Letting God Be Enough

 

My pastor has been preaching some sermons lately from the book of Job. They haven't been verse by verse, line by line expository messages. I think that is a good thing and personally believe that solely expository preaching is over-rated! They have been messages more on thoughts and topics found in the book of Job. Yesterday's sermons and especially the evening message helped me in many ways. 

I have been struggling for months and possibly even years mentally and now I know spiritually with what I believe or what I thought I believed about God and His attributes and what His Word says and how it is applicable to my life. This is forcing me to read and study and work on my walk with the Lord. I am still currently working through some of those things but yesterday's messages helped me in some important ways. 

I have never, as far as I know, struggled with the concept that God is Sovereign. I have long beat the drum and insisted that God created the game of life and that He makes the rules. He is owner, manager, coach and even referee! It's His ball game! 

I have for many years also believed and shouted that God can do anything except lie or be unjust. This means ANYTHING! He can work miracles and often does. NOTHING is out of His capability. However, just because God can, doesn't mean He will. The Bible says that He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. Exodus 33:19, Romans 9:15 and Romans 9:18. I fully believe that my God is big enough to do anything and handle anything in my life. 

What I realized last night was that I have struggled with Him being enough for me. Pastor posed the questions, "Is God enough if He takes everything from you? If He takes your health, wealth, spouse, parents or children, is God enough? If friends and family are not supportive or turn their backs on you, is God still enough? Is He enough to sustain you? Is He enough to cling to and keep going?" At that moment I felt God tugging at my heart and whispering in my mind, "Tammy, am I enough?" It was a scary question for me. If I answered, "Yes. You are enough, God", would He test me to see if I meant it? Would He begin taking more from me and my life than He already had? I quickly realized that God HAD to be enough. I must resolve in my heart and mind that yes, He is enough! I cannot hold so tightly to my loved ones that I put them above God in my heart. I think everyone struggles with that at times because our loved ones are right here and can be seen and touched in person. To me that is just understandable whether right or wrong, it is just easy to have happen.

Here is a bit of back story about me...

I grew up believing that I was plain and ordinary and without many talents. I was someone who was not too impressive. I believed I was not important except to my parents and grandparents and that I didn't matter much in this world. This carried over into adulthood. As a young adult I even struggled with suicidal thoughts and believing that everyone would be better off if I were gone from this world and that it would not even matter that I was ever here. God in His mercy and grace and in a very personal way helped me through all that. 

Because of these wrong beliefs I sought my worth, even until very recently, in doing for others. I believed if I just did enough to help others and made them feel special that it would prove that I had a right to exist. Unconsciously, I also sought praise and accolades in my talent of cooking, in my creative ability for event planning and in Bible teaching to other women. I also sought that in my writing both in my blog and in my books. I just kept searching for those praises to make me feel worthy of my very life. 

When you hold on tightly to finding your worth in doing for others and in praises of men (even if it's family and friends) instead of KNOWING your worth is in Christ who loved you enough to be tortured and die for your soul, then your heart is often doomed to ache. I know much about this because I have been struggling with deep hurt for months. I have longed for support and praise from people rather than resting in the knowing that God loves me and I DO matter and I am important. He has a purpose for me and I must rest and find peace in Him alone. 

Frankly, I have been having a months long pity party and someone helped me to see it. They helped me realize that I may not be as talented as I think in some areas and that was a hard pill to swallow. They also helped me see that I wasn't seeing the support that I was being given just because I was too focused on the non support of a few. They were right even if those realizations were painful to accept. The sermon last night spoke to me when feeling abandoned and or unsupported was mentioned because I had felt that way for a year or more and was allowing myself to dwell on it. The sermon helped me realize that God's love and care should be enough because He is trustworthy. My new outlook is that God must be enough for me. 

This is not meant to be a passive aggressive blog post in order to have people praise me. It is just a sharing of my heart about realizations and things that God spoke to me about through sermons and someone close to me being brave enough to hurt me. Maybe someone reading this will relate to what I have been going through and be helped. As I have said over and over, my blog is my therapy and is much cheaper than paying for it! It only costs possible critical comments. 

Book Review - Just Open the Door

 

I promised some people I would give a review of this book by Jen Schmidt when I finished. First of all, I am not being paid for my review. The author doesn't know I am doing this. 

I really enjoyed the read! For years I have struggled with the thought and feeling that there HAD to be more to ministry than what happens in and around the church. After all, ministry at the core is about serving people. While that may include cleaning at the church or working in the nursery, it more appropriately should be about reaching out to others and mentoring them. It's about showing people the love, compassion, mercy and grace of Jesus. 

The premise of the book is to use hospitality as a way to reach out and mentor people. It drives home the point of simplicity and spontaneity. Don't wait for a perfect home or the perfect moment to invite others over. It doesn't have to be a grand affair that causes great stress. It reminds us to step out of the comfort zone and open the door even to someone new to us or different than us. 

It also pushes you to look deep at your motives when you want to have guests over and make it a big and perfect production. Is it pride? Is it wanting praise from others for your production? Or is it to genuinely reach others and show them love, care and compassion? I was convicted several times as I read! 

I confess that I wasn't always a submissive wife when we were in full time ministry. My husband would have liked to have people over every weekend or Sunday. I resisted this idea. Not, that we never had people over but I just had a hard time with doing it on a regular and constant basis. I felt like we gave so much of ourselves all week with the physical prep for church services and the visiting of members and potential members that I wanted our home to be a refuge and a place to shut out the world and allow us to veg out for awhile. (we were in a small church with little help with the day to day) I also felt exhausted and like I just wasn't up for the prep work on my house for company (I admit I am not the greatest housekeeper) or the cooking involved in extra mouths to feed. I love to cook but just felt overwhelmed by the idea of it all. 

This book helped me see it can be simple and that all people really want is an inviting, cozy, fun and comfortable atmosphere where they can engage in conversation and get to know one another better. Most people won't care if there are imperfections in the carpet or furniture or even a bit of dirt around. What they WILL care about is that you cared enough to invite them over and engaged in their life.

Jen Schmidt loads this book with personal stories that inspire your creative juices and practical ideas to help you get started opening the door both at home and even on the go. I have already been inspired and am looking forward to putting into practice the things she talked about and the ideas she has sparked within me. 

I highly recommend this book for inspiration and ideas to take on a new perspective in ministering to others. My husband got the book for me for Christmas. He ordered it on Christianbook.com. I hope you will get your own copy and get inspired! 

When All You Have is Prayer

Sometimes we tell people that all we have to offer them is prayer. We may not be able to help them financially or physically due to our own hindrances. Maybe we are too frail or weak or financially strapped ourselves to be of much help. When all we can do is offer prayer we shouldn't feel helpless or hopeless. Prayer is the most powerful arsenal we can use or give. We are never helpless or hopeless when we have prayer. We have bold access to the throne of grace to seek help in time of need. (see Hebrews 4:16)

We can call upon God on the behalf of others. We can call upon Him for our own needs no matter the situation. Big or small nothing is beyond God's capabilities. 

In the Bible Moses was leading the people in the desert and when the water they came upon was bitter the people became angry. Moses cried unto the LORD and God told him what to do to fix the problem. Exodus 15:24-25

In the first chapter of 1 Samuel Hannah prayed and wept to the LORD because she wanted a son. God granted her a son and she named him Samuel. 

Further along in 1 Samuel 7:8-10 the Israelites asked that son, Samuel, to not cease to pray for them to be saved from the Philistines. God granted Samuel's request and by sending great thunder that discomfited the Philistines so that they lost the battle to Israel. 

Jehoshaphat king of Judah was encompassed by the army of Syria and he cried unto God. God helped him by moving the army to depart from him. 2 Chronicles 18:31.

In Isaiah chapter 38 we read the story of Hezekiah. He was sick and God had sent Isaiah the prophet to tell him to get his house in order because he was going to die. Hezekiah turned toward the wall on his bed and prayed and cried and reminded God of his serving and following Him. God tells Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that he has heard his prayer and seen his tears and that He will add 15 years to his life. Isn't that awesome?! I've heard preachers say that our prayers are not to move God but I disagree. There are countless examples in the Bible that show that prayers have even changed God's mind. 

Zacharias was in the temple doing his service when an angel comes to tell him that his prayer has been heard. His wife, Elisabeth will have a son and he will call him John. Luke 1:8-13

When Peter got out of the boat and walked on water towards Jesus, he lost his focus. He concentrated on the weather and waves of the sea instead of on the Lord. As he began to sink, he cried out "Lord save me" and Jesus immediately reached out and did. When he didn't know what else to do and was desperate, all he had was crying out to the Lord. It was enough! 

Like the graphic at the top of the page, prayer is the very best thing you can offer someone. So when you tell someone you will pray for them, say it boldly and confidently. Remember it very well may be what causes the exact help they need as God responds.

The Seasons of Life

No matter how you slice it, life is ever changing. There are different seasons and with them blessings and trials go hand in hand. Though each season may have different blessings and trials...they still have both. 

Remember when you were a child and life was simple and had little responsibility? In this season of life (though some children endure much heartache and grief), in general, kids have most necessities given to them and life consists of having fun and doing some school work with no thought of keeping the electric on, figuring out their next meal or taking care of a home. The trials may consist of trying to make friends and fit in. Trying to figure out who you are and your place in the world is often difficult at a young age. Many adults still struggle. 

Another season of life is entering into marriage. Many blessings come with this stage. Beginning sharing a home and all the newness of the union. Learning all about one another -- up close and personal! Of course this can also be one of the trials! lol Learning the art of compromise and caring for someone else. Trials are different for each couple but mostly it is the learning to deal with one another on a daily basis with all the imperfections that you didn't realize were there before you said "I do". 

Next season for most couples is parenthood. So many blessings of joy and fun come with that new baby and each new baby following. The trials are the tiredness, the daily ins and outs of raising the child and the concern that never fully goes away even when they grow up and move out. 

The next season is empty nest. Believe it or not there are blessings in this season, too! We had kids young so that we could have them out of the house while we were still young enough to enjoy one another. Bob and I are currently in this season. We have been for some time now. Actually, I reckon we are moved into the next season beyond. We don't have to be careful of how we wander around the house because no little eyes are watching. We have more time for one another and having only us two in the home means less money spent on food, less laundry, etc. The trials are that you miss your children and grandchildren terribly. -- especially if you don't live close to them. Sometimes the house is too quiet. 

Empty nest season also coincides with getting older. Blessings in this season are that you have hopefully learned what's important in life, the art of patience, how to better manage your money and appreciation for friends and family. Trials are all the aches and pains and the health issues that come from an aging body and mind. 

I recently went with the ladies of our church to a retreat and one of the speakers talked about the seasons of our lives (only she referred to them as quarters for her lesson purpose). She is the one who sparked the idea for this post. She recommended a book called Live Lighter Love Better by Cary Schmidt. I ordered it on Ebay and am in the middle of it right now. The retreat and the messages came at an opportune time for me. I have been feeling unsettled, overwhelmed and not at peace lately and wanting to simplify my life. I hope to apply the lessons from the retreat and from the book to become the person I want to be. I'm sure the book will inspire future posts. 

One thing that was mentioned at the retreat is to learn to embrace both the blessings and the trials of each season. The trials are God's way of molding, training and strengthening us. Don't fight against them, embrace them and realize that blessings will come from them in the end. 

Learning From Job's Friends

I want to look at some things we can learn from Job's friends. They take kind of a bad rap. Preachers speak harshly of them (except mine!). 

First of all, it tells us in Job 2:11 that his three friends heard of all the evil that had come upon Job and they came together to mourn with him and to comfort him. This is EXACTLY what we should do. The Bible tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with them that weep. Romans 12:15 

Secondly, in Job 2:13 we see that the friends sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights AND SPOKE NOT A WORD for they saw his grief was great. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just be there. Don't offer advice or recommendations or solutions. We as humans just need to feel as though someone is near. We just need their presence. Maybe a hug is the cure for the moment.  Whatever the case, just the NOT being alone often helps. 

Later, in verse 3 we see that Job was allowed to vent, to talk and let it out of his system. The friends at this point just listened! Many times, a person will feel better (even if problem isn't fixed) if allowed to just say whatever they are feeling. Do not interrupt them and try to offer advice. Let them speak until they are done. Even when they are done we must tread lightly because they still may not be ready or willing to heed correction, admonition or solutions unsolicited. Even if they ask for an opinion, they may not be ready to hear it. 

Thirdly, the friends, when given the chance to speak, take turns trying to reason with Job. They remind him of God's justness and perfection and ask him to judge in himself if he has brought on judgment from God. Now this is why they are criticized by preachers but in reality, it is pretty Biblical. We are to warn sinners of their ways. We are to reprove and rebuke and steer people towards right and Godly thinking. 

When I am counseling with someone who is going through struggle after struggle and they can't understand why, I tell them that everything we go through is for our good or for His glory. I tell them to self check and make sure they have not fallen into sin that they have ignored. I tell them that if they pray and ask God to reveal to them what needs confessed and God doesn't bring to mind something then they should realize that God may just be using the trial to strengthen them or maybe God just wasn't afraid to let Satan loose on them (like in the case of Job) because God knew they could be trusted not to turn on God. 

Being a good friend who is there when someone is hurting is the best kind of friend. It is the truest friend! I think Job's three friends actually did some things right. I hope this post will help you to be a friend who is there for a friend whether they are weeping or rejoicing. Be there for both! 

The Tall Order For Christians

This passage was in my reading a couple days ago and the first 10 verses just jumped out at me. Paul has quite a tall order for the believers he is writing to at Corinth. Paul begs (beseeches) them not to receive the grace of God in vain. That means empty. In other words, don't be nonchalant or flippant or apathetic towards the grace you have been given. He reminds them that God says He heard them in their day of salvation and (succoured) helped or relieved them. 

Paul then goes on to give some commands. He tells them (and us!) to not give offence in anything, so that the ministry could not be blamed. In other words, so that no one can say they don't want to be a Christian because you are not conducting yourself correctly! --- This would be the case for my dear father-in-law. He sees no need to get saved because he has seen too many so called Christians lie, steal and cheat their way through life and he feels no need for salvation when he does right by others and many Christians have done him or family members wrong.

It may seem a tall order but it is none the less given as command in 2 Corinthians chapter 6. Paul goes on to say that we must approve ourselves as ministers of God (not just for preachers but all those who name the name of Christ are ministers of the gospel) and that we must be patient in afflictions, necessities, distresses, beatings (stripes), imprisonment, tumults (chaos or disorder), labours (pain or weariness), watchings (sleeplessness), and fastings (lack of food). Not only are we to be patient but we are to also do all this in pureness (blamelessness), by knowledge, longsuffering (patiently enduring with a good attitude), by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned (sincere affection), by the word of truth, by the power of God, and by the armour of righteousness. 

Verse 8 is a bit confusing for it says by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; -- I think in simplest terms this just means in every way you should be putting forth for the ministry of God as a Christian no matter what others are saying about you. 

Verse 9 says as unknown, and yet well known: as dying, and, behold we live; as chastened, and not killed; -- Some don't know us yet others know us well, and even if we die we will live forever in heaven, some will chasten us but we are not killed just because we are chastened.

Verse 10 says as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich: as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. -- even when we are saddened by the world we can rejoice in our Christianity and grace of God, even though we may be poor we can make others spiritually rich by telling them of the love and saving grace of Jesus, and though we may have few or no possessions on earth we are the child of our Heavenly Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and everything else! 

To conduct ourselves in the manner that Paul tells us to in this passage, is indeed quite a tall order but that doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to live it daily! We will fail at times but that's what the grace of God is for! When we ask forgiveness, He gives it! He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west and buries them in the depths of the sea never to be remembered again! WooHoo! Praise God! 

What Is Godliness?

Been pondering some things lately. I believe people use the term "Godly" far too loosely in the world today. Have you ever had someone say to you that "she or he is a godly person" or "she or he exudes godliness"? I'm afraid that far too often we have contact with a person who is extremely nice or kind and speaks in a soft manner and they dress in a modest, conservative way and we automatically assume that the person is a godly person. After all, they just SEEM godly. Yet, even though the person appears in all outward appearance and character to be godly, they are truly far from God. 

Can a person be godly if they never pray, read AND study their Bible or spend time with God and trying to live out what His Word says? Remember that Jesus told a story about people who will someday say "Lord, Lord did we not cast out devils in your name?" Jesus said that the Father would tell them "Depart from me for I never knew you". 

When we worked up close and personal with teens in years past, it was easy to jump on the bandwagon with others who thought they were looking at certain "Godly" teens because they outwardly were obedient and nice to others and never missed Sunday school. Yet, when you dug a little deeper into their personal life, you found out that they never spent time in prayer, or reading their Bible outside the Sunday school classroom, or trying to live a separated, sanctified life that showed others they belonged to Christ. So, were they godly? Were they examples of godliness? I'm not sure you can rightly live for God if you never spend time in His Word learning about who He is and what He commands. 

I think the above phrase says it all. You may be able to fake your Christianity before others but true godliness cannot be faked. If you are spending time with God and in His Word, studying and hungering for it, then it will just come forth to others. 

Just something to consider. Profess godliness! Don't be a faker...live your life so others know whose side you stand on and in whom you trust. God's Word should fall from your lips freely and unapologetically! 

Heat & Pressure is a Good Thing

Have you noticed that when you are going through a difficult time, all you can think about is that you want it over with? I  know that is what I think and even pray for. Fiery trials and pressures are hard on us, aren't they? Let's look at three different aspects of things that are improved by heat and pressure. 

Gold! Gold is created first by melting down the metal to a liquid form. Then a worker adds Borax and soda ash which causes the pure gold to separate from the other metals. Heat is the first step to making pure gold. God often uses fiery trials to purify us. The next step removes the things from the gold that is harmful or impure. God sometimes uses circumstances to remove harmful or unnecessary things from our lives.

To have a piece of pottery that is usable, soft clay is formed into the shape intended and then put into a fiery kiln to harden the clay. It would not be usable if it were not hardened. Sometimes when God uses trials to form us and make us useful for His Kingdom, it is difficult to experience but we can endure if we keep in mind that God has a purpose. If the heat wasn't applied to the soft clay, bowls, vases, pitchers, etc. would never be able to be used by us for their intended purpose. 

Diamonds are some of the most precious stones in existence. They are the most common used stone for wedding and engagement rings...the stones used in the jewelry to represent lasting love. These precious stones can only be created by carbon being heated to a very high heat while also being put under very intense pressure. God uses fiery trials and sometimes extreme pressure to form us into something precious to Him that can represent His everlasting love. 

Maybe the extreme pressure you are under is a very demanding job or situation where decisions are needed in high stress circumstances. Maybe the fiery trial may be a job loss, a broke down car or appliance, or a health crisis. Whatever the pressure or heated situation, keep in mind that God is allowing it or orchestrating it for your own good...to bring you closer to Him, to form you into what He approves of, or to make you more useful to Him. 

Filling Someone's Shoes

I am someone who has always been given much responsibility even since childhood. I was often put in charge of my sister or all my cousins while the adult family members were off fishing as we camped or what have you. I was taught to be a responsible person even at a young age.

I have been reading through a book off and on entitled "Plucked from the Burning" over the past year. I don't get a lot of time being a pastor's wife to just read for my own enjoyment. This book is about a Baptist preacher who was the only survivor of a small plane crash in Missouri which took place back in the 80s. As a survivor of a car/train accident, I can relate to his recovery process although his was much more extensive than mine was. I'm nearing the end of the book and he had a chapter about survivor's remorse. Something in which he dealt for several years after the plane crash. I, too, dealt with guilt over surviving my accident when one did not. The author of the book was the only survivor and there were three other preachers on board which included the pilot. They were flying home from a preacher's convention. The man went on to say that for several years he would hold the newspaper article detailing the plane crash and which also included each man's pictures. He would pray and ask God to help him "finish their ministries". This went on for quite some time but then one night before bed as he prayed that same thing, he felt God burden his heart and seemed to put a new thought in his mind that said "Those men's ministries ARE finished. I want you to focus on what I want YOU to do". The man said he felt instant comfort and release from the burden he had felt for so long. 

As I read that at 4 in the morning (because I was having trouble sleeping), my heart was pricked and thoughts flooded my mind of "You are not your mom. Her work is finished on earth since she is now in heaven. It is not your responsibility to be her. You cannot fill her shoes, or replace her in everyone's life to fill the void nor should you try. Be the sister, cousin, mom, niece, and friend that you can be to those you are close with but stop trying to be her. It is not your responsibility to be the glue that holds the family together. It is not your responsibility to take over being grandmother to your child, or for your nieces and nephews. It is not your responsibility to take over being a mother to your sisters. 

As those thoughts came, I cried and had such a feeling of relief and burden lifted as I allowed it to sink in to my mind. I have felt for 6 years that I needed to step up and be all the things to everyone that my mom was so that everyone else can cope with life. After all, I am the one who is strongest and I am the one who knows how to handle crisis and I am the one who has always been put in charge to take care of everyone else so why wouldn't I step up to fill my mom's shoes? For the past three years I have been trying to do this long distance as I try to help my husband in the ministry here in our church. I fully believe those thoughts of letting go of trying to be something that's not my responsibility to be, came straight from the Holy Spirit of God.

The comfort and relief I now feel over this realization has brought peace to my mind. It will take a willful intent and determination to  act on this new realization and take a stand for myself. It will be hard to gently tell others that I will only fulfill my role to them as is in the natural course of things. I am not even sure that others realize that they have relied on me in this manner. Grief and trials of life make it hard to see things clearly sometimes. 

This has come at a great time because I have a need to focus on myself (not in a selfish way) but in a health issue way. Some things have developed that must be addressed and if I do not focus on fixing there, I will not be able to lend myself to others in the capacity God intended. From my research so far, this will not come quickly nor easily. It will take time for answers but I will have to be persistent, diligent and wise. 

Are you someone who is trying to fill some one's shoes who has left intentionally or who has passed away? Please give some serious thought to this post and make sure that the shoes you are trying to fill is what God expects you to do. In some cases the answer may be yes but in many it will be no! Live where and be what God has for you! 

Where You Lead I Will Follow

Gillmore Girls theme song says "Where you lead,I will follow..Any,Anywhere that you tell me to", and over the past couple of years this has been an inside joke or phrase between Bob and me. I have been following him as the head of our home and ministry for years now. I can't say that I have never ever dug my heels in at times and resisted our moving in a new direction but ultimately, I make the decision to follow where he leads. It is what the Bible says I am supposed to do. And, by the way, it doesn't say I am to submit only if he is godly! (that's another topic for another day however) The only time we are allowed leeway in the Bible about this is if our husband is asking us to do something contrary to God's Word. 

This does not mean, however, that there can never be a discussion or a wife's input on a matter. It DOES mean that in the end, it's his call. He is the leader of the home and he is the one who will answer to God for how he lead. We have Bible example that blessings and cursings on a family often come directly as a result of the man. 

As this should be a wife's attitude towards her husband --where you lead I will follow-- it should also be the attitude of every Christian towards God. Only when we are totally submitted to God and His authority over our lives and being willing to go and do as He prods or burdens us to do, can we have true peace and joy. It is a most miserable Christian who resists the will of God!! As part of our prayer life, we should include where you lead I will follow...any, anywhere that you tell me to. The cause of Jesus,and ministry (including but not limited to...preaching, teaching a class, going to a mission field, volunteering to help around the church, witnessing to others, etc.) is diminishing around the world because fewer and fewer Christians are willing to go and do where God leads!!!

How about you? As a wife are you willing to follow your husband? 

As a Christian are you willing to follow anywhere? Whatever or wherever God asks is a sometimes scary prayer to pray because what and where He wants of us may be difficult. He has never promised an easy road only that He will be there beside us through it all to pick us up when we stumble, to comfort us when we are frightened, to praise about us to Satan (check the story of Job!) when we are living right, and to just help. 

Maybe He's asking you to go through a difficult trial to mold and shape you into what He wants. Maybe He's asking you to witness to a neighbor, maybe to go to a foreign place to win souls, maybe to start a new ministry in your church, maybe to call someone to encourage them and let them know they are thought of, maybe just maybe He's reminding you to be faithful to your church in attending and giving. This is only a partial list but the point is to be yielded, submitted to where God leads you! 

A Close Look at Luke 22:31-34

I did some serious delving into this passage in Luke. A few things brought this study about. I recently had someone say that this passage says that Jesus prayed for Peter to be saved. When I read it after this person said that, I immediately thought, this passage doesn't mean what you think it does. I don't know what it is about me unless it is discernment from the Holy Spirit but when someone is using a verse to back up what they are saying or proving a point in a sermon, something often doesn't sit right with me when it is being used incorrectly or out of context. It will immediately nag at me somewhere in the recesses of my mind that makes me go and study further. (That's a good thing by the way!) We should every one of us do this if someone is teaching or preaching something that doesn't sit quite right with us in our minds. Never just assume the preacher, teacher or lay person is right because they should know more than you. I'm not saying you should challenge them on the spot but go and study for yourself and if you find them incorrect then go to them in private and show them what you have found. Many will not hear you because of arrogance and feelings of offence but SOME will! 

Anyhoo, I wasn't sure why it was nagging at me about this passage but I intended to find out and it wasn't an immediate understanding. I had to think it through in different scenarios and compare scripture with scripture and/or other thoughts alluded to in the Bible. (Also, should be how you study!) 

First of all, saying that this is proof that Jesus prayed for Peter to be saved goes against what most preach about the apostles. Most preach that the apostles at this time in Christ's ministry were saved. This is a whole other topic for a different day. But, if you hold to that thought then this clearly isn't what is happening when Jesus says "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." If he was already saved at this point because he was an apostle of Christ, then why would Jesus need to pray for his salvation? 

Now let's look at this reasonably and rationally. What does it say?  ... Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:   But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not:...There was a time in my life when I believed(because I heard it preached this way) that this was a prayer that was in reference to Peter denying Jesus later that night. This thought actually doesn't fit either! If Jesus were praying anything wouldn't you think His prayer, of all people, would have power to be answered? (No, you don't get to go to the Garden when He prayed let this cup pass from me because He also prayed not my will but yours LORD.) In this passage in Luke, He doesn't say Your will LORD. Yet, we know that Peter DOES deny Jesus three times later! So, did Jesus' prayer have no power? 

What does sifting wheat do? At harvest time, the wheat is thrashed and sifted to remove the unusable parts of the wheat. Now, there is nothing noble about Satan's intentions when it comes to a follower of Christ but I believe this is very similar to the story of Job. Satan kept going to God and trying to get permission to do things to Job to prove that Job wouldn't keep trusting in God if bad things happened. Sifting is sorting out the good and the bad. Notice it says Satan has desired but Jesus prays that Peter's faith doesn't fail. He could have just told Satan no, you don't get to sift Peter. Also,He doesn't pray that he be converted. It says WHEN you are converted! 

I believe this passage is talking about Peter's faith not failing in the end, beyond the night of the Crucifixion and unbelief of Jesus' resurrection. (Poor Thomas gets a bad rap because in reality, NONE of the apostles believed until they saw Jesus in bodily form or have an angel tell them he was resurrected) We know, because we have the rest of the Bible after Luke and the gospels that Peter went on to be a strong leader and witness for Christ to the Jews and gentiles. (Paul may be considered the apostle to the gentiles but it was Peter who started that ministry!) Peter is the one whom Jesus said He would give the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He is the one who gets to preach at Pentecost. Peter needed taken down a notch or two from his arrogance. When he denied Christ, Jesus looked right at him and Peter was well aware what he had done and that Jesus had told him so and he went out and wept bitterly (and I believe humbled to serve like never before). 

No other explanation makes sense logically looking at scripture. I fully understand that sometimes we can't look at scripture and try to make sense or be logical because of our finite minds not comprehending but when we CAN figure it out, we should! 

I'm sure some will disagree with my take on this passage. If so, feel free to post a comment to try and prove your point. I certainly don't mind debate. Maybe I have missed something to look at but right now, I believe what I have posted is correct. And, if I have done nothing else but make you study then I have succeeded at my intention! Have a blessed time in the Word! :)

Study of Leaven

In my devotions this morning I was reading in Luke 12 and it comes right out and tells us that the leaven of the pharisees that we are to beware of is hypocrisy. I'm not sure I have ever heard it preached. I suppose that it was assumed since it is preached that we are not to do as them but I never caught that before in Luke 12:1. It says the leaven IS hypocrisy. I think I've always felt that the preaching used about the pharisees has always leaned more toward that we are not to add to or change the Word of God like they did. They added to the Law. They made extra, more astringent rules that were quite frankly nearly impossible to live by and the commandments are hard enough to live by when we battle the sin nature we have daily! 

Now that I have caught that idea of hypocrisy being the leaven, I pondered on it for awhile (we are supposed to do that when reading God's Word --- think about what it means and what and who is being talked about and to). I wondered why hypocrisy was compared to leaven. What does leaven do? It expands! It grows! It is what makes baked goods rise. Maybe the warning comes because hypocrisy will keep growing in our lives when left unchecked. As hypocrisy grows in our lives, we become more judgmental and self-righteous. We become more filled with indignation towards others thinking we are better. It can get out of control and cloud our thinking and correct judgment of others. I think this is what the warning is about. 

Now I'd like to address the way many preach that all leaven mentioned in the bible is bad. That it always represents sin and that many seem to think that the Jews never ate anything with leaven in it at all. This simply isn't true. Some even go so far as to preach that during the Passover they were to eat unleavened bread because of the representation of sin. Noooo, they did that because during the exodus and flight from Egypt, there was no time to allow the bread to rise using leaven (yeast). Anyone who has ever made homemade bread, knows that it takes several hours to do correctly. Now, when Jews celebrate the Passover it is observed that they eat unleavened bread in remembrance of the flight from Egypt, not because leaven represents sin. They did eat leavened bread at other times----read your Bible! In reality, there would be no need for a command to refrain from leavened bread during certain times if they didn't eat leavened bread. Is that not logical?! 

Get in God's Word and STUDY for yourself. Do not let your only knowledge be from what you hear preached and do not let the only time you hear preaching be on Sunday morning! Most often the more meaty sermons that help you grow and learn come on evening services. 

People are a Process

I'm not sure what this post will hold. It may be more theraputic for me than one to help someone else. I was looking through some old notes from a biblical counseling seminar that Bob and I took this past summer. While attending the seminar we felt that many things were taught out of context of the bible but there was still much that we could learn from. It is good to go back and re-read over notes or texts used as a reminder of things we once learned. (this is also the reason churches have revivals and conferences... because we need reminded!) 

I had written down the phrase when taking notes "People are a Process". We need to remember that change is hard for everyone even when we desire it. It is extremely hard to make positive changes in ourselves so it is next to impossible to help someone else to make changes in themselves. We need to remember that it will take time... there may be only baby steps at first. However, forward is forward no matter the pace. If we keep this in mind, we will be less likely to become frustrated--with ourselves and with others especially. 

In ministry, frustration comes when you feel there is no progress. When you look around and see no growth, no results or spiritual moving forward it is easy to become discouraged and question if you are where God intends. Did you misread His calling? Did you make a mistake? It is even easier to become discouraged when it seems that not only is there no progress or spiritual growth, it appears that it is actually going backwards! You not only question God's intentions but your own ability. Do I have the ability to lead others? Am I hindering the work of the Holy Spirit or holding back someone else's spiritual growth because of my inability to teach and get across? Do I lack the personality to attract others to the church? Do I offend when I speak? Many questions come to mind when you do not see results. Many preachers say that you should not be results oriented but results is the only way to measure what is happening. Is the church growing or shrinking or stagnant? If not growing, there is a problem somewhere. Is it the fault of leadership or is it the apathetic, hard hearted and stiff-necked membership? I suppose these are futile questions that only God knows. One thing is for sure, a church that is not growing spiritually and/or numerically is in reality a dead church. It needs revival. How this revival is brought is the question. 

While people are a process, and they may take time, there should still be a growing and moving forward that can be seen. Even a sloth that moves so slowly that at times it can barely be seen, if you watch long enough and close enough, it can be seen! Process or not---- eventually there is change. At a processing plant of whatever sort, a product starts at one part of the plant and goes through a long process to the other end of the plant and by the time it reaches the end of the plant it is something different than what it started out as. 

I have no idea if this post made any sense but it helped me so, I reckon that's what is important at 4 a.m.! 

More Than Prayer

Last night Bob preached on America's Greatest Need----intercessory prayer. Very convicting. I agree that what this country needs is someone to stand in the gap and make up the hedge and call out to God on behalf of the welfare of the country. Secondly, what's needed is obedient Christians! God blesses obedience and He considers it more important than sacrifice. 

Now, as we were flipping to different places in our bibles last night and reading different examples of intercessory prayer, I noticed something. The different people praying to God, were not just praying; they were pleading and REASONING with God. They were explaining why God should grant their request. Moses did, David did, Jacob did, and plenty of others. Some were reminding God of His promises. Some were reminding God that to do what He intended would let other nations believe wrong things of Him or take away from Him being glorified. The point is, they didn't just ask in prayer for what they wanted...they reasoned with Him. They gave good points as to why He should grant the request. Some people say we should pray once and let it go and leave it to God. Well, the bible tells us to pray with persistence. (this means more than once) It also gives examples of pleading and reasoning with Him. All is given for our example, so maybe we should do more than pray.... maybe we should make our case before Him. Just something to think about.

Why We Should Learrn What is Written

Last night at church Bob taught out of Colossians chapter 2. This post came to mind because of some things he said. 

As to the title of post--why we should learn what is written.

First, it was good enough for Jesus! When He was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, his response was always "It is written". He quoted the Word of God to avoid the temptations. Memorizing Scripture is important for us, too, in order to avoid Satan's temptations. You never know when you will need to rely on Scripture to help you but may not always have a Bible ready with you.

Second, we are to always be ready with an answer for others. --- to defend our beliefs, or to give encouragement to others. 1 Peter 3:15

Thirdly, in order to witness. Romans 10:17 says that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We are to use the Bible to encourage, admonish, rebuke, and show the love of God and Christ. We are to warn the sinner of his ways. 

You won't always have a Bible with you so memorize it. Even if you have one with you, it is best to know your Bible and where to find the scriptures you are looking to share. 

Just a little something to encourage you to learn what is written!

The Christian Life and Leaven

This morning Bob brought a good message from the parables series he is in on Sunday mornings. It was from Matthew 13:33. He talked about leaven and how it radically changes whatever it touches. 

Bob used baking of bread as an illustration to show how leaven (yeast) works. I thought it was such a good illustration. Being somewhat handy in the kitchen, I could picture the things he was saying and it really made the sermon come to life for me. 

He talked about how when the yeast is put in, it doesn't just work on part of the dough. It effects the whole thing. Picture it....you don't have only one end of the bread loaf rise and bake. The whole thing rises. This goes along with the verse that says "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump". It is a great picture of what happens when a person gets saved. The Holy Spirit moves in and they become a new creature. When true salvation comes, the person is different. They act, walk, talk, dress differently. Now, it may not be 100% of the time because they still fight against the old sin nature but there is a new desire to be different than before. 

Another thing Bob talked about was that it's not only radical change that comes but gradual. It is gradual and progressive! You don't become super Christian overnight. There is growing to do. This comes through hearing preaching, reading the Bible and studying it and prayer. Some Christians grow slower than others in certain areas but the fact remains that the Bible says there WILL BE growth if they have the Holy Spirit in them. It is progressive growth...or should be. We should never stop trying to move toward more holiness, a better walk with the Lord, or better understanding of our knowledge of God's Word. We should never feel we have arrived or attained enough. We should keep striving to grow toward more righteousness. Back to bread baking...when making bread from scratch, you must give the dough time to rise before baking it. It gradually grows from the yeast that was put in until it is ready to be put in the oven. It also is a gradual process but is very progressive! Once started it continues until time to bake. Pretty cool idea huh!?

Thirdly, it's permanent! You can't undo yeast or leaven in dough. Once it's there, it's there. The process has begun and continues. You can't unbake a loaf of bread. Once you are saved, you remain saved until Jesus calls you home. The Bible is clear about this. 

That's this morning's message in a nutshell. I thought it was such a neat way to illustrate how leaven works. By the way, I disagree with the teaching that every time leaven is mentioned in the Bible it refers to sin or something bad. For instance, the verse mentioned in Matthew 13:33 says that the kingdom of God is like leaven. So, for some who believe it is always bad when mentioned...heaven is bad? Noooo! 

Just some illustrations to help you think about your Christian life. 

Faith Like Moses

Finally getting a chance to blog. I have been having such a good time in my devotional time lately. I love when new light bulbs come on where the Holy Spirit makes something clearer to me. I was in Hebrews last week and reading "the walk of faith" chapter in Hebrews 11. It gives this list of people who did things by faith that God told them to do, often without knowing or seeing where they might be lead. So many are referred to as dying in faith not having received the promises but seeing them afar off. Almost all of them lived by faith expecting to see the promises in their lifetime. However, I want to talk about Moses. He lived by faith even knowing that he would not get to receive the promise. God told him he would not get to enter the Promised Land and he still lived by God's commands and what God wanted. To me, he may be the greatest of all those mentioned in the walk of faith because of this. 

When he came of years he refused to be called the son of pharaoh's daughter but chose to suffer affliction with his own people. He esteemed the reproach of Christ higher than the treasures of Egypt. He knew that the pleasures of sin for a short time were not worth being outside of God's Will. ---Too bad more Christians do not have that attitude! 

To many, the here and now and what feels good this moment is much more important than living God's way and waiting for future blessings for obedience or for future reward in heaven. Yet this chapter 11 walk of faith is given as an example of how to live our lives...and leads right into chapter 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Now, I can't tell you how many times I've heard preachers use verse 1 to say that the cloud of witnesses is our saved loved ones in heaven and that it is proof we will see them again. Weeelll, I disagree. The cloud of witnesses is those mentioned in the walk of faith in the previous chapter. Hence the word "wherefore". (Because of) 

The point of the above verses is to say that the previous chapter folks are our example and that because of that we should get rid of weights and sins that keep us from running the kind of race God wants us to run. 

I want to have faith like Moses and live not just for the moment but what will come in the future. 

Leaving and Cleaving

I want to talk about the importance of leaving and cleaving and what the bible says about it. First of all, I'd like to point out that the command is given to the man, not the woman! For this cause shall a MAN leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife. I wonder if this may be because men tend to seek a motherly type role for a wife? They often go from being taken care of by their mom to being cared for by their wife. Many do not ever live on their own and learn to develop cooking, cleaning, or laundry skills. Not true for all but for many. I've even heard preachers say that if their wife died, they'd have to get remarried quickly because they didn't know how to cook or clean!

Now, I believe it is wise for both men and women to leave and cleave. I even think that it may be wise for the newlyweds to move away from both sets of parents (for a time) so that they must learn to cope and deal together. It is not so easy to run back home.

I don't think that it only means physically leaving the parents either. Many move away a long distance but still mentally cleave to the parents. Both will make comparisons of mom or dad to the other spouse. Let me tell you, this is unwise and will often lead to an argument or resentment can develop for the in laws. Ex. -- "My mom didn't cook it that way." "My dad was great at car repair or a great financial provider" "My mom cleaned the house EVERY day." -- You get the picture. I have learned that even if you don't express these thoughts, you will harbor resentment if you allow them to creep in. Instead, allow your spouse to be who they are ---within reason. Don't try to turn them into your parent. Maybe your wife doesn't cook scrambled eggs the way your mom did---but maybe she fries chicken better than anyone else you've tasted. Accept that! Maybe your husband isn't very handy at car or home repairs but if he shows you and your kids love and care that is more important. Maybe he will be good at asking someone else for help or be able to hire it out. 

Just remember that leaving and cleaving is mental as well as physical. Cleaving means stuck together. (A meat cleaver is used to separate meat from bone and gristle) Be a team. A team that is on the same side, with the same goals, working towards them. 

A Godly Heritage

At our 43 church Anniversary Sunday, we had a guest preacher who has a ministry of the history of the English Bible. He had a display of very very old bibles and some old parchments and other documents. It was fascinating! 

Hearing the facts and things about how the English bibles came about and about how our nation got started made my heart swell with love and conviction about how precious my KJV bible is. Men gave their lives to get the Bible into the English language and ultimately bring about the King James Version. 

Bob and I purchased an envelope with a passage of scripture from Deuteronomy chapter 32 in both the KJV 1611 and the Geneva Bible to compare with our current kjv bible. 

John Wycliffe was the first to start translating the bible into the English language. This was in 1382. In 1408 the Catholic church made it illegal to translate the bible into the English language without their permission. He was killed for translating the bible into English.

In 1526 William Tyndale began to translate the bible into English from the original languages instead of the Latin bible like John Wycliffe did. In 1535 the New Testament was completed. Persecution began for Tyndale and King Henry the VIII would not grant him permission to print in England, so he went to Belgium and smuggled the Bibles back to England so the common man could have access to scripture in their own language. He was strangled and burned for printing and smuggling bibles into England. 

Next came the Coverdale Bible written by Miles Coverdale. King Henry allowed him to print it in England. Coverdale used Tyndale's translation for the NT and then translated the Old Testament himself (also from original languages). This was the first whole bible in the English language. 

Next came the Matthews Bible written by John Rogers and nicknamed the Wife Beater's Bible because of side notes made on one of the verses by Rogers. John Rogers was the first martyr under "Bloody Mary" queen of England. She tried to bring England back into the catholic church and away from the Church of England (which basically followed the same doctrines but was just created by Henry the VIII so he could get a divorce and marry his mistress to produce a male heir).

Next came the Great Bible also known as the "Chain Bible" because it was very large and chained to the pulpits so that the people couldn't steal them to read for themselves. 

Next was the Geneva Bible. It was printed in Geneva, Switzerland. The reformers were responsible for printing this bible. This is the bible that the pilgrims used and also William Shakespeare. It became very popular.

The Church of England decided it needed to come up with their own English bible and made the Bishop's Bible. It never became popular with the people like the Geneva Bible. In side notes of this bible, Christopher Columbus is mentioned by Psalm 45:9 thinking that Ophir was the land that Columbus had discovered. 

Next was the King James 1611 version. Was commissioned and printed in England. It took 7 years to complete. 

Now I want to talk about our nation's Godly heritage which so many try to deny these days. I remember learning about the Mayflower Compact when I was in grade school but didn't remember too much about it. I looked it up this morning and I do not know how anyone can read it and deny what this country was founded on! Here is what it said....

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. 

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620. 

In the name of God and for the Glory of God! How does one deny that right from the beginning it was founded upon God? When the Declaration of Independence was being prepared, Benjamin Franklin called for prayer.

The New England Primer was used in schools all across the nation and used verses to learn the alphabet. A - all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. B - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

Then in 1962 public prayer was removed from school. 

In 1973 abortion was legalized and millions of babies have been murdered ever since.

Since 1980 there have been more than 12 attempts (some successful) to remove public displays of the 10 commandments. 

Over the past several years, Christian's rights have been stripped, while more and more immoral laws are crammed down our throats. Yet, it is our fault for not taking a stand and fighting more for what God says! 

I know this was a very long post but I wanted to share some things I've learned over the past day or so. My Bible is precious and I need to delve into it every single day! This country was built upon the premise of God and can still be spared and turned to him with enough prayer, and standing on His Word if Christians would only do it!