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building on the foundation of Jesus Christ

Archive for the category “Faith”

03 Apr 2013

Love Letter

My dear Child,

I want you to know I am with you. I have never left your side. I feel your heart beating next to mine. I know you probably don’t feel me next to you, but I am here. I wanted you to know, I have not left you to walk alone. I want you to feel my presence. I want you to know how much I love you. I want you to grasp how wide and long and high and deep my love is for you. I want you to understand there is nothing you could do that I would take my love from you. There is nothing you could do that would cause me to love you more. My love surpasses your understanding. Know this, I came for you. I came to bring you healing and hope. I came to show you the love that only comes from my Father. I did not come to condemn you. I came to love you so much so that I died for you. I stretched out my arms for you and said “I love you this much.” I lived and died so that you could live with me for eternity. Do you believe me when I say I came for you? I love you with all my heart, and I want you to love me as well.

I know there are some things keeping you from giving me your heart completely. That’s okay, I’ll take whatever you want to give me today, just let me in. I have waited for you. I know there are obstacles in front of you, and I am prepared to go with you through them. Let me walk with you. I see you where you are right now. All I ask is for you to reach out for me. Let me help you. Let me heal you. If you really don’t know me well, I have a whole book about my life. My Father had His servants write about me before I was born to tell of my coming. He had others write about my life here on earth. The whole Book is written so that you will know me and love me as I have first loved you. My servant John was allowed to see things that have yet to come. I have made a place for you, and I am coming back for you.

I long for you to open the words and let me speak into your heart. There are so many things I have to tell you, but you have to be ready to hear. Are you ready to listen? Be still with me for just a little while, and I promise you, I will be made known to you. It’s never too late to start a relationship with me. I promise when you look for me, I will be found. I am here and I am ready. My peace I give to you this day if you will just ask. I am knocking on your heart, please let me in.

Your friend,

Jesus

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

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27 Mar 2013

Pleasing God

A couple of weeks ago, I heard a sermon on longing for approval by Craig Groeshel. I didn’t think I had any issues in this area, but the more I thought about it the more I realized I was a people pleaser. I wanted my parent’s approval when I was growing up. I wanted my friends to like me and to fit into their circle. But what about now? Do I still want to please others? Yes, I care what others think of me. I even care if people read my posts or my newsletters. I want people to like me. Is this so wrong? Yes, it is.

The Pastor pointed out from Scripture (Proverbs 29:25), it’s a snare that actually leads people into idolatry. If we care more for others opinion than we do for God’s, then we are actually putting people ahead of God, which is idolatry. Oh boy. I wasn’t expecting that. People are fickle. Why would I try to please fickle people? Why would I seek another person’s favor when God’s favor is the best? It’s more important what God thinks about me than what other people think about me. If I am living like I should, which is pleasing to God then others will not like me.

Jesus is a divider. He didn’t come to make a peaceful world. He came to shake up the world. He brought peace, but most denied Him. They were not looking for peace. He separates love from hate. He separates light from dark. He took the old and made something new. He took the old covenant and made a new one. He took a promise from God and fulfilled it. If others did not like Jesus, then we will not be liked by others if we follow His teachings. His teachings were hard. Most of His followers left Him. Only a handful remained at the end of His life on earth. But who did remain, fulfilled their mission. They made Jesus known in their world. He was made known all the way to my heart.

I am left with the dilemma. Do I chose to follow Jesus or do I follow people? Who do I please? Who do I worship? Okay, it’s not much of a choice. I choose God. But if I choose God, then I need to carry the mission in my world. It’s going to be hard. That’s okay. Jesus died for me and that was hard on His part. Praise God – it’s all about Him! It’s time to be bold in the name of Jesus and quit playing it safe. I can’t please everybody, but I can please God!

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

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20 Mar 2013

Between the Rains

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about waiting patiently. It was a profound moment when God answered my ranting. Sitting still is hard. I have been studying the book of James for the last eight weeks with Beth Moore’s study called “James Mercy Triumphs.” Beth has been instrumental in my last few years of growth. She has the right teaching leadership that I can relate to. Her heart is so tuned to Jesus that it resonates with me. I want that kind of relationship with Jesus too. I know I can’t compare myself to her. I have my own relationship, but I want it to grow deeper still (yes, that’s a play on words – she has a teaching conference called Deeper Still)!

As I am writing this, I have just sat through one of the sessions in the James study. She spoke into the camera for a Holy Spirit moment that struck a chord so deep in me, I had to stop and praise God for it. She titled the session “Between the Rains.” She spoke about the times when we experience the dry seasons when God is silent. These are the times when we have to walk by faith and not by sight. I am in that season right now. I am looking for answers but none are found right now. She reminded the listeners that crops cannot grow at flood stage. The waters have to recede in order for the ground to be ripe for growing. It’s in the dry seasons of our lives when real growth happens. It’s all great when God is speaking and faith becomes sight. The mountain top experiences are wonderful, but that’s not where we live out our lives. We walk in the valleys.

When the season is dry and lonely, prayer becomes a necessity. We never walk through the valleys alone. It’s good to have reminders that God never leaves us or forsakes us. This is the promise I have been given many years ago. I have held on to it. Even when I don’t feel His presence, I hold to the promise – He’s here with me. Beth’s teaching on this particular morning, was spot on with what I needed to hear. The underlying message was on patience. God is all about the process to get us to the promise. We have to be faithful and remember He is faithful and trustworthy. He is a good God. He has the best in mind for us. Even when we pray for our hearts desire, we have to remember He will only give us our answer when it is in alignment with His will. Our process is about getting in alignment. This is the purpose of patience. He is doing a great work, and masterpieces always take time. Praise God for the process!

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. James 5:7, 10-11

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13 Mar 2013

He Missed It

I have just finished studying the Book of James through Beth Moore’s James Mercy Triumphs. I just love her teachings. One thing she pointed out and has stuck with me; James lived with Jesus. I know that’s understood, but really – HE LIVED WITH JESUS! He didn’t understand who his half brother was. He missed the Glory of God living with him – the “Shekinah” Glory – the abiding presence. Those of us who follow Christ, we too have the Glory of God abiding in us through the Holy Spirit. What a gift we have! But James insists we not miss this fellowship we have with the Holy Spirit. Beth commented in the study of James, there is nothing worth the risk of losing fellowship with the Shekinah Glory. She was commenting on the section of Scripture on how anger can lead us to break fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Any sin which is not confessed can break the fellowship.

I have also just finished reading a small book from Brother Lawrence called “The Practice of the Presence of God.” He was a French monk who lived in the 17th Century. He practiced his focus on God every day no matter what tasks he was involved in. It must have been easy in a monastery living in that century. I mean, he didn’t have the technology that could have distracted him. He didn’t have the fast paced life that we live today. He didn’t have the temptations we experience every day. Yet, I’m sure for his life, he had all the distractions he needed – since Satan was just as hard at work then as he is now.

I want to be able to practice the presence too. I want to experience all I can experience in this earthly existence. We will have an even greater life in the future fellowship after this existence. But I want to know what is to come, don’t you? I want to experience all that I am able in this time, in this place; to practice the presence of God. We will get the full effect in heaven, but we can experience heaven on earth by practicing now – practice makes perfect, right? To live fully aware of our great God; to live with His power working through us; the power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us! How great is God! How awesome is His Name, the great I AM! How awesome that He decided to send the Holy Spirit to us when we first believed so that we could have fellowship with Him now!

This just overwhelms me to know how awesome He truly is. That He consider our sinful nature and knew we couldn’t live the Christian life without a helper. He thought of it all. There is no detail that He hadn’t considered and had an answer for before the earth was formed with His spoken Word. Yes, I stand (or sit) in awe while I am writing these words. I am just overwhelmed to know the presence of God is available to me. I don’t want to miss it!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (ESV)

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06 Mar 2013

Waiting Patiently

One morning I was feeling a bit impatient. I was struggling in my waiting time. I asked God in my quiet time, “Why am I waiting?” “What am I waiting on?” I have been waiting for two years to find my purpose. Well, longer than that. I have been waiting for the last two years for the next step. I left my job two years ago in February. I thought the plan was set, and I was moving out in faith. But it didn’t go as planned. The leads fizzled out. The income stream dried up. I was questioning did I hear correctly? In the meantime, my body has done some great healing. My spirit has grown significantly. I am listening more intently than ever before. I have enjoyed the opportunity to write. I had made a comment to my Aunt one night as we were having dinner long before I quit my job. I said, “I just want to quit and write.” Well, that’s what I have been doing. The lesson – be careful what you say (or pray for)!

This year, I decided to get out an old classic to read during my quiet time. I had been given “Streams in the Desert” by my Mom for Christmas in 1981. I probably hadn’t read a word of it in at least twenty years or more. This year, I felt pulled toward it. I opened up the cover on January 1st and saw my Mom’s handwriting. She wrote “Denise, I hope this devotional book will mean as much to you through the years, as it has to me.”  How special is that? Well, this is the year that it comes to fruition. This is the year when God has placed the need to read it before me.

So how did God answer my quiet time rant on my impatience? “I do not believe that we have begun to understand the marvelous power there is in stillness. We are in such a hurry – we must be doing – so that we are in danger of not giving God a chance to work. You may depend upon it, God never says to us “Stand still,” or “Sit still,” or “Be still,” unless He is going to do something.” (February 5th devotional) Can this actually be the answer to my impatience? Reading further, “Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still! Nor deem these days – these waiting days – as ill! The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way, hath not forgotten thy great need today! And, if He waits, ‘tis sure He waits to prove to thee, His tender child, His heart’s deep love.” Okay, I will wait patiently, and let God do the work in me that needs to be done. God’s got this under control.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14

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27 Feb 2013

Small Talk

It was interesting to find myself in two different study groups on this particular week, each participant sharing their testimony. What should have been a brief word of their testimony became a long version of their life history. I was a bit frustrated for some reason. I guess one reason was because we were not going to be able to get into the word because the time was running short. I had to sit back and consider other reasons for my frustrations. I think I was seeing reality more clearly. Women like to talk. Now, I know I am a woman, but I have had a quiet nature for the most part. I don’t really talk endlessly and I see no point in it. My testimony was pretty brief – I hit the highlights. The more others were talking, I thought, I want a do-over. But I realized that was my own desire to be heard coming from an insecure place.

How should a testimony be given? What are the specifics that are really important to share? What needs to be shared at a different time? I have never thought about this before until this moment. I gave the basics of my story. I realized others stories are just as important as what I had to say. God is at work in everyone’s life. In another group, one lady shared how God was working in her life. I realized I had asked God on this particular week to help me learn my place of importance. My pride gets the best of me sometimes. I heard someone say pride is what kicked Satan out of heaven. Ouch. I don’t want to think too highly of myself, but I know I do sometimes.

God is introducing me to a new perspective. I need to pay attention to these instances when circumstances repeat themselves. A friend was talking about seeing her car all around town recently. Before the last few weeks, she never saw it. But now everywhere she goes she sees herself. What’s the significance in that? I don’t know, but she’s been made aware of a pattern that she had never noticed before. When we are made aware of a pattern, we will recognize it when we see it. God is showing me a pattern that I can easily fall into unless I am aware of it. My pride will go before a fall. I need to recognize the pattern that so easily entangles me and causes me to fall. Falling is the pits!

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

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20 Feb 2013

Love Language

Last week, I wrote about love. This seems to be a theme for me right now. Back before the holidays, I was searching for my “love language.” How do I experience love? I was struggling with my Mom not being with me anymore. She showed her love by giving gifts. But I found my language was about quality time. When I was processing all this information, I had an epiphany. Jesus’ love language is about “acts of service.” We show love to Him by serving others. I know; I should have known this all along. But it finally registered with me. I wrote about this also in my first blog in 2013. (I know, I’m repeating myself again.)

I am currently in the Beth Moore Bible study called “James Mercy Triumphs.” There was one point she made on this particular day – “Live It.” We are to live out our faith. Faith without works is a dead faith. I’ve heard this time and time again. I get it. I go home from the study group and listen to a sermon while I eat lunch. It was awesome! But the main take away was this: we are to serve others if we are to be successful in this life (success in God’s viewpoint not the worlds). It’s not about me. The preacher issued the challenge to make God first priority, others second and ourselves third. If we do it in that order, we would change our world, and we would change the world.

God had already spoken to me about this before the holidays. Did I ignore the “suggestion” about serving others or did it slip my mind? It doesn’t really matter at this point. I need to find a place to serve in the community. I need to be out in the world serving others. I need to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I need to show that I really do love Jesus. It’s good to have this revelation, but I need to put things into action. There is too much to do for the sake of the kingdom and time is growing short. It’s time to change the world!

I am changing my mindset – “It’s not about me.” my new theme. I love Jesus! It’s time to show it.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

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13 Feb 2013
1 Comment

Love, Love, Love

This is the word that has been coming up over and over for a few weeks now. What’s love got to do with anything? It is the only word that matters – apparently. God loves us so much He sent His son for us (John 3:16). Jesus states the greatest commandment is to love God with all our hearts, our souls and our minds (Matthew 22:37). The second most important commandment is to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Yeah, love is important. But what is on my mind today as I am writing this, how do I show love to God and to others? Is it going the extra mile? Is it to help others who cannot help themselves? Is it to feed His sheep? Is it worshiping Him through serving others? Yes, to all the above and more.

I am contemplating going on my first mission trip. I have had opportunities to go in the past, but there have always been obstacles to going. One time I had the opportunity through my church, but I didn’t have the vacation time and money was also an issue. Another was the place of service – I just didn’t want to go there (yeah, I know, wrong attitude). I am now in a new church environment where they are all focused on serving others. I am in the right place at the right time in my life. I recognize the need to go and serve even when it’s uncomfortable. I have the opportunity to go this year. Yes, there are obstacles to going – money still being a part of it. Will I push through and take the step of faith? Is this the right time?

The answer will determine how much I believe that love and service go hand in hand. In John 13 we find the story of Jesus bending down to wash his disciples’ feet. Someone else should have done it when they entered the room, but no one did. He even washed the disciple’s feet who would betray him. He stooped down in front of Judas. Did Jesus look into Judas’ eyes as he lowered Judas’ feet into the water? I imagine Jesus’ love was etched into every action on that day; His last day before His crucifixion. Jesus tells us that we would be blessed if we do the same for others. It must have been important enough that He took the time on that crucial last day to show the example of service.

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:14-17

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06 Feb 2013

Stirring It Up

I heard a sermon from TD Jakes in November that has stuck with me. In it he gave an illustration of an eagle building a nest for the eaglets to be born. The nest is nicely placed high with little room for error. The nest is made with all the sticks pointing outward. It is made for comfort for the young eaglet. The eagle readies the nest just in time for the arrival of the eaglets. The nest is the comfortable place as long as the eaglet is small. The eagle will begin to stir up the nest so that the sticks are now pointing inward as the eaglet becomes too large for the nest. This creates an environment that is less than suitable for comfort and more likely to cause the eaglet to hop out of the nest. However, once out of the nest, the eaglet is forced to live on the very edge of the cliff or fly.

I was interested in this topic as I began to notice how my life has been much like that of the eaglet. I had been living in my comfortable nest for too many years. Slowly, as I began to grow in my spiritual life, God began to stir up my nest. The first sign of growth was moving to a new city with a message on my heart – God had a plan for me in my new city. I moved to a new place and settled down again. I had another growth spurt, and the nest was stirred even more. Each time, the place of comfort became a place of discontent. The comfortable place was becoming too small for me as I was growing up. Eventually, I was hanging on to the ledge. It was either stay on the edge and eventually die; or take a step of faith and fly.

I chose to fly. One of the great things about eagle’s wings is this: they can travel great distances with little energy being expended. They are carried on the air current. They travel as far as a hummingbird. The hummingbird lives only about 18 months whereas the eagle lives for years. Sometimes I feel like the hummingbird flying with all my strength. I need to remember I have eagle’s wings. The Holy Spirit has provided the current; I am just along for the ride. I can be carried great distances, if I will allow the Holy Spirit to move me. God has stirred up my nest both physically and spiritually. I am no longer content to being as I was. I want more. I want greater distances. I want higher perspectives. I want His vision for my life. I want His wind beneath my wings. I want to soar to greater heights for His glory!

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

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30 Jan 2013

Gratitude

For a few weeks, I have been asking God what is hindering my relationship with Him. First, I received a call to be re-baptized. I believe God wanted me to give a public testimony of the heart change that has happened in me over the last few years. I was obedient to Him. Then I believed God was telling me I had a stronghold on my finances. I was trusting in the security of the money in the bank and not on Him alone. I followed through on something God had placed on my heart. I am sure I will still have to deal with this stronghold in the future, but for now I can move on. The next thing I heard was my heart was not turned to gratitude. After the Thanksgiving holiday, I hadn’t really considered gratitude to be an issue for me. But the more I think about it, the more certain I am this is a big hindrance in my relationship with Jesus as well as with others.

I was considering Christmas. I was thinking of presents – not in giving but getting. I like certain things from certain places. I would always supply a list for the benefit of getting the things I like. This has been the normal mode of operation during my Mom’s gift giving opportunities. This past year I was faced with the possibilities of getting things that are not on the “approved” list. I was complaining about that fact. When I heard the sermon about gratitude, I immediately thought of my conversation or complaining session. I was not thinking about receiving a gift from someone’s heart, I was thinking about getting something I might not like. I thought of others who get nothing for Christmas, and I felt very ashamed of my attitude. I also thought of the many times I received a gift but thought nothing of it. Looking back, I think I was more entitled to the gift instead of receiving it with gratitude.

I remember my Mom watching me and my sisters open our presents. She was anticipating our reactions. My reactions were less than what they should have been. I wonder how many times I have had the same attitude with God. Probably more times than not.  I can imagine Him sitting on His throne watching us as we “unwrap” His blessings. He is sitting there waiting on our reactions, anticipating our thrill of receiving such a great blessing. Then nothing. I am ashamed to admit my ingratitude to the many blessings God has given me. Oh, I might have offered a “thanks” to God, but I most likely didn’t really have the right heart attitude when I said it. I know God wants to give us good gifts. If the reaction is indifference or less than total gratitude, why would He continue to give us good things?

Yes, God has done a work in me, but there is so much more to do. My heart has been replaced, but I still need some heart surgery to fix the areas that are not beating in accordance with God’s heart.

Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Psalm 107:8 (NLT) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

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