Buttons

“…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God,

so that you can take your stand against

the devil’s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers, against the authorities,

against the powers of this dark world

and against the spiritual forces of evil

in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God,

so that when the day of evil comes,

you may be able to stand your ground,

and after you have done everything,

to stand. Stand firm…”

Ephesians 6:10-14a NIV

 The air is crisp. Autumn seems to have slipped up on me. This morning it only took one step outside my door for me to realize that I must wear a jacket to the garden. I rummage through the back closet looking for my favorite jacket. This jacket is old but it is soft and comfortable. This finger length jacket has seven buttons! Zippers always seem to be faster but this cozy jacket is definitely worth the effort it takes to button up.

 

On the way to the garden I began to think about buttons. I almost start giggling as I remember growing up. I am the youngest of six children. My three brothers all seemed to delight in teasing me. I have been told that I talked more than anyone in the family ever wanted to listen. I think I may still have that problem! My brothers would often tell me to “button my lip”. How rude! And my two sisters would tell me to sew a button on my lip as they made sewing gestures by pressing their lips together and sewing with a pretend needle and thread. Again, how incredibly rude!

 

My son collected buttons to pin on clothing. Each button posted its own unique message. Some supported his favorite sports teams; other had catchy phrases or a simple word of exclamation. Many of these buttons carry unique messages for others to read. Buttons with messages may make you laugh. Some buttons have symbols or pictures that deliver a visual message. Other buttons may invite you jump on a bandwagon or join in supporting a specific cause or candidate. Other buttons may serve as a reminder of a favorite vacation spot or hobby.

 

My Mother was a seamstress.  I still have a jar of buttons that belonged to her. The button jar contains buttons in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Some of the buttons are simple, while others are quite unique and elaborate. It is funny how sometimes things from our past can provide us with an amazing lesson of God’s truth in the present.

 

On this beautiful fall day I have found a comfortable bench in the garden. I am surrounded by yellow, gold, and bronze mums. The warm colors of autumn are delightful! What a perfect place to sit and talk to God as I begin to contemplate another type of button. These are the buttons in my life that others seem to always be pushing! These are the buttons labeled: interruption, expectation, and aggravation. There are also the buttons of lack of appreciation, false accusations, and exasperation!  These are the buttons that in the heat of the moment catch me off guard and I immediately respond with quick ungodly words. I hate when I respond in this curt manner! I totally relate to the Apostle Paul when he says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15 NIV As a follower of Jesus Christ, I know full well that responding to the button pushing of others is dangerous. When I respond to the button pushing of others I open up my mind and my heart to the devil’s schemes. So this morning in prayer I am asking God, “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24 NIV It is amazing when we ask God the right question how quick he is to give us his truthful answer. “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:25a NIV 

 

Then the Spirit prompts me to open my Bible and read “…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm…” Ephesians 6:10-14a NIV

 

After reading that scripture the Spirit continued to teach me during my time of prayer. His message was simple. Your strength will come from the mighty power of the Lord. He will equip you to stand firm. Put on the FULL armor of God and don’t omit a single thing. I ask, “Why Lord do I need to do this?”  He answers again, in simple truth. “You need to do this so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” The Holy Spirit whispers, “Paula, your struggle is not with the button pushers in your life. It IS with Satan and the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. This struggle is NOT from heaven but from the space outside of heaven! This world has been given over to Satan for only a time. You are living in that time so you must fight him and all of his agents. Therefore, protect yourself and allow me to dress you in my spiritual armor.”

 

Praying in the garden always seems to help me re-examine my priorities. I have found that for me I must spend time alone with God early in the day because Satan is out there lurking, waiting for situations, circumstances, and button pushers to set me off! If I fail to put on my protection, or at some point take off my protection I am at risk. Jesus understood this principle well. That is exactly why he went to the garden before he went to the cross. The cross was still ahead of him but now he was equipped to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one and do the will of his Father.

 

Prayer time is also important because it is where we get dressed for battle. Prayer time is where the Holy Spirit securely "buttons" my spiritual armor! He does this by fastening the belt of God’s truth around my waist. He then attaches the breastplate of God’s righteousness firmly in place. He holds out the shoes of readiness and preparedness that come from the gospel of God’s peace. After I am dressed and look’en good, the Spirit hands me a shield of faith so that I may extinguish the flaming arrows of Satan. Last but not least, he hands me a sword. He says, “This Sword represents my Word. Remember and rely on my words, they are the sharpest of all swords. My words are sharper than any two edged sword that Satan may have in his arsenal. It is my words that will send him packing every time. Hide my words in your heart because you never know when you will need them! My words are your strongest weapon. My words will keep you from sinning.”

 

After this encounter, I know full well that when I leave the garden today I will be open to all manner of interruption, expectation, and aggravation. I will experience lack of appreciation, false accusations, and exasperation!  I now understand that being the object of button pushing is normal when you live in a sinful world.  For that reason, I humbly unbutton my coat and drop it to the ground. Satan sends an unsuspected shiver up my spine and I am acutely conscious that my spirit is vulnerable without God’s armor. I quickly invite the Spirit to dress me in complete readiness for battle.

 

To my surprise the armor is not a burden, it is a protection. It does not clink and creak but rather it moves like a well oiled machine of grace. The armor is not heavy because Jesus is helping me shoulder its weight and making this burden amazingly light. The armor is not cold and chilling but instead it is lined with fleecy wool. It is the wool from the Lamb of God. Though my sins were as scarlet they became as wool, his perfect covering for my sin. I am now completely equipped to do life outside the garden. God never has nor will he ever expect me to fight the lions of sin in my own strength. Our God provides above and beyond all that any Believer will ever need.

 

Questions:

1. Do you ever have your buttons pushed?
2. How do you respond?
3. Do you become frustrated when you realize that you have once again succumbed to the button pushers of life?
4. Do you realize that Satan is an opportunist and will use your sinful response as an opportunity to get inside your mind?
5. Do you delight in the provision of God’s armor?
6. Do you realize how perfectly the armor of God is designed to help you overlook and overcome button pushers and protect you from Satan’s flaming arrows?
7. Are you currently wearing God’s armor or are you on your way to the garden for a much needed fitting?

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven,

 

Forgive me when I cave in to the frustration of button pushing. I need a double portion of forgiveness when I realize that I too am a button pusher! Indeed, I am a wretched woman. Father, I know that I will not do this life perfectly, but Father I ask you to help me to do better that I did yesterday. Forgive me when I fail to spend time alone with you in the garden. Give me an understanding that when I move away from you I lay down my sword and my shield. When my life becomes too busy I allow Satan to snip the belt of truth right off my waist and remove the breastplate of right responses off of my chest. Forgive me when I slip out of your shoes of readiness and find that I am unprepared to walk the narrow road of obedience and grace. Father, I am so thankful that no one can remove my helmet of salvation! No one can snatch me from your hands or hide me from your eyes. Father, I pray that I will stay focused because you are my source of strength and my shield of protection. At times Lord, my response to button pushing may seem like a very trivial thing. It may seem that my sin is too small to bring to your attention. But Lord, today I see that button pushing is the very thing that has often made my entire day go south! I pray that I will purpose in my heart to choose to put on, and not remove, your armor of love and protection. I thank you God for such a marvelous gift. Last but not least, I pray that I will not be found guilty of being a button pusher in the lives of others,

 

It is in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Singing In the Rain and Dancing In The Storm

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt,”

Jeremiah 31:3-4 NIV

Whatever has always been is not always what may be. This has been my experience this year. I have always been blessed with good health but this year God has reminded me that I am indeed made of dust and someday I will return to dust. My sister, Lou, often reminds me that growing old is NOT for sissies. I am beginning to agree with her. However, she has modeled for me an inner strength in the storms of her life that far surpasses any weakness that she could possibly ever experience. She may be my sister but she is in no way a sissy! Gratitude and grace define her outlook on life. Her trust in God is simple and sure. I am blessed that God placed her in my life as a very real example of how our health can crumble but God provides all that we need and is always more than enough.

 

Health issues seem to test people’s faith in amazing ways. I believe this is true because we are forced to face our own mortality. I am pretty sure that when a positive diagnosis is given to any of us from our doctor it is never well received. Even if we are a “triple-ripple” Christian with the highest marks possible from those in our circle of Christian friends, we are still vulnerable and open game for Satan and his demons as we begin the process of digesting our news and choosing to trust God.

 

On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst news possible, the condition of our health is still our own personal news, it is our road to travel, and it is our thoughts that have to be reconciled. I’m pretty sure there will always be others who have it worse than us and many we know will seemingly have it better. No matter where we are in our health journey, gratitude is always a good place to start. We can be thankful for our current blessings, our blessing of the past, our spiritual blessings, and our hope for the future.

 

This year my news was not so good. Yes, it could have been so much worse, but the simple fact remained, God allowed me to experience a bump in my otherwise smooth road and I found that I had choices to make. Fear was a possibility, but not a healthy option. Anger was also something to briefly consider, but was not in my best interest. Throwing a pity-party for myself and inviting all those around me to attend was also something to be considered. But the time and energy necessary for that would use up all my time and I would miss sitting with Jesus and hearing his words of comfort and feeling his love. I chose to sing in the rain and dance in the storm! My dancing partner is none other than Jesus and what a wonderful partner he has been over the past weeks.

 

The beautiful thing about Jesus is when we regularly spend time with him we are already comfortable in his presence. We are accustomed to him leading, so now having him lead in and through the storm is not unfamiliar to a follower of Jesus Christ. We have already learned to sing with him in the rain and now the storm is the perfect place for dancing.

 

I love this imagery of dancing because I find that I am never alone. It is in the storm of life that he may seem closer than ever before. This is a dance to savor. I am reminded that my partner is to be trusted because he leads joyfully in love with heavenly rhythm, precision, and accuracy. Draw near to him in the dance and he will whisper sweet promises in your ear that will assure you of his sovereignty, and his unchanging and everlasting love.

 

I for one want to sing the praises of my partner. It was in the weeks prior to my diagnosis that it seemed to me that God was preparing me for an opportunity to trust him. After my diagnosis he surrounded me with my wonderful husband, my children, other family members, and friends who became his messengers of love. It seemed that God really prepared the way as I discovered wonderful doctors and others who touched me in unexpected ways. I must admit I do not take help from others very well. I have always been on the giving end not the receiving end. But oh the joy I would have missed if God had not allowed me to experience this bump in my road. Prayers, cards, flowers, gifts, meals, encouragement, phone calls, e-mails, and tender touches that all said I love you and I care. Please know that if you are in a new place of loss, Jesus loves you too.

 

At the onset of my breast cancer walk God gave me a verse of encouragement to carry me through this time when life has slowed me down a bit. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt,” Jeremiah 31:3-4 NIV Even though those words were written for Israel, I believe God spoke those same words to me as well.  It turns out that my prognosis is extremely good, but there were times early on when I was not sure and decisions had to be made. It was a scary time and it was not convenient, BUT God was with me. He continues to be with me, and he will be with me always. I know that in this situation God walked before me. He prepared the way even before I knew what was ahead. He continues to stand with me and surrounds me with his people.

 

At this time it seems that things will be ending well, but I know that there will come a time when my earthly life will be over. That is why when things are going well I need to take heed and stock up on God’s Word. I need to meet with Jesus daily in a quiet place. I need to trust God with my life everyday. I need to remember how wonderful it is to sing with Jesus in the sunshine and in the rain. I need to store up all his promises. I need to do all these things so when the next test comes I will choose to cling to his promises and dance with Jesus in the storm.

 

I hope I will always remember to never underestimate the severity of whatever it is I am going through because it is my crisis and there are hard choices to be made. I also want to remember to never overestimate how difficult I think my circumstance is because I don’t have to look very far to see others who are suffering more. When I am vulnerable I must simply lean into the arms of Jesus and yes, try to find joy in the dance and always practice gratitude even in my moments of greatest need. I know that Satan preys on the weak and the strong. His mind games are the greatest battle I will ever face. I must remember to rebuke him out loud in the name of Jesus Christ and he will flee.

 

Life is always going to be far from perfect. I want to praise the One who holds my future and allows me to sing with him in the rain and dance with him in the storm!

 

Questions:

1. Are you going through a time of testing?
2. Is the storm in your life about to get you down?
3. Are you afraid?
4. Do you see that you always have a choice to either dance in the storm or let the waves of fear and anger destroy you?
5. Do you receive strength and joy knowing that Jesus is your dancing partner in the midst of your storm?
6. Can you remember a time in the past when Jesus sang with you in the sunshine and in the rain?
7. Does that give you courage for dancing in the storm now?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

 

Today I just want to praise you because of your greatness. You are high and lifted up above all others. You are acquainted with pain, sorrow, loss, and grief. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made and you know every cell in my body. I praise you because you provide amazing promises for me to cling to every day and in my darkest night. I praise you because underneath me are your everlasting, loving arms. I praise you because you love me enough to trust me with an opportunity to trust you. I praise you because you send your heavenly and earthly angels to do your work in my behalf. I praise you because down the road things may not go so well, but because of my current experience I will know of your amazing love that will carry me even when things turn out to be less than what I had hoped for. I praise you because this world in not my final home. I praise you because my hope for my future is firmly rooted in heaven. Yes, Jesus, I praise you!

 

It is in your name I pray. Amen.

The Glue That Holds It All Together

“Humble yourselves

under the mighty hand of God,

that He may exalt you in due time,

casting all your care upon Him,

for He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV

Today in the garden I am a bit weary. Today for some reason, the beautiful golden Rudbeckia looks a little paler than usual. I guess it is true that much of what we see is in the eye of the beholder. If our mind is fuzzy, our heart heavy, or our vision clouded because of personal burdens and concerns we see life as overwhelming and the beauty that surrounds us dims as we seek ways to hold together all that we feel is falling apart.

 

Fathers are always concerned regarding the provision and the well being of their family. His hunter, warrior nature makes him passionate for the provision and protection of those he loves. A father often separates himself from his family in order to provide. Father’s are sometimes accused of being absent; when in fact their concern for their family is huge. The harder they work, the more they earn, and the more they earn, the better they can provide for their family.

 

On the other hand, most mothers are always trying to fix what is broken. A mother’s nurturing nature wants to mend broken hearts, fix an emotional crisis, bandage up wounded spirits, nurse sick children, fill empty cupboards, put back together failed relationships, encourage a discouraged spouse, help children change poor grades, and referee all family fights. Even when our children leave home some of these things remain in the heart of a mother. For some reason we believe that we are the glue that holds it all together.

 

Truth be known, God gave every child a mother to care for, guide, teach, and nurture them. He also designated a wife to be the helpmate to her husband. But I have found that when I try to shoulder this responsibility alone my bottle of glue becomes extremely heavy! By nature we women are fixers. Often our need to fix another’s problem is not received well. It has been my experience, that when my overtures of offering to apply the glue of my knowledge  is declined, I feel rejection. Even when my adhesive is love-based it may not always be received well. Often the score of my success rate in helping those I love is zero to none! I find that when this happens my spirit is crushed, I become weary and often fearful for the one who is experiencing the difficult time. At times I become angry when someone I love won’t allow me to do my job. After all, I am a master fixer and what good is a full bottle of glue without something or someone to repair? Being the fixer can be a curse!

 

Today as I am walking in the garden, I can’t help observing the sad black eyes of the pale Rudbeckia. The sad little faces on these flowers remind me of the faces of so many people I know and love. Some are family members others are close friends. My burden for each one of them is heavy. But the Master Gardener has a fix. Not for them but for me. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV

 

God's Word tells us that we are to humble ourselves before God and cast our cares on him. He will glue our broken heart, lift our head, soothe our painful concerns and reassure us that he loves those we love more than we do. Our prayer must simply be, “Lord, I trust you with         ____________.” Of course, we can never be certain of how someone will respond to God, but we can be sure beyond the shadow of a doubt that God hears our prayer, he will convict if need be, he will send other people to the side of those we love, he will provide opportunity for them to respond to him, he will call them, he will intercede in prayer for them, and he always stands ready to receive them when they humbly reach up and take his hand.

 

Leaving the garden gate I simply pray, “God I trust you with ___________.” As I glance over my shoulder for one last look at the Rudbeckia, their sunny little heads now seems brighter! This is a very visible sign to me that my God is on the job. I can rest in him because I have cast my cares on Him. I can now pray confidently because I know that God is on the job. I pray and he glues and fixes all those who will come to him. There may still be cracks and scares of brokenness and sorrow but God is able to put together that which we thought was beyond repair. My job is not to glue but rather pray and trust the Father.

 

As God leads me, I will continue to apply the glue of love and encouragement to those whose hearts will receive me. In addition, I will always make sure that the glue I use will have that “extra ingredient” of me trusting God as I bring my cares and concerns to him regarding the ones I love. You see, God is the glue that holds our lives together and he uses us to do his work of applying the glue of his love and displaying his grace.

 

Questions:

1. Do you sometimes feel that you have too many people to care for?
2. Do you feel burdened by the needs of others?
3. Are you a fixer?
4. What are the dangers of you trying to meet everyone’s needs alone?
5. Have you considered casting your cares on Jesus?

Prayer:

 

Dear Jesus,

 

Forgive me for bearing my burdens alone. Help me not to rush ahead of you in my attempts to help and mend those I love. Yes, moms are the glue that holds the family together but help me to remember that I was never meant to work alone. Jesus, help me to cast my cares on you everyday because you care for me and you also care for those I love and cherish. Jesus, today I trust you with ___________, and ________, and __________.

 

In your name I pray. Amen

The Risk of Believing

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

As a follower of Jesus Christ I find that my life experiences often cause me to question the many mysteries of God. I am looking forward to the day when I can sit with Jesus and ask him about some of the things that I find perplexing in this life. I have found that the more I pursue my Savior, the more he reveals tiny glimpses of heavenly truth. Today my heart is longing for more understanding. The garden gate only needs me to open it and step onto the path that leads to the garden of my heart. Today the thought of spending time with the Gardener fills my heart with both eagerness and joy. My step quickens as I swiftly make my way along the colorful floral pathway that leads to my favorite bench in the garden. My eyes are searching far beyond my steps as I anticipate seeing my Lord. Ah ha! There he is, standing near our spot, as always, awaiting my arrival with a smile.

 

On this beautiful day I waste no time as I begin our conversation by asking him, “Why is it so hard for non-believers to grasp faith? Lord, I find that so many are curious about you but faith in the unseen seems to be the stumbling block. The educated mind of man requires proof. Lack of physical proof causes many to doubt your existence and proclaims that eternal life is a fantasy. Their unbelief wants to see evidence they can see and touch. They want facts. They are not going to put themselves in a position of looking stupid because they presume themselves to be far more intelligent than that!”

 

Then Jesus begins to teach me about simple faith. “Faith is revealed when an individual takes the risk to believe in me. Before that moment their eyes are blind to the truth.” Then he reminded me about Thomas, who was one of his followers. Thomas had been privileged to walk with him during his earthly ministry. He had heard Jesus teach. His eyes had seen both Jesus and his miracles. Yet Thomas had allowed the despair of Jesus’ death on the cross to blind his eyes to the truth of his resurrection. After the ten other disciples had seen Jesus they told Thomas that Jesus had risen. Thomas’ reply was that he would NOT believe it unless he could see and touch Jesus’ wounds. Jesus in his love and goodness gave Thomas that opportunity and then Thomas believed. After Thomas’ physical senses had been satisfied, Jesus spoke these words to him. “Because you have seen me, you believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 NIV These are amazing words of hope and blessing to us who did not have the earthly privilege of walking with Jesus.

 

God's Word is clear that believing is a risk we must take before we can experience the opportunity to exercise faith. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV  Every individual must recognize that God is the creator of all and that he or she needs God in their life. After one acknowledges they have a need for God, it only requires faith the size of a mustard seed for them to ask God to meet that need! After we take the risk of believing this truth and ask God to forgive our sin and ask him to guide our life, he does. Then the Holy Spirit comes into our life and takes up residence. We never see him, we simply hope for what the Holy Spirit begins to reveal to us. It is not a hope that is shrouded in doubt, but rather it is a hope that is illuminated with promise. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever (takes the risk) and believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV These words are God’s words of promise to every individual who chooses to believe that their Creator loves them and that he cannot lie. Yes, this is a risk worth taking! People must not stumble over their inability to understand faith because faith that hopes follows belief and faith that hopes will be revealed beyond the risk.

 

Faith beyond the risk is a choice we make as a Believer because we choose to trust God. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 NIV The faith that is needed for God’s grace to flow through our life is small. Our life before experiencing God’s forgiveness is a mountain of sin and if it were not for God’s grace, that sin could never be removed. I am so thankful that God does not insist that we understand all of his ways before we can experience his way. When Jesus spoke of faith he did not insist that we drum up huge amounts of faith. He knows that we are weak and are made of dust. In Matthew 17:20 he simply suggested that when we have faith the size of a mustard seed, that small amount of faith is all that would be needed for us to remove mountains. God’s ways are feasible not impossible!

 

After taking the risk we begin to see things we have never before seen. Our belief has now opened the door for us to experience a strong unshakable faith.

• By faith we believe that the universe was formed at God’s command not out of things that were visible. Hebrews 11:2
• We learn that without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6
• We know first hand that our righteousness comes only by placing our faith in the only one who is righteous, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:7
• By faith we look forward to the city (the New Jerusalem) with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10
• By faith we believe that the giver of all his promises can be trusted. Hebrews 11:11
• By faith we believe that what God has promised will come to pass even if we don’t see it in our lifetime. Hebrews 11:13
• It is by faith we have the courage to trust God in all things. Hebrews 11:17-19
• It is by faith we trust God with the future. Hebrews 11:21
• It is by faith we choose to align our life with God’s people rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time because by faith we look ahead to our non- perishable reward. Hebrews 11:24-26
• By faith we do not fear what man can do to us because we know that God has planned something better that will last for all eternity. Hebrews 11:40

Simply put, faith for a non-believer is an unknown commodity. Their eyes are blind to faith. They do not understand it! But as soon as they take the risk, faith is within their grasp and they begin the process of understanding the mystery of faith. It is a precious thought to know that God has chosen to reveal things to his children that others do not see. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals and gives understanding to each new Believer in small doses as he is able to understand. This will continue throughout the life of all Believers. Spiritual knowledge will not be completely understood until we reach heaven. Here in the garden today, I am overcome with the many blessings that are mine though being sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see. For me it has been, is, and always will be well worth taking the risk!

 

Questions:

1. Are you someone who is contemplating taking the risk of trusting Jesus?
2. What was the last risk in life that you took?
3. Before taking that risk did you have all the information that would assure you that things would end well?
4. Did you learn more after taking the risk?
5. What will be the consequence for you if you refuse to take the risk of believing in Jesus Christ and his forgiveness?
6. If you have already taken the risk, what do you love the most about your faith?

Prayer:

 

Dear God,

 

Help me to realize that it is your character to love and redeem those you have created. I remember that once I was hopelessly lost and eternally separated from you. I was without a hope or a future before I chose to risk loving you. I still stand amazed that the God of the universe, my Creator, wanted to restore me back into his fellowship. I am astounded that you wanted me to risk coming to you so that you could place me under the umbrella of your personal eternal protection, which is none other than the sacrificial blood of your precious son, Jesus Christ. Father, I am so grateful that someone told me of your love and that I mustered up what little belief I needed to come to you and allow you to remove the sin that separated me from you. Father I thank you for your forgiveness and restoration. God, I pray for those who find it so impossible to embrace believing in you. I especially pray for those who allow their perceived intelligence to be a stumbling block that continues to separate them from you. Father, give them the courage to take the risk of believing without seeing or understanding. I pray that they will know the joy and peace that comes into their life at the exact moment when they take the risk of believing in you and what you can do in their life. Speak to those who do not know you and the power of your love. Create within their life a need for you and then call them to take risk. I pray that those you call will be obedient and then experience knowing the hope of eternal life.

 

It is in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Well Done

 

“Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things;

Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Matthew 25:21 NIV

 

It is a fine morning in North Carolina! This morning as I head for the garden I am pondering the possibility of not hearing Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”. I know as a believer in Jesus Christ that my salvation has been sealed and my name has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. However, there is much responsibility attached to being a follower of Jesus Christ. As I am running life’s race, it is to my advantage to consider the very real possibility that I could become disqualified from the reward that is at the end of the race. Heaven awaits, but will my failure to hear “well done” leave me sorrowful at the Judgment Seat of Christ when I discover that because of my neglect, selfishness, and disobedience I am about to experience loss of my reward?

 

As I walk deeper into the garden I head for one of my favorite spots. It is a magnificent magnolia tree in the center of the garden. Fragrant blossoms surrounded by large waxy leaves provide another example of God’s amazing creation. I am anxious to speak to the Master Gardner because I want to discuss this business of “well done” and exactly what is required of me. As a believer, a little check up and accountability never hurt anyone.

 

The Master Gardner steps out from behind this beautiful magnolia tree and I notice that he has woven together a floral crown from the magnolia leaves. In my excitement I reach out to receive the beautiful crown he has undoubtedly made just for me. At this point he smiles and raises the crown up high over his head and says, “Not so fast Paula. The time has not yet come. I have laid this crown up for you in heaven, but only if you run the race well here on earth.” So I humbly bow my head and say, “Lord, what is required of me?”

 

Jesus begins to teach me some valuable and unchanging truths. I rejoice in knowing that hearing the Master say “well done” is well within the realm of possibility! It is not hopeless or impossible. In fact the Holy Spirit will be my constant companion and guide as I live out my days on this earth.

 

When I am reminded that “faith without deeds is useless” James 2:20b NIV my legalistic mind immediately rushes to thinking of all the things I can do to enhance my faith with works. But the Master Gardner, Jesus Christ, again stopped me dead in my over achiever tracks and said, only two things are required, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind an with all your strength. The second is this; ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NIV  This message is not particularly good news for my doubtful ears. Truth be told, I simply do not know how to do this. Then Jesus begins to eloquently elaborate.

 

Jesus begins teaching me that although many believe in him, few have what it takes to follow him. Some will even accept him as their personal Savior but remain in new birth faith their entire lives. They never grow, they hear but don’t obey, and they choose to do life alone, their way, not God’s way. They are weak and ineffective believers. Others jump in and get involved with Jesus. These individuals desire a relationship with Jesus and they learn that obedience is a key part to having that relationship. These folks become participants in a life well lived, and their life becomes an example that influences non believers. It is a life that makes others desire to find and follow Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus teaches that if we love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and others as our self we will do four things. The first two are how we love “on” God. The last two are how we love “on” others. And the neat thing is that if we do this well, God rewards us!

1. Faithfulness – We must choose to persevere under the trials of this life. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love  him.” James 1:12 NIV
2. Integrity – We must choose to be a person of integrity and when we do we will live life unashamed and long for our Savior’s return. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV
3. Be Supportive to Other Believers – We must be counted among those who care for, encourage, shepherd, and mentor other believers. “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:4 NIV
4. Witness by Word and Example – We are to minister to non-believers. Our life must be an example that will cause others to see Jesus in our behavior and entice them to follow Jesus. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”  1 Thessalonians 2:19 AKJV

Here in the garden I am beginning to visualize the crown that has been laid up for me in heaven. It has my name on it. No one else can take it. It belongs to me alone. Yet, unlike my salvation it is NOT a free gift! It is earned. It is only earned by my faithfulness to God in and through all circumstances. It is earned when I choose to live a life of integrity that brings glory to the Father. It is earned when I live in peace and unity with the body of believers, and when I reach out and encourage others as I endeavor to help them to stay focused on Jesus and when I offer care and support to them in their time of need. It is giving a cup of cold water to those in need as a reminder that God has not forgotten them. It is earned by living an irreproachable life of example that causes others to ask questions so that I may tell them about my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is a pretty tall order! It is an order that requires me spending time alone with Jesus every day. It requires that I call upon the Holy Spirit to help me in my weakness. It requires selflessness, humility, and surrender to Jesus, one “Yes, Jesus” at a time. It requires me to be constantly accountable for my behavior. It requires me to manage my time and my money well. Let me just say right here, I am a constant work in progress on all counts!

The good news is that Jesus wants all of us to earn our crown! It is a gorgeous crown made up of his faithfulness and our faithfulness to him in return. It has blossoms of our righteousness which is only possible because we are clothed in his righteousness alone. This crown shines with his glory, and has beautiful colors, shades, sounds, and fragrances of heavenly rejoicing that we cannot even imagine! I for one do not want to become disqualified from earning this crown. If we are a Believer, our crown has already been set aside for us in heaven and it is worth all our effort as we endeavor to walk with Jesus. He has done so much for me. How can I do any less for him? Falling in love with Jesus over and over again opens up our heart to obedience. Obedience requires the discipline of training as we run the race. So we read the Word, we learn from other teachers of the Word, we spend time in prayer, and we train ourselves to listen for the soft gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit. We walk in blind faith and we worship our awesome Maker. These are the things that will equip and enable us to be obedient children out of a heart of love rather than obligation or fear. Obedience as we run the race will end in earning the prize and hearing Jesus say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

 

And then last but never least; we may choose to follow the example of the twenty-four elders as they lay their crowns at the feet of Jesus because he alone is worthy! Revelation 4:9 NIV  It is not hard to imagine that we will desire to give something to the one who gave his all for us. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain! Our crown will be our reward given to us by Jesus. I don’t believe that Jesus will demand that we return our crown, but I can imagine that our hearts will be so full of gratitude that most likely we can do no less. How very sad it would be for me not to have crown to lay at the feet of my Savior.

Questions:

1. What are some of the things in your life that if left unchecked could disqualify you from earning your crown?
2. Name two things that you are currently doing to foster and develop your relationship with Jesus.
3. Is there something else that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to do?
4. How important is it to hold yourself accountable for staying focused in this race of life?
5. What temptations and selfish desires are pulling you away from the Father?
6. Have you learned to rely on the strength and power of the Holy Spirit to help you in your time of weakness?
7. Do you long to finish life well and hear Jesus say "well done"?

Prayer:

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Oh how I long to hear you say well done. Father, I admit that the race is hard, exhausting, and dangerous. It is so much easier to blame, curse, and become angry with you when I experience trials and sorrow in life. Forgive me and help me to embrace your goodness and remain faithful to you in all circumstances. Lord, I also confess that my integrity can be challenged in a heartbeat, especially if no one is looking. Jesus, you know how busy I am and how the challenges and responsibilities of life pile up on me leaving very little time to fellowship with other believers, let alone having time to be a supportive, encouraging person to your children. It is so easy for me to be self-absorbed and neglect my responsibility to shepherd and mentor others. This world is always tempting me to spend my time and money in all the wrong places. If I am not careful I allow myself to become tainted by the world’s value system and then find that I have become bankrupt in my own spirit and have nothing to offer to non-believers. I fear that when I look in the mirror I will discover that I have become more like them and less like you. Forgive me Jesus. Help me Lord, to rely on the Holy Spirit in all of my times of weakness. Help me to fall deeper in love with you and run this race of life well. I pray that I will never forget that this life counts for eternity. I want to finish the race well and receive the crown that have been reserved for me. Lord, I pray I will remain strong and never become disqualified. Father, my hope is in you alone. Oh the joy and hope of heaven and all of its rewards!

 

In your name, the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Judge Not...

 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

For in the same way you judge others,

you will be judged,

and with the measure you use,

it will be measured to you.”

Matthew 7:1-2 NIV

 

My qualification for writing this piece is not because I have mastered the art of NOT being judgmental, but because I am a master at judging! I am ashamed to admit that often I have passed off judging others as recognizing the obvious, being opinionated, being discerning, or simply evaluating the evidence.

 

I began to learn the art of judging at a very early age. Being brought up in a legalistic church and home I learned that if you did certain things you were a Christian and if you did other things you were not a Christian. I don’t mind telling you that the grace of God does not support either view. Very simply, we are saved by God’s grace that he alone chose to pour out upon very undeserving people. We either accept this truth or we do not.

 

I hate when I find myself falling down the very slippery slope of judgmental thought patterns! I know that Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2 NIV Oh how I want mercy from the Father instead of judgment! Therefore, I must learn not to judge.

 

The truth is we are not blind people. God gave us eyes. We see and we observe. Often we see the obvious. Recognizing a flaw or a sin in another person’s life is not the problem. Determining what we will do with what we see is the problem!

 

I have discovered that I am not much interested in confronting a person about sin or even trying to show them a better way. I am much better at passing silent judgment or verbal judgment to another individual about the person setting in the judgment seat. The Holy Spirit is beginning to endeavor to teach me that I must not evaluate that person but rather evaluate my choices on how I will respond to what I see. My knee jerk reflex is to go into “judgment attack mode”, but the Holy Spirit convicts me of that behavior and points me in the direction of the “grace mode”.

 

I confess that having that knowledge is pretty void of application unless I can have some practical tools to assist me in this process. God is so good. When we ask him for godly wisdom he gives it abundantly. It is always his perspective that I need when I am dealing with the sin of judging others.

 

This morning my time in the garden is not one of condemnation, but a sweet time with Jesus as he begins to teach me some practical ways I can deal with judgmental thoughts. In this setting of gorgeous roses, God reveals to me once again that his way is again higher than my way and his thoughts are far above my thoughts. And so his work in my heart begins as he unfolds the petals of his abundant wisdom like the petals of a beautiful rose.

 

In order to not speak the obvious, offer an opinion, or point a finger here are a few things I need to consider:

 

Step #1 – Place value on the life of the one I am about to judge.

__________, (insert the persons name) is worth far more than I could ever imagine.

 

Step #2 – Consider the very real possibility that God is using this “wart” of sinful behavior in this person’s life as a means of showing them their need of him.

 

Step #3 – Take a moment and pray immediately for this person. Pray that they would be responsive to God. Remember the Holy Spirit does an amazing job of convicting.

 

Step #4 – I must never overlook the fact that I may not know where this person has been, how they grew up, what their insecurities are, what sins and tragedies have been present in their life, what values they have or have not been taught, or if they even realize that what they are saying or doing is wrong.

 

Step #5 – I must always take time to identify at least one area of sin in my own life. A good place for me to start would be with the sin of being judgmental.

 

Step #6 –If I per chance find that I am sinless, (good luck with that one) I am then free to cast a stone if I still feel so inclined,  Jesus said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7b NIV

 

Step #7 – I must always give thanks to God that he loves me enough to continue to call me to climb higher in my walk with him.

 

God always wants us to identify the sin in our own life and begin the hard work of choosing to repent and change. We often think that our sins are limited to our deeds. But the fact is that our sinful thoughts become sinful words and those words become sinful deeds. All sinful thoughts, words, and deeds need to be confessed to our Savior.

 

Some of us may be able to quit this sinful habit of judging others “cold turkey”, but for most of us it is a process of deliberate obedience one judgmental thought at a time, one day at a time. Today God also reminds me that “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7b NIV Good to know! Excellent example to follow! My thought today is Lord, help me to push aside the behavior I am observing in another and give me the courage to unfold the layers of life that has enveloped their heart. Give me your eyes so that I may gaze deep into the heart of this one who you value and love. Help me not to point shameful fingers but rather open arms of grace. Give me your words and your actions to point them to you.

 

As a Believer, I am especially convicted of my judgmental thoughts and words. Believers should know better. People who do not profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ are behaving on the instinct of their sinful nature. God has not revealed to them godly behavior. But those who follow Christ are called to rise above their sinful nature. We have been given the Holy Spirit to help us in our time of need. His Spirit empowers us to overcome our natural sinful bend. Our salvation is free but God’s Word tells us to work out our own salvation. You might say from the inside out. “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12b-13 Our “free” salvation should shine through us. Our actions should be such that God’s good purposes would be revealed to show others the way. God works in us to change our will to his will so that we can act in a manner that will glorify Him now and forever.

 

Refusing to give in to judgmental thoughts is one of the many ways we can let Jesus shine through us from the inside out. Working out our own salvation is not to be taken lightly. We are accountable to God. God hates all sin; therefore, we stand before him with fear and trembling when we refuse to obey. My God is a God of love. I can hardly type the words that would suggest otherwise. Yet, it is because of his great love he cannot and will not tolerate sin in any form. What a privileged we have to give him both our sin that separates us from him forever and our sin that hinders our sweet relationship with him.

 

Questions:

1. Who are the people in your life that are always under your microscope of judgment?
2. Is God speaking to you today regarding judgmental thoughts?
3. Are you like me and long to be free of these thoughts?
4. Are you willing to walk with me as we endeavor to practice these 7 steps that will lead us away from judging others wrongly?

 

Prayer:

 

Dear Jesus,

 

Today I come to you with a heart that begs for forgiveness for the sin of judging others. How I long to be free of this sinful habit. Father, I want to bless others not judge them. Help me to remember the very sobering truth that I will be judged by you in the same manner and measure that I judge others! Father, I know that you love me and that you will never love me more than you do this very day. I thank you for that love and for the undeserving grace you have shown me. Now Lord, I pray I will show that grace to others by refusing to judge them. I thank you Lord that you see my failures as opportunities to call me to climb higher. Lord, I pray this day I would be obedient as I endeavor to trash the “judgmental mode” that so frequently rears its ugly head, and trade it in for your “mode of grace” day by day.

 

It is in your name I pray. Amen.