when, really, we are falling apart. Sisters, we are all SO guilty of holding it all in and not leaning on those who love us. We say we feel like we are “everyone’s rock and do not want burden others.” I call “hogwash” on this. If I had a dollar for every time I heard that in my counseling office, I’d be a wealthy woman! Those who are strong know how to lean on those who care about them Even Jesus leaned on His disciples when He was exhausted and grieving. When we choose to allow others to help us bear our burdens, we find that the burden is much easier to carry!

Job -- This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test.

This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. If this had been an actual emergency…

Do you remember this? Every so often there would be this high-pitched tone come across the television invariably during my favorite program to warn everyone the siren they just heard was just a test. There was no cause for alarm because there was no emergency. Had there been an actual emergency there would have been some kind of instruction come across the screen.

In Job 1 and 2, we see Satan gives Job 2 tests, but personally, if I was Job, I’d call them emergencies.

Satan’s plan of attack:

·         Recognizant:

o   He observes, watches and takes a similar form as his victim. – “From roaming through the earth,” Satan answered Him, “and walking around on it.” Job 1:7, 2:2

o   He takes note of what God has done for his victim.  Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? Job 1:10

o   He notices God’s protection.

·         Presents his case:

o   Satan goes before the Lord two times. When the first plan of attack did not get the desired results, he tried again.

§  Attack 1 – take away God’s blessings

§  Attack 2 – take away Job’s health

§  Residual effect of Satan’s work – a defeated wife and pompous, self-righteous friends thinking they speak for God

o   Satan stays within the parameters God has place but isn’t satisfied with Job’s reaction and choices. Satan wants his glory.

o   Satan presents psychology to God – Skin for skin. A man will give up everything he owns in exchange for his life. Job 2:4

·         Outcome:

o   Job did not sin. Job 1:22, 2:10: GOD – 1,  Satan – 0

o   Job became destitute losing all of his children, servants, blessings, home, but he didn’t lose his faith. GOD – 2, Satan – 0

o   Job suffers excruciating pain and physical illness but does not sin.  GOD – 3, Satan – 0

o   Job’s wife is defeated, and his “friends” bring additional hurt, but Job spoke truth about God.  GOD – 4, Satan – 0

o   God reveals Himself to Job. Job – 1, Satan – 0

o   Job’s relationship with God becomes deeper and richer as a result. Job –2, Satan – 0

o   Job’s friends had to apologize and provide a burnt offering to Job and request Job pray on their behalf.  Job – 3, Satan – 0

o   God restores Job and doubles his original blessing.  Job – 4, God – 5, Satan – 0

Not that any one’s life is a game, but I wanted to show you who is defeated. It’s not the one who is tested. It’s not the One who allows the test. It’s the one testing.

If you are being sifted like wheat by Satan right now, know this. He is going to lose. If you don’t believe so, read Revelations.

So if you feel as if your life resembled the commercial for the Emergency Broadcast System, know these two things:

·         If you are being tested, know it is not the end. This was a season in Job’s life. It didn’t last forever.

·         If you are enduring an emergency, you have a place to find instructions – the Word of God.

Job -- Begin with the end in mind

There are things in Job you don’t find in any other book of the Bible. A few of those things are a look into heavenly protocol, a conversation between God and Satan, Satan’s plan of attack, Satan’s attack, and God’s relationship with Satan.

Job 1:6, One day the sons of God (angelic beings) came to present themselves before the Lord. In heaven there is a time when the angels account to God. They have a relationship with Him and present themselves to Him. …and Satan also came with them. Even though Satan had been kicked out of heaven, he still had access to God. He had access to God when the other angelic beings presented themselves to God. Do you see how important that is? God did not go to Satan. Satan wanted an audience with God, and Satan had to wait until the angels met with God first.

I bet that was awkward standing in line waiting with the angels he once communed and served with just to have a word with God. I can see it in my mind Satan standing at the back of the line having to wait his turn while the other angels get to have some face-to-face time with their Creator. I wonder if the angels were keeping an eye on Satan.

I also think it’s weird that God would allow Satan to step foot back into His presence again. Am I the only one?

The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?” God knew where Satan had been. This statement appears to be more along the lines of, “You were not invited. What are you doing here?”

Satan’s answer should make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. From roaming through the earth…and walking around on it. 1 Peter 5:8 says, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Satan tells us. Peter tells us. Satan is roaming this earth. He’s walking around on two legs among us.

God’s response causes many of us heartburn. Have you considered My servant Job? I don’t know about you but there are times in life when I like to fly under the radar, and this would have been one of those times I would have preferred to lay low. But God chose to raise Job up. 2 Corinthians 2:14, But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

God was proud of Job. He loved Job. God claimed Job as My servant. Job was God’s delight. He bragged on Job as a father brags on his son. But still, if God puts His prized servant before Satan, what does He hold in store for me? Isn’t that what you’re thinking?

And of course Satan knew Job. Revelations 12:10 calls Satan the accuser of the brethren, and he lives up to that description. He tells God Job fears for nothing because God protects him. He’s insinuating if God removed His protection and Job was forced to deal with the harshness of life and what Satan can dish out that Job would give up on God. Satan wants God to do the dirty work. Job 1:11, But stretch out Your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to Your face.

God didn’t strike Job. Satan wasn’t in control. God gives Satan parameters in which he can test Job.

So Satan strikes Job. Satan repeatedly attacks until he has taken everything Job had. Rapid firing – 1 messenger escapes the Sabeans to tell Job they took the oxen and donkeys and killed the servants, 1 messenger escapes a lightning storm that kills the sheep and more servants, 1 more messenger escapes the Chaldeans who raided the camels and killed servants, and the final servant escaped a powerful wind storm that collapsed the home and killed all of Job’s children and remaining servants. He gets these messages one right after the other, right after the other, right after the other. No time to breathe. No time to think. No time to let the loss sink in before the next one hits. And this is just the first test.

What was Job’s response? He grieved – tore his robe and shaved his head. He worshiped – He fell to the ground and worshiped. He acknowledged he came into this world with nothing and would leave with nothing. And he acknowledged God was the one who gives and takes away.  Praise the name of Yahweh. To be able to worship and praise God when everything falls apart is without a doubt perfect integrity.

Job 1:22, Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything. WOW! I just don’t know that this could be said of me if I were in Job’s shoes.

Do you see how this book is different from the others found in the Bible? Do you see how valuable it is? We may not always understand God’s reasoning, but we need to work on our integrity and trust His heart.

 Some think the theme of Job is suffering when according to James 5:11 the themes are endurance and the end intended by the Lord. So keep reading and studying. Endure through the book of Job and let’s discover what the end was the Lord intended.

Hitting a Roadblock Doesn't Mean Your Journey Is Over

A woman from my Sunday school class died this week. I’ve never met her in person, as she’s been homebound with cancer for longer than I’ve been in the class, but I feel like I know her from all the prayers I’ve prayed. I don’t feel sad for her. She’s free of cancer and all the other cares of this world, but, oh, how I ache for her loved ones. This loss will turn their lives upside down for a long time.

Now that I think of it, the cancer battle already did that.

That reminds me of a friend and her brave teen aged daughter. I can’t begin to imagine how hard it is to watch a child fight cancer. Mommas want to fix all that ails our babies, yet all the mom can do is pray like crazy and take it one day at a time. One day, they were dealing with typical teen stuff, and the next, they were fighting for the daughter’s life.

Life has a way of throwing us curveballs.

Illness, loss, divorce, unemployment, prodigal children…our lives can just turn plain hard in an instant.

Hard circumstances cause us to take a hard look at where we are and where we’re going. We grieve what could have been and sit baffled asking God what’s next. Hard times steal future memories and taint the ones already lived. It’s natural to grief our losses. It’s not selfish to take some time to weep against God’s loving chest.

But when the sobs subside, God is there to position our feet back on His path. Just because we hit a roadblock doesn’t mean our journey’s over. God will forge a new route for the same destination.

It's like finding an alternate route when the one you're on has a "road closed" sign. You don't throw the whole trip out the window because of one road closure. You reroute and get back moving toward the destination. When a reroute is required, it’s a smart move to make a pit stop and gather your bearings.

Prayer is the perfect way to allow our Navigator to punch in our new coordinates and fill our tank with fresh fuel.

Here’s a prayer to help you get started if you find yourself needing a reroute.

Lord,

I don't know where to go from here. I thought my future was set, and now everything feels so up-in-the-air. But, I know my feelings aren't fact. I know nothing catches You by surprise. I know You've got me, Lord. I trust You even when I can't see the next step in front of me.

Though my path is changing, "Your word is [still] a lamp for my feet, [and] a light on my path" (Psalm 119:105 NIV).

"Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long" (Psalm 25:4-5 NIV).

Bring me out of this "in the dark" season and into a new dawn. "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life" (Psalm 143:8 NIV).

To You, I entrust my life.

To You, I entrust my life.

To You, I entrust my life.

Right this moment, I make a conscious decision to trust You completely. I will not buy in to my up-and-down emotions. I will submit this moment and the ones after it to You trusting You to make my path straight and true and honest (Proverbs 3:5-6).

"Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" (Psalm 16:5-11 NIV).

I choose to follow You, Lord, wherever You lead me.

In the name of Jesus I pray, AMEN

Job - Counting blessings

Blessings. What do blessings look like? Where do they come from? Who guards them? Have you ever thought about blessings? I don’t know that I really ever have until I listed Job’s blessings.

·         10 grown children – 7 sons, 3 daughters.

I remember studying genetics in college, and I remember being amazed that any child could be born without major defects because even if the slightest gene was altered there were ramifications. If the mother became ill, some diseases could be passed to an unborn baby. And Job and his wife had 10 kids! From someone who couldn’t get pregnant with one, I am at awe when a baby is born. And Job had 10 miracles walking around on two legs, and probably each one had their own personality, their own strengths and weaknesses, and their own gifts.

·         Then these 10 children had their own homes. None of them were living with Job and his wife. His kids were standing on their own two feet and handling their own business. Can I get an AMEN? That’s my goal for my two miracles.

·         Not only did he allow his children to live through puberty, but his children actually LIKED each other. They would have banquets at each other’s homes. There was harmony among them. That is no small miracle! If we were to stop right here, would you agree Job was very blessed? I would. But we can’t stop here because there’s more.

·         Job owned 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. Keep in mind he didn’t win the lottery. His kids are grown which means Job is a mature man. He’s worked for these things. He invested wisely and bought wisely. He employed wisely.

·         He had a large number of servants. He employed wisely, and I bet he had a good reputation as a boss otherwise it would be difficult to maintain good servants who cared about doing a good job making sure the flocks were safe and well-fed.

·         God had a hedge of protection around him, his household, and everything he owned. As my daughter would say, mic drop.

If you notice, the blessings listed in Job 1 come AFTER a description of Job’s character. I don’t think that is by accident. Job was looking to up to Yahweh. Job was a righteous man. Job feared God, and God blessed Job. Praisin’ goin’ up. Blessings comin’ down.

When you look at the people and things in your life through the filter of each being a miracle it can help to change what you thought of as a curse into a challenge. A challenge can be overcome. Psalm 18:29, For by You I can run through a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. It would definitely be a challenge for me to get over a wall of any height. There are hurdles in life that are challenges not curses. If you start looking for the miracle, for the blessings, be sure to show your gratitude to God. Tell Him so because we know every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:17).