Maybe we think he cannot get it for us..but just ask....ask anyway...
Can you imagine a doting father not wanting to know the desires
of his child's heart?
Then couple your request with, "if it's your will, Lord...."
Ask your heavenly Father! I dare you. Try him. Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
How's that for a short and sweet devotion?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Is it a circle or a straight line?
As I was teaching school recently, our class was discussing some native American stories where life is explained by the use of circles. Many have heard the term the "circle of life". One thing that I enjoyed very much was the teaching that if one fails at a task or ability whether social or physical, they will stay stagnant and unable to proceed until that task is achieved. Hence, we can easily find 50 year old teenagers; the Peter Pan syndrome in our society.
In a chemical dependency class I took during college we learned that once a person is depending on a chemical they stop the process of maturation. So you can find a 31 year old woman who suddenly has to deal with issues that she had when she was 16. For at the age of 16 she began to depend on chemicals to live her life. Dealing with issues that a teenager faces when one is an adult can be very difficult and embarrassing. But, to never face the tasks is to be stuck in limbo.
Naturally, I think of scriptures that I have read that certainly shed light on this subject. I think of Jacob, who had to come to terms with his deceptive nature as an older man. He limped the rest of his life after his personal encounter with God, but he limped with a peaceful and matured heart. Now he could proceed on to REAL LIVING. God even gave him a new name as a result of that wrestling match: Israel.
Esther faced the the biggest test imaginable but passed with flying colors on her first try. Had she failed the test, she most likely would have had to deal with her "true" identity at some later date. But by the time she again would be challenged as to her Hebrew upbringing, most of her Hebrew family would have been killed.
I don't agree with all of the teaching of the circle of life theories, for there are non-biblical teachings embedded in them about reincarnation, but I see why the old storytellers began to see the world from the "circle of life" perspective. Our water is provided to us using the hydrological cycle. We watch it rain and then it evaporates, only to rain or snow again.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.
We may be made of dust but God breathed into man and he became a living soul. Now we were made in the image of God, not just dust and not to ever truly die. We were elevated from the other creation by the act of God's breath.
So, do you think that life is a circle or a straight line? Let me know....
In a chemical dependency class I took during college we learned that once a person is depending on a chemical they stop the process of maturation. So you can find a 31 year old woman who suddenly has to deal with issues that she had when she was 16. For at the age of 16 she began to depend on chemicals to live her life. Dealing with issues that a teenager faces when one is an adult can be very difficult and embarrassing. But, to never face the tasks is to be stuck in limbo.
Naturally, I think of scriptures that I have read that certainly shed light on this subject. I think of Jacob, who had to come to terms with his deceptive nature as an older man. He limped the rest of his life after his personal encounter with God, but he limped with a peaceful and matured heart. Now he could proceed on to REAL LIVING. God even gave him a new name as a result of that wrestling match: Israel.
Esther faced the the biggest test imaginable but passed with flying colors on her first try. Had she failed the test, she most likely would have had to deal with her "true" identity at some later date. But by the time she again would be challenged as to her Hebrew upbringing, most of her Hebrew family would have been killed.
I don't agree with all of the teaching of the circle of life theories, for there are non-biblical teachings embedded in them about reincarnation, but I see why the old storytellers began to see the world from the "circle of life" perspective. Our water is provided to us using the hydrological cycle. We watch it rain and then it evaporates, only to rain or snow again.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.
We may be made of dust but God breathed into man and he became a living soul. Now we were made in the image of God, not just dust and not to ever truly die. We were elevated from the other creation by the act of God's breath.
So, do you think that life is a circle or a straight line? Let me know....
Friday, October 22, 2010
seven years of waiting ....
It broke my heart to leave South Minneapolis.
But....we had an incredible opportunity to own a church building that we really needed, the only trouble was it was near Lake Minnetonka and that is pretty far from Minneapolis. Without a doubt God had moved miraculously on our behalf and provided a lovely church building for us to purchase. So, we began to work in our new area. For one year we continued to hold weekly meetings in our home in South Minneapolis. But those services ended when we moved closer to the church. We had no where to hold services any longer in our old neighborhood.
I can't tell you how many times I have been in anguish just thinking that we had left the work God had called us to do.... I felt that I had failed God so many times.
Then to our surprise, our grown children shared with us their burden some months ago. They both felt God calling them to go back and re-start the Minneapolis work. After they had prayed and fasted, their calling was confirmed in a very supernatural way this summer. They waited until they had returned from the General Conference in Houston, TX. to hold the first service. The spirit of the Lord certainly was in their first meeting!
Seven years after we had to quit holding services in Minneapolis, on Oct. 7, 2010, the first service was held right back where we had started in 1996. Now I realize that the Lord was not saying "no", to us but he certainly was saying, "wait".
I never would have dreamed how God would answer these deep plaguing questions of ours. At the time we left Minneapolis, our older kids were only teenagers. I never thought that this was how God would work, but all along God was preparing them for the ministry.
Psalms 27:13-14 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Forgive me, Lord for not trusting you. Help me to learn to wait. You do all things well.
But....we had an incredible opportunity to own a church building that we really needed, the only trouble was it was near Lake Minnetonka and that is pretty far from Minneapolis. Without a doubt God had moved miraculously on our behalf and provided a lovely church building for us to purchase. So, we began to work in our new area. For one year we continued to hold weekly meetings in our home in South Minneapolis. But those services ended when we moved closer to the church. We had no where to hold services any longer in our old neighborhood.
I can't tell you how many times I have been in anguish just thinking that we had left the work God had called us to do.... I felt that I had failed God so many times.
Then to our surprise, our grown children shared with us their burden some months ago. They both felt God calling them to go back and re-start the Minneapolis work. After they had prayed and fasted, their calling was confirmed in a very supernatural way this summer. They waited until they had returned from the General Conference in Houston, TX. to hold the first service. The spirit of the Lord certainly was in their first meeting!
Seven years after we had to quit holding services in Minneapolis, on Oct. 7, 2010, the first service was held right back where we had started in 1996. Now I realize that the Lord was not saying "no", to us but he certainly was saying, "wait".
I never would have dreamed how God would answer these deep plaguing questions of ours. At the time we left Minneapolis, our older kids were only teenagers. I never thought that this was how God would work, but all along God was preparing them for the ministry.
Psalms 27:13-14 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Forgive me, Lord for not trusting you. Help me to learn to wait. You do all things well.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
even though he didn't have to.....
Jack Cunningham, the crusade evangelist asked the preachers to repent first. At General Conference we saw an unprecedented move of the Holy Ghost (Spirit). Close to 3,500 attendees were baptized with the Holy Spirit speaking with tongues (Acts 2:4) in the arena in Houston, TX this last Sunday evening.
Are there words to describe this night? Many things touched my heart, but one in particular was that Bro. Cunningham asked the leaders to sincerely model repentance. It was so beautiful to hear the choir of preachers raising their voices in prayer to God for repentance. Then others joined in, pretty soon the whole place was crying out to God for a clean heart.
Jesus didn't NEED to be baptized but he modeled that humble act for us. He fulfilled all righteousness. Matt.3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
Maybe some preachers didn't really need to repent, but when the unsaved saw the example of preachers with outstretched hands to God asking for mercy, it was a little easier for the others to soften their hearts to God and admit their need for a Savior to forgive them of their sins.
I'm still convinced that repentance is the first essential part of salvation.
Are there words to describe this night? Many things touched my heart, but one in particular was that Bro. Cunningham asked the leaders to sincerely model repentance. It was so beautiful to hear the choir of preachers raising their voices in prayer to God for repentance. Then others joined in, pretty soon the whole place was crying out to God for a clean heart.
Jesus didn't NEED to be baptized but he modeled that humble act for us. He fulfilled all righteousness. Matt.3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
Maybe some preachers didn't really need to repent, but when the unsaved saw the example of preachers with outstretched hands to God asking for mercy, it was a little easier for the others to soften their hearts to God and admit their need for a Savior to forgive them of their sins.
I'm still convinced that repentance is the first essential part of salvation.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Back from the dead...
Recently, someone very dear to our family was restored to us. It was incredible, I am overwhelmed with joy. Though it was by no fault of this person, divorce and distance had separated them from our family. Now after literal decades, a miraculous restoration has happened.
I am so amazed at how God performed this miracle. Tears streamed down my cheeks over and over at the healing joy I felt. Some did not understand why I was so moved; they may in time understand.
God can do it; he can restore our lost loved ones. God sent this person dreams in the night. The troublesome dreams were the gentle hand that led them back, and opened their blinded eyes.
God can and he will use whatever means necessary to bring about restoration. Leave "them" in God's hands. Never stop believing!
And whatever you do, don't get bitter. Bitterness may prevent the miracle from happening. Keep the door open to your heart. As the old preacher said, "God has been God a real long time and he's really good at being God". God is good at restoring the lost..that is why we call him our Savior.
I am so amazed at how God performed this miracle. Tears streamed down my cheeks over and over at the healing joy I felt. Some did not understand why I was so moved; they may in time understand.
God can do it; he can restore our lost loved ones. God sent this person dreams in the night. The troublesome dreams were the gentle hand that led them back, and opened their blinded eyes.
God can and he will use whatever means necessary to bring about restoration. Leave "them" in God's hands. Never stop believing!
And whatever you do, don't get bitter. Bitterness may prevent the miracle from happening. Keep the door open to your heart. As the old preacher said, "God has been God a real long time and he's really good at being God". God is good at restoring the lost..that is why we call him our Savior.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Either God is in charge or he is not.....
Recently employment questions and issues have weighed heavily on my mind. Convinced by prior experiences to just let things take their natural course, I was quiet and waited. (That is so not my usual manner). It was weeks and weeks of waiting. Other teachers had been given their assignments back in May and June and now in the middle of August things were getting a bit ridiculous. Children come back to school Aug.30 and teachers report for duty August 20.
"Either God is in charge or He's not; either the Bible is true or it is not!"
It's that simple. So, if we go to church and sing and praise the Lord and listen to the Word being preached, we might "act" like Christians and TRUST that we have not followed cleverly written deceptive stories.
Apostle Paul stated it like this, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." II Peter 1:16.
We serve a KING. He is well able to meet our needs and well takes pleasure in doing so. Speak your faith right now about your need! Tell someone else that you choose to believe. Tell the enemy that you believe that God is good.
Ps. 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
"Either God is in charge or He's not; either the Bible is true or it is not!"
It's that simple. So, if we go to church and sing and praise the Lord and listen to the Word being preached, we might "act" like Christians and TRUST that we have not followed cleverly written deceptive stories.
Apostle Paul stated it like this, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." II Peter 1:16.
We serve a KING. He is well able to meet our needs and well takes pleasure in doing so. Speak your faith right now about your need! Tell someone else that you choose to believe. Tell the enemy that you believe that God is good.
Ps. 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Monday, August 9, 2010
One of our most important jobs....
I've heard it so many times and now that I have walked down different roads I can see even more the importance of the advice I received as a young person: WE NEED TO REALLY PRAY FOR OUR PASTORS.
Anointed preaching of the Word is the very life blood of a church and if a pastor gets overly discouraged, it will show in no time from the pulpit. If you have had a pastor who was used of God at one time and has lost something along the way, begin to build him up with a special time of prayer just for him. He needs to know that his ministry is making a difference. The enemy loves to see our pastors lose their faith and lose their fire.
As a teen, I can recall being so excited to hear our pastor and evangelists preach. We knew that they had heard from God and that we would be moved by the life changing words that came forth. Preachers brought the Bible to life for us. Visitors hearts were changed.
We need our preachers to deliver the Word to us.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher? KJV
Now read this in the NIV version of the Bible:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?
And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Churches can have great music, children's programs, outreach programs, but without a preacher who will preach the Word with the fire of the Holy Ghost...we have little.
I attend a church where my husband is the pastor, so I may have an unusual vantage point, but if I have ever seen the need to "Amen" our pastors, it is NOW.
It's God's job to call, equip and correct pastors; our most important job is to pray and support them.
Anointed preaching of the Word is the very life blood of a church and if a pastor gets overly discouraged, it will show in no time from the pulpit. If you have had a pastor who was used of God at one time and has lost something along the way, begin to build him up with a special time of prayer just for him. He needs to know that his ministry is making a difference. The enemy loves to see our pastors lose their faith and lose their fire.
As a teen, I can recall being so excited to hear our pastor and evangelists preach. We knew that they had heard from God and that we would be moved by the life changing words that came forth. Preachers brought the Bible to life for us. Visitors hearts were changed.
We need our preachers to deliver the Word to us.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher? KJV
Now read this in the NIV version of the Bible:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?
And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Churches can have great music, children's programs, outreach programs, but without a preacher who will preach the Word with the fire of the Holy Ghost...we have little.
I attend a church where my husband is the pastor, so I may have an unusual vantage point, but if I have ever seen the need to "Amen" our pastors, it is NOW.
It's God's job to call, equip and correct pastors; our most important job is to pray and support them.
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