Still Waters

My husband got a new cell phone. I inherited his old one. I have to be one of the least technical people on the planet. So with all the features of my inherited phone I pretty much only know how to answer and talk on this thing. I'm flustered! As I was driving down the road yesterday the phone randomly starts playing this song (no it wasn't a ring tone!). I looked down and listened. The words played out loud,"Break my plans...." over and over these words just played. I was wondering if God was trying to get a message to me. I hadn't picked up the phone or hit any buttons. The song came on by its own. I knew this was no accident. I am generally very busy with plans to stay on the go. For now though, God has led me beside still waters. At first I felt nervous. I don't like the stillness for too long. I tried to enjoy the stillness but felt fidgety. A friend chastened me and said they were meant to be enjoyed, not fretted over. I wanted to get up and start going again after a few weeks of the still waters. Yet there was no hand to lead me, no path to walk on and no compass to direct me. So for now I stay by the still waters. The song reminds me to let my agenda, my plans, all be broken before God. Still waters are peaceful and meant to refresh. I want to learn to drink from them and not begrudge them. In today's quiet place I wait.

Comfortable or Comforted

If I were to ask the richest man in the world if he would like access to my checking account he would laugh hysterically (especially after seeing the amount in there). If I were to offer a meal to an executive chef of a notorious restaurant most likely he'd decline. If I were to offer a chic dress from my wardrobe to the up and coming Princess of England her answer would be a definite "No thank you!"
Why list such preposterous scenarios? To prove that those who have no need of a gift will decline offers of what they have an abundance of. Unless a person is greedy, gluttonous, or generous to give away what has been offered, too much is precisely that ~ too much! Who are the needy? Who are those truly insufficient, inadequate, incapable? Do I fall in the category of comfortable or needy? What about you?
In John 16:7 Jesus stated, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." Jesus knew the disciples were quite comfortable having Him around. They marveled at His miracles, enjoyed meals around the fireside with Him, and drew strength from His daily encouragement and exhortation. Yet Jesus said, it would be better if He left their presence. Absence would make the heart grow fonder. "Alone-ness" would create a void that had to be filled. Familiarity often breeds carelessness, a taking for granted the invaluable around us. Jesus knew for the disciples being uncomfortable without Him would prove just how much they needed Him. He also knew for the rest of time those who need Him would yearn for His presence. His presence would be present for all eternity in the person of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples had the privilege of physically walking and talking with the God man. However, the Scripture is clear what would be better, to the advantage, was for Jesus to physically leave the earth and leave in His place, the Holy Spirit.
Has my life, your life been so comfortable that we have no need of the Comforter? Are we doing life in our own strength or in utter dependence of the Holy Spirit. Does my comfort come in the form of food, money, relationships, circumstances? Where does my help, my shelter, my comfort come from? Psalm 121 proclaims, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."
May we never become comfortable without the Comforter!

Mouthful

Webster's defines mouthful as "a comment or a statement rich in meaning or substance." I have met people who took a lifetime to utter a mouthful. On the other hand I have been acquainted with those whose every mouthful was a mouthful. There used to be an advertisement for the investment firm E.F Hutton that stated, "When E.F Hutton speaks, people listen." Certain individuals have earned the respect of earnest ears and receptive minds to drink from their rich verbiage. I have to ask myself about the quality of my "mouthfuls." Recently I heard the term "verbarrhea." We all know what diarrhea is. "Verbarrhea" would have to be to much mouthful with no quality substance. I stand guilty as charged with this condition at various times. As a speaker and a writer I have been told to limit my wordiness. I remember one critic as saying my speech and writing were just one long run-on sentence. I have since taken some courses to improve these areas of my life. How often I have rehearsed speeches and letters to be eloquent, not offensive, not demeaning or too commanding. I fear being a cesspool of mindless meandering that pours out and spills onto innocent ears. Numerous times I have opened my mouth when the shut position would have fared me much better!
Exodus 4:10-12 states, "But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."
Wow! What a thought - the Lord God being with our mouths. In Psalm 139 we are told that before a word is ever on our tongues that He knows it altogether. I have been memorizing this to remind me to honor God and others with my words. The mouth either builds up or tears down the heart of our listeners. A mouthful can encourage another to soar to higher heights or plummet into a bottomless pit.
So today let's listen to our "mouthfuls" and evaluate if they are indeed rich in meaning and substance, worthy of an audience at all.

Broken Heart

I remember my first broken heart. Eighth grade, Bobby G. He dropped me for another girl. I was rejected, heartsick, and could barely eat or sleep. Honestly, I thought I'd never recover! That was the first of many heartbreaks. They all seem silly now. Teenage tears brought on by rejection. Arrows to a passionate heart.
Webster's defines passion as "the suffering of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death." Christ's passion was for us. He loved us so much He was unwilling to leave us stranded in our sin with no hope of recovery. He would rather die for us than to live without us. He experienced true rejection, true heartbreak. He agonized in the Garden with no sleeping or eating, just prayers, tears, and sweats of blood. Our sin broke His heart.
Why does my own sin not always break my heart? Sin is rejecting God in a moment when I choose my desires over His ways. Why am I so sensitive when someone hurts or rejects me, yet callous when I grieve my Lord and Savior? What measure of love does it take before rejection of the One I love breaks my own heart? I pray to have a heart that is more sensitive to God than self; that counts the cost of fleshly desires over heavenly gain; that is willing to suffer long than indulge in a lustful momentary pleasure.
In a moment Jesus could have left us rejected and heartbroken. Instead He bore both for me and for you.

2010 Newsletter

Isaiah 6 Ministries 2010 Newsletter

Babbie Mason and Eddie Carswell wrote a song entitled “TRUST HIS HEART”. I have enclosed some of the lyrics in hopes they will speak to you as they have to me this past year:

“All things work for our good. Though sometimes we don't see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two, sometimes blind us to the truth.
Our Father knows what best for us. His ways are not our own.
So when your pathway grows dim, and you just don't see Him
Remember you're never alone.
God is too wise to be mistaken, God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand, when you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart”

These words carried me through a year filled with highs and lows. If I had known last year what the coming year beheld, I may have just skipped the whole year. I certainly would have missed out on some major blessings. Growth is often painful. Yet it yields abundant fruit if we submit to the One who desires to grow us into His likeness. Two words – longevity and brevity. My mom went to be with Jesus at the ripe age of 91 after being in Hospice Palliative care for eight months. Longevity. My daughter and son-in-law delivered a stillborn at six months. Brevity. These two events happened within eleven weeks. Through it all, I saw God’s graciousness. Both of these loved ones needed to be with their Creator more than they needed to be here. Trusting this conclusion came after tears flowed heavily. Sandwiched between these two events God shipped me to China to teach at an underground church and seminary. When I got there I was told by my host family that I needed to stay underground too. Almost any option I decided on could very likely wind me up in prison. Once again I was glad this was not foreknowledge! So I asked God should I go back home for safety or hide under blankets in the back of a truck (in 90 degree weather) to travel to and from my destination. What if communist guards found me? They seemed to be everywhere I went. As I prayed all night that first night, God showed me if my faith wasn’t worth dying for it wasn’t worth living for. I thought of all my supporters. Could I go back home and tell them the mission was too risky so I just became a tourist for nine days? I was reminded of Eugene Peterson’s words, “We do well to remember that God has created us not to be tourists who seek instant and intense gratification, but to be pilgrims on a long journey.” So I decided to be a pilgrim. Then God rose up a Chinese believer who offered up an empty apartment where both I and the students could meet daily without suspicion. ( No hiding under blankets!) He is too wise to be mistaken! I will never forget God’s provision and protection. I had just written a new Bible study entitled “Running from God, Reflections of Rebellion.” To have left the work undone would’ve been disobedience (rebellion). So for 2011, I pray to leave no work undone that God has already mapped out for me. Please pray for me and with me that He finds me, us, faithful.

Attractive Addiction

I was just perusing a certain website when a pop up appeared on my screen for a site called "Attractive Addiction." The site was for bargain deals on all sorts of products. I have no clue as to whether the company is aware of the schemes of our adversary, Satan. One thing I know for sure though is, that Satan makes everything that lures us into addiction very attractive. Rarely do we buy items that are ugly or make us look bad. Most of us don't keep eating food that tastes rotten or looks like canned dog food. We are drawn to the ads for items so wonderful, life would seem pitiful if we didn't own at least one. I find myself thinking,"I really need that" or "That would make tasks so much easier." There's nothing wrong with a "That would be nice!" but when the thought turns into a desire that has to be satiated every time it raises its hand, then problems begin to arise. The bar, the bakery, or the bargain barn can lure us by being attractive. The repeat trips can lead us into temptation and addiction. Advertisers are very aware of this and play on our weaknesses. The devil is very aware of our weaknesses as well. He shoots his arrows into our soft spots, or unprotected places. He whispers, "Just this once!" How often I have fallen for that lame line!
Recently there have been ads on television called "Don't Try Meth Just Once." They are frightening and very sobering. An individual sees them self saying they will only try the drug just once. Next they see the progressive destruction after taking the drug. The ad is so powerful as to how harmful attraction can really be. I really want to applaud that ad developer as most ads are designed to appeal to our wants. This one discourages the"want" factor.
The truth is - addictions start off as attractive, never destructive. Just one look, one bite, one drink, one swipe of the credit card can lead down a slippery slope.
Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the full armor of God that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."

Efficacious Love

Recently I attended a wedding where the pastor challenged the couple to love each other efficaciously. That's a mighty big word and I had no idea what it meant. The dictionary defines efficacious as the power or capacity to produce a desired effect. The couple was being challenged to love in such a way that the results would be manifested in building the other person up, in making them a better person, a better spouse. The one loving efficaciously would receive proportionately to the degree they poured in love. This sounds great and many times efficacious love works to the benefit of both parties and the glory of God. Yet, there are those times when one person loves as efficaciously as they can, but the recipient just can't receive that kind of love or takes advantage of it. I guess that would be a love gone wrong song for sure.
What a blessing it is to love and be loved efficaciously. I have experienced this kind of love in my marriage. It has made me a better wife and partner.
I have experienced this kind of love by God. He has loved me unconditionally. His efficacious love has produced a life in me, and around me, and for me, that I would never have known. His love has caused me to love when I didn't want to, help when I didn't want to, take hurt when I didn't want to. There is not enough space here to fill what God's efficacious love has done in my life. People often love to get something back. This is a self centered love. But God, He loves because that is Who He is. When God loves efficaciously the power and the effect is more than we can fathom. His love for us, and in us, and through us, has the power and effect to change lives in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, churches...
Who will you love efficaciously today?