January 31, 2012
"When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, 'Up, take your wife
and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.' But he hesitated." Genesis 19:15-16a
I consider myself a hesitater. My spell-check dislikes the word hesitater, and frankly so do I. But when it comes to decision making I rarely respond with immediate action. I tend to drag my feet, refusing to take the next step until I've had a chance to weigh my options. I believe God's way is good and trustworthy. I sometimes hesitate to follow God's lead because I question whether I've heard Him correctly. Discretion is good. However, when it comes to following the call of God I believe Scripture reveals that hesitation can prevent us from receiving His best.
In Genesis 12:1 God says to Abram (who in Genesis 17 becomes Abraham), “Leave your native country, your relatives,
and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you." Notice God doesn't tell Abram where to go, God simply instructs Abram to go to the land that He will show him.
At this point I would have composed a thousand questions for God. In which direction should I head? Should I pack a snack? Will this be an overnight stay or should I plan for a week? or more? Will it be hot or cold when I arrive? Can I bring my flat iron?
Genesis 12 records no questions from Abram. Instead we read in verse 4, "Abram departed as the LORD had instructed." No questions. Not an ounce of hesitation. Abram simply obeys.
Skip forward a few chapters to Genesis 19. In this chapter we find Lot, Abraham's nephew, residing in the city of Sodom. Two angels come to Lot and say, "Whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place; for we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the LORD that the LORD has sent us to destroy it" (Genesis 19:12-13). Unlike God's call to Abram the angels tell Lot exactly where to take his family in order to escape destruction. But Lot hesitates.
Abraham became the father of many nations. His descendants eventually inherited the Promised Land. God counted Abraham righteous because of his faith.
And Lot?
Lot helped form two nations . . . through his own two daughters (Genesis 19:30-37). Rather than escaping to the mountains as the angels commanded, Lot sought refuge with his daughters in a cave. Seemingly alone and feeling cutoff from civilization Lot's daughters concoct the idea of having relations with their father so that they could preserve their family line. The firstborn daughter bore a son who became the father of the Moabites. The younger daughter also bore a son who became the father of the sons of Ammon. Eventually both the Moabite and Ammonite nations were destroyed.
Lot's outcome may have had to do with more than just his hesitation. But I can't help but to consider how his lot might have changed if he had obeyed the Lord without delay.
For more than a year I have felt the Lord encouraging me to consider other publishing options with my first book, A Place of Peace. Realizing I would find it difficult to cancel my publishing contract I've prayed that God would make it obvious when I should act. A printing error on a recent order, one which the publisher failed to fully reconcile, helped me to recognize that now is the time. I consulted my contract yesterday and realized I have sixty days remaining until my contract automatically renews for an additional year (and I have to give thirty days notice of my intent to cancel). A few weeks of hesitation could have forced me to stay bound another year to an agreement from which I feel the Lord leading me away. In light of the story of Abraham and Lot I decided to obey right away.
Not to worry about the book. Though I may experience a few days of unavailability toward the end of March, the Lord has already provided another way for publication. Not with a big-name publisher but with a way which will still allow me to make my book available to those who need it most.
Where is the Lord calling you to go?
Do not hesitate.
Trust God to make it happen, for He who calls you is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Overcoming the Mommy Blah's
February
"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for [little] people." Colossians 3:23
The remaining leftovers are put away. The last house guest has returned home. For the past two weekends our home has nearly burst at the seams with family and friends who joined us to celebrate various occasions, and I've loved every minute of it. But as our celebrations draw to a close I realize that during the day its just me, the kids and a dog who drools.
"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for [little] people." Colossians 3:23
The remaining leftovers are put away. The last house guest has returned home. For the past two weekends our home has nearly burst at the seams with family and friends who joined us to celebrate various occasions, and I've loved every minute of it. But as our celebrations draw to a close I realize that during the day its just me, the kids and a dog who drools.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Separated by Sin
January 24, 2012
"When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees." Genesis 3:8
Nearly two weeks ago I delivered what I feel is my life message to a group of women from my home church. Upon coming to know Christ as my Savior as a sophomore in high school I embraced God's promise of abundant life. Though I endured a period of wavering faith after my daughter passed away, I shared with these women how God restored my relationship with Him. God allowed me to discover life more abundant than ever before by leading me along a path of His Word on which I choose to walk daily across the troubled waters of life into a place of abundance in Him. I shared how nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing. But the more I reflected on my message the more I feared the idea that I misled someone. May God deal with me ever so severely if I ever sugar-coat His truth. Nothing can separate us from His love . . . but there is something that separates us from Him.
After God established His Creation He placed man and woman, Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden (technically God made Eve from Adam while Adam was in the garden of Eden). God granted Adam and Eve permission to eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis 3 the serpent convinces Eve to eat the forbidden fruit who in turn shares the fruit with Adam. Following their disobedience Scripture tells us, "the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees" (Genesis 3:8). Prior to their sin Adam and Eve walked in close fellowship with God. After their sin Adam and Eve felt too ashamed to appear before their Creator, and were eventually banished from His presence.
Separated from God's love?
Never.
Separated from Him?
Yes.
Though nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38) sin will drive us away from His best every single time.
Stroll with me for a moment down the ol' Roman road. All have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23a) but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23b). If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
Sin separates us from God. But God loves the world so much He sent a way for us to return to Him (John 3:16). The Way is Jesus (John 14:6).
When we turn away from our sin trusting in the work of the cross, our relationship with God is restored. To embrace a life of abundance in Him we must choose to turn away from sin and walk in His Ways instead.
Will we get it right every single time? Probably not. But as Jeremiah recorded in Lamentations 3:22-23, "the faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning." I invite you to seek God and His mercy each and every day.
"When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees." Genesis 3:8
Nearly two weeks ago I delivered what I feel is my life message to a group of women from my home church. Upon coming to know Christ as my Savior as a sophomore in high school I embraced God's promise of abundant life. Though I endured a period of wavering faith after my daughter passed away, I shared with these women how God restored my relationship with Him. God allowed me to discover life more abundant than ever before by leading me along a path of His Word on which I choose to walk daily across the troubled waters of life into a place of abundance in Him. I shared how nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing. But the more I reflected on my message the more I feared the idea that I misled someone. May God deal with me ever so severely if I ever sugar-coat His truth. Nothing can separate us from His love . . . but there is something that separates us from Him.
After God established His Creation He placed man and woman, Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden (technically God made Eve from Adam while Adam was in the garden of Eden). God granted Adam and Eve permission to eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis 3 the serpent convinces Eve to eat the forbidden fruit who in turn shares the fruit with Adam. Following their disobedience Scripture tells us, "the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees" (Genesis 3:8). Prior to their sin Adam and Eve walked in close fellowship with God. After their sin Adam and Eve felt too ashamed to appear before their Creator, and were eventually banished from His presence.
Separated from God's love?
Never.
Separated from Him?
Yes.
Though nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38) sin will drive us away from His best every single time.
Stroll with me for a moment down the ol' Roman road. All have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23a) but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23b). If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
Sin separates us from God. But God loves the world so much He sent a way for us to return to Him (John 3:16). The Way is Jesus (John 14:6).
When we turn away from our sin trusting in the work of the cross, our relationship with God is restored. To embrace a life of abundance in Him we must choose to turn away from sin and walk in His Ways instead.
Will we get it right every single time? Probably not. But as Jeremiah recorded in Lamentations 3:22-23, "the faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning." I invite you to seek God and His mercy each and every day.
Monday, January 16, 2012
I've Moved!
Jenny's blog has moved! Visit www.crossingyourjordanministries.com for more information.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thanklessness
January 14, 2012
"Run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." Hebrews 12:1-2
or the verse of 1 out of 10 returning to thank Jesus.
"I hate you."
The words stung, even if they did only come from my six year old daughter.
A few months ago my oldest darling began demonstrating her need to . . . I must admit its been difficult to maintain fruits of Spirit. Worse yet, she's only six. How will we ever survive sixteen? I feel I've sacrificed a great deal--homeschooling, etc.
How do we run with endurance the race set before us when it seems no one appreciates the effort?
Heb 12:2 says by keeping our eyes focused on Jesus.
Take a stroll, gander through the gospels. The Son of God left His throne to come to earth to save man. Man's response was the same of my daughters, "We hate you. (reference) "Please leave (reference). How did Jesus endure? by focusing on the work His Father gave Him to do (John 5ish)
If I do my work for others expecting something in return eventually someone will let me down. If I sacrifice so that others will fill me with praise, eventually I will wind up bitter and resentful over lack of appreciation. But if I work for my Father, doing the work HE has called me to do one day I will hear from my King the greatest praise of all, "Well done my good and faithful servant. . . . "
Felling unappreciated? Change your focus. Run the race with endurance by setting your eyes on Jesus.
"Run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." Hebrews 12:1-2
or the verse of 1 out of 10 returning to thank Jesus.
"I hate you."
The words stung, even if they did only come from my six year old daughter.
A few months ago my oldest darling began demonstrating her need to . . . I must admit its been difficult to maintain fruits of Spirit. Worse yet, she's only six. How will we ever survive sixteen? I feel I've sacrificed a great deal--homeschooling, etc.
How do we run with endurance the race set before us when it seems no one appreciates the effort?
Heb 12:2 says by keeping our eyes focused on Jesus.
Take a stroll, gander through the gospels. The Son of God left His throne to come to earth to save man. Man's response was the same of my daughters, "We hate you. (reference) "Please leave (reference). How did Jesus endure? by focusing on the work His Father gave Him to do (John 5ish)
If I do my work for others expecting something in return eventually someone will let me down. If I sacrifice so that others will fill me with praise, eventually I will wind up bitter and resentful over lack of appreciation. But if I work for my Father, doing the work HE has called me to do one day I will hear from my King the greatest praise of all, "Well done my good and faithful servant. . . . "
Felling unappreciated? Change your focus. Run the race with endurance by setting your eyes on Jesus.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Cabbage and Peas
January 1, 2012
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33
I despise cooked cabbage and black-eyed peas. Just thinking about the bitter flavor of the greens and the pasty texture of the peas causes my tongue to twist in disgust. Legend has it that if eaten on New Years Day a serving of black-eyed peas will bring good luck and a spoon-full of cabbage will deliver prosperity. Such a feast is the one tradition I dread most about ringing in the new year. As I contemplated my New Years Day fate I began to question the torturous meal. I'm all for tradition--after all, my husband and I both graduated from Texas A&M University, a school most known for tradition. But when tradition turns to trouble for my taste-buds it's time to reconsider the truth.
The Bible tells us how to prosper (and there's no eating involved). Joshua 1:8 reads, "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night
so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will
you prosper and succeed in all you do." We are to feed not on lettuce leaves but on the Word of God.
And who needs luck when we have a Sovereign God who promises to be with us and to protect us wherever we go (Genesis 28:15)? God watched us as we were being formed in utter seclusion, as we were woven together in the dark of the womb. He saw us before we were born. Every day of our lives was recorded in His book. Every moment laid out before a single day had passed (Psalm 139:15-16). God promises to work all things for our good (Romans 8:28) and for His glory (Romans 11:36) . . . if we let Him. I'll take a heaping spoonful of the Prince of Peace over a plate of peas any day.
Those of us who choose to buck the system by refusing to eat our cabbage and peas won't fare any differently than those who choke down their lentils and veggies on New Years Day. The secret to a good year isn't found in what you eat on the first day of the year but in what you choose to indulge yourself each day of the coming year.
Tired of cabbage and peas? Maybe its time to consider attending a different type of feast. In 2012 I invite you to join me as we seek to fill ourselves on the very Bread of Life.
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33
I despise cooked cabbage and black-eyed peas. Just thinking about the bitter flavor of the greens and the pasty texture of the peas causes my tongue to twist in disgust. Legend has it that if eaten on New Years Day a serving of black-eyed peas will bring good luck and a spoon-full of cabbage will deliver prosperity. Such a feast is the one tradition I dread most about ringing in the new year. As I contemplated my New Years Day fate I began to question the torturous meal. I'm all for tradition--after all, my husband and I both graduated from Texas A&M University, a school most known for tradition. But when tradition turns to trouble for my taste-buds it's time to reconsider the truth.
The Bible tells us how to prosper (and there's no eating involved). Joshua 1:8 reads, "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night
so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will
you prosper and succeed in all you do." We are to feed not on lettuce leaves but on the Word of God.
And who needs luck when we have a Sovereign God who promises to be with us and to protect us wherever we go (Genesis 28:15)? God watched us as we were being formed in utter seclusion, as we were woven together in the dark of the womb. He saw us before we were born. Every day of our lives was recorded in His book. Every moment laid out before a single day had passed (Psalm 139:15-16). God promises to work all things for our good (Romans 8:28) and for His glory (Romans 11:36) . . . if we let Him. I'll take a heaping spoonful of the Prince of Peace over a plate of peas any day.
Those of us who choose to buck the system by refusing to eat our cabbage and peas won't fare any differently than those who choke down their lentils and veggies on New Years Day. The secret to a good year isn't found in what you eat on the first day of the year but in what you choose to indulge yourself each day of the coming year.
Tired of cabbage and peas? Maybe its time to consider attending a different type of feast. In 2012 I invite you to join me as we seek to fill ourselves on the very Bread of Life.
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