Peace Be With You

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled

and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

“On the evening of that first day of the week,

when the disciples were together,

with the doors locked for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood among them and said,

Peace be with you!”

John 20:19 NIV

 

Some days my thoughts get the best of me. When I begin to think about the unknown it is easy to get anxious. Sometimes just for a minute or two, I take my eyes off of Jesus. When I do, that opens my mind up to all sorts of worst case scenarios. When I begin to focus on my circumstance I forget that God has a plan for my life. Satan is always lurking in the bushes of my hearts garden waiting for this exact moment to jump out in front of me and tell me I have plenty of reasons to be worried and concerned. He is quick to point out that if God loved me he would allow me to know what is ahead. Satan suggests that God hides the future from my eyes because the circumstances ahead are negative. Satan also suggests that worry is normal and is to be expected and embraced by someone who is as uninformed as I seem to be.

 

This day the Holy Spirit has checked me regarding this type of thinking. Still, I’m not sure I can work my way through this fear that is creeping into my mind unless I make a deliberate trip to the garden. So to the garden I must go.

 

The moment I enter the garden gate I began to feel the love of my Father. Still troubled I decide to walk the pathway hoping to clear my head of these negative thoughts. As always, the flowers are beautiful, the aroma is sweet, just like Jesus, and the sounds of the garden begin to fill my heart with joy. On one hand I am experiencing joy, but still I am tightly griping fear in the other. Walking deeper into the garden I discover a stream I had not seen before. I decide this will be a good spot for rest and spiritual refreshment.

 

As I study this beautiful little stream I feel the spirit of peace hovering over my being. It’s as if it is there for the taking, yet I am unable to open my gripped hand and grasp on to this aura of peace. The peaceful stream skips across the rocks and spills over onto the next rock in a joyful and playful pattern that is repeated over and over again. Then the Master Gardner chooses this moment to make himself visible to me as he peeks around from behind a large oak tree.

 

Jesus begins to speak. “Paula, take a lesson from this cool, rippling brook. It is flowing steady and sure. It bubbles and foams over with the energy of my love. It skips across the rocky road before it with sure faith and enthusiasm that will carry it down stream. It sends a peaceful message that gurgles, all is well.”

 

This teaching thrills my heart! I so want to live my life like this little stream, as I joyfully go about my day, skipping over the fears of life as though they are non existent. I want to feel God’s peace in a fresh new way everyday as it cools my hot anxious thoughts. I want to live this day and every day steady and sure knowing that God’s plan for my life will give me both a hope and a future. I want God’s love to bubble up inside me and fill me with the energy that comes from his love. I want my life to encourage others instead of being held hostage by Satan’s fear.

 

I decide that now might be a good time to move closer to the edge of the stream. Maybe if I scoot to the edge I will have the courage to take off my shoes and get my feet wet! So I move closer to the edge, being ever so cautious. And in a moment of reckless faith I pull off my self-centered, anxious shoes and plunge in to the cool, clear, water of God’s amazing care. In trusting faith I begin to experience a heavenly peace that only Jesus can give.

 

Now Jesus moves nearer and sits down next to me. He too removes his sandals and we set for quite a while. He begins to bask in my trust and I begin to relax in his peace. Then Jesus speaks. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.”

 

I am reminded that after the resurrection of Jesus he appeared to his disciples who were huddled together behind a locked door of fear. Their circumstances had gotten the best of them. Their Lord had died. They were alone. They were grieving. They were fearful that they too would be arrested and killed. Then the unbelievable happened. “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you!” No more than the stone at the entrance of the tomb could hold him in the grave; neither could the locked doors of fear keep him away from those he loved. Jesus simply appeared in their presence. All they had to do was look up, see him, and believe in what was unbelievable. Jesus loved them, he cared, and he desired to be in their presence.

 

On this day when my own troubling fear was about to get the best of me, Jesus simply appeared by my side and whispered to me, “Peace be with you!” This was not a formal greeting or a casual greeting of “hello, how ya doing?” No, this was Jesus’ words of blessing to me because he loves me. Those words that were spoken to the disciples so many years ago are still relevant and comforting words for us today. We too can embrace those words with confident faith in the knowledge that God faithfully goes before us in all things regardless of how we view our circumstances.

 

Jesus is no longer with us physically but he is able to fill us with his peace. Not the type of peace the world knows, like good health, plenty of money, or a peaceful world, but rather it is a peace that surpasses our human understanding, no matter what lies ahead. The future may be unclear. But the peace of Jesus is real and available. Our part is simply to release our fear into thin air and open our hand and reach out to receive the peace Jesus desires that we experience.

 

Questions:

1. Is there something in your life that filling your mind with anxiety and gripping your heart with fear?
2. Have you considered the possibility that you may need a trip to the garden?
3. Do you find Jesus’ words in John 14:27 and 20:19 to be comforting?
4. Will you open your hand of fear and joyfully accept his peace?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

 

I confess that some days I get off the path that leads to your peace. I begin to focus on that which is in my face or I begin to fear what may be in my future. Forgive me when I get side tracked and open myself up for Satan’s lies of deception. Jesus, today I choose to give you my fear of ____________________. I know that you will always be more than enough. You are my helper, my sustainer, my refuge, my shelter, and my help in time of trouble. You are my rock, my fortress, and my strong tower of strength. You are the lifter of my head today and my hope for tomorrow. You are my joy and you are without a doubt my peace. I bow in humble gratitude today because I know you have my future all laid out in a perfect plan that will not leave me without hope. I am so thankful for your words that remind me that you have left me with your precious gift of peace.

 

It is in your name I pray. Amen.

Faith of Our Fathers

And he said to man,

‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom,

and to shun evil is understanding.

Job 28:28 NIV

 

I wish I could say that all fathers are wise, but life has taught all of us that this simply isn’t true. Some fathers are mean and abusive; others abandon their children, while others may live under the power of addiction. Other fathers are present and provide well for their family yet they are absent from the details of their children’s lives. On the other hand, there are many good fathers who love unconditionally; they are moral and upright men who possess knowledge and understanding. These fathers participate in the lives of their children and are able to guide them effectively and give them a foundation for life. In the first two of the pre-mentioned examples of fatherhood, both fathers lacked the same important attribute. They lacked wisdom.

 

In the Bible God informed man that he should fear him because the fear of him is wisdom and that wisdom is the springboard for understanding that each individual must reject sin. The fear of God is not the idea that God carries a big stick and hides behind a door awaiting our arrival so he can jump out and whack us on the head for being imperfect! No, the fear of the LORD is viewing God in reverence and giving him the honor and respect due his holy name. When a father fears the Lord he silently announce to his children that God is worthy of notice. He is also a father who teaches his children in word and deed that he respects and adores God. A man who chooses to shun evil, and submit to the Lord’s commands understands and demonstrates by is behavior that he is a godly man of wisdom.

 

If your father was or is a man who feared God, be thankful because your father has provided for you an accurate model of wisdom. Even in death these men continue to speak to us and teach us of a faith that is well worth having.

 

If you were not blessed with a father of faith you must realize that it is you who must now light and carry the torch of reverence and respect for God. As a first generation Christian, you must step up to the plate, be the example for your children, who will most likely out live you. Teach by example that the fear of the LORD is wisdom. Teach them to walk away from evil. Model your faithfulness to the one you adore.

 

Little eyes are watching, bigger eyes are learning, and wide open eyes see the respect and faithfulness you demonstrate. Faith of our Fathers! What a blessing! There is no better gift to have received from a father or to give to your children. This applies to moms as well. Our children learn what we live. They hear our comments, they see us roll our eyes, and they know our priorities and understand what we value.

 

Grandparents, heads up. You’re not finished yet. Use every opportunity to help your grandchildren find and follow Jesus. The payback will be when our children and grandchildren become wise themselves. “A wise son brings joy to his father, “Proverbs 10:1a NIV. In this life there is no greater joy than to know that our children and grandchildren walk with the Lord and that they understand that wisdom is respecting their Creator by keeping his commandments.

 

Questions:

1. Do you desire to be a father of faith? A mother of faith? A grandparent of faith? An Aunt or an Uncle of faith?
2. Do you see that the “fear” of the Lord is the key to being a person of wisdom?
3. How can you be more intentional in passing on your faith to those who walk within your sphere of influence?
4. Will you be obedient and choose to rise to the occasion?

Prayer:

Dear Father,

 

You are the greatest of all fathers! In you there is no fault found, no sin, nor is there any partiality among your children. Father you alone are worthy of my love, my reverence, my respect, and my worship. Father, I adore you! I submit to you my life. I realize that I am a person of influence. Father, I pray that my influence will be for you and your glory rather than against you. I desire that those who are watching my behavior will see Christ like attributes that will fill them with desire to not only be like me, but above all else be like you! Father, fill me with a holy “fear” of you. A fear that respects, reveres, worships, and bows in humility. A “fear” that lovingly and willingly chooses to submit to your commands. Father, like Solomon, I ask for wisdom. Give me your heavenly wisdom, the type of wisdom that makes good parents become great parents.

 

Jesus, it is in your name I pray. Amen.

The Whole Earth Is Filled With His Glory!

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Isaiah 6:3b NIV

 

Today in the garden I am far away in my thoughts. My thoughts carry me back to the week of creation. I am contemplating what it was like for the earth to be formless, empty, and dark? Only the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. I mean no disrespect as I imagine how it might have been. The God of the universe rolling up his sleeves, rubbing his hands together in excitement, and saying to the Spirit and the Son, “Let’s get started!”

 

Let me say right here I do not know if a day equals a thousand years or twenty-four hours, but I do know – that fact is neither here nor there! What is important is that I believe with all my heart that God is the creator and he is more than able to accomplish all of creation in a New York minute if he chose to do so! I do not have a problem with God’s timeline. More importantly, I believe that the Bible is inspired by God and its content is direct from the lips of God. His Word assures me over and over again of his greatness, his power, his glory, his creativity, his uniqueness, his holiness, and his desire to love his children and give them good gifts. Without a doubt, God created his masterpiece, our world and all that is within that magnificent creation.

 

Day One – God said, “Let there be light.”  Talk about words of action! God spoke light into existence. He then took his Almighty hands and broke apart, separated, the light into two pieces and one part of the light once again became dark. The light he called day and the dark he called night. I guess that moment of inspiration put a smile on his face!

 

Day Two – God said, “I have an idea, let’s make an expanse between the waters to separate the water from the water. I don’t know about you but I have never been able to separate water from water! But God knew just how to do it. He created the expanse and pushed the water under the expanse. He called the expanse sky. And to add to his delight he caused the sky to be an uncountable number of shades of blue and that sky reflected into the clear waters making the water reflect deeper shades of blue. I just love that creative twist!

 

Day Three – “God said, “What about creating some surface areas that are not wet? Perhaps he was already imagining what he would do with the dry surface areas and what he would do with the wet areas. So on that third day he said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let the dry ground appeared and he called it land.” Special note: the land was not wet nor was it muddy! That’s pretty amazing if you ask me. He called the water seas. What a time God must have had creating the boundaries between the land and the seas. Through his spoken words he scooped out basins and bowls to hold the seas and elevated the land around the edges. Furthermore, it worked! But he wasn’t finished.

 

God continued his work on the third day by God saying, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees with seed in it, and let’s make various kinds.” The rooted vegetation began to appear in the form of carrots, celery, onions, turnips, potatoes, parsnips, and so much more. After that, the vegetation with seeds began sprouting up. There were tomatoes, beans, cucumber, okra, squash, and peppers just to mention a few. Then he created the sweet tasting oranges, apples, peaches, plums, grapes, bananas, pineapple, melons, and more verities than I can name. I wonder if God took a moment to taste the fruit of his labor. Then with a wave of his hand the herbs and flowers began to appear. The color and the textures were marvelous! Incredible! Amazing! It was a sight to behold and the aroma from each floral creation was still waiting for Adam and Eve’s nostrils to breathe in the sensuous fragrance. I love that after each creation God stepped back, looked at the results, smiled, and gave himself a pat on the back and said to the Spirit and the Son, “this is good! We did an awesome job!” Then I imagined that they brainstormed and planned what this Holy Trinity would do next.

 

Day Four – God imagined lights in the expanse of the sky. The purpose was to separate the day from the night and they were to serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years. The lights were also to give light to the earth. So God created two great lights. The sun was the greater light to govern the day and the moon was the lesser light to govern the night. What order, what organization, what planning for what was yet to come! But a creative soul is never finished. I can imagine that just as God was about to wrap it up for the day, he scratched his head and with a twinkle in his eyes he said, I’ve got it! He dug deep into the pockets of his unfathomable resources and pulled out stars by the hands full and cast them into the sky! Believe it our not, they did not fall. Not a chance. As he hung each star in the sky, he looked at it and said only one thing remains, they need to twinkle! And he looked and saw that it was good.

 

Day Five – God created the great and small living creatures of the seas and the birds to fly across the sky. What an ingenious touch! We see this displayed in the color, the size, the texture, the uniqueness of each species. Where does this inspiration come from? Oh I remember, this inspiration comes from none other than a God who is infinitely more than our finite minds can begin to imagine. Therefore, because we can’t imagine it or create it our self, there are those who want to stamp out and shut down this amazing wonder. Humans create lies proclaiming that our world evolved or imagine that it banged into existence. What was the last big bang you experienced? I would guess it didn’t have any signs of order or beauty and was completely void of purpose.  But our holy God is Almighty and the whole earth is full of his glory! In addition the great “I Am” had the foresight to say be fruitful and multiply. So life still continues and will continue to exist on into eternity. Because of sin, the old will pass away but the new will be even more beautiful and amazing.

 

Day Six – I imagine that this day begins by God, his Son, and the Spirit enthusiastically walking the surface of the earth, filling the air with their presence, and agreeing to continue creating. This is the last day of creation so what will the grand finale be? God’s Word says, on the last day the land produced living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind. Not one class of animals but three types each with hundreds of species within its kind! It only takes one visit to the zoo for one to be inspired by the creative hand of God. As you watch and study each animal you begin to appreciate and celebrate the differences that are found in the animal kingdom. All created with a specific purpose.

 

Then the grand finale of creation! God said “Let US make man in OUR image, in OUR likeness, and let him rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over all creatures that move along the ground. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and told them to be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over it. God gave his earth to mankind. It is mind boggling to realize that it is our soul that has been created in the very image of our maker!

 

This morning I am imagining the fingers of God moving all about the earth during those six days of creation. I’m sure he smiled and felt pleasure as he created. Perhaps his eyes sparked and he clapped his hands in delight as his fingers would carve out a mountain range, or as he would pile rocks of all shapes and sizes on top of one another. What wonderful joy he must have experienced as his finger tunneled out caves and his hands scooped out valleys. Such elation as he created woodlands, and the plains. What pleasure he must have felt as he arranged for the streams to flow into rivers and the rivers to flow into the oceans. Then the Master created sandy beaches and the painted deserts, the rain forests, waterfalls, lakes, farmland, and rice paddies. He placed deep with the earth minerals and diamonds, precious stones, and natural resources. What about the universe beyond the earth? The planets, each one created with purpose and hung in place by God's design. What about the creation of gravity and oxygen? The body of man alone is a masterpiece. Sometime the outside is not much to look at, but oh the inside is a miracle! The brain alone is still an amazing unsolved mystery to mankind. In addition, the perfect order and beauty of each season is a vision of delight. It is the glorious Creator shouting to mankind, “Look, see, and feast your eyes on all that I have made. I am real and I love you! Come to me.”

 

Day Seven – On the seventh day God rested.

 

Our creator is back at work because he is not finished with us yet. He continues to change those who love him. We are a work of creation that is still in progress and one day we shall be like him! What a day that will be when we step into heaven. The creation that we are now privileged to experience is just a foretaste of what still lies ahead.  “…as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” I Corinthians 2:9 NIV

 

Questions:

1. Do you believe that our world was created by the Almighty God?
2. Which day of creation do you find to be the most amazing?
3. Do you see God’s hand of order as one day of creation built on the next day with all five days leading to the grand finale of man’s creation on the sixth day?
4. Have you delighted in imagining God’s pleasure as he created our world?
5. Do you wonder what amazing things God is preparing for us in the future?

Prayer:

Dearest Heavenly Father,

 

You are the Almighty God of creation. The whole earth is filled with your glory! I know beyond a shadow of doubt that all things were made by you. I praise you for your breathtaking works of creation. I praise you for the order and the beauty of all the seasons. I see your twinkling eyes of love in the twinkling starry sky. I praise you because  I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Thank you for your beautiful gift of creation that tugs at my heartstrings calling me to come close to you. At times Father, you seem so far away, but it only takes one look at a sunrise or a sunset for me to feel your love and know that you are faithful. Thank you for such a beautiful world to live in. Thank you for the new heaven and earth that is yet to come. I can only try to imagine!

 

With a heart of gratitude and in your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

When Our Plans Go South!

“Woe to the obstinate children declares the LORD,

to those who carry out plans that are not mine,

forming an alliance

but not by my spirit, heaping sin upon sin;…”

Isaiah 30:1 NIV

Today I will spend my time in the garden walking a well marked pathway through the woods. It is serene. The tranquility is perfect for worship. The trees make available a canopy that provides coolness and a welcome relief from the heat of the sun. During this time of reflection, I stop and stroke a bed of soft, emerald green moss. The softness of the moss is reminiscent of the love of my Father in heaven.

 

As I walk I begin to ponder this question. Why is it so hard to accept disappointment when the plans I make fail? It is during this time I begin to search my soul for answers. My mind immediately goes to God’s Word. “In His heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV

 

As a child I learned a scripture verse found in Jeremiah 29:11, but I must confess there have been many times that I didn’t believe this scripture was true “I know the plans I have for you,… plans to prosper you …plans to give you hope and a future.” My questions of unbelief would come to me during the times when my heart was broken, when my dreams were unfulfilled, when death took a loved one, or when money was scarce. My response to God was, “How can this thing be good? How is this in my best interest? How will this prosper me? Why did you give me this talent and then not allow me to use it? Where is my hope and where is my future in this scenario?

 

During times when I am working through confusion I have found that it is best to go back to square one. Today God faithfully began to remind me that on the day I was conceived I was created as his masterpiece. A masterpiece is something that is created with extraordinary skill. It is not always perfect but it is designed with great care for a specific purpose. Every single person ever created by God is a masterpiece! All of God’s masterpieces come fully equipped with flaws and imperfection, yet every creation has the ability to carry out their own specific purpose. God has designed each one of us to look the way he wanted us to look, he gave us a mind to work as he deemed best, and he gave us all specific abilities, gifts and talents to use for his glory and our enjoyment. God also put within each of us an eternal soul. God gave each of us our own unique personality and temperament. He lovingly installed inside each of us a set of human flaws that he uses as tools as he attempts to draw us into a personal relationship with him. You see, our flaws create need, and that need is the need of a Savior. All of us need a Savior to help us deal with all that life sends across our path. God created us and on the day we were conceived he set the plan for our life in action and he began the plan by selecting our parents and our place of birth.

 

Taking the first step in God’s perfect plan for our life requires an understanding that we have a personal need for God to re-create us. This can occur as a child or as an adult. The process is also referred to by some as being born again. At the time we experience this new birth, we also receive the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of us. As believers we have the unique privilege of receiving direction for our life from the Holy Spirit as he speaks the words of the Father into our mind. Jesus said that this is a process that is as mysterious as the wind, and so it is by faith alone that we believe in the unseen and when we believe we begin to experience the mystery. But first, we must accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We must invite him to come into our life. We must be born of water and then again born by the Spirit. …Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. How can a man be born when he is old? …Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit….You must be born again.” John 3:5-7 NIV

 

God has had a plan for your life since the day you were conceived. This plan involves your faith, your family, your career, your finances, and your ministry. God has specific plans for you that include his love for you and you loving him in return. We begin to show God our love for him through our gratitude and our personal worship. After we have fallen in love with Jesus we should chose to live our life by being, doing, going, and playing according to his perfect plan for our life. God’s plan is the same for all humanity it is only the details of that plan that are custom made for each one of his masterpieces.

 

Being – It is God’s plan that we be diligent in our work, be available for service, be responsible with our finances, and be there for our family.

 

Doing – We are to do our best when we are at work, we are to do our ministry as well as we can while we work to accomplish God’s eternal purposes; we do our best to plan and manage our finances wisely. We are to do all we can to reach out in love to the needs of our family.

 

Going – We are to go to work and perform our tasks with the mind set of being a dependable employer or employee, we go into our ministry as a humble servant, we go about managing our money with an openhanded spirit of gratitude and giving as we give back to God and to others, and we go about serving our family in selfless love.

 

Playing – We are also created to play. We are to enjoy and play with our co-workers. We are to celebrate our ministry. We are to make time to play and enjoy life because this is necessary for our rest, relaxation and restoration. We are to enjoy and play with our family because this develops unity, love, respect, and makes happy memories.

 

God has also included in his plan space for us to rest. On the seventh day God rested and so must we. We are more productive when we take time to rest. There are also other times for relaxation and fun. Playtime makes us laugh, enjoy others, relax, and provides opportunity for restoration. Unfortunately, play also has a dark side. Too much play can cost too much time and too much money. Therefore, we must pass our recreation through the Holy Spirit and ask him to help us to play in a manner that is pleasing to God.

 

So why does the plan that God has specifically created for us often go south? My guess is because it is our plan, NOT his plan. The bumps in the road of our life are often there because of our disobedience and refusal to follow God’s plan. When we go about our life ignoring God we run the danger of stubbing our toe. When we fail to consult him before making a major decision we are going off, as they say, “Half-cocked”!

 

If you are not a believer you must realize that you do not have access to God’s plan for your life. Non-believers eyes are veiled from spiritual understanding. On the other hand, when one becomes a believer that person must open their eyes and hone in on God’s plan for their life through the direction of the Holy Spirit, because now, God will little by little reveal his plan for your life through the Spirit. When believers ignore the directives of the Spirit there will bumps in the road and personal failure. Seeking to know God’s will and hearing his voice requires that we set aside blocks of time in solitude without intrusion from the world around us. Sometimes we are simply not willing to do what is necessary in order to hear from God. Hearing the voice of God takes more than one visit to the beautiful garden of prayer! We must desire to know God’s plan for us and then we must seek him and ask for him to reveal his will to us.

 

The bumps in the road come when we choose to do it our way. In our work ethic and our career, if we are slackers we will fail. If we insist on having a career that makes us feel good or lets us do what we believe we are gifted to do, we often leave God out of the equation and do it our way without even consulting him. We often pursue our desire more than we pursue God. If achieving success in our career is measured as the world defines success, then we set our self up for future disappointment when we begin to experience an inner emptiness at the end of the road of so called success. It is at this point we cannot understand why what we wanted and desired has left us feeling so empty and unfulfilled after we have achieved our goal. At this point we again go off chasing the next thing that strikes our fancy as we look for fulfillment and what we believe to be happiness.

 

God’s plan for all of us includes our faith, family, career, finances, and ministry.

 

Failure in faith occurs when one rejects the call of God. This can be the greatest mistake anyone can make in this life. We are eternal beings and we will live forever. This life is NOT the end. Our choice to find and follow Jesus will result in eternal pleasures forever in the presence of the very one who made us, loved us, and gave his only Son so that we can be forgiven and restored to the fellowship with our Creator. However, rejection of this opportunity will result in eternal separation from your creator and all that is good for all of eternity.

 

Failure in family occurs when a family member becomes selfish and is not concerned how his actions and attitudes will affect other members of the family.

 

Failure in career occurs when we run ahead of God and do not consult him and our career choice does not agree with God’s choice for us. We may have some measure of success but it will never produce the joy that following God’s choice would bring. I have noticed that sometimes, when one gives their gifts and talents to God’s service, he often blesses that person by weaving their gifts and talents into a career. When people flip this scenario around they choose what they want and then ask God to bless their choice. This often results in failure.

 

Failure in finances comes when we mismanage our money and go in debt. This lifestyle fosters constant worry and stress! When we hold on to what little we have too tightly, we become selfish. When we refuse to trust God to be our provider we also sit ourselves up for failure. A lack of gratitude, a heart that covets, and a spirit of greediness will create a distance between us and our Lord. These are major bumps in the road that breeds discontentment with life and can even cause depression.

 

Failure in ministry occurs when we simply choose not to serve or we create our own ministry apart from God’s direction. It is important for Christians to understand that we will never have a ministry if we are not first of all available to God for his use. Busy people who hold God at a safe distance have no ministry. People with excuses have no ministry. People who think they have nothing to offer have no ministry. God slights no one. We must dig deep within ourselves to find where our loyalties lie because it may be here that our ministry is waiting to be discovered. Our thoughts from the Holy Spirit are designed to ignite desire and point out need. What are the things in this world that break our hearts? What new ministries would we like someone else to start? What triggers compassion within us? Answers to these important questions may be the key to discovering your God blessed ministry. Maybe you are the one God is calling.

 

Few people have extremely visible ministries. Most people have quiet behind the scene ministries that bring just as much glory to God as the more visible ministries do. This is true because God judges not on what we do or how much we do, but he judges our simple obedience one task at a time. All believers must be willing to minister as God chooses. God is the one who will choose where and when he needs us to use our gifts and talents. Other times God calls us to step completely out of our comfort zone and serve him. When we fail to step out in faith this is disobedience. Sometimes I wonder just how many blessings I have failed to receive by ignoring the voice of God.

 

If we are to walk a path in this life that succeeds we must consult our Maker. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows how he designed us, why he designed us the way he did, and how he plans to use us. He knows our strengths and he knows our weaknesses. He knows the number of our days and what the future holds. Our Maker knows the plans he has for us that will give us hope and a future.

 

Even when this fallen world surprises us with poor health, pain, suffering, loss of a loved one, or we become the brunt of sinful behavior, abuse, injustice or tragedy, God still has a plan for our life. That plan includes his love and comfort, inner peace and joy, eternal reward, and vengeance that belong to him alone. If we will embrace this truth and trust our Lord, then when we meet Jesus face to face, we will hear him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” because we have chosen to trust him for all that enters our life. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord…He makes his steps firm. Psalm 37:23 KJV It is the Lord that makes our steps firm even when the ground trembles below us. It is the Lord that directs our going and our coming, our starts and our stops. In God’s great design for our life he has made plans for our protection, our comfort, our refinement, and his glory.

 

The Lord brings specific people and opportunities into our lives. We must be alert and watch for his gifts. When the plan is long in coming together, remember that his delays are delays of love and our waiting on the Lord produces patience. Sometimes we hinder God’s plan by not being obedient to what he has asked us to do. Often our obedience reveals the next phase of God’s wonderful plan for our life.

 

Sometimes in this life we are privileged to witness God’s healing, restoration, and justice. But if it is God’s will to leave the suffering in our life I believe he will make it up to us in heaven. I also believe that there is never any disappointment in Jesus. In this life we often look back and see that his plans were best. But in eternity we will observe that all his plans were perfect. We will understand that the flaws God created within us were placed there to accomplish his purposes and the adversity that he allowed to enter our life he also used for our good. I am convinced that if we insist on knowing the answers to all the “whys” in life we will miss out on his joy and peace.

 

Questions:

1. What is the first step in allowing God to direct your life and reveal his plan for your life to you?
2. Have you taken the first step? If not, why not do so right now. Tell Jesus that you want to partner with him and follow his lead as you move forward with your life.
3. As a believer, what specific area of your life is causing you the most frustration?
4. Have you considered that the bump in the road may be the result of you doing things your way instead of God’s way?
5. Will you surrender your plans into the Lord’s hands for his direction?

Prayer:

Dear Lord.

 

In Proverbs 19:21 your word tells us, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.” Father, forgive me when I rush ahead of you. I want to follow the plans you have for my life because I know that within your guidelines and plans I will find peace, joy, and contentment. “You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5 Lord I do not want to be an obstinate child, who is determine to  carry out my own plans instead of yours. I have experienced that when I pile repeated sin upon repeated sin there is nothing left but disappointment and failure. “I know, O Lord, that man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23 Father, I pray that I would willingly surrender my plans into your Sovereign hands. Lord, I pray that you will direct my steps and lead me down your path because it is the only path that will give me hope and a future. Father, when my plans go south, help me to see that disappointment as an opportunity to re-evaluate my position before you. Am I leading or am I following?

 

It is in you name I pray. Amen.

The Lifter of My Head

“I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high”

Leviticus 26:13 NIV

 

I love going early to the garden. I love going midday to the garden and I love going to the garden in the evening. For me the garden is such a place of beauty. Today is no exception. The azaleas are especially pretty this time of year. Some of the azaleas bloom early in April and still others flaunt their beautiful bonnets on into May. They add striking bursts of color to the shaded garden. There is such a variety of color among the azaleas. Blooms of soft pastel pink graduate to a vibrant hot pink punctuating the garden landscape. Creamy peach blossoms and deep melon blooms welcome all who will pause to enjoy their beauty. Pure white, lavender, and deep purple accentuate this color palette with royal beauty. But my all-time favorite is a deep pink azalea that always makes me say, “Beautiful, just beautiful!” The garden is not only a place of beauty, it is also a place of amazing hope!

 

Even when we know the Lord, life has a way of pulling us down. It seems I often forget that I am a jar of clay, fragile and easily shattered. Joy can rule deep within my heart because of the constant love of Jesus. Yet, emotions are all up and down the chart when it comes to external happiness.

 

When those we care about suffer, we feel sad and helpless. When the weather is dull and drab for days we can become unmotivated and depressed. Overload at work sometimes makes us feel that we have been taken advantage of and dumped on. Prolonged physical problems leave us feeling weak and weary. Other times our plans must be changed and we feel disappointed.

 

Sometimes our emotions push us to an entirely different level. The words of another have wounded us. Negative comments and judgmental opinions of others directed toward us can crush our spirit and break our heart. At time we feel unappreciated and devalued. We long to hear words from another that let us know they love us, respect us, value us, cherish us, and support us. Unfortunately, in many cases those words never come.

 

Ever so often we walk into a situation that leaves us totally broken. It is a “yoke” of loss that is next to unbearable. But this too is a time when God wants to draw us near and lift our heads. We can depend on God to come through for us and heal our broken heart. “I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high” Leviticus 26:13 NIV

 

There is so much hope to be experienced when we go to the garden of our heart and sit at the feet of Jesus.  Second Corinthians 7:6 says, “But God, who comforts the downcast…” God is the lifter of my head. No matter what is going on in your life there is still hope. The very words “but God” is the precursor to hope. It is God who is able to bring comfort to my wounded emotions, my downcast spirit, and my broken heart. The Psalmist asks,” Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. “Psalm 42:5 NIV

 

There is absolutely no better remedy for raw emotions, hurt feelings, a downcast spirit, disturbing events in life, or a broken heart than to sit for a spell in the garden with the Lord. Enter the garden, look over the fence and lift up your eyes to the hills. Feasting on the mountains will work just as well and without a doubt you will find help, strength, comfort, healing, and peace. Allow the Lord to lavish his love upon you. He will take your face in his hands and lift your head. He will dry your tears and fill you with his joy. He will minister to you and give you both help and hope. “I Lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

 

You will eventually leave the garden and go back to the same circumstance that sent you here in the first place, but now you will feel different because you are filled with hope. You can face today, tomorrow, and the days ahead because the Maker of heaven and earth will sustain you.

 

Circumstances seldom change but our outlook regarding those circumstances does change. Time spent in honest prayer before the Lord will always lift you higher. Jesus will whisper words into your thoughts and tell you where you need to change and what you must overlook. He will teach you about compassion and mercy and you will be able to graciously move on. I love so much that Jesus is the lifter of my head! What a verbal picture of what it is that my Lord is able to do for me.

 

Questions:

1. Are you currently walking around despondently looking at you toes?
2. Are you going through your day with your chin up but your spirit crushed?
3. Are you hiding behind a fake smile as you go about daily responsibilities, yet when you are alone you cry?
4. Are you one of those tough guys who never cries but yet you contemplate ways to escape the heaviness that sits on your spirit?
5. Are you in need of hope?
6. When was the last time you went alone to the garden so that Jesus Christ could lift your head?
7. Is there a better solution? I think not.

Prayer:

 

Dear Jesus,

 

How is it possible that my hope for eternal life is sure because I am your child and yet, not always, but sometimes I feel hopeless about the events surrounding my life? Forgive me when I allow people to bring me down. Forgive me when I forget to ask you to lift my head. I confess that most days are good, yet sometimes when I least expect it, Satan catches me off guard and tries to drag me into dark moments. But you Lord are the light of my life and my salvation. Who shall I fear? Who shall steal my joy? Your Word is a lamp into my feet and a light unto my path. You allow sadness but lace it with comfort. You allow others to speak hurtful words, but you redirect me to your Word. You take my overload and help me to set priorities and simplify my life. You show me the difference between what the world says is important and what you say is eternal. I thank you Lord for always standing near. How amazing that you are indeed only a prayer away. This day I choose you over discouragement, depression, despair, disgrace, and discontentment. With all my heart, I thank you Jesus that you are the lifter of my head.

 

It is in your name I pray. Amen

Red Flags

“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

For I have the desire to do what is good,

but I cannot carry it out.

For what I do is not the good I want to do;

no, the evil I do not want to do – this  I keep on doing.”

Romans 6:18-19 NIV

“For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;

 but I see another law at work in the members of my body,

waging war against the law of my mind and making me

a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.”

Romans 7:22-23 NIV

 

“What a wretched man I am!

Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Romans 6:24-25 NIV

The sun is up! That puts a smile on my face. The coffee is fresh and smells wonderful! I hurry to pull on my “Life is Good” tee-shirt and start my day. As the day progresses, things happen, my mood changes, interruptions frustrate me, people irritate me, and from afar I see ridiculous red flags popping up in my heart’s garden. The flags are flapping in the whirlwind of my life reminding me to be careful, slow down, and take a Jesus break! I am ignoring the flags and one by one more things happen to spoil my day! The spiral down from “life is good’ to “you’ve got to be kidding” is out of control and about to do me in.

 

In total frustration I head for the garden. At least I can get those bizarre, random red flags out of my garden. I am so self-absorbed that today the flowers along the path in the garden are just so-so! Not ugly, but neither are they beautiful. As I pass by the Master Gardener I give him an over the shoulder “hey, how ya doing?’ as I make tracks to remove the annoying red flags.

 

As is his practice, the Master Gardner sneaks up behind me and taps me on the shoulder and says, “Paula, what’s your hurry?” Clearly, I am in no mood for this. Again, he speaks, “What’s up with the aggressive flag removal?” So I turn quickly on my sassy heels and look him square in the eye and say, “I’ll tell you what’s up!”

 

And so it begins. I begin to recall my morning. First the sun came up and I enjoyed a cup of coffee. Then I burned my toast! After that I had a relational conflict with a family member. Next my computer was not cooperating. Then phone rang revealing yet another problem. Grabbing my keys I ran to the car ready to begin my errands. Of course, the gas was on next to empty and as I was driving to purchase gas to feed my starving car I realized I had made a huge mistake in my checkbook. Since the Master Gardner seemed to be so interested in my insane life, I now dared to express to him that my impulsive nature was begging for a quick fix for all of these matters. Surely he could see that I was getting more and more frustrated by the minute.

 

While I had his attention, I told him about an incident that had happened a few days ago when fear nearly got the best of me. I also recalled the week before. I had been unmotivated, lazy and daydreaming my time away. It had left me with a deep sense of regret and lack of accomplishment. Then Jesus asked me a question, “Didn’t you see any of the red flags?” My response, “what red flags?”

 

I then began to lecture him about my lack of time for his red flags! Lord, you know I am an independent person and I am more than capable of controlling all that bothers me. Then Jesus smiled and said, “How’s that working out for you?” Sometimes he can be so annoying!

 

I wanted to pour my heart out to him but my pride kicked in and I wouldn’t admit my defeat or need. Secretly, I knew I was an emotional mess and on the edge of a melt down. Truth be told, none of this was a secret or a surprise to him. I knew he was listening so I began to complain about the good fortune of others. My pity-party was in full swing! Once again, Jesus asks, “Didn’t you see the red flags?” My response was, “Well maybe a couple, but I just didn’t have the desire or time to investigate why they were there.”

 

Then Jesus taught me as only he can teach. “Paula, I am the one who places the red flags in your garden. When I look into your future and see that you are in danger of making a mistake, heading for emotional melt down, or facing fear. I know when you will face an opportunity for an outburst of anger, or when you will be in a situation that will position you for greed, control, self-pity and selfishness. I know when you will be facing conflict with another person, depression, and discontentment. I purposely wave a red flag and then I place that flag securely on your pathway to serve as a warning.”

 

“Lord, what do those red flags mean?” Jesus replies, “My child, they mean you are about to sin!” “Lord it seems that I either do not see the flag, I ignore the flag, or like today I simply want the flag out of my sight!”

 

Now that I think about it, some of the same flags continue to reappear over and over flagging my repeated sins. I really don’t like to call them sins; I am far more comfortable labeling those incidents as mistakes or personal failure. Today I am wondering why I can’t seem to learn from these flags. Lord, why don’t you give up and stop making opportunities for me to heed the red flag warnings in my life. Lord, I try but I’m pretty sure I will never change. I don’t think I will ever get it right.

 

The fact is Jesus loves me so much that he will stop at nothing in order to get me to recognize the sinful flaw in my spirit that is keeping me from personal spiritual victory regarding every sin. There is no limit to the opportunities he will allow me to experience regarding sinful behavior. I am beginning to understand that Jesus simply wants me to trust him with my failures and allow him to help me overcome all my repeated sinful behavior. But because of God’s great love the opportunity to succumb to Satan’s temptation will always come with a red flag of warning.

 

The purpose of red flags is to make us all stop and evaluate what we are thinking or about to say or do. Red flags are an opportunity for us to consider the consequences. Red flags slow us down so we can remember all that Jesus has done for us and then, out of love and gratitude to him, choose to heed the red flag warning and obey his law. We must all come to a point in our spirit when we choose to love God more than we love our sin. Red flags are meant to be retrieved, placed in the hand of Jesus and their warning must be embraced and obeyed. The Holy Spirit lives inside of us to assist us in our weakness. Wretched people that we are, it is only Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit that can rescue us in our time of need.

 

There is no future in repeated sin. It fractures relationships; it ruins marriages, creates addictions, piles on debt, fosters discontentment, ends in unwanted consequences, and pushes God further away.

 

God is not the enemy. He does not find pleasure in slapping our hands or shaking his finger in our face. He is the one who raises the red flag. It is not a yellow flag of caution; it is a red flag that demands we stop! His precious hands prod and pull, He lures and loves. He convicts but he does not condemn. His purpose is to take us higher and perfect our spirit in the amazing process of sanctification. God is both consistent and persistent in his work of perfection in our life.

 

Satan on the other hand is the deceiver. As I walk in the garden of life Satan is busy stuffing self-interest propaganda flyers by the handful into my pockets as I pass by! He applauds my impulsive nature as I shove God into the background and sprint ahead. He throws smoke bombs between me and my Savior so that he will be out of sight and out of mind. He is giving away free tickets to Pleasure Island, but when all is said and done, he laughs and says, “You are a pathetic failure.” and my spirit is crushed!

 

But Jesus says, “Come to me, I am the lifter of your head! I am the lover of your soul and a very present help in trouble. I am able to change you from glory into more glory! You are precious in my sight!”

 

Questions:

1. What sin is it that God continues to bring you back to over and over again?
2. Have you considered the fact that God alone is able to help you overcome repetitive sin in your life?
3. Are you amazed at the extent that God will go to allow you to continue to repeat sinful mistakes in your life until you are able to surrender that sin to his forgiveness and restoration?
4. Is there currently a red flag waving in your heart’s garden?
5. What will you do with that flag? Will you choose to ignore it or heed it?
6. Will you ask God to help you to overcome the repeated sinful habit of the flesh that wars with your spirit?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

 

Thank you for your amazing love. Thank you that your love will not let me go. I even want to thank you that you continue to bring me back again and again to my point of disobedience until I finally learn a lesson and choose to heed your red flag of warning. It stands to reason that I will never have victory over that sin in my life unless I hand you my sin and obey your laws. Father I know that there is no way out of this trap of sinful behavior apart from you because I am weak, but I know that you are strong. You are my rock, my fortress, and my constant help in times of need. Jesus I know that there will always be opportunities for me to fall backwards. Therefore Lord, help me to focus daily on you so that I will not miss your red flags and that I will desire to heed every warning you set before me so that the victory will be mine! With you Lord, I know that all things are possible.

 

It is in your name I pray. Amen.