Hope That Disappoints

The Wikipedia definition of  Hope is an optimistic attitude of mind based on an expectation of positive outcomes related to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish a desire with anticipation"  There are many references to hope in the Bible. The Greek and Hebrew words translated to hope can also be translated in some instances as trust, assurance, confidence.

Have you ever prayed for something so hard and it didn't turn out the way you had hoped? Ever hoped and hoped with great anticipation but nothing? Ever had something happen in your life that left you in despair and feeling hopeless?

My girls arrived several weeks early through much prayer by friends, family and even strangers and care by the wonderful doctors. I should have been grateful after my initial visits with a different group of doctors had recommended I terminate Baby B, now known as Hannah. After a week of being in the hospital before delivery to develop their little lungs, I was tired of all the attention. Nurses in and out constantly, all hours, poking and prodding and I really missed my 4 year old boy at home. I had tremendous mommy guilt from leaving him. I was told when I left to go to the hospital, he pulled a chair up to look out the front door and said, "I'll just wait right here for mommy." I was ready to go home. Let's get these babies out. Hannah had much difficulty breathing and was placed on a ventilator for several days. I could not see them for a day and then wasn't able to hold them for a week. I was completely unprepared for the amount of tubes, lines and alarms. And I'm a nurse!  They brought in paper work to sign for a PICC line, a catheter to run in Hannah's vein from her leg to near her heart. A common procedure for preemies. But nurses know too much. I vividly remember leaving the hospital without my babies.  Sitting in the wheelchair while my husband got the car and as I waited, a smiling mom with her baby was wheeled beside of me. That is not fair, I thought. I was pretty mad at the person I had been praying to for so long. You were supposed to come through. I hoped for two healthy babies to be in my arms already. We left the hospital and I noticed the seasons had changed in the week and a half in the hospital. Spring had come and the Bradford pear trees lining the street were in full bloom. The sky was blue and the sun that seemed like forever since I had felt, was warm.  God's grace. He was still in control. I knew that somewhere deep but in that moment, I didn't want to talk to Him. A friend drove me to the hospital the next day to see my babies as I still couldn't drive and she said, "I've been praying for Sarah and Hannah." I said, "Good, because I can't."

I was disappointed in hope.

At 2 AM, I called my friend while sitting in her driveway. Overcome with emotion of a marriage I thought was over. She brought me in, got me some coffee a box of tissues and  listened to the whole ordeal and said,
"Let's pray."
Bless her heart.
I replied, "I don't want to pray."
"I'll pray." she said.
"No thanks." I replied, " I am done.
I am the children's church director. I teach Sunday School. I am supermom. I workout. Cook supper. Really? This is not how it's supposed to be. This is what happens. I. Am. Done. I am going back to doing whatever I want to do. And that includes a few margaritas and a couple shots with a friend. So goodbye, but can I come back and sleep on your couch?"

I was disappointed in hope.

Thank you Jesus for intercessors in the body of Christ who don't listen. My friends prayed and kept praying when I could not or would not.

"Where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?" Job 17:15

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5

Our hope can rest in Christ, in His glory and His love of me.  He promised that those with faith in Christ by grace will be glorified and perfected on the day He returns. Through the Holy Spirit working in my heart, I discovered that He was with me, that He saw me, that He loved me and I fell completely in love with Him.

Suffering, is difficult to explain and even harder to understand. Imagine as a child having severe trauma occur in your life and being taught, God allowed this to happen. How disappointed in hope and in God would that child be?  God "allowing" something terrible to happen does not mean it is His desire to have children or anyone to experience trauma. God is certainly soverign over all. He is not shocked by what takes place and it is not an interruption to His eternal plan. Everything that touches us comes through His hands. But God is not the author of confusion. (1Corinthians 14:33)  He is not the author of evil. God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. (1John 1:5)  It was not His desire for man to leave the Garden of Eden, but Adam and Eve made the choice to sin. God has no part with evil. He has no part with sin. God gives us all a choice to choose life  or to choose death and desires for us all to choose Him.  No wonder we have trouble hoping in God’s unfailing love when we are confused by man's choice of sin. How many times have we wondered why in the world Adam ate the fruit. Why did God "allow" that to happen? God doesn't want puppets that are made to love Him. We are given a choice. He loves us first. Sometimes sufferings happen because of our choices, sometimes they happen because of our sin or the sin of others, sometimes they just plain happen for no explainable reason at all. We live in a fallen world where horrendous things happen. No reason, it just happens and it's terrible and we can make no sense of it. None.

John Calvin  stated it this way,
"...the Lord had declared that "everything that He had made...was exceedingly good." (Gen 1:31). Whence then comes this wickedness to man, that he should fall away from his God? Lest we should think it comes from creation, God had put His stamp of approval on what had come forth from Himself. By his own evil intention, then, man corrupted the pure nature he had received from the Lord; and by his fall drew all his posterity with him into destruction. Accordingly, we should contemplate the evident cause of condemnation in the corrupt nature of humanity-rather than seek a hidden and utterly incomprehensible cause in God's predestination."

Sometimes there is just no reason other than the fall of humanity and sin entering the universe. But then we choose to hope in His glory because we have received God's love and His promise that we stand firm and safe through eternity. We have that peace. Pardoned offenders covered by the blood of Jesus we can rest in His sweet amazing grace. A life of security knowing, "when justice called for all our debts, a friend of sinners came instead." As believers who experience trials, we can grow so much spiritually, we can look for more spiritual benefit in trials to come. I have no desire for trials to arrive in my life or in your life. Maybe you are at the point that you can rejoice in trials. I have not yet arrived, pray for me. But one thing I do know is that  His grace can work in and with the trials and bring us to our feet to stand and truly all things can work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)  That verse use to make me cringe because surely some things just don't work for good. There is just no way. But God can turn ashes into beauty. (Isaiah 61:3) He is still able and working in all things for His glory and good pleasure and our good. His purposes will be accomplished. (Isaiah 4:9-10)  Redemption may not fully take place until we see glory but glory we will see! Remind each other of the gift of grace. Remind each other of hope. Remind each other we don't have to understand it all and He can take our brokenness. He is with us. Our weakness thrown into His greatness. Through laughter, tears, joy and heartache, we are reminded as people of God, the promise of His love, mercy, everlasting kindness, His grace and His hope. Our standing before Christ is secure.

That is hope that will not disappoint.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Surely He Is Coming Soon

I'm always uncertain when hit publish if I should really hit publish. I write a lot and some things are just between me and God and some things I share with  me and the 2 people who may read this place on the Internet. Nevertheless, whether this blog is more for me or to serve someone, I will continue to write as things stir in my heart. I could be talking to myself but  maybe just maybe, someone else is listening and will be blessed or changed or inspired or challenged. Or, it could be to change me.

All the many global events of late have me searching the Scriptures for a word from the God of the universe. Who is like my God? He created the Heavens and the earth, tells the sun when to rise. He makes the mountains stand. The Lord is high above the nations. He puts rulers in their place. His greatness is unsearchable. Who am I that He should care for me? I am like dust, but a puff of smoke, my life stands as a mere breath. Here and gone. I most certainly am often jacked, poor and needy and yet, His love is relentless. Who is this King of glory? He thinks of me. He knew me before I was born and numbers the very hairs on my head.  He pursues with His unfailing love. He sees everything I do and every step I take. Nothing is hidden from Him. He knows the depths of my heart. He knows me more than I know me. Again, I remind you that I have been jacked up, and yet, His mercy remains. His steadfast love endures forever. Surely goodness and mercy follow me, all the days of my life.

He is coming for me. I don't know when but He is coming. We see Scripture from Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3, 2Peter 2, Zechariah 9 and Daniel 2, 7, 12, unfold before us. I cannot help but look for Him. That day when He says, "Come." That day when we see His face and night will be no more. That day when saints will be throwing crowns singing, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created." Rev 4:11

That moment when His eyes like blazing fire meet mine, how will He see me?

Faultless.

Just typing those words make tears come to my eyes. After the many times I denied Him like Peter, spit upon Him like the crowd, was an adulterer like the woman brought to His feet, abandoned His work like Mark, a betrayer like Judas, His kindness brings me to repentance. If  He counted my sins, I could not stand but in Him is forgiveness and life eternal. He died  to rescue me. He did not abandon me when I did not call Him Lord. He loves me with an everlasting love. Covered in His righteousness He will see me as blameless. This compels me to worship His Great Name.  For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. He is worthy of all praise.

How can I not live for Him? His life for my life.  The same mercy and grace given to me  is available to everyone who calls  upon the Name of the Lord. "For this is the will of my Father that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:40)

How great is His love. Never changing. Never wavering. Never tiring. Never failing. The great love that saves and redeems.

In these days there is a call to persevere. Hold on to the testimony of Jesus Christ.  Believer, we have read the end of the Book. We know how it ends.

Because of that, Believer, pray. Pray like you never have. If you don't know the words to pray, groan with the Spirit as He prays to our Father for His will to be done.  As Daniel prayed, "O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for you own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name." Daniel 9:18-19

Surely, He is coming soon.

To Whom Shall We Go?

The Bible, was written over a span of some 1,600 years, by approximately 40 authors from all walks of life, in three different languages, on three different continents. Despite all that diversity, the Bible is one complete book with each of it's parts coming together.  Many evidences from history and archaeological matters support the Bible's self claim that it is the authoritative, reliable and true word of God. Ultimately, we come to know the Scripture to be of Divine authorship from more than an intellectual argument or persuasion. The Holy Spirit reveals it to us. "But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth." (John 16:13)  Even Jesus loving people may have doubts of the reliability of Scripture and if this is all worth it. Is Jesus worth giving my life for? After all, it is no longer the most popular choice to be a follower of Christ. Following Christ is not chocolate and roses. In fact, it may cost you friends, family, your job and even your life.  It is not easy and faith is something that is fought for. "Though tossed about with many a conflict many a doubt, fighting's within and fears without." Just as you are, come!  If that is you, by grace through faith that seeks understanding in the words, "I believe, help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)  A broken and contrite heart, He will not despise! (Psalm 51:17) 

 In John 6, Jesus had a crowd of thousands listening to His every word. By the end of the chapter, after some hard teaching from Jesus, the large crowd walks away. Jesus asks His 12 disciples, "Do you want to go as well?" (John 6:67)  Peter says,"Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. and we have believed and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God"
(John 6:68-69)

Peter's question is one we each have to answer. Many voices demand our attention.  In these days, Many will fall away and not hold to the teachings and commandments of God. (Matthew 24:10)  Who will we listen to?  What voice will guide our lives?  What authority will we follow?   If Jesus is right and He is who He says He is, if the Scriptures are "God Breathed", He has already spoken on the issue of marriage as well as many other issues the culture brings to question today, "He answered, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? and this is the place to end, as "Scripture cannot  be broken." (John 10:35)  Love is a person, God, (1John4:8)  and we do not have the authority to define love according to our standards. The Supreme court gave their definition but it will never change what the God of the Universe states. His Word is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)  Thankfully, I do not serve a God bound by the whims of culture or the opinions of man. The issue of Biblical authority must be resolved in our heart and life. Will the Bible, the book centered on Jesus, be the one true voice in your life that you submit to by grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit?


If ever there were a time to trust and obey the Truth of God's Word, live intentionally on mission, love our neighbors well, and leverage our life for the glory of God, it is now.  Loving our neighbor well is loving them as they are, while offering truth with grace, love and humility and point to freedom, forgiveness and life found in a relationship with King Jesus and the truth of His Word. With speech gracious, knowing how to answer each person. (Col. 4:6) Knowing it is God who saves, convicts and transforms a life.  "Remember beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. they said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. But you, beloved building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by flesh." (Jude 9:17-23)  By receiving mercy, we offer mercy. Between the wrath of God and people, is the Cross. There will be a great and awesome day of the Lord where the sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood. (Joel 2:31) And people will be without excuse. (Romans 1:20)  This is the world to which we are called to serve. The Light shines bright in a dark world as we cry, "O Lord, save Your people." (Jeremiah 31:7)

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen"
(Jude 1:24-25)

Chief Of Sinners

There was no life. I was a walking dead person. I can remember sitting in church thinking that I would hear someone call me out as "a fraud and a poser" and they would have been right. I would read in the New Testament about the lives of the disciples and the church that lived empowered by the Holy Spirit to war against sin and advance the Kingdom of Heaven but there was no supernatural power in my life.  But, you know, I was okay, not too bad of a person. His Word clearly states, Anyone who does not have the Sprit of Christ does not belong to Him. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Rom. 8:9,14) I could not even recognize that my every decision, thought, action was made living according to the flesh. My problem was not simply I lived okay with a few bad decisions out weighed by good ones or that I was a little off course or somewhat messed up. I was lost, separated from God, a child of wrath, lover of darkness, slave to sin, destined for hell.

This saying is trustworthy, Jesus came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief. (1Timothy 1:15)

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought, us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one- to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6)

He redeemed my life.

He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. (Psalm 40:2)

That day when mercy called my name, God became real to me. On my knees in my dining room, I surrendered. No more running, hiding or pretending. I confessed, repented, called on Jesus to rescue me and placed my faith in Jesus Christ. I'm trusting in His death and resurrection that took away my punishment for the wrong I have committed, so that in Him I have become the righteousness of God.

I got up a new person, transformed,  risen to walk in a new life in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The old had gone, the new had come.

His work in my life and around me was tangible. I was blown away by the glory of God. He peeled the scales off my eyes so I could see for the first time the depths of my sin and the lengths Jesus went to save me. My knowledge of God, turned into an experience of God when He came down in power.

The response to this great love, the Salvation offered by Jesus Christ, is praise to the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, praise to His glorious grace and obedience to His will.  Now a child of God, He sent His Spirit to dwell in my heart crying, "Abba, Father."

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)

Since that day of meeting a beautiful God who breathed life back into my lungs, it has been an incredibly beautiful and brutal journey. Purifying the conscience from dead works to serve the living God and growing in grace and knowledge is not without discomfort and certainly not easy. But there is joy and peace living with the expectation of divine interruption in the day to join in God's mission to restore and heal while trusting that Christ Himself is my help and strength. Embracing the gospel as the power of God in our present lives and our future hope, means we become extensions of grace as part of the global story of God redeeming the Earth. Clearly, through Scripture, Christians have a part to play. God doesn't need us, we have been invited into this mission. Grace receivers become grace givers through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In pressing on to the upward prize of Christ Jesus, I  am continually reminded I have not yet arrived or taken hold of the goal and He continues to work in me. I am reminded of how helpless I am, reminded of darkness, sorrow and pain of people around me. I am reminded of my need for repentance, reminded of my falleness, reminded that this world is not my home, reminded that my life is like a cloud that is consumed and vanished away. I am reminded there is no good in me.

What a wretched person I am but by the grace of God and the power of the life giving Spirit.

He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

My story will fade away, but the redemption story of Jesus Christ will go on forever.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Cor.4:7)

If you have a placed your faith in Jesus Christ, you have a Salvation story. Some are dramatic rescues from a life of rebellion in deep and flagrant sin, while others may be a constant posture toward Jesus with a steady maturity in Christ with no date to point to that you received the Spirit of God. It seems like you have always known Christ and the power of His resurrection. At some point, you understand that Jesus Christ is who He says He is and you are no longer your own; you have been blood bought by Christ.

You could be the chief of sinners or a rule keeper. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23)  Each one of us is in need of a Savior. Do you recognize that you are a sinner? But God show His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)  Do you know Jesus Christ personally as your Lord and Savior?  Are you known by God?  Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, that He lived the life we could not live, died the death we should have died, and rose again to give us new life?  Do you trust Him to save you? Completely. Fully. Wholy. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. There is no other way but through Him. (John 14:6) None. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom. 10:9-10)  Freedom, forgiveness and life is found in Jesus Christ.  He loves you that much. He made a way. Seek the Lord and call upon His Name.

Let him who is thirsty come. Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. (Rev. 22:17)

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen

Name Calling, Shame and Accusations

Within the span of a week, I spoke to 8 people who were distraught by the negative berating, extremely personal comments or accusations by a peer both online and in person. With the most destruction and impact to the individuals from online comments.

 



My own child came home crying over being called a name. She is the sensitive and gentle hearted one, always trying to make sure everyone is alright. She notices my facial expressions and is the first to ask, "Mom, are you OK?" If dinner is before Dad gets home, she is the one that always makes sure there is plenty left for Dad. She is the peacemaker and the one who crosses clique boundaries to talk to the kid sitting by themselves. When I saw her tears, I really wanted to go give the kid a piece of my mind but I realized this would not be the last time she would be called a name. Name calling, shaming and accusations are still a thing in the adult world. So as with the 8 people that sat in front of me in a mess of tears, anger and hurt and now my daughter, let's talk about how we can deal with words in a healthy way.

I took her by the hand and said, "You are who Christ says you are. You are a daughter of the Most High God, forgiven, loved and accepted by the King. He knew you before you were born. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, created for His purposes."  And then I gave my best words of wisdom from the great theologian Taylor Swift, "Haters gonna hate and fakers gonna fake," to which she finished, "But I'm gonna shake it off, shake it off."  Her spirit was lifted quickly but it's not always so simple.

Words can tear down and destroy and also can encourage and build up. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21  Our words have power and the Bible has much to say about how we use our words.

Name calling, shaming and accusations have been around forever. Joseph was accused of raping the wife of his master. David was falsely accused by King Saul of trying to dethrone him. Job's friends told him he was guilty of great sin. Now in a world of anonymous posting apps like  Kik, Snapchat and Yik Yak, kids especially fall victim to unfiltered vicious words aimed at ripping a persons soul. Adults troll the internet making degrading and inflammatory comments sometimes in the name of defending Jesus. And good luck if you make a stupid decision. Remember that time you got drunk and passed out beside the toilet when you were 18?  Yeah, I don't either but now if that happens, someone could and probably will snap a picture and thousands of people will know about it before you wake up. A picture now public forever.

There has been much needed conversation lately about this issue. Check out this message from Matt Chandler and check out #CTShame on twitter for some great conversation addressing Christian involvement in online shaming.

What to do? How to respond to the explosiveness and viciousness of online or face to face shaming? Talk to your children, your grandchildren, your friends children, your children's friends. Educate them on social media skills. Educate them on the risks of the so called anonymous apps. If you don't know these apps, have your children teach you. Be in the know about the social lives of your children, both online and offline. Back in the day, if we dealt with a bully or mean kid at school, we could safely escape home each day. These days, kids take the bully home with them via their phone. Unlimited access day and night. Taunting words that can be seen by hundreds in permanent black and white. Use the blocking feature. Check the  phone. Consider gathering the phone when they come home. Teach kids to tell someone if they are being harassed online or face to face. Remind them always, their identity is rooted in Christ. Offer encouragement and empathy. Often, a word of encouragement at the right time can dispel the darkness of shame. Model online behavior and how to handle conflicts without resorting to name calling and online accusations. The Bible gives us a model to handle conflicts in Matthew 18.

The outside world is to know us by our love.

If your vocabulary is filled with accusations, name calling and shaming others, it may be time to check your heart. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34  Toxic words will change into words that encourage and heal when our hearts are transformed. For harsh, unkind and hateful words to be replaced with ones that edify, our hearts must be overwhelmed by who Jesus is and who we are in Christ.

Jesus did some name calling Himself. He did, after all call the Pharisees "brood of vipers" "hypocrites" "blind  guides" "fools" "serpents." Even His name calling was done in perfect righteousness.  In calling out the religious leaders, His sharp words declared their character in hopes they would come face to face with the Truth. Jesus knows the character and heart of everyone. His name calling was done in love so that His kindness would bring them to repentance.

Sometimes calling out is necessary, even required of us as Christians. Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Psalm 141:5   There are times when a rebuke or a corrective word is the most kind and loving thing to do. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. Proverbs 27:6  When we approach a brother or sister to call them out personally, whether online or in person it should be done with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Without love, our words are a noisy gong or a clanging symbol. The intent of calling out a brother or sister in Christ should always be to bring them closer to Christ. Redemption is the goal.

I have been on both sides, both the one falsely spoken of and the one who falsely speaks. I have been betrayed and have betrayed. If you live long enough, you will too. There are times to go to friends or family and ask forgiveness, there are times to offer mercy and forgiveness.

If you are the subject of online or face to face shaming, name calling or accusations that is not done in loving humility, give it little consideration before it sinks into your soul. Nothing is wasted for a follower of Christ. Even if the words are false and unfair, there still may be lessons to learn.  For a child or teenager, it could be learning  skills to handle unkind words or to help them have compassion to not use degrading and negative words on others. For an adult, perhaps it is to abide securely in Christ, dependent on  His great grace. If you are wounded by false words, let Christ cover you in His healing through your standing as a Child of the King. Redemption is always found in Him. If the words spoken to you are in loving humility, take them to the Cross. Seek Godly counsel and let Jesus reveal all truth and sift your heart. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

If you are shaming, name calling or accusing out of malice, contempt, insecurity or jealousy, if words are spoken or typed to wound someone, to make yourself feel better or to one up someone, stop, repent, and be restored. Meditate on the Truth of God's Word and let the love, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ reign in your heart.

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18  

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. Proverbs 17:27-28

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

People Of The Cross

21 of our Egyptian Christian brothers were beheaded on Sunday, just because they were Christians. The images released by ISIS are powerful as they are mocked by the terrorist calling them "people of the Cross." The Cross, "foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who  are being saved it is the power of God." (1Cor 1:18)  And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Rev 12:11)


Here are the names of these saints who now reign with Christ. Let us pray that their families receive sufficient grace to help them to hold onto their faith and stand in this time of need.





We declare our commitment by going to church on Sunday, putting a tattoo on our wrist, going to a Christian conference and quoting some verses on social media and yet God knows the commitment of our heart beyond our behavior. Have we really surrendered all, every part of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus?  Yes, most of us won't be imprisoned, violently persecuted or killed for our faith, but we all should be ready.

Jesus said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters- yes even their own life- such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26-27

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2Timothy 3:12

"I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God...they came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Rev 20:4

"Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God." John 16:2

"If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." 1Peter 4:16

"There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword..-the world was not worthy of them." Hebrews 11:35-38

This is the Truth of God's Word.

Early Christians were bold and brave, loved sacrificially and lived with purpose empowered by the Holy Spirit, because they knew that Jesus was who He said He was and did what He said He would do. They trusted in the finished work of Jesus. They knew that "to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil 1:21) Their eyes were turned to Jesus as the things of this earth grew strangely dim. They were fueled by the  eternal hope of life with Christ. They were not seeking comfort, approval or security. They lived to bring God glory. They expected suffering.

ISIS meant to cause fear that causes hearts and feet to fail. Yet, God is victorious even when evil seems to cover the earth and darkness is widespread. He "does not desire that any should perish, but everyone come to repentance." (2Peter 3:9) God can make persecution serve the Great Commission. Look at the book of Acts. When persecution comes because of faithfulness to God, God is honored and the gospel spreads.


And yet, how long, O Lord?

IT is your whole life

Joel stole our hearts. His eyes were big and brown and he had the moves that would make Michael Jackson jealous. He cried big tears when it was time for our team visiting Agape Home to say goodbye. Joel was always smiling, laughing, kicking a soccer ball or helping with the younger children. After a celebration lunch on Sunday afternoon, we picked on Joel on how much he ate and his stomach looked like he was hiding a soccer ball in there. But this wasn't always the case for Joel. He has known hunger, disease, and the despair of deep poverty.  He was rescued off the streets where he lived after his parents died of AIDS. His bed was a sidewalk. All he knew was the street life of begging for food and finding a way to survive anyway he could. He has found new life at Agape. Not only are his physical needs met but his spiritual needs. Joel came to know Christ and has begun to grow in Him. He is being supported, encouraged and equipped to become a man who will follow Christ into whatever he has planned for him to be a part of the mission of God. Now, Joel has hope.

When darkness surrounds us and circumstances seem hopeless, God is still at work turning death into life. This is the hope we have as Christians. We believe not only in a God who brings Hope in hopeless situations, but He also asks us to do the same.

Our God is a God who went to the cross and died for the least and the lost If we get real with ourselves, we understand that you and I are the "losers" God sent His Son to die for. When we hear stories such as Joel's, instead of perhaps judging his family or feeling overwhelmed for his circumstances, we should be reminded of our own neediness and poverty and the life saving and life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I once was lost but now I am found, I once was blind, but now I see!

But, how easy it is to get caught up in well meaning religious acts like studying scripture and going to church while failing to live out God's Truths. Full of head Christianity, we forget that we also worship God with our heart, our hands and our feet.

In our zeal for "good Christian living" we sometimes forget about God's passion for the fatherless and the widow. "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself  unstained by the world." James 1:27

 

 

In our love for bible studies and program checklists we forget that God told us to "Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy." Prov 31:9



It is not as simple as writing a check or a well-meaning gesture of justice. God looks upon our heart. He's not after our money or efforts, He is after us. When our heart is surrendered to Jesus' call to "follow me." our hearts change to compassion and our actions follow as a grateful response to the love of Christ and the Gospel transforming our lives.

I have been caught up in religious effort and  comfortable Christianity and thought I was doing just fine. Thank you Jesus for an awakening and how He continues to clear the fog from my eyes to see things more clearly.  How many years I wasted just doing the church thing while giving no thought to God's Kingdom in the here and now. This life and its comforts are temporary, the most important thing is taking the Gospel into the world. How can we receive the free gift of Salvation and not share it with others?  Following Christ calls us into something greater than Sunday services and moral living. Response to the Gospel calls us to say, "Here is my life, God. Take it. It's Yours."

It is not enough to be simply a decider; Jesus wants disciples."-Richard Stearns
 

Being a disciple of Jesus is not a one time decision, a day of playing Jesus, or a discipleship program.

 It is your whole life.

 Discipleship is 1,000 moments every single day, choosing to walk in the ways of Jesus." -Jen
 Hatmaker

I don't know what that will look like for each of you. For many, it may be as simple as picking up a phone, sending an email, driving down the road, sponsoring a child, adopting a child or buying a plane ticket. If we are His disciples, we act, speak, live as Jesus did. And if we look at His life to imitate, who did He spend time with and care for? -Children, women, poor, diseased, sinners, the marginalized of society.  Then what are we to do in response to our lives being made alive in Christ?

We must prayerfully consider what God is calling our families to do to care for the poor and afflicted.  We cannot help everyone, but we can help someone. You find your ONE. God will place situations, opportunities, people in your life to share Jesus with and to care for those society has  marginalized.  One thing is certain, Heaven and hell are real, the Great Commission is urgent and we all have a part to play.

Jesus speaks strongly and clearly to those who call themselves followers but refuse to care about the hurting and needy.

"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me....truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' Mat. 25:41-43,45

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi



*Photos by Elizabeth Woodson