The Song

This year I’m reading through the Holman Christian Standard Study Bible. It’s a great Bible, full of commentaries, cross-references, word studies, maps, charts, etc. In fact, it is so full of study aids and helps; I don’t think I’ll make it through the entire Bible this year.

Last week, in my reading, I came to the Song of Songs or the Song of Solomon. It is a very short book but it is accompanied by tons of commentary in the HCSB Study Bible. But still, I dug into it and came away with a revelation I had not noticed before when reading through the book. God is so good and I’ll get to that part of the story in just a moment.

As many of you probably know, the Song is a love poem between Solomon and the Shulamite maiden, who was believed to have been Solomon’s first wife. The Song is a celebration of romantic love, as God intended it to be. Much later the writer of Hebrews, in chapter 13, verse 4, would pen these words: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

Also, from the New Testament, the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her”, NKJV. In the same vein, the Song of Solomon is thought by many to be an allegory of God’s love for Israel and/or Christ’s love for the church. The HCSB Study Bible comments in the introduction of the book say that it “reflects God’s desire to form within us a pure and a devoted love…that there is a bliss in married love that is reflective of the greater love believers experience as the bride of Christ”.

Reading all this has given me a new appreciation for the Song of Solomon. However, what touched me greatly when reading through the book this time that I had never noticed before was the revelation that the Shulamite maiden who married the great King Solomon, was a commoner, an obscure nobody. The maiden worked in the vineyard for her brothers who had rented the vineyard from Solomon (1:6 and 8:11).

Why is this so exciting and beautiful to me? You think I’ve lost my mind don’t you? But dear friends, this is a reflection of us—Christ reaches out to us in divine, perfect love. We are nobody! We have nothing with which to recommend ourselves to the King of Heaven! Yet in His grace and mercy and love, He seeks us out; He reaches down to us in the muck and the mire; our own righteousness as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

Who am I that Christ would notice me and love me? Who am I that God would love “the world in this way: (that) He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life”, John 3:16, HCSB.

Dear friends, I am nobody but somebody that God loves and furthermore, “We love Him because He first loved us,” 1 John 4:19. Is that not beautiful? Now can you get excited with me about that? I am nobody but somebody that Christ loves and so are you! If you haven’t already done so, open your heart to Christ today. Confess your belief in Christ; repent of your sins; invite Him into your heart to live forever and become a child of the King.

If you do know Christ as Lord and Savior, then celebrate with me that, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved,” Ephesians 5:4-6, NKJV.

God bless!

The Prayer of Jesus

Recently I was reading John 17, which I absolutely love. This is the real “Lord’s Prayer” as opposed to the model prayer which Jesus taught His disciples (Matt. 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4). Jesus’ prayer in John 17 can be divided into three parts—Jesus’ prayer for Himself in verses 1-5; His prayer for His disciples in verses 6-19 and His prayer for future believers in verses 20-26.

In verses 17-19, Jesus is praying about the disciples and speaks of sanctification. "Sanctify them (the disciples) by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth."

John MacArthur's commentary (The MacArthur Daily Bible) on the verse 17 says sanctification means the setting apart for a particular use or purpose. Jesus was set apart—He was in the world but not of the world. And if the disciples hadn’t realized it before, they would learn quickly following the death and resurrection of Christ that they were in the world but not of the world too. They would learn the world hated them just as it had hated Jesus.

Believers learn through the process of sanctification that we are in the world but not of the world—Jesus says we are set apart by the truth of the word of God. The apostle John would write in chapter 20, verse 31, “but these (words) are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” Yes, set apart because of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Of course, I love the verses in John 17 where Jesus is praying about me—verses 20-26. Just think, all those many years ago, Jesus prayed about me—and not only me but also about all future New Testament believers. He prayed, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word (the disciples—re-read John 20:31 above); that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have love Me."

Wow; perfect unity with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and other true believers. Now that makes my heart sing with joy! And I sincerely pray that it makes your heart sing too!

King Jesus

“And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16, NKJV

This morning I was reading in the book of 2 Samuel 7. If you are a Bible scholar, (I am not), you should automatically think, “Davidic Covenant”. The Davidic Covenant is God’s irrevocable promise, (all God’s promises, are, of course, irrevocable!) that a king from the line of David would rule forever. This king, King Jesus, would later be described by the prophet Isaiah in these way:

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7, HCSB

Reading this makes my heart jump within me! Can you imagine how David must have felt when Nathan, the prophet revealed to him the Lord’s words? He was excited; he was humbled; he was awed; and he was thankful. 2 Samuel 7:18-28, NKJV, tells us that “King David went in and sat before the Lord” to pray.

David begins by saying, “Who am I, O Lord my God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?” What humility! David recognizes that man is not able to make such promises, only God, who is Sovereign, can make such promises. Further, David recognizes the blessings of God in the revelation, itself, of the promises.

Then the praises begin! “You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, nor is there any God besides You.” “You redeemed for Yourself”, Israel, for “Your very own people forever” to show Your “great and awesome deeds.” “So let Your name be magnified forever.” “O Lord God, You are God and Your words are true”.

What a wonderful passage and the blessing revealed is beyond comprehension—King Jesus! “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16, HCSB

Do you know Him? If not, do not delay…He’s waiting for you, right now. EVERYONE (that includes you) “who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

God bless!

Spiritual Fitness

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God,” Romans 12:2, HCSB.

Our bodies are designed for activity—physically and mentally. Activity keeps the cob-webs at bay and helps us function more efficiently and effectively. Activity is to our bodies and minds what lubricant is to machinery.

An article entitled, “Why is Exercise Important”, on www.healthdiscovery.net, states if we don’t use our bodies, our muscles become weak and flabby, our heart and lungs won’t function efficiently and our joints will become stiff and more prone to injury. An April 25, 2012 article from www.sciencedaily.com, “Protecting Your Brain: ‘Use It or Lose It’, says “those who are more mentally active or maintain an active cognitive lifestyle throughout their lives are at lower risk” for dementia.

If activity is of such great importance for the fitness of the body and brain, which have a limited lifespan, then how much greater should be the attention given to the spiritual fitness and well-being of the Christian life when the consideration of time is eternity. What activities can we as Christians, undertake for spiritual fitness?

Certainly, without daily prayer it would be impossible to be spiritually fit. Paul admonished the Thessalonians, “Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, HCSB.

Through prayer we commune with God; through prayer we offer praise, adoration, and worship to our Lord; we thank Him for our many blessings; we make our requests known to Him; and through prayer we confess and repent of wrongdoing, (Matthew 6:12). Dr. Charles Stanley has written, “Salvation makes a way for us to enter God’s presence, while regular confession and repentance keep the pathway well maintained and free of obstruction.”

“If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. However, God has listened; He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. May God be praised! He has not turned away my prayer or turned His faithful love from me,” Psalm 66:18-20, HCSB. Daily prayer is certainly necessary for spiritual fitness and our daily walk of faith.

Another essential in pursuit of God and a life of spiritual fitness is reading the Bible daily. God’s Word enables us to face the difficulties of life; it is our firm foundation in all circumstances. Through the Scripture we learn about the character of God, His will, His way, His promises—through study and application of Biblical truths we gain spiritual maturity; godly wisdom, and spiritual discernment.

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your word. I have sought You with all my heart; don’t let me wander from Your commands. I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You. LORD, may You be praised; teach me Your statutes,” Psalm 119:9-12, HCSB.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17, HCSB.

Also crucial to spiritual fitness is fellowship with other believers. “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near,” Hebrews 10:24-25, HCSB.

Through unity with other believers we find support, friendship, encouragement, and love; through fellowship with others we discover opportunities to share, serve, mentor, and minister to others. We also have the opportunity to be ministered to and the opportunity to learn from other believers.

While I believe the above are absolute necessities to spiritual fitness, it is certainly not an exhaustive list. Each of us has certain things we do regularly to maintain spiritual vitality. My own routine each morning is to pray, read my Bible, and then walk while listening to contemporary Christian music. I value this time in the mornings alone with God; just praising and worshiping Him. It sets the tone for my entire day.

I’d love to hear what you do for spiritual fitness. Please share with me your favorite activities for staying in good shape spiritually.

God Bless!

The Duck Test

You may be asking yourself, “What is the duck test?” Well, the duck test is an inductive reasoning assessment that goes like this: If you see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then the bird must be a duck.

Unfortunately, the duck test is not completely accurate. As you well know, hypocrisy runs rampant in our society. We see it in the spin of the news media; we see it in the faux promises of politicians; we see it in job-seekers embellishing their resumes—I’ll stop here because giving you a comprehensive list of examples would take too long. For the sake of brevity, I’ll simply give you the definition of hypocrisy, (please forgive me for insulting your intelligence).

From the internet web-site http://www.dictionary.com, hypocrisy is defined as a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess; or a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude.

No surprises there and it is also no surprise that Jesus preached against hypocrisy during His ministry on earth; the Pharisees being particular targets. Just one example of this is found in Matthew 23:17, HCSB, where Jesus says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity.”

People appearing to be what they are not.

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 is another example of people appearing to be what they are not. The five wise virgins not only looked the part, they were also prepared. The foolish virgins also looked the part; in fact, they looked exactly like the wise virgins; however, when it came time to meet the groom they were not only unprepared, but it was also discovered they were not even known by the groom—they were imposters!

In Mark 11:12-14, Jesus cursed the barren fig tree for not providing what its appearance promised—fruit. Since the tree was already full of leaves, Jesus went to see, “if perhaps He would find something on it”, (Mark 11:13). Finding no fruit, He cursed the tree.

Jesus says we are recognized by our fruit. In John 15:5-8, He tells us if we remain in Him and Him in us, we will produce “much” fruit and that the Father is glorified by this. Furthermore, by this we are proved to be His disciples…not imposters, but true Disciples of Christ!

As Christians we should daily invite the Lord to examine our hearts and motives to see if there is any offensive way within us, (Psalm 139:23-24). For you can be sure others are watching us to see if we are truly what we appear to be; if we are truly what we profess to be. In other words, if you say you are a duck; then be a duck and don’t get caught acting like a goose! After all, we are ambassadors of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:20.

“Make Your ways known to me, LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation”. Psalm 25:4-5, HCSB

Precious Lord,

You see our hearts, You know our motives; give us clean hands and a pure heart to know and walk in Your ways, to obey You—quickly, sweetly, and completely; to worship and glorify You, and to serve You always; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless!

Keep Your House Clean

“You must not harbor hatred against your brother... Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh. Leviticus 19:17-18, HCSB

Recently I read a blog post by Max Lucado about hoarders. He spoke of how hoarders save everything. He then went on to compare these hoarders with those that “collect” hard feelings toward others in their heart. This struck a chord with me, because at one time, I too, was a “collector” of harsh feelings toward others in my own heart. I allowed this to happen even though I am a Christian and have been for many years.

I hope you are horrified and appalled by that statement; in fact, this is the point where, if you were driving, you would see barricades, flashing red and yellow lights and signs reading, “Caution” and “Danger”. Or perhaps, a little less dramatically, you may ask yourself, “Do I have this problem?”

If you’ve ever watched the reality shows on television about hoarders, you may have noticed they usually refer to themselves as collectors. The title of collector seems an innocuous one; yet these people “collect” to their detriment. In extreme cases their very lives are in danger and in all cases their lives would benefit from a good cleansing; an extracting from the filth, rot, and decay that surrounds them.

The same may be said of those who collect hard feelings—they refuse to let go of past hurts and wrongs until, before they know it, they find themselves in need of a good cleansing. Upon careful examination of their hearts they find they are living with rot and decay; they discover themselves in the midst of the foul refuse that accumulates when harsh feelings are left to sit, soak, and stew until every part of their life has been permeated.

Think of it like this—when you hold something close to your heart and you nurture it, that thing is going to grow. It will grow, whether it is good or it bad, because you have sheltered it; you’ve feed it; and you’ve protected it. How could it not grow?

Just as hoarders need help to clean their homes; those who hoard the hurts of the past need Christ to cleanse their hearts. Just as when we first came to Christ, we must come to Him with genuine, sincere confession and repentance asking for forgiveness. We must also forgive others so that we may receive the forgiveness we so desperately need ourselves.

Jesus said, “So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift,” Matthew 5:23-24, HCSB, and in the model prayer, Jesus taught, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”, Matthew 6:12, HCSB.

As Christians, we need to make a habit of asking God to reveal hidden areas of sin in our lives, and then confessing, repenting, and receiving forgiveness for those sins. Then within the grace, mercy, and transforming power of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to love others as Christ loves us—with a pure heart—sacrificially and selflessly.

With a call to holy living, the Apostle Peter puts it like this: “By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God,” 1 Peter 1:22-23, HCSB.

Amen and God bless!

A Note of Confession: After I had written this but before it had been posted I had an argument with my brother for which I had to confess and repent. I tell you this to say this one thing…I am an ordinary woman with an ordinary life, but I write because I am compelled to share with you what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me of our great, awesome, and extraordinary God! As repeated so many times in the Bible, “The LORD is good and His mercy endures forever.” This is true for ordinary me…and it can be true for you too…just by inviting Christ into your heart…please do so today.

Living in a State of Grace

For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel throughout all the stages of their journey. Exodus 40:38, HCSB

I presently work in a volunteer position in which I believe God has called me. Last night, as I was thinking about a training session I’m to be involved in later today, I suddenly began to feel overwhelmed by it all and my brain was screaming, “What were you thinking?”

Fortunately, the Holy Spirit quickly stepped in with the answer, “Kaye, you knew all along you could not do this on your own. But you knew that I would be with you; leading, guiding, speaking; working the will of the Father through you. That’s what faith is about. Lean on Me; depend on Me; trust in Me; I will not disappoint; I will carry you through.”

Sweet relief; sweet peace! As I read my Bible this morning, I was reminded the Lord promises to dwell among His people. When the children of Israel were traveling in the wilderness, God promised He would dwell among them, Exodus 29:45-46. Thousands of years later, Jesus reaffirms the promise in Matthew 28:20, HCSB, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We can also live in the knowledge God never changes. The prophet Samuel, speaking to Saul, tells him: “…the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not man who changes his mind,” I Samuel 15:29, HCSB. Furthermore, God, Himself, speaking to the prophet Malachi, says: “I, Yahweh, have not changed,” Malachi 3:6a, HCSB.

Though the Devil tries to deceive us with doubt, fear, and lies we have the assurance of God’s Word which says, He will not leave us and He does not change! I don’t know about you but that fills my heart with peace and gladness!

No doubt, concern Timothy might experience moments of doubt and fear in his ministry, the Apostle Paul, reminds Timothy, we are not to be afraid, but we are to exercise the spiritual gifts God bestows upon each of us as believers. Paul reminds Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment,” 2 Timothy 1:7, HCSB.

Because of God’s great love for us, we live constantly in a state of grace. As believers justified through the blood of Christ, let us live passionately for Him, knowing the Holy Spirit, resides within us, shaping us into the likeness of our precious Savior. As followers of Christ, fear and doubt have no place in our lives. Let us live intentionally for Him, waiting expectantly on Him, knowing He will bring to completion the good work He began in each of us, Philippians 1:6. Amen!

God Bless!

Be Nice To You Friens

 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8, NASB

I went to a retreat this weekend and received a book on leadership written by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller entitled, “The Secret”. I enjoyed the book very much and without giving away everything the book has to say I can tell you the big secret is that we lead others best through serving them. Or as my two-year-old granddaughter aptly puts it, “Be nice to you friens”. Yes, be nice; genuinely nice; be kind; be considerate; be compassionate.

Or better yet, love one another, just as Jesus commanded us to do. Jesus, the ultimate example of the servant leader said that we are to love others as He first loved us. In fact, not only are we to love our friends, but we are to love our enemies as well, Matthew 5:44; and because of this love we have for one another, people will know we are disciples of Jesus, John 13: 34-35.

Surely we would all agree service to others would be easier with love in our hearts. But how do we obtain the kind of love that helps us to love our enemies and pray for those who would spitefully use us? Honestly, it can be difficult to love others in general; but to love our enemies seems…unrealistic.

Is it unrealistic? Dare I say, impossible? Both these answers are completely accurate without the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit abiding within us. Jeremiah 17:9 calls the heart deceitful above all else and even incurable.

However, Jeremiah continues by crying out to the Lord, saying, “Heal me LORD and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved,” verse 14, HCSB. Jeremiah knew what the heart of man was capable of without God, but he was also keenly aware of the healing power of the Almighty.

Yes, it is God who enables us to love one another, 1 Thessalonians 4:9. It is through obedience to Christ we can sincerely love our brothers earnestly from a pure heart, 1 Peter 1:22. The Apostle John tells us, “love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God,” 1 John 4:7, and “If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us,” 1 John 4:12, HCSB.

It is through the Lord that our faith flourishes and that our love for one another increases, 2 Thessalonians 1:3. It is through the strength of Christ we can do all things, Philippians 4:13; through Christ we are able to become servant-leaders; we are able to “be nice to you friens” and love our enemies. Praise God we have the assurance that, “with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” Matthew 19:26.

Amen and God bless!

p.s. My granddaughter, Claire, also says, “Don’t bite you friens,” which aligns very nicely with the “Be nice to you friens” rule.

My Healer, My Redeemer

“Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you.” James 4:10, HCSB*

Wednesday night at church our pastor spoke on the topic, “The Requirements for Healing” using 2 Chronicles 7 as the scripture reference, verse 14 as the focal verse. As God’s children we must humble ourselves, seek God’s face and repent. IF we do this, God will hear our pray, forgive, and provide healing.

The promise of the blessing, healing, is conditional upon, humility, seeking God, and repentance. We must not expect the fulfillment of the promise if the conditions of the promise are not met. And yet, many times, pridefully, we do, and then we obstinately wonder, what went wrong. However, genuine humility, heartfelt repentance, and total surrender, and thus obedience to God’s will and way in our lives are absolutely essential to our daily walk of faith.

In humbling ourselves before God there must be a stripping away of all that which is not useful—that which we have stubbornly clung to in pride. Pride is the enemy that attempts to elevate humanity to the level of God; but instead it is the cause of the disastrous and ruinous fall of man, (Isaiah 14:12-15). Pride, the best tool in Satan’s bag of tricks, (followed closely by doubt) has been used from the beginning to cause mankind to stumble.

Recall the serpent’s words to Eve, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1) and further, “Your eyes will be opened and you will be like God,” (v. 5). Hence, pride is a snare for us and will continue to be so this side of eternity.

Luke 9:23, Jesus speaking, says, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. To me, this says the stripping away of our personal pride must be a daily act of obedience. This is Christ’s call to us as Christians for total surrender in following Him.

Friends do not be discouraged; no matter how big our pride may be, God’s grace is always bigger! Praise God for His infinite, all-sufficient grace. James tells us in chapter 4, verses 6 and 7, that God “gives greater grace...God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God.” Further, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you…Purify your hearts,” v. 8; and finally, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you,” v. 10.

In closing, I’ll leave you with these words penned by Julia H. Johnston, in the early 1900’s:

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord; Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace; freely bestowed on all who believe!

God Bless!

*HCSB used unless otherwise stated.

Once a Prodigal, Now Home

(Alternate title: Why I Love Operation Christmas Child)*

When I came back home five years ago I was bruised, beaten-up and broken. I had never intended to come back to Red River Parish nor did I intend to come back to Martin Baptist Church. But God had a different plan. His plan for me was one of reconciliation, healing, renewal, and recommitment.

I came back with a heart filled with bitterness. Even I didn’t realize the extent of my bitterness. I had spent years building walls between myself and whatever I found unpleasant and I had become an expert at doing so.

As I began to get back into church, the Holy Spirit began tugging at my heart and softening the hardened places within me. One Wednesday night Piper Welch was leading a women’s Bible study and the subject of bitterness came up. Piper said that bitterness was akin to hatred. I knew I was somewhat bitter, but hatred? I was a Christian; how could I possibly have hatred in my heart?

I went home that night enlightened; a blazing light burning in my mind…and in my heart. With great clarity I realized that for years I had been giving lip-service to the act of forgiving others. Years of unforgiveness had built-up inside my heart and had turned into a rock-hard bitterness.

Only when I repented of this un-confessed sin in my life was I able to truly forgive others, forget how I had been injured and enjoy the forgiveness I so desperately needed. The healing process began.

I recommitted my life to Christ and began to pray daily that I fully surrender to His leadership; to His will and His way. I prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. My speech changed; my taste in music and other forms of entertainment changed. I began to read my Bible again and for the first time ever, I read the Bible from cover to cover.

Today I find myself longing for God. I have discovered for myself what James meant when he wrote, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8a, HCSB

The more I learn about our great and awesome God, the more I want to learn. I believe it is a craving that will not be satisfied this side of eternity. I believe it is the spiritual craving of the redeemed for the Redeemer; I believe the spiritual soul seeks nourishment just as a newborn creature seeks nourishment from it mother.

I understand what David meant when he wrote:

“God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You ...” Psalm 63:1, HCSB

God brought me back home; back to my roots. He healed my brokenness and opened my eyes anew and afresh to His love and mercy and grace. He has opened doors of service for me that I never expected in areas I never expected or even thought possible.

Because of His love, mercy, and grace I am no longer content to sit still. I want to be a part of God’s call to action. God never intended for us to sit on the sidelines and be spectators. As believers, we are called to active service; we are to worship God and work for His Kingdom. Exactly how we execute those two responsibilities depends upon the spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities with which God has blessed us as individuals.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8, HCSB

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20, HCSB

"But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it it written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things." Romans 10:14-15, HCSB

It’s time to be passionate about God’s plan of action. It’s time to beg Him for an outpouring of His Holy Spirit, anointing us; enabling us; empowering us to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  Our highest calling is to share the Good News with others. Charles Stanley writes, “Loving God involves not just having a personal relationship with Jesus but also sharing Him with others.”

Consider this: nobody ever receives a really great gift and then tells no one. We tell our family; we tell our friends.

My life is not just about me. It’s about taking the Gospel to the corners of the earth. It’s about making disciples. It’s about being obedient to the command of Christ. It’s about looking and acting like love; it’s about looking and acting like faith. It’s about bringing honor and glory to God; in the Name of Jesus; in the power of the Holy Spirit.

*(I love the ministry of Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, because it allows you the opportunity to participate in foreign missions; it allows you the opportunity to help in sharing the Gospel with children and their families throughout the world. Get involved! For more information visit online at: Operation Christmas Child.)

God Bless!

You Lift Me Up

 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and will be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:2-3, NLT

A few years ago I worked for the Centers of Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. I held two different positions during my tenure there—Administrative Support Specialist and Management and Program Analyst. The major portion of my duties as a Management and Program Analyst were as Project Officer over one major contract and then also over a couple of less significant contracts.

I was so proud (yes, proud as in prideful) when I got that last job. It was a great promotion for me—more money, more responsibility, more prestige; did I mention more money? It was, if you will, the pinnacle of my success as a federal civil servant.

It was also a disaster! No, not the job—I did good work; my supervisor and the other higher-ups were pleased with my work. The disaster was from within me—that time was a spiritual desert for me. I felt as though the spiritual rug had been pulled out from under my feet. Why, had God turned His back on me? No, I had strayed. I had become prideful and me-centric. I discovered that what I thought I wanted so badly was not what I wanted at all.

May I just tell you how grateful I am that we serve a loving God? He is the ultimate Father who looks for us when we’ve gone astray; who runs out to greet us when we finally return home, broken and defeated, (Luke 15); who lifts us out of the mud and the muck; the One who is faithful to forgive us and to set our feet once again upon solid ground and steadies us as we begin to walk again with Him, anew and afresh, (Psalm 40:2). (Thank-you dear Lord for Your mercy; Your grace; Your love; Your forgiveness!)

My life is so completely different now. I have recommitted my life to Christ. I want to serve Him; to work for Him and His Kingdom.

My definition of success is no longer me-centered. In fact, something my pastor shared with us Sunday night has refined my personal definition of success even further. He told us that when he was in seminary someone asked a professor for his definition of a successful church. The answer:  a church that works for the glory of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Wow! I thought that was a great answer. I’m no longer working for myself. I’m working for the honor and glory of Almighty God, in the name of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. You can’t beat the job security and the rewards are out of this world! Won’t you join me?

God bless!

God's Word

The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. Psalm 19:7, HCSB

I love God’s word and I have made a habit of reading through the Bible each year. I’ve been doing this for the last few years and I find the more I read and learn about our great and awesome God the more I want to know. Falling in love with the word of God has made such a difference in my daily life and my faith-walk that I like to encourage others to spend more time in the Bible and learn to treasure God’s word in their heart, Psalm 119:11.

Of course, the number one reason for reading the Bible is that it is God’s word! “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right”, 2 Timothy 3:16, NLT.

The Bible is one book that is always relevant because God is unchanging, Malachi 3:6. The Bible contains a library of books that are just as relevant today as they were the day they were written. Few, if any other book can make that claim.

When we ignore the Bible; God’s very words to us, it is to our own detriment. The Bible is more than a book for reading, but it is a book to be studied and applied to our daily lives. It is our guidebook for life. No Christian can fully comprehend God’s will for their life without the benefit of God’s word. No Christian can fully grow and develop to maturity, becoming the person God intends for them to be, without study and application of His word.

We are to delight and hope in God’s word and these sentiments are eloquently expressed in Psalm 119, beginning with verse 11 which speaks of treasuring God’s word in our hearts. “Your word” is mentioned 23 times in Psalm 119 saying, in part, God’s word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven, (v. 89); it is sweeter than honey, (v. 103); it is a lamp and a light, (v. 105); it is completely pure, (v. 140); and the entirety of it is truth, (v. 160). Four of those 23 verses--74, 81, 114, and 147--specifically declare, “I put my hope in Your word”.

Our hope, should cause us to live intentionally and expectantly for we are not our own but have been bought with a price, (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are to live our lives as a sacrifice to God, (Romans 12:1). Reading, studying, and applying God’s revelation of Himself specifically communicated to His people should be a daily part of that sacrifice of worship we offer to our Lord.

I have had the pleasure of reading several articles by Pastor Greg Laurie at http://www.BibleStudyTools.com and I want to close with this passage quoted from one of those articles:

“Let God's Word permeate your life and be at home inside of you. Let the Bible fill your life. After all, success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the Bible you get into your heart and mind on a daily basis and how obedient you are to it. If you have a deficiency of the Bible in your diet, then you will wither spiritually. If you have a regular diet of the Word of God, then you will be strong spiritually. Fall in love with the Bible, and you will never regret it.”

God bless!