Friday, November 15, 2013

Do I Know You?

November 15, 2013

"On
judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your
name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in
your name.'
But I will reply, 'I never knew you . . .'" Matthew 7:22-23


Father, do I know You?

I realize that seems like a ridiculous question. However, I believe it is a question worth asking of myself every once in a while. One day when I stand before my King I long to hear the words of Matthew 25:21, "Well done, my good and faithful servant . . .." What if instead I hear a paraphrase of Matthew 7:23, "Do I know you?"

I stand firm in my salvation. I recognize my salvation as a gift from God available to me (and to anyone else, for that matter) through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). And because of Christ I know I will stand before God one day right and pure and holy.

But do I know Him?

I teach a Sunday school class. On occasion I have the privilege of encouraging groups of women in their walk of faith. I once traveled half-way around the globe to lead Bible study.

But do I know Him?

God's own people missed Him. In John 5:39 Jesus says to the Jewish leaders, "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!"

One of Jesus' disciples nearly missed Him. "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am?" (John 14:9)

I realize this question is a lot to ask. But it is a question worth asking of ourselves more than every once in a while; more like each day.

Father, do I know You?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
 test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." (Psalm 139:23-24)



Monday, October 28, 2013

The Litttle Things

October 28, 2013

"The
master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been
faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more
responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!'" Matthew 25:23

Why do the little things prove so hard to accomplish? It seems the more I have on my "to-do" list the better I manage my day. The bigger and better the task the more anxious I feel to complete it. But give me a day with only a few mundane tasks to finish and I spend most of my time grumbling and complaining. So many days I've even felt this way toward my children. "Is this all God? Stay home and raise children? Don't you want me to do something more?"

A guy in the Bible by the name of Naaman shared a similar struggle--not over raising kids but over faithfully completing the small, mundane, simplistic task God set before him. 2 Kings 5 tells us that though Naaman served as a mighty warrior he also suffered from leprosy. Following the advice of a young servant girl Naaman decides to visit the prophet Elisha. Elisha sends a messenger to tell Naaman that if he will wash in the Jordan River seven times his skin will be healed.

Naaman feels outraged at Elisha's advice. 2 Kings 5:11 reads,
"But Naaman became angry and stalked away. 'I thought he would
certainly come out to meet me!' he said. 'I expected him to wave his
hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! A
ren’t
the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of
the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?'"

Naaman felt owed a better, more majestic course of treatment. Washing in the Jordan River seemed too small of an assignment, too mundane a task for such a mighty warrior to complete.

Then in stepped the voice of reason. In 2 Kings 5:12 Naaman's officers ever so gently suggest, "
Sir,
if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t
you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'"
Naaman follows the advice of his men and receives both the physical and spiritual healing Elisha promised.

The story of Naaman revea
ls to me my tendency to desire only "big" assignments from God. In some ways I found it easier to minister to women in Africa than I find it to stay at home and teach my own children. I must remember it is simply a matter of perspective. As followers of Christ we do not get to chose how we bring God glory. In Hosea 6:6 God says, "I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings." What better way to show love than to faithfully raise my children--His children--for Him? What better way to know God than to receive the unconditional love of a child . . . or of four children?

With God's help I proved faithful in a big thing in traveling to Africa last year. With God's help I will prove faithful with my Little Things too.



Thursday, September 5, 2013

Just Jesus

September 5, 2013

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
" Ephesians 2:8


"We're going to be Baptized in the river on Sunday!" my
two oldest daughters explained with much excitement to our neighbor. "That's wonderful!" she replied. But as my children ran off to play, the dialog which continued between my neighbor and me filled my heart with sorrow.

"At our church," my neighbor began, "we believe all people are born with original sin stemming from Adam and Eve."


"I couldn't agree more," I replied.

"And," my neighbor continued, "we believe Baptism washes away that sin."

"Oh, no," I thought to myself.

I think my neighbor could see the concern on my face because she continued, "Oh yes, that is why we sprinkle children with water as infants, you know . . .  just in case something happens."

Yes, I do know. I've buried an infant.

My neighbor continued, "Then when children turn twelve we Baptize them again and then they're set . . . "

What stirred my heart was not necessarily the method of Baptism discussed but rather the method of salvation implied.

Travel the Romans road with me for a moment.

Romans 3:23 tells us that "everyone has sinned." Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Detour to Hebrews 9:22 and we find that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin."

In the Old Testament God required animal sacrifices as atonement for sin. Why the shedding of blood from an innocent animal? To foreshadow the shedding of blood from an innocent Man. But Old Testament sacrifices only provided temporary covering for sin; that is why animal sacrifices were repeated year after year. Skip forward to the New Testament. Jesus' death on the cross put an end to the sacrificial system. Jesus was (is) God's Perfect Lamb. Jesus died, shed His blood once for all time for all sin (Hebrews 9:28). We receive forgiveness of sin by recognizing and professing that Jesus died for our sin.

My surviving twin daughter recently asked me how her late sister entered into Heaven if she was not old enough to profess Jesus as her Savior. {I love young minds, don't you?!?} I explained to my daughter that while Scripture does not explicitly address the Salvation of infants I do know that God is good. I know that in Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me." I know that David, whom Scripture identifies as "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22) once said of his own deceased child, "I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23). I believe with everything in me that my daughter is alive and well with Jesus even though we chose not to sprinkle her with water before her death.

I write not to condemn other belief systems but to share great news! Salvation is not up to us. As one woman who paints masterpieces with her words, Ann Voskamp, wrote in a recent blog, "Your sins aren’t enough to separate you – and your strengths aren’t enough to save you." It is up to Jesus. Jesus proved faithful 2000 years ago. It's done. In His words, "It is finished" (John 19:30). The only action required on your part is to believe in the One God sent (John 6:29).

It isn't the sprinkling of water. It's Jesus.

It isn't submersion in water. It's Jesus.

It isn't good deeds.

It isn't being good enough.

It isn't the right pedigree.

It's just Jesus.



Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Packin' Lunchkits

August 20, 2013

"There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" John 6:9

Yesterday was one of those days. One of those days when I feel tempted to resent the fact that I stay at home to raise our kids. I realize that shocks many of you. But I didn't grow up dreaming about how many children I would one day raise. I always assumed I would have children, because having children is something most married people do, but as a child and young adult I filled my imagination with thoughts of earning a paycheck. Why else would I labor through five-and-a-half years of school in a male-dominant field of study if not to become financially self-sufficient?

I do not travel to the land of resentment very often nor do I stay in that dreary place very long but I do take the occasional day-trip, tempting myself to believe that I would find greater self-worth if I had a job which brought home a paycheck. I love my kids and I want to serve as their daily caretaker. However, sometimes I allow feelings of inferiority, insignificance and just plain ol' boredom to take rule. Is this all God has for me? I question. Isn't there something more I can do? I ponder. And then God in His goodness reminds me of His perspective.

Remember the story of Jesus feeding 5,000? Overcome by grief over the gruesome death of His cousin, John the Baptist, Jesus attempts to retreat for some alone time with His disciples. But the crowds follow Jesus. Seeing the crowd Jesus "had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things" (Mark 6:34).

Evening falls and the 5,000 men and their wives and children grow hungry. Let's feed them, says the Savior. With what, exactly? reply the weary disciples. "Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" (John 6:8-9) Jesus takes the boy's lunch and blesses it and uses it to feed the upwards of 15,000 people.

Jesus feeding the masses from the contents of a young boy's lunchkit is one of His great miracles; a story so significant its one of the few accounts which all four gospel writers captured in their books. But someone once encouraged me to consider the story from a different perspective.

What about the faithful mama who packed her little boy's lunchkit that day? A mom who pushed aside feelings of inferiority and insignificance and instead saw to it that her young son had everything he needed before he left home. Jesus blessed what that mama packed in her son's lunchbox and used it to feed thousands and thousands of souls.

The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 causes me to realize that I have a chance each day to pack my children's lunchkits. Now, one beauty of homeschooling is that I do not have to pack actual lunchkits. Come lunchtime, we simply raid the kitchen. But I do have the opportunity to pack my children's spiritual lunchbox. I have the chance, indeed, the duty--homeschooling or not--to train my children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). And prayerfully one day Jesus will bless what I packed in my children's lunchkit and use it to feed thousands and thousands of souls.

Inferior?

Insignificant?

I think not.

Rather than spending one more day in the land of resentment I think I'll head into the hallways of motherhood to see what I can pack into my child's lunchkit today.


Monday, June 24, 2013

The Truth About Lies

June 24, 2013

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

What lie are you believing?

Adjusting to life with four kiddos (one who only sleeps two hours at a time) has left me feeling overwhelmed these past few weeks. I tried to brace myself for those first few months of new motherhood: irregular schedule, little to no sleep, no regular quite time with the Lord. Yet this past weekend I found myself actually dreading the start of another day. Desperate for God to hear my concerns I turned to my prayer journal this morning.

"I'm tired, God. The baby requires so much of me that I have little left to give to our other three children. I can barely meet the needs of our kids, what about being there for my friends and for those in need? What if I miss out on what you called me to do because I'm so busy caring for our kids?"


And suddenly I realized . . . there it was in black and white.

A big. fat. lie.

This past Sunday my pastor preached about the end of King David's life as David commissioned his son Solomon to build God's temple. In 1 Chronicles 28:20 David says to Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord
God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will
see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly."


Did you catch that last part? David tells Solomon, "Don't get discouraged . . . God will see to it that you accomplish all He has called you to do."

One of my biggest fears is that I will somehow fail to accomplish the work that God made me to do. I've experienced a taste of fulfilling God's call on my life and now I find my appetite for doing God's work insatiable. But as I captured my emotions on paper I suddenly realized that I've fallen for a lie. The word "fear" served as my first clue. Fear isn't from God. Lately I've feared that I would miss God's call because I am in a season where my children consume my every free moment. But Scripture reminds me that it isn't up to me to figure out how I'll ever fulfill God's call on my life. Yes, I must walk obediently with the Lord but God will see to it that I do all He has called me to do.

Clinging to Truth instantly set me free from my bitterness and allowed me to embrace the season in which God has me. As I reflected on other times of bitterness and resentment I realized those times all shared one thing in common--those were times when I had fallen for a lie.

The truth about lies is that they lead us to believe, to settle for something less than what God has promised us through His Word. Rather than believing that God will meet our needs from His glorious riches (Philippians 4:19), we believe the lie that we'll never be able to make ends meet. Rather than believing that God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11), we believe the lie that life will never be full and rich without the ones we so dearly loved.

I could go on but my weary eyes are beginning to grow dim.

What lie are you believing? Allow me to encourage you to replace that lie with Truth. Visit www.biblegateway.com or one of the many other free Bible websites and perform a word search about that which concerns you most. Replace your lie with truth and then the truth will set you free.



Sunday, April 14, 2013

The Culmination of Africa

April 14, 2013

"God answered, 'I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.'” Exodus 3:12

Yesterday marked forty weeks since I returned home from Africa. I realize counting "weeks" may seem like a strange way to track time . . . but that's how they do things in the maternity world. Shortly after my return from Africa God allowed my husband and me to conceive our fourth living child; a child which was born to us yesterday in perfect health.

Many times in Scripture God issues a call to obedience, and then follows that call with a blessing. In Exodus 3 God called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. Moses doubted his own ability and God responded by saying in verse 12, "I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” God promised Moses that once he obeyed he would see God in a new light.

The same holds true for the patriarch Abraham and for the shepherd-turned-king David. In Genesis 12 God called Abraham (then known by the name Abram) to leave behind all that he knew with the promise that God would one day bless him and make him into a great nation. Over four-hundred years passed before the culmination of God's promise to Abraham, but Abraham obeyed nonetheless. In 1 Samuel 16:13 God instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint a young boy named David as the next king of Israel. But David waited nearly twenty years and endured many trials before God brought about the fulfillment of David's calling.

About eighteen months ago my husband and I felt God leading us to trust Him with the size of our family. My husband and I always dreamed of having a large family but when you consider finances and logistics and tons of other issues, the decision to have more children proves difficult. "Trust Me. Let Me decide," we felt God say. Believing God as the Author of life we decided to obey.

We conceived two months later in October 2011. But I miscarried just five and a half short weeks into the pregnancy. Though we were disappointed over our loss we moved forward trusting that God had other plans. When I received the invitation last March to teach in Africa it seemed God made His purpose in allowing my miscarriage evident. My due date had been June 12, 2012. Our team left for Africa on June 15th.

Following God's call to Africa proved very difficult. It meant leaving my husband and children behind for three weeks. Our team would spend part of the trip in a region of Africa where violent attacks on women run high. (Indeed, ministering to a group women affected by such attacks was one of the biggest blessing I received during our trip.) The decision to follow God proved difficult. But God in His goodness made it abundantly clear to me through personal prayer time, through His Word and through many other little ways that, "Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you" (Joshua 1:5).

At the risk of sharing TMI I experienced my LMP (I'm using acronyms in attempt to throw off the few male readers who visit this blog) while teaching in the Congo. Congo of all places. A memorable experience to say the least. Four weeks later I found myself adjusting back to life at home and . . . unexpectedly expecting. We would later learn it was a son this time, due two days shy of my husband's birthday. Talk about a blessing.

I share our news with caution. I know many women who struggle with infertility. The enemy would love nothing more than for these women to believe that God has denied them a child because of a lack of obedience on their part. We must remember God never promised us children. However, He does promise that His plan for us is good (Jeremiah 29:11). We must continue to walk in His plan and He will show us the path to life; when we walk with God we experience the joy of His presence (Psalm 16:11).

God did not reward my husband and me with a child because we deserved it. Our son is not a result of our "goodness" to God. Isaiah 64:6 reminds us that even our most righteous deed is like a filthy rag compared to our holy God. The birth of our son is simply an example of an incredible gift from the perfect Father (Matthew 7:11).

I do not want to imply that God only rewards us after obedience or even that He always rewards obedience. Romans 5:8 reminds us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. In other words, God gave us His greatest gift while we were right smack dab in the middle of disobedience. We should follow God's call out of our love for Him, without the expectation of a blessing.


God does not always respond to obedience with a blessing. But sometimes He does. This time we believe He did.

Allow me to introduce our blessing to you. Below is a picture of our son, Tyler Henry, born weighing 9lbs 4ozs, measuring 21 3/4 inches long.



"Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father." James 1:17


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

He Came

March 27, 2013


“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:15

I am unfamiliar with the pain caused by abandonment. I know many women whose husbands have left them. I know many children whose fathers have deserted them. I've seen the pain but have not experienced it firsthand.

I've seen the hurt when he fails to show yet again. I've heard the excuses given to these women and children, and the promises as to why next time will prove different . . . though it rarely does. As I listen to their stories I envision these women and children waiting, just waiting for him to show; waiting each time for the chance to shout, "He came!"

But sisters, He did come.

He came for you and for me (Isaiah 53:5).

He came riding on a donkey's colt (John 12:15).

He came willingly, obediently, knowing full well what His future held (Luke 9:22).

He came because He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

He came because He knew He was the only Way (John 14:6).

I do not know what abandonment issues you face. But I pray this Easter you come to know the One who came for you. The One who promises to never leave you or forsake you . . . or your children (Hebrews 13:5).


Saturday, March 16, 2013

What Have You Done?

March 16, 2013

"The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love." Psalm 103:8


What image pops into your head when you hear the question, "What have you done?" Some might imagine arriving home to a surprise party. "Oh! What have you done!?!" Others might picture a haircut gone awry. "Oh . . . what have you done?" I see my dog having chewed yet another toy to shreds in our backyard. "Mattie! What have you done!?!" Sadly as I study the history of the Israelite kings this is the sole question which arises in my heart, "Oh Israel, what have you done?"

After sin entered the
world in Genesis 3 God called His people to be set apart. God expected
those who chose to follow Him to live differently than those who chose
to live a life of rebellion against Him. Beginning in the book of Exodus God used the likes of Moses and
Joshua to lead His people. Following these two godly warriors God used judges to remind His people of how to live according to His ways. But eventually the eyes of God's people began to wander. The people of Israel observed how other nations were ruled by earthly kings. Rather than continuing to recognize God as their King, Israel cried out for a change. In 1 Samuel 8:20 God's people decided, "We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle." Against His better judgement God granted His people their request.


One could summarize the books of 1 and 2 Kings with this phrase: "they did evil in the eyes of the Lord." The first king of Israel, King Saul, began well but his heart soon turned against the Lord (1 Sam 15:10). David succeeded Saul as king, and though David made a few poor choices (including adultery and murder, see 2 Sam 11), he became the only king known as a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). We remember David's son Solomon as the wisest king who ever lived. But Scripture tells us that Solomon did not have a heart for God like his father David (1 Kings 11:4). Following Solomon's reign God's earthly kingdom began to fall apart. Repeatedly, the kings of Israel led God's people into sin. God's people drifted further and further away from the path God intended for them. But here's the Good News. No matter how bad the behavior of the king or the people, God stood ready, willing and able to forgive.

King Ahab ruled over the Northern Kingdom Israel for twenty-two years. As with most of Israel's kings, Scripture tells us he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 1 Kings 16:31 reads, "And
as though it were not enough to follow the example of Jeroboam, he
married Jezebel . . . and he
began to bow down in worship of Baal."
Jezebel . . . just the name sends chills up my spine. 1 Kings 16-20 record King Ahab's unfortunate misgivings. But then something unexpected happens. Having been warned by Elijah of God's impending judgment upon him, King Ahab repents. 1 Kings 21:27 reads, "But when Ahab heard this
message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even
slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning
."
In the very next verse God responds, “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime."

The same storyline holds true for a young king who ruled over the Southern Kingdom of Judah. King Josiah's grandfather did such evil in the eyes of the Lord that God pronounced a great judgment upon His people. But upon hearing of this judgment King Josiah repents before God on behalf of God's people. 2 Kings 22:19-20 reads of Josiah, "You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord
when you heard what I said against this city and its people . . .. You tore your clothing in
despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you,
says the Lord.
So
I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and
been buried in peace.
"


In both instances God still enforced the consequences of sin. God destroyed King Ahab's dynasty and eventually led the Southern Kingdom of Judah into exile. But the men who humbled themselves before God received grace and forgiveness.

Though the consequences of sin pass from generation to generation, Scripture clearly states that "Each man will be punished for their own sin" (Deuteronomy 24:16). On the flip-side, each man (or woman) can receive forgiveness of sin too. Throughout the Bible God's people--including His major rulers--made major mistakes. But all it took for God to forgive their sin was a humble and repentant heart.

In a few weeks God's people will celebrate the life, death and resurrection of a Man named Jesus Christ. Though the punishment for our sin was death God sent His Son Jesus to die in our place. Jesus died one time for all people, for all sin.

What have you done?

The only thing that keeps us from God is a stubborn and prideful heart.


Will you continue to live in the bondage of unforgiveness and shame? Or will you be like the kings who though they were once oh-so-bad, humbled themselves before a loving God and received grace and mercy in their time of need?


Saturday, February 9, 2013

My Prayer Bathroom

February 9, 2013

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves." Galatians 5:16

I often hear people speak of a prayer closet. You know, that place to which you escape when you need one-on-one time with the Lord? I would love to retreat to my bedroom closet. However, I've discovered a slight geographical issue when seeking shelter in my bedroom . . . my bedroom simply lies too far away from the rest of our home. Oh, its not that our house is all that big. Its that I lack the self-control needed to keep myself from releasing an emotional outburst before I reach my bedroom closet. Instead I recently identified a more optimal location to which I can retreat--the half-bathroom which sits adjacent to our laundry room.

Lately my emotions seem uncontrollable. I blame it on these last few weeks of pregnancy. Looking back on journals I kept during each of my previous pregnancies my mood swings will not soon end. Either I can continue to boss my family out of house and home or I can recognize my behavior for what it is--a demonstration of my sinful nature.

I do not deny the power of female hormones . . . especially during pregnancy! However, the God I know stands bigger than any hormone. Ephesians 1:19-20 says that the same power which God used to raise Christ from the dead is available to me as a believer through my faith in Him. I may feel as if my emotions overpower me but the Truth says that I can overcome all things through Christ (Romans 8:37 and Philippians 4:13).

In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul tells me how to overcome all things. Galatians 5:16 reads, "Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves." Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives proves easier said than done. (Enter my need for the prayer bathroom.)

Escaping to a place of solitude, even if just for a moment, allows me to focus my heart and mind on the Truth. Though I feel like biting the heads off of my husband and children, through the power of God's Spirit in me I can chose to demonstrate love, joy, peace and kindness to my family. In Galatians 5:19-22 Paul explains that "when [we] follow the desires of [our] sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. . . . But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

The secret to living by the Spirit is to capture my thoughts and feelings before they become actions. Second Corinthians 10:5 tells me to make my thoughts [and feelings] obedient to Christ. Though I may not feel like demonstrating fruit from the Spirit, the truth is that I can demonstrate fruitfulness by allowing Spirit to take over me. Sometimes I need a minute (or an hour) to allow the Spirit to take control.

So if you call or stop by and I fail to answer know that I might be in the bathroom . . . my prayer bathroom, that is.


Thursday, January 31, 2013

When Kids Grumble and Complain

January 31, 2013

"The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness." Exodus 16:2

Two days ago the whole congregation of the Hander House grumbled and complained against me. The kids' emotions ran high mostly on account of a lack of sleep. But the constant bickering caused this homeschooling mama to unleash a not-so-godly character in front of her children. How do we as parents keep from becoming entangled in the web of negativity our children inevitably exude?

As the Lord would have it yesterday morning I just so happened to study the account of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. After 400 years of slavery God freed His people from Egyptian rule. The time had come for the Israelites to inherit the land which God had promised them in Genesis 15, a land which flowed with milk and honey. God demonstrated a miraculous love for His people only to receive a mouthful of bitterness and rejection in return.

I can relate. I love my children. I spend much of my efforts trying to make them happy. But often times my actions toward my children fail to ignite the response I desire. Don't get me wrong, my children are plenty sweet. But when my actions toward my children go unappreciated--or worse yet, criticized--I feel overwhelmingly frustrated and bitter toward them. God reminded me yesterday that it isn't about pleasing my children. It is about pleasing the Lord in the way I raise my (His) children.

Each time the Israelites grumbled and complained to Moses, Moses cried out to God. In Exodus 17:4 Moses says to the Lord, "What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!" Each time God responds to Moses by reminding him of the task before him. God essentially says, "Moses, I know its tough. I know my people can be ungrateful. But I want you to continue leading them." God also always provided Moses with whatever it was he needed to keep going.

When the Israelites grumbled and complained to Moses in Exodus14 Moses cried out to God, and God provided a path which no one had seen (see also Psalm 77:19). When the Israelites grumbled and complained to Moses in Exodus 15 Moses cried out to God, and God provided water from a rock. When the Israelites grumbled and complained in Exodus 16 Moses cried out to God, and God provided meat and bread from the sky.

When my kids grumble and complain, the first step I should take is to cry out to God. But as I continued reading in Exodus I discovered a few other action steps I plan to try.

Shortly after the Israelites leave Egypt Moses welcomes a visitor--his priestly father-in-law, Jethro. Jethro observes his son-in-law in action and quickly observes that Moses is in over his head in trying to manage the entire congregation of the Israelites alone. In Exodus 18:17-18 Jethro says to Moses, "The thing that you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone." Jethro proceeds to give Moses three pointers in how to lead God's people.

First, Jethro tells Moses to teach God's statutes to the Israelites and to make known to the Israelites the way in which God would have them work and live (Exodus 18:20). Second, Jethro tells Moses to empower the people to manage the smaller quarrels amongst themselves (v21). Finally, Jethro advises Moses to continue to handle the major disputes (v22). "Then," Jethro says in verse 23, "you will be able to endure."

What do we do when we feel worn-out from leading the [little] people God has entrusted to us?

First, we must remember who it is we work for. Colossians 3:23 reads, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." As a mom I must cry out to God and allow Him to remind me of His charge, and trust Him to provide me with what I need (whether it be a secret path through the wilderness, a cold drink of water or a yummy snack).

After enlisting God's help we are wise to follow the words of Jethro: teach our children God's statues, empower them to handle small disagreements themselves and yet still be available (mentally and physically) to handle major disputes. Then, and only then, will we be able to endure this call to motherhood.



Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Abraham's What?



Explain Sheol, Abraham's bosom, God's promise to Abe to have lots of children, Abe actually cared for "children" while waiting on the Lord. Shows me that God meant what He said. No one can appear b/f Him. Made OT believers wait until Christ had come. The real deal! Where will you spend eternity?


Go Back!

January 30, 2013


After Abe messed up, he continued to return to the last place he knew He'd heard from God.


Honest Abe

January 23, 2013

"Abram replied to the king of Sodom . . . 'I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what
belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, "I am the one who made Abram
rich."'" Genesis 14:22-23


On every piece of US currency appear the words, "In God We Trust."

But do we?

When it came to financial dealings Abram (later known as Abraham) proved an honest man.
I can recount at least two different times in Scripture when Abram flat-out lied about his marriage relationship and then justified his mishaps based on a technicality (technically Sarai was Abram's half-sister). But when it came to worldly riches Abram lived as a man with integrity.

In Genesis 14 Abram receives word that four enemy kings have taken his nephew Lot as a prisoner of war from the land of Sodom. If you'll recall from my previous post, A Golden Globe, because of Sodom's lush appearance Lot chose to live in the land of Sodom even though the people of Sodom were "exceedingly wicked" (Genesis 13:13). After hearing news of his nephew's capture Abram gathers his own men and pursues the enemy kings
eventually defeating them and recovering all of the stolen loot, including his nephew Lot.

Following Abram's battle the king of Sodom approaches Abram and says in Genesis 14:21, "Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered." But Abram replies, "I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what
belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram
rich'""
(Genesis 14:22-23).


If the people of Sodom were "exceedingly wicked" I can only imagine how the king of Sodom must have lived. Abram had a right to the plunder he recovered from the enemy kings. But Abram refused.
Rather than accept worldly riches from the hand of an enemy of God Abram trusted God for his great reward. Other than the food his warriors had already eaten Abram accepted nothing in return for his work except the sweet taste of victory (Genesis 14:24).

Several years later we see Abram--now Abraham--deal in a similar manner with the sons of Heth in Canaan. Though Abraham's descendents would one day inherit Canaan as their own land, at this point in history Abraham lived as a foreigner in Canaan. Following the death of his wife Sarah Abraham asks the sons of Heth for a place to bury his dead. The sons of Heth reply to Abraham, "You are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there" (Genesis 23:6).

The sons of Heth offer Abraham a burial tomb free-of-charge. But Abraham insists on paying full price--400 shekels of silver--for the tomb.
I can only assume Abraham carried the same attitude toward the sons of Heth as he did the king of Sodom, though Scripture doesn't exactly say.

Prior to Israel's conquest of Canaan the inhabitants of Canaan sinned greatly against the Lord. The same held true for the sons of Heth (also known as the Hittites). In Genesis 26:34-35 Abraham's grandson Esau "grieved his parents hearts" when he chose to marry a Hittite woman (um, make that two Hittite women). Once again we see that rather than accept a gift from an enemy of God Abraham chose to trust that God would provide for all of his needs.

The desire to provide for ourselves comes natural. Indeed I believe God placed inside man an innate desire to work (see Genesis 2). However, when we choose to depend only on ourselves to make ends meet, we fail to give God a chance to reveal to us His great reward. After Abram politely declined the king of Sodom's offer God appeared to Abram in a vision and said, "Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great" (Genesis 15:1).

What has God called you to do? Have you hesitated for fear of receiving little to no financial compensation in return? Have you considered accepting compensation through means which would prove displeasing to God? God knows our needs and He's promised to meet them IF we put Him first (Matthew 7:32-33).

In what . . . or in Whom do you trust?


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

A Golden Globe

January 15, 2013

" . . . Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord." Genesis 13:12-13

I'm ashamed to admit I even know that the Golden Globes aired two nights ago on television. My husband and I rarely watch television. However, as my husband searched for highlights from Sunday's NFL playoff game we stumbled across a program filled with famous stars adorned in beautiful evening attire. I only watched for a moment before my admiration turned to sadness.

I can't tell you her name. I couldn't begin to guess the name of the television program in which this star performs. Apparently members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association think highly of her as the association selected this actress to receive a Golden Globe award. She glided effortlessly onto the stage. With a bounce in her curls and a stunning blue (or was it red?) ball-gown she looked picture-perfect. But as this actress began her acceptance speech the lie for which she's fallen became apparent.

I can't recall her entire speech but amidst her message she called television "this wonderfully rich place." I have nothing against television per say. I realize that the Golden Globes recognize more than daytime television stars including music, movies and the works of writers much more talented than myself. The danger of television lies in us believing that Hollywood has it right. We watch wealth, fame and beauty overflow from a ballroom in Beverly Hills, and unwittingly conclude that Hollywood knows the only path to happiness and success.

As I watched the Golden Globes I found myself reminded of the temptation to desire the things of the world. In Genesis 13 God has blessed Abraham his nephew Lot to such an extent that the land in which they live can no longer support both of their families. Abraham approaches Lot and invites Lot to chose a land for himself. Lot's no dummy. He surveys the land and chooses the land which appears lush and fertile leaving the less-than-perfect land for his humble uncle. The land Lot chose was none other than the land of Sodom.

Notice the words of Genesis 13:13, "But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord."

Lot fell for the temptation of living amongst a corrupt people because their land appeared to offer everything his young heart desired. As Lot surveyed the land from his Lazy Boy the land seemed picture-perfect. Maybe Lot even thought to himself, "I'm strong enough to live in that place without succumbing to the ways of the wicked." But Lot's fate would prove otherwise. Because of Abraham's prayers God spared Lot during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:29). But the story paints a picture of the heart of a man which had been led astray.

Abraham failed short of God's glory many times . . . as do we. But Abraham's heart desired the ways of God. By allowing Lot to chose first Abraham by default received the land of Canaan. Canaan was the very land God had promised to Abraham's descendents in Genesis 12. Canaan would serve as the Israelites' Promised Land, a land which at first glance may have appeared less fertile but deep down flowed with milk and honey.

I shouldn't imply that Hollywood is the land of the wicked. But I think the ways and the desires of Hollywood are anything but to be admired. Many times living the "Christian life" doesn't seem all that attractive on the surface. But God has
promised to those who follow Him in faith a heavenly Canaan. A place where God may not award golden globes
but crowns for us to place at the feet of our Savior. A place where Christ will rule and where the streets which wrap around the globe are paved in gold (Revelation 21:21).