Thursday, November 30

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

"'In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13,14)


In today's reading from Daniel, we receive his testimony of what God revealed about the culmination of history. These words caused Daniel to become unsettled, as he notes in vv. 15 and 29.

Reflecting on the inherent uncertainty of the future tends to produce anxiety within our day-to-day lives. As we recognize our lack of control over even small things, we become nervous and grasp for some authority. Yet, deep within us, we know the reality that this authority is extremely limited. This anxiety flows naturally when we take a "human-centered" perspective on uncertainty.

Likewise, if we look at Biblical prophecy from a "human-centered" perspective, we may find ourselves wondering, "What is the implication of this passage for me? How will I react to these developments?" Again, uncertainty overwhelms and produces anxiety, creating a vicious cycle.

Yet, we may find comfort and strength in both today's uncertainty and that of the future by remembering God's sovereignty over today, tomorrow, and every day. He is consistently working out His good for each Christ-follower, forming us more completely into the image of Christ. Importantly, in right in the center of Daniel's prophecy, we find the "Son of Man." Please note that "He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him."

As Hebrews 13:8 teaches us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." His sovereignty and authority have existed from eternity past and will exist till eternity future. We may stand confidently for the future, both near and distant, knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ stands above worldly circumstances and powers. These circumstances and powers will fade away in time, but God's Word and God Himself will reign forever.

Practically, I find it encouraging to speak truth into our anxiety by affirming out loud: "God, You are worthy of my trust because You are sovereign all things. I place this situation into Your hand, knowing that You are in control and that You desire Your best. Give me the strength and courage to persevere in this trial and to remember Your rightful authority over my life and my heart. In Jesus's Name, amen."


May We live victoriously in the power of the risen and reigning Christ!



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November 29

Daniel 6

Oh To Have Faith Like Daniel

As I'm reading the account of Daniel I marveled at not only his faith but his self control and obedience to God.  All through his account we have read that he did not falter once in his prayer life or his belief in God.  I've done many Bible studies with women about believing God, knowing Who we belong to, and trusting our Lord but Daniel lived it.  The account of his story is so encouraging and strengthens my faith.  As we live our lives conforming our souls to our Lord, we might, in fact look strange to others.  There were those who were jealous and had hard feelings towards Daniel but no one could find fault in him. Similarly, as followers of Jesus we find favor in God's eyes and live in blessings which often times might look like lack or failure to other people and they don't understand.  As I was reading this I realized that Daniel's life line to God and the key to his faith rested in his prayer life.  He was very disciplined, he didn't hide his daily prayer and he prayed regularly.  Our enemy isn't stupid, he too knows that if he can distract us, keep us busy enough, disconnect who we are in agreement with and get us to lose our focus on our life line to God through prayer, he gains a foothold and we falter. I pray for all of us today that we intentionally continue to set time aside for prayer so that when we are in a "pit with a lion on a snowy day" even unbelievers witness God's undeniable work in our lives.  I pray each victory in Christ strengthens our faith and encourages us to run our race.  The same God who rescued Daniel is the One who hears our prayers and delivers us.

Randi

Monday blog post November 27th

Following The Recipe!



Pumpkin pie is a favorite at Thanksgiving.  The recipe is written out and easy to follow: sugar, 3 different spices, eggs, pumpkin and evaporated milk.  You add each ingredient to the next and then pour that all into a pie shell and bake.  What comes out is a deep golden orange pie ready for a dollop of whip cream and a fork.

Pumpkin pie is one of my dad's favorites.  This past Thursday after his Thanksgiving meal he sat down with fork in hand ready to enjoy the beautifully baked pumpkin pie with a bit of whipped cream my mother had made.  I wasn't present but, from what I've heard, the grimace he made upon taking just one bite let everyone in the room know that this pie was not all that it appeared to be, that they may want to stay away from it.  It turns out that in my mothers busy Thanksgiving preparations she had somehow failed to add the sugar to all the other ingredient the recipe called for.  Little did any of us know what an extremely unpleasant and inedible pie could be created by leaving out just this one ingredient.

I thought of this story when reading 2 Peter 1:5-11.  In these verse we are given a "recipe" for being an effective and productive light for Christ.  We are to start with goodness as our base and add to it knowledge.  Once these are mixed we add in self-control and then perseverance.  Once these have combined we continue and add godliness with brotherly kindness.  Then we top it all off with love.  The result is a life that shines forth the glory of the Lord.  We can become people of purpose, Godly purpose, people of power, people who bring hope, joy, peace, support, encouragement, strength, and on and on...to those around us.  We are a delicious delight to others. We become people who do not fall, who are secure, when walking and living in this truth (vs10)

Why do we follow recipes?  So that we can get the end result that recipe promises is possible by using the ingredients listed and following the instructions.  If the recipe lists 7 ingredients and we say that we only want to use 5 of them we should not be surprised when the end result is nothing like what the recipe promised (as my father learned with his sugarless pumpkin pie).  In 2 Peter, this "recipe"  we are given is not a pick and choose list.  It is not a list that allows us to find substitutions for "ingredients" we struggle with or don't care for.  This list is not a wake up and decided what you feel like keeping and what you can do without for the day kind of list.  This is a very specific list, a specific "recipe" that has been given to us with a specific promise of specific results.

When we look at this "recipe" as a list of possible suggestions what happens is we deceive only ourselves.  Like that pumpkin pie my dad ate, it looked perfect.  It looked just like a pie that had all the required ingredients in it.  But when my dad took a bite, when he experienced the pie, it became clear immediately that it was not what it appeared to be.  We only fool ourselves when we don't seek to start with goodness each and everyday and add to it each of the spiritual "ingredients" listed.  We become nearsighted and blind to the bitterness and distaste that we can leave on peoples lives.  We can leave a bad taste in the lives of people we interact with and cause them to not want to interact with Christ followers in the future.  That means that even though we may look good on the outside we serve no real benefit for the kingdom of God, we become ineffective and unproductive.

I desire to be a bright light for the Lord.  I want to be a means in which people can experience the goodness, knowledge, power, encouragement, godliness, kindness, and love of the lord.  There may be days or situations when I feel tempted to leave one of these things out.  I may feel hurt, I may feel someone is undeserving, I may feel tired, I may feel irritated, I may feel a whole host of different things that will try and make me think that I can leave one or more of these "ingredients" out, but.....

Why do I follow recipes, God's recipes? Because he always gives me a promised result when I do, a good promised result (both for my benefit and the benefit of others).  He reminds me of how he showed me all these things when I didn't deserve them and he reminds me in Philippians 4:13 that I am not alone in mixing these together each day but that I can do all things when he is my strength, when I give him the apron and let him create in me a shinning light that others can experience and delight in.  When I follow the "recipe" I can rest assured that I am truly living an effective and productive life for the Lord.

I encourage you to join me today and ask the Lord to help you better understand what each of these "ingredients" should look like in your life.  Ask the Lord to help you to recognize which "ingredients" you struggle to practice or perhaps who you struggle to display them toward.  Ask the Lord to be your strength and help in the areas that you recognize are a challenge.  I encourage you to seek the Lord and ask him to help you live out this "recipe" so that you can live an effective and productive life for him for the benefit and blessing of others.  

Let the world taste the goodness and glory of the Lord through us today. (Ps. 34:8)

November 25: To trust Him, first we must know Him...

Daniel 1:1-2:23

1 Peter 3:8-4:6

Psalm 119:65-80

Proverbs 28:14

1 Peter 3:9, 13-16...

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.  "Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened."  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience...

I was reading Saturday's New Testament reading, and struggled with the first part of it, a call to behave so differently from how the world teaches us to respond.  This isn't the first time I've read this, or heard it, or had it taught to me; my struggle remains the same.  It is so difficult not to repay evil with evil, or insult with insult.

Then I read the second part of the reading, and understood why perhaps I have such difficulty with this teaching.  The second part suggests we should be ready to explain why we have the hope that we do, why we revere the Lord like we do.  Maybe that's the problem - maybe I don't know the Lord well enough to revere Him like I should, to trust Him like the call to action requires. 

Father, take pity on how poorly I know You and Your son.  Give me the desire and the direction to get to know You, that I might rightly put my faith in You, and not in the world's false promises. 

Thursday, November 23

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017

 

 

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.  For,

 

‘All people are like grass,

    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

     but the word of the Lord endures forever.’”

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  We have many blessings to celebrate today.

 

The apostle Peter touches upon the imperishable seed of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who has rescued us from sin and death and given us the opportunity to be born again.  He connects the “living and enduring word of God” – our Lord Jesus Christ – with God’s Word, both spoken and revealed through the Scriptures.  In Christ, we have the Word made flesh; in the Scriptures, we have God’s Word recorded for us.  Both of these seeds are indeed imperishable:  with Christ having been raised to a new life and God’s Word lasting throughout history as testimony to God’s character and love for people.

 

Yesterday, Danielle and I visited the Museum of the Bible, which recently opened in Washington, D.C.  I would highly encourage you to visit, as it brings the Word to life and points to the many faithful believers who have ensured that the Word has remained active throughout history.  The Museum houses many copies of first versions of the Scriptures, noting the great importance of translating the Scriptures into local languages of the people.  Early translators of the Scriptures into English faced great peril in their work, and they benefited from one another’s work (and others’ efforts to gather Greek and Hebrew texts into organized form).

 

For me, the visit solidified my belief in the Scriptures as the inspired Word of God.  The Scriptures faithfully record miraculous events that have meaningful archaeological support, and their testimony records the grave challenges – and shortcomings – that the authors faced, from Moses to the prophets to the apostles.  Only God (duly) receives “lionized” treatment; human characters’ failures emphasize their authenticity and dependence on an all-powerful, all-merciful God.

 

In a particularly moving section, the Museum shared a video that looked at first-century Galilee from John the Baptist’s perspective.  He quoted the section from Isaiah included above as a great motivation for his life and ministry.  His faithfulness to that living and enduring Word made him a proper harbinger of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

We would all do well to treasure God’s Word more in our lives and to live faithfully according to its precepts.  May we not become so distracted as to miss its direction.

 

 

Lord God, thank You for sharing Your Word with us.  Thank You that endures forever and that it brings life.  Thank You for sending Your Son as the Word made flesh so that we may know You and experience Your love.  Please reveal more of Yourself to us in the coming days.  We love You and honor You as the source of all Providence today.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

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November 22

1 Peter 1, Psalm 119

As I was reading this, the first thing that hit me was that this letter was written to "God's Elect".  Who are they? They are the ones who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through the sanctifying work of the Spirit. That's us!!! God knew a long time ago we would be reading through the Bible as a Grace family and serving to advance His Kingdom.  He actually chose and appointed us to do it.  Then I read in Psalm 119:19 which said that we are strangers on earth.  When I put it all together verse 30 of the same Psalm seemed to just come to life.  As His chosen servants, walking in faithfulness becomes our way of life. We stand on His promises and in faith we have set our hearts on living in accordance with God's word.  This is what sets us apart. I was reminded that we have to remember and understand we are not set apart from trials of this world, but our eternal destiny has been changed and walking in faithfulness is the link to our destiny. Our lives have become testimony to the faith we profess. We make decisions based on a Biblical moral code and not with our eyes set on things of this world.  Yes, we are God's Elect, we love Who we cannot see and at the same time we are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy.  The salvation of our souls is the end result of our faith. I found comfort and strength in the words of Peter today.  I pray you do too.

Randi 

Blog post Monday November 20th

"Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."  - James 4:17

We have spent that last 324 days reading about the good we ought to do as well as reading stories of the consequences of those who failed to do the good they ought to have done.  Today, in James 11, we read yet another bit of good instruction we ought to do, that we should put into practice:

"Brothers, do not slander one another.  Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it."

It is so easy to be lulled into a false sense that I am not guilty of slander or guilty of speaking against my fellow brothers and sister (or judging them). After all, I believe I am simply stating facts and pointing out areas where others have failed, are weak, didn't meet expectations, irritated me, offended me, frustrated me, wronged me, accused me....I can go on but I will leave room for you to fill in other ways we can feel justified in speaking against others.  After all, I am just venting and getting things off my chest and am choosing to do so in the presence of other believers.

James 11 goes hand in hand for me with Ephesians 4:29

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

We need to guard the words we speak, choose them with great thought and deliberation because our words are meant to help build up, not tear down, they are to benefit those who listen.  If I am confronting or speaking directly against the person who I feel failed, accused me, or offended me, I must remember that while I may need to speak truth I must be careful to make certain I am speaking from a humble place and with a desire to help this person to grow and to build them up in their faith, their character, their service, their understanding and in our relationship.  I need to make sure that the words I speak are meant to truly benefit them and not just satisfy my need to speak my mind or sooth my hurts.  Equally important is for me to be careful when I am speaking about someone to others.  I need to make sure that what I am sharing needs to be heard by those I am talking to.  Am I building up the brother or sister I am talking about in the eyes of those listening to me speak or am I actually speaking against their character and causing someone to look at this person, who isn't even present, in a different negative light?  Is this person, who is listening to me speak about another, benefiting from what I am saying?  Am I displaying a character of grace, forgiveness, mercy, love, compassion, and self-control that they can learn and grow from and then display for others to benefit from?

The key is that I first need to humbly go before the lord and spend time with him in prayer and pour out to him my pride, my hurts, my irritations, my frustrations, my unmet expectations (disappointments), my feelings of offense and my heart that isn't desiring to forgive but rather feels justified.  I need to pour it out and ask the Lord to show me, convict me if need be, any thought or feeling that can be used against a brother or sister.  I need to pray that the Lord would make me aware of impure thoughts, feelings or attitudes that hinder me from displaying the Love of Christ. I need to pray and ask for the lord to fill my heart and mind with his grace and mercy, with his peace and patience, with his love and forgiveness.  I need the lord to remind me of all the ways I have offended him, disobeyed him, or failed him yet he never fails to speak the truth to me in love so that I may be built up and benefit.  When I first seek the lord I am less likely to talk about others to those I shouldn't be.  When I first seek the lord I am more likely to approach the person with a heart of love and grace that builds up with my words rather than speaks against and tears down.  When I first seek the lord I sometimes find that He is enough and perhaps my silence on a matter is the best way to handle the situation as perhaps the Lord is doing a work in that other person that I can not see.

May we all seek to do the good we are called to do today.  May we be slow to speak against others but rather seek ways to build others up and ask the lord to help us know what the needs of others are so that we are a benefit to everyone we encounter.




 

Nov 17

James 1   

A man found a cocoon of an emperor moth and took it home to watch it emerge. One day a small opening appeared, and for several hours the moth struggled but couldn't seem to force its body past a certain point. Deciding something was wrong, the man took scissors and snipped the remaining bit of cocoon. The moth emerged easily, its body large and swollen, the wings small and shriveled. He expected that in a few hours the wings would spread out in their natural beauty, but they did not. Instead of developing into a creature free to fly, the moth spent its life dragging around a swollen body and shriveled wings. The constricting cocoon and the struggle through the tiny opening are God's way of forcing fluid from the body into the wings. The merciful snip was, in reality, cruel.

Many times the struggles of life which we consider cruel, are actually producing something very beautiful in our lives. It is hard to appreciate the process while it is going on, but the truth is struggles and trials are God's choice methods of producing maturity. 

That is why James encourages us to consider it pure joy when we go through these cocoon experiences.

So, the question is, can you trust God for your cocoon experience?  I would like to ask it in two different ways. Can you TRUST God? And can YOU trust God? Both are critical for discovering joy in the midst of the cocoon.  

For us to TRUST God we must believe that God is loving and in sovereign control. It is not easy to TRUST God during times of adversity. No one enjoys pain, and when it comes, we naturally want to relieve it as quickly as possible. But in order to discover the joy of adversity we must see it through His eyes and not ours. Joy comes when we say, "I can't explain what God is doing in the adversity, but I trust that He is in control; He is wise and He is loving."  When we trust this God, we can have joy.

I end with this question. Can YOU trust God? To show OUR trust when in the middle of adversity, we willingly continue to obey Him, and intentionally worship Him and cheerfully share the good news with others. James says if you have this attitude and persevere under the trial, you will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

 

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Thursday, November 16

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

"Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,

   but a person is tested by being praised."

(Proverbs 27:21, NLT)

This verse speaks to a great truth about our hearts:  we like to take credit for our positive traits or accomplishments.  Our pride allows us to elevate ourselves; success goes to our heads.  While God may bless you with wild success, we must remember the Giver of every good and perfect gift, the Father of heavenly lights! (James 1:17)

On the flip side, we may shift blame for our shortcomings or failures, shaking our fists at God and others.  There is a secular proverb that points to this phenomenon:  "Success has many fathers, but failure has none."

Maturity entails recognizing that outcomes do not reflect what truly matters:  our relationships with God and others and our character.  We hold little control over outcomes; God directs the affairs of men and the world like the watercourse.  We are called to remain faithful to Him and to give praise to Him both in joy and sorrow.

While it is a long-term process, we should invest in thinking on what is noble and good (Philippians 4:8), giving thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), and learning to carry a joyful attitude (Philippians 4:12,13).

What circumstances or words have tested your heart recently?  How did they resemble the fires that cleanse silver and gold?  What really matters to you, both in good times and bad?

Lord God, thank You for giving us encouragement on how to handle both positive and negative circumstances.  Thank You for giving us the Body of Christ with whom we may process both joys and sorrows.  Thank You for refining us through both praise and criticism.  Help us to be accountable for our shortcomings and grateful for Your blessings.  Make us more into Your image so that others may see our good deeds and praise You, our Father in heaven.  In Jesus's Name, amen.

November 15

Proverbs 27:19 - As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart

The other day when I was in school I passed the principal in the office and asked him if he was having a better day than he had the day before. Since I rarely say more than "good morning" to him,  he looked at me puzzled and asked me how I knew he had a rough day.  I told him he was wearing his stress like an additional piece of clothing and it showed not only all over his face but in the way he was carrying himself around the school.  The funny part was, he actually thought he was doing a good job at hiding it.  The Proverb today tells us that whatever is going on inside of us reflects on the outside.  I think that's why quiet time with God and prayer is so important. By renewing our minds with God's word, we have faith in what we do not see.  Our circumstances might not change as fast as we would like but we can carry His peace instead of wearing our stress while we wait. I pray today our faces reflect God's glory because as His children our hearts are filled with His love.

Randi

Bible blog Monday November 13th

An Unshrinking Faith


"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.  he chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking head to his reward."     Hebrews 11:24-26


When we look at Moses' life we see that growing up he had it all; wealth, power, education, position and honor.  He didn't want for any earthly treasure as living in Pharaoh's house afforded him anything he could dream of.  Then quickly and suddenly one day the snares of life happened and Moses committed a crime that could not be erased from earthly history or his memory, he killed a man and not just any man but a fellow Egyptian.  In fear Moses ran from his comfy life of prestige and honor and found himself in the desert where he met his wife and settled down to live out the rest of his days in modesty and quiet.  He fled the fulfilling life of glory from personal satisfaction and left behind the shame of his past.  Moses could now live in the comfort of obscurity and anonymity.

But God had a very different plan.  He spoke to Moses and told him that obscurity was not the life He intended for him.  Moses was to face those whose honor he once had but would have no longer.  He was to return and face the shame of his past.  He would move forward by confronting what lie behind him.  All he would have with him would be a faith and hope in God to help move him forward.  Before Moses could be used by God to bring freedom to the enslaved Israelites he first needed to experience a personal freedom from his past, from his fears.  Before he could encourage others to have an unwavering faith in God he first had to learn how to be sure of what he hoped for and certain of what he could not see (Heb 11:1), he needed to learn how to trust and have faith in his God. 

Like most of those listed in the hall of fame of faith in Hebrews 11, Moses had to learn how to let go of the things of this world that he clung to.  He had too let go of those things that brought earthly comfort, a false sense of hope, earthly confidence, personal honor, and to give up the power struggle, which is control, of his life and the life of others to God.

I personally like the comfort of the familiar.  I like routine.  I like living under the radar in a very unassuming life.  I enjoy convenience and comfort.  I like the feeling of being in control of my life and surroundings.  I don't like the idea of people thinking poorly of me and not seeing me for the genuine person I know I truly am.  I too have things in my past that I wish could stay neatly hidden in the darkness, undisturbed and unprovoked.  This is why Moses story of faith is so biting to me.  His story of faith scares me because it feels so personal yet it is also so appealing as you can see the freedom that it brought to his life.  Not only was freedom found in his own life but it gave opportunity to him to be used by God to bring freedom to so many others in a way that would never have been possible if he continued to live under the power of Pharaoh's house or in the obscurity of the desert with his new family.  He made a conscious choice to not shrink back and stay hidden but to emerge from the shadows of shame and safety in order to be used by God.  If that meant to suffer as a slave to those he once received honor from then so be it.  If that meant to give up the comforts and control of this earthly life then that too was fine with him.  His faith brought a freedom that no earthly power could take from him.  I want this faith and this freedom but what it took for Moses to obtain it can often times scare me and that fear holds me back.

Hebrews 10:39 struck me at the end of Saturday's reading,
"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." 

Moses didn't quickly agree to returning to his past.  He made excuses and basically said no at first.  He started to shrink back.  His fears put him on the threshold of disobedience.  But rather than shrink back and say no and try and save himself (save his honor and dignity with man) he eventually (and I would venture to think with a bit of anxiety and fear) said yes to God.  The result?  God gave him freedom from his past and used him in mighty ways to help bring faith and freedom to a nation.  He may have lost the honor of those with whom he once had it, but he gained the honor found in having a faith in God that gave him support, encouragement, hope, and joy despite what was going on around him.

I wish I could say that I am a woman who doesn't shrink back from faith but, unfortunately, the truth is I am a shrinker.  Fear, uncertainty, doubt, loss of control (or what I perceive as control) hold me back from being the woman of faith that God so eagerly desires me to be.  I too stand at the threshold of disobedience to my God.  He is calling me to come out from the shadows of fear and failure, from shame and regret and to be saved from those fears, to take hold of the faith he has been calling me to.  He wants me, like Moses, to experience personal freedom in my faith so that I can be used fully for the Lord.

I have no idea if any of you can relate to what I have shared.  I do know this though, I don't want to live a faith that shrinks back.  I want to be an encouragement and a support to any and all who are struggling.  I believe Christ came to love those with a past, with shame, with regret and to set them free with a faith that is found only in Him.  I believe he has called the church (which is the body of believers) to love others (all others) in this same way, without judgement or condemnation.  To let our past be seen and the freedom God has given us so that we can help others stop living a life shrunk in the shadows and to help bring them into the freedom that God has so graciously provided for us.  So I encourage anyone who feels trapped in the shadows of life to know you are not alone and that you are loved not just by God but by me as well.  I am here if you need an ear to listen, a word to encourage, or arms to hold you and let you know that God has you and he is calling you to him. 

If you have already experienced this complete freedom for yourself I am delighted for you.  I encourage you to help those who have yet to take hold of it.  Don't look with eyes of judgement or speak with mouths of gossip as that only helps keeps us shrunk back in the shadows.  Pray and ask the lord to use you and your freedom of faith, like he did Moses, to help those still stuck in the shame and regret and fears of their past.  Pray for God to give you a heart of compassion and grace.  Be the light of faith and hope to whomever God places in your path.

I too want my name added to this list of the hall of fame of faith not for my glory but because it will mean that my life was surrendered completely to the Lord and I was used by him to help others who struggled with shrinking back in the darkness of life.  I hope and pray that your name will be there too!

November 10, 2017

Ezekiel 22

Kathie and I just returned from an incredible trip to Israel. One of the most common sights we observed were the ruins of city walls. Every city needed to have a wall because walls were the only security from enemy invaders. A city without a wall, or a wall that was partially broken down left a city that was vulnerable to attack. In Ezekiel's day, the whole nation was in captivity in Babylon because the walls of Jerusalem were breached.

The word picture used in Ezekiel 22:30 is of an individual standing in the gap of a broken-down wall to prevent the invaders from entering and destroying the city. This is a vivid way to describe how a person can be used to stand against the demagoguery of an advancing evil culture. If there was ever a need for courageous men and women of God to stand against the invading darkness, it is today. Who is going to tell our nation that they are going down the wrong path?   Politicians, Hollywood actors, CNN news? Christ followers are the lone voice calling people to protect the nation against the encroaching darkness.  Gap standers must be people who are fearless, bold and not afraid of standing for truth even though greatly outnumbered.

Over 150 years ago, God used an ordinary shoe salesman, a man with only a middle school education, without formal titles or degrees, without a command of English. In 1872 this man was speaking to an evangelist named Henry Varley. They were sitting on a park bench in Dublin. Varley remarked, "The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him."  The remark was made casually, but those words burned inside this person.  A week later, that person, Dwight L. Moody, said, "By the Holy Spirit in me, I'll be that man!" In his lifetime Moody traveled over a million miles and preached the gospel to over 100 million people. In his last years he established the Moody Bible Institute which has trained 10,000's of Christian workers over the century. D.L. Moody was a gap stander.  

God is still seeking ordinary gap-standing people today who are filled with His Spirit. Will you be a gap-stander in your home, at Grace Church, at work, at play and save your family, your community and your nation?  

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, November 9

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people, and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:27,28)

The Book of Hebrews consistently exposes the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, showing that He is superior to the angels and Moses.  While God had revealed the sacrificial system to Moses, its very existence pointed to the need for a more complete sacrifice.  The blood of sheep, goats, and bulls only provided a temporary atonement; God Himself would ultimately deliver salvation — by faith.  We understand from the Old Testament that God credited faith as righteousness.  But where did those faithful people place their trust?

From Hebrews, we understand that those living by faith looked forward to what we have now reached for us:  that, in Christ, God would bring fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.  They placed their hope in God's provision; when they did, they entered into the rest of knowing God and coming into His Promised Land.  Many doubted and failed to enter that rest that He had provided.

In this portion of Hebrews, the author emphasizes the "once-for-all" sacrifice that God offered through Jesus.  Rejecting that sacrifice means rejecting God's plan.  We see that "once-for-all" means that salvation rests on God's faithfulness and all-sufficient grace, not on man's weakness.  It guarantees true freedom and rest.  Praise God!

Lord God, thank You for bringing real freedom and rest to us.  Help us to become more grateful and more rooted in our faith.  Strengthen us to reflect more of Your character in our lives.  Give us confidence in Your all-sufficient grace.  In Jesus's Name, amen.

November 8

Hebrews 9

In Exodus 25:9,  God told Moses to build the Tabernacle according to all that He was going to show him. It was built as a sanctuary --  a place for God to dwell with His people.  We learned in Hebrews 8:5 that is was a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.  When we read these verses we see that the sanctuary that was built was never intended as place to be rested in for eternity, but rather as a place to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah and the preaching of the gospel.  I found myself fascinated when I studied the elements in the Tabernacle, how they were set up, and how each one shadowed the future coming of our Lord.  The day that Jesus died on the cross, the veil, (which was the last station in the tabernacle), was torn from top to bottom (Mark 15:38) so the high priests were no longer the only ones who had access to the Most Holy Place, that place where sacrifices were made in exchange for forgiveness of sin. The gifts and sacrifices that were made by the priests on behalf of the people were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper, only the blood of Jesus can do that and now we can all receive it for ourselves. This passage reminded me of the song we often sing "Come To The Altar".  This is our invitation to approach the throne of mercy and grace, receive forgiveness and enter into a relationship with Jesus.  Oh what a Savior.  Sing Hallelujah!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYQ5yXCc_CA

Randi

Blog post Monday November 6th

"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiples kisses."  Proverbs 27:6


I know the type of friend I say I like to have.  It is a friend who won't always tells me what I want to hear but rather what I need to hear.  I say I want a friend that will let me know when I have broccoli in my teeth, when my outfit really isn't flattering, when my driving scares them, when I am being a downer, when I am being overbearing, when I have become a bit pushy, when I am being too critical, when I have crossed a boundary,  when I make a mistake, when I have offended someone, when I am heading in a wrong direction......basically a friend who will let me know when I have dimmed the light of Christ in my life with words or actions that did not come across the way I wanted or the way they should have.

I say I want this type of friend but the things about it is a friend who does this to me will wound me.  When they tell me I have made a mistake they pierce my pride.  When they tell me I have crossed a boundary they have tackled me where I am at.  When they tell me I have become a bit too pushy they have punched back my aggressiveness.   When they tell me I am heading in a wrong direction they have caused my forward momentum to crash.  You get the picture don't you?  The honest words of a friend can sometimes sting and hurt even though the intent is to help.  A true, caring, loving friend will speak the truth to me in love for my benefit, to make sure my light for the Lord shines as brightly as possibly.  They will also be there to help heal the wounds.

I say I want this type of friend but I do not do well with inflicted wounds (no matter who is causing them).  I have told my husband that I need him to be this kind of friend to me but I have warned him as well.  I have told him that it will not be easy for me at first to hear what he has to say, to take the wounds, but that I know I need them in order for me to grow from them.  I need him to stay the course with me and help me to learn how to listen and to grow from the words that can hurt but have so much benefit for me and my life. 

It does not benefit me or help me to grow when I only hear the things I want to hear.  Those are like pleasant kisses that make me comfortable where I am and keep me believing I am always on the right path, doing the right thing, make the right choices until something I say or do hits the wrong person or set of circumstances and then I don't suffer a wound but a devastating blow that knocks my light for the Lord out for a period of time.

I also have to remember as well, that these wounds are not actually caused by the friend giving them but by my own words or actions being revealed through them.  It can be all to easy to lash back and inflict hurt upon the friend.  I need to pray for the grace of God to help me, to prepare me and to reveal me to my trusted wounds of my dear and real friends.

By learning how to have these friends in my life and accepting the truths they share can only help me to know how to be this kind of a friend to those whom I love and cherish around me.  I don't want a lot of scars but I'll take them as I know they help me be a better light for Christ.

Thursday, November 2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017

Hebrews 4:12-16

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[f] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The Book of Hebrews points out the superiority of Jesus Christ and His fulfillment of the Old Testament precedent of the sacrificial system.  While the blood of goats and sheep may have atoned for specific sin, it could not take it away.  The system begged for a Great High Priest Who could offer Himself rather than temporary sacrifices.

Hebrews holds two concepts in contrast:  holiness and grace.  God's holiness comes into full display as we consider the sacrificial system.  There is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. (Hebrews 9:22)  This reality—made most evident through God's choosing to bring salvation through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ—highlights the gravity of sin and its offensiveness in the sight of a holy God.  We find ourselves individually and collectively in grave trouble if we underestimate God's holiness and reject His authority in our lives.  Sin's pleasure are merely temporary, but the pain endures.  The Word of God clarifies God's promises and judges our thoughts and attitudes; it sharpens our focus on life's true priorities:  loving God, loving people, and making disciples.

Despite our weaknesses, our Great High Priest empathizes with us and gives us grace.  While completely holy and perfect, the Lord Jesus experienced the pains, hungers, and slights that this world offers.  He has walked in our shoes and loves us, knowing our struggles.  He allows us to approach God's throne of grace with confidence!

As you reflect on the holiness of God, the sharp piercing of the Word, and the readiness of God's grace, doesn't it bring forth an attitude of thanksgiving?  Praise God that He would desire a relationship with us and have made every effort to bring the rest that He creates.

Lord God, thank You for providing a path to a loving relationship with You.  Thank You that Your Word gives us clear evidence of Your real promises, Your holiness, and Your abundant grace.  Help us to walk faithfully with You today and to rejoice in the blessed gift of knowing You and receiving Your love that we may share with others.  In Jesus's Name, amen.

Nov. 1

Psalm 104

Sometimes before I leave for work in the morning I will get a few loads of laundry done, make sure there is a dinner plan, and take care of other odds and ends that fall under that umbrella of being a wife and a mom. At the end of what seems to me like a busy day, I get home, have dinner with my family, and fall into bed with a good book ready to sleep. Then we read Psalm 104.  As I'm reading this Psalm I realized that what I do is nothing when we take into consideration what God takes care of before we even wake up!  He set the earth on it's foundation and He keeps it there. He controls the waters and makes boundaries, rides on the wings of the wind, makes the grass grow and sees to all of our needs. The very last line of the Psalm says "Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening".   I have found that it is so easy to get busy with this thing called life and that I must be intentional about my time to worship the One who holds my life together.  Nothing I do during the course of my day can compare to what God has already done.  There is a song Steven shared with me --  the chorus went "Don't get it twisted, God did it, done it.... Got it?  Good!!"  So when I started my day early this morning and I saw the blue/green outline in the sky, the twinkling of a remaining star, and a hint of the the moon still in the sky, it was my reminder that God was still on His throne long before I even awoke.  It was my reminder to stay focused on the One Who gave it all, because it's not about me or how much I get done in a day.  It's all about Jesus, the One Who is before all things and in Him all things are held together. We Praise You Lord.

Randi