I'm Not Who I Once Was

July 15, 2007 in Daily Devotionals with 0 Comments

[This is My Turning Point]
Verses: 2 Cor. 5:17

Have you ever gone deaf? I’m not talking about the physical deafness, but a spiritual deafness. Recently, I have felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit in a certain area in my life, and I ignored it, and then I felt it again and then I ignored it again until I couldn’t hear anything. It’s too easy. Life is busy. Period.

I was walking tonight with a friend and it was my turn to share how I was, and being the driven person by nature that I am, I said what I was working towards and how I was praying for this to happen and that to happen and then she stopped me and said, “but what about right now? Now is great! You’ve prayed so hard to get to this point. You’re doing great!” Opps.

This morning at church, The Fields celebrated their fourth anniversary. David Fandey, one of the pastors, asked for anyone to stand up if at some point in the past couple months you had felt changed during your experience at The Fields. I definitely experienced growth and watched God change my whole life from the inside out that I stood up so fast–and I was not alone as there were a lot of other people that had experienced the power of God together with the saints!

I’m so grateful for this season in my life. I’ve only been going to The Fields since March, but since March I have grown so much that I’m still unpacking all that has happened, plus the potential for so much growth: learning more about the Bible, moving out for the first time, and graduating from Biola University (May 2008 I can’t wait).

I cannot wait to watch God continue to be faithful, but it’s the right now that I have to be so thankful and careful at the same time. If I become too busy or too wrapped up in myself and what’s going on in my life I can easily forget that God has changed me from the inside out and made me into a new creation. I’m not the same person I was a year ago–AND I want to continue to stand in this freedom that God has already bought and paid for.

David Fandey had us also come up and write on a rock a reminder of what God has done so we don’t forget. He had us write what one word or words that God has done through your experience at The Fields, and at this point I was crying because I remembered the first prayer I received by one of the pastors–the words “turning point” had come up during the prayer! God is stretching my faith. He is giving me so many chances to practice through the circumstances He is sending into my life as a result of my prayers to help me achieve these dreams and goals that He has planted deep in my heart. So I wanted to take a moment to write this down as this truly is my turning point!

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer (stone of help), saying, “Thus far has the LORD helped us” (1 Sam. 7:12).

What has God done in your life that you need to remember?

[The Israelites response to that question is found in Joshua 23]

After a long time had passed and the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then old and well advanced in years, summoned all Israel—their elders, leaders, judges and officials—and said to them: “I am old and well advanced in years. You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you. Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Great Sea in the west. The LORD your God himself will drive them out of your way. He will push them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.

“Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.

“The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God.

“But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the LORD your God has given you.

“Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. But just as every good promise of the LORD your God has come true, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you. If you violate the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.”

Amen!

Saying One Thing and Doing Another

July 6, 2007 in Daily Devotionals with 0 Comments

[A Study in James]
Verses: Jam. 1:22, 26, 3:3-5, 10-12, 16-17, 4:9-10, 5:19-20

Greetings from muggy Texas! I am on vacation this week visiting a friend and am enjoying being away from the office and school. Last night we did a study in James and here is what transpired…(Isn’t it amazing how two people can read the same passage and God can minister to each heart exactly what that person needs?)

For me–the theme of what kept jumping out to me was God’s heart for the unbeliever. Recently it seems God has put a lot of people in my path to be a witness of His love and how much He truly can change your life from the inside out! I feel truly honored that God would choose to use me in this way. I want to show others that being a Christ follower doesn’t make your life boring and dull, but one of passion and purpose!

The first verse in James that really stood out to me in this manner was James 1:26 that says, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”

I am sure you have met people who claim to be Christians yet when you dig a little deeper you quickly find out just how shallow their faith is! Why tease others with a faith that is not authentic? Why just say you’re one way when you’re not?

The next verse comes from James 3:10-12, “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

To me that verse simplifies everything. It is word play or a word picture if you will–two spring flowing from the same source! This is not possible! At this point my heart was screaming at me–”you must share this, it’s makes so much sense!”

To me it speaks of desire. I want to desire Jesus more than anything else in this life because so many other “sources” that compete for my attention. It is so easy to become diluted with filth and then my “Christ-ian” witness means nothing.

Why on earth would anyone want to be a Christ follower when all they see around them is envy and selfish ambition, “there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James: 16-17)

Maybe this is God deepening my faith and my “calling” to make sure that I am who I say I am so that whoever is around me may have the chance to see that it is possible to not just “merely listen to the word [of God], and so deceive yourselves. [Instead] Do what it says.” (James 1:22)

Watching my mom share the gospel challenges me in my faith. She’s got the gift of evangelism. Every week she minsters to and leads people to Christ wherever she goes. I look up to her and admire her so much…but I forget one thing so easily…she did not get to where she is at today without being faithful in the small things. Now in her 50′s she is doing today with effectiveness what she had been praying for since her 20′s when she asked God to become a missionary.

Instead, God brought my dad into her life because He knew what she needed at the time; she did not. She ended up losing her mom at a young age (24) and having God bring my dad in her life a year later brought comfort, stability, and love. It wasn’t until 18 years later that God fulfilled that desire in my mom’s heart when both my parents joined Campus Crusade for Christ and served faithfully for over 15 years with the Jesus Film Project.

It reminds me of the movie I just saw yesterday with my friend on vacation. Evan Almighty is a sequel to Bruce Almighty. Evan is told by God to build an ARK and Evan thinks that he is going crazy until God keeps bombarding him with all these animals who follow him and his hair that keeps growing longer and longer until he can’t escape it. ***For those of you who haven’t seen the movie yet skip down to the next paragraph*** The part that really hit me between the eyes was when Evan and God were talking about how it wasn’t until after Evan was faithful in building that ark and the reasons why God told him to build it that almost made me cry. Evan told God that he was sorry that he fought God the whole way, but God said “yes but you were obedient!”

James 4:9-10 says, “Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. ” If you are experiencing at time in your life where you KNOW that God could be doing so much more in your life if you would just believe, please say this prayer with me:
Dear Heavenly Father,

I confess that my own abilities have only gotten me so far. In fact–I’m still not sure what I want! I invite you to come into my heart and change me from the inside out. I confess my pride to you. I confess any hindrances that keep me from obeying you. Help me to hear your voice. Help me to hear it louder than the rest. I want to follow you and serve you but I don’t even know where to begin. Light the fire inside my heart and put a desire so deep down that I can’t help but obey–even if I am fighting you the whole way there!!!

Help me to know that you see my desires. Help me to know that your plans are better than mine! Silence all the voices that compete for your attention. Help me to be okay on my own two feet! Help me to stand underneath temptation even when I don’t feel like I can stand at all. You say in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that you will give us a way up underneath our troubles not necessarily out of our troubles. I know God that you are faithful so I will say out loud that I trust you even in the midst of the chaos.

Amen.
–
And Jesus said, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘ Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk‘? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men. (Matt. 9:2b-8)

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

A Woman's Influence

June 19, 2007 in Daily Devotionals with 0 Comments

[Is a powerful, powerful thing]
Verses: Prov. 31:10-31, 2 Tim. 3:1-7

“No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the LORD’s sight as did Ahab under the influence of his wife Jezebel.” 1 Kings 21:25

I felt the cringe of that verse in my spirit today as I was reading during my lunch hour! I could even hear the flip side of that–of those weak willed women saying to their friend, “can you believe this guy? He’s such a dog!” Sometimes, and I’m speaking to the women here, we need to realize how much of an influence and impact we have on a man!

The past year and a half for me has been a real eye opening experience. I am finding out that the older I become, the more difficult it is to not lead a man on. As a Christian sister who is single–and someday wants to be married I have not clung to God more desperately than I have now. Dating and courting are not what is confusing–it is the process I find interesting.

There is a new joy that I am finding while I am single. The more I draw closer to God, the more I find strength to face the day. To NOT compromise my standards. To love others and to freely give and serve them without any hindrances. God has brought so many opportunities into my life and what a pleasure it has been to serve the body of Christ through words of encouragement, worship on the piano, and just being there for friends & family in time of need!

I wanted to speak a prayer of blessing and courage to the women (men please pray along with me) today.

I feel that God wants us (women) to know that His heart is burdened to the struggles we must endure and He wants also to find us faithful while we are waiting (no matter if we are single, married, or separated/divorced).

Before I pray that prayer I want us to turn to this passage first:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of: self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (2 Tim. 3:1-7)

If the earlier passage didn’t capture my attention–this one made my jaw drop. “Having the appearance of godliness, but…” “Capture weak women?” Lord, may it never be! May I never become like one of those women whose feet quickly rush into evil (Prov. 6:18).

Lord,

My prayer for the women today is that you would strengthen our hearts to walk along whatever road you have called us to. If it is a loveless marriage–let us know that You see our tears, You see our disappointment and heartbreak. You will not let the men go unpunished. But, do not let me get stuck in my own pit of bitterness that I can’t see my own way out and therefore cause my husband and those around me to stumble. Let my submissive spirit be the guiding force of our marriage–even when that would mean crucifying my flesh. Lord–anyone can love those who love us back–that’s easy, but following you is never easy! It is dynamic! It is like being born again! Help me lay down my desires and to let go of the pain–the brokenness that I experience on a daily basis! Help me to surrender, Lord! It hurts so bad!

Lord, to the single women I want to pray a prayer of patience and blessing and fruitility! Let us be fruitful with what you have given us to do already. Let us never worry about the future, but instead smile with gratitude and grace just knowing that the best is yet to come! Let us not give up or grow weary while we are waiting for the men you have planned for us. Help us not to surrender our purity to and become a weak willed woman, but instead a choose to become a woman of integrity and passion being filled and renewed every day by You, Lord!

Lord, let our hearts be soft and pliable. Let our Spirits be tender and compassionate! Let us be mirrors of you Jesus! Let us be Your hands and feet, Your smile and your love.

Lord, and if I may be so bold–I pray for the men that they would realize that their impact and influence goes well beyond even what a woman’s could. Lord, when a man is fully surrendered to you–the chances of his entire household being surrendered to you triples when compared to a woman! Built the men up to be pure and holy vessels for you, to be used and molded and moved wherever you call–even when it disrupts the harmony of the family–because like Abraham we must learn to trust you and just believe.

Never stop guiding us Lord into your glorious destiny and may Your peace be on our hearts today as we love and serve one another, I pray!

Amen.

Stuck in a Moment

June 8, 2007 in Daily Devotionals with 0 Comments

[That you can't get out of...]
Verses: Ps. 125:1, Prov. 16:25, Acts 5:41, Jam. 1:3

Yesterday, the first verse I read was Exodus 34:14 NLT, “You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.” I immediately take the defense on this one, “what do you mean, Lord? Haven’t I been spending enough time with you?” As the day progressed, I didn’t think much further about it until the evening time. Thursday evening was the first meeting of my church’s gatherings at the beach instead of our regular community group meetings throughout North County. I choose, instead to stay home and spend some time with the Lord. In the process, I was available to my new neighbor who is hurting and struggling to become saved and turn from her wicked ways and receive the Lord’s full healing. I also too realized that every other night this week so far I have spent doing my own thing: school, family, and me time, but I haven’t yet decided a night to the Lord.

So, I set my time aside and as I began spending time with the Lord, I met Him there and He met me there and here is what transpired…

I was complaining about a situation at work that I seem to be just STUCK in and how badly I want out. “For you know when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” Jam. 1:3 “But I want out, Lord.” my sour attitude complained. As I read a passage in Acts Chapter 5 it hit me how the disciples attitude were elevated when they faced suffering and persecution (which one would think they were STUCK in that night in prison). But that night an angel of the Lord freed them and the next morning they were back preaching the gospel in the name of Jesus with great boldness. Then they were put on trial and instead of being killed, they were flogged and set free thinking that all other people who had risen up before them hadn’t lasted very long and eventually all their followers disbanded so they Sanhedrin thought this would be the case so they let them go. But what really struck me is as “the apostles left the Sanhedrin, [they went] rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ” Acts 5:41

When was the last time I rejoiced in me sufferings? And not just rejoiced but lived a lifestyle of praise? When I am hurt–it is hard for me to surrender my pride and still act like the beautiful and sweet girl God made me. But, seriously–I REALLY have a hard time remaining in love when I am done. Do you know what I mean? Do you understand? Our flesh does NOT like being stuck. We HATE having to go through the same thing over and over again. How do you live with unresolved conflict?

As a Christian, I think I have this warped mindset that because Jesus is my ALL, I should not have to live with unresolved conflict. Am I sick? He should heal me. Am I in distress? He should lift me out? Am I in relationship conflict? His love should cover all. These are all things God wants us to come to Him with ANYWAY, but let’s face it–shall we only accept good from the Lord and not harm? Job experienced this. I have experienced this, and you may be too!!!

But, I have good news for you, “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which CANNOT be shaken but endures forever.” Ps. 125:15

Lord, my prayer for my fellow believers in Christ today is that You will strengthen us and sustain us. Change us when our situations do not change for us. Do not let us grow hard hearts. Keep us soft and trusting and always forgiving and humble. Let us continually surrender our pride for You just might be pruning us for greater work, or it could be because of our fallen nature’s but whatever it is and no matter how we analyze it or look at it–YOU LOVE US. This will NEVER change. No matter how many plans are in our heart, help us to know that our way ends in death (Prov. 16:25). Always lead us and guide us into the plans you have for us even when we feel like we stumble into them or are stuck in them! You know what You are doing and we don’t! We love you Lord, rescue us from a sour attitude today. Give us the grace to keep enduring and put a smile on our faces so we can continue to encourage those around us whom you have already brought into our life.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Gal. 6:9-10)

Amen!

Can't I Just Have You?

June 5, 2007 in Daily Devotionals with 0 Comments

[The Idealistic Life]
Verses: Ps. 119:19 Heb. 10:35, 12:1-11

How many of us have drawn the house with a triangular shaped roof, a chimney, two windows, and a door? It’s the picture almost every child has drawn when they are little. We dream that someday, we too will have our own place to call home, with a mate that adores us and maybe even children or a pet–or both!

What’s your story? Has your life been the ideal life? Has God brought you only blessings?

What about the shutters on the windows, or the trimming on the doors, or the paint on the house? We can try and cover up what we may feel on the inside, but the truth is–we were not meant to live safe lives, yet when we are in the midst of suffering that is the last place we think of as safe or even ideal. But, the truth of God’s Word is that a man gains discipline, wisdom, and understanding by the suffering He goes through. (Heb. 12:1-11)

It’s amazing for me personally to look back and see many, many years of intense suffering and yet through those years I gained the wisdom and understanding that:

* I am a child of God
* I am adopted into His family and that no one can take that away from me
* I am loved
* I am accepted
* I am forgiven.

The days where I was stuck inside the four walls of my home–what I thought was a prison with bars on the window, God met me there daily and He really has strengthened me and put me on a firm foundation.

To be well-established in my faith gives me great hope, but also great humility. It doesn’t take much for me to fall. I am a weak and feeble human being, easily led astray by my own desires, impatient and even at times hostile. I feel justified because I know the Lord so well and I take it for granted or I feel let down and disappointed because I know that He can heal me if He wanted too. God has come through for me before–what makes this [current] trial any different.

Again the picture of the idealistic life keeps popping back to mind as I try and fight it away–especially when the images I see in current pop culture, media, and even the mainstream culture portray that as a standard to be easily obtained with hard work and a smile.

“Can’t you just be happy (content) to spend time with me?” The Lord whispers to my heart.

Sometimes I don’t cling to God unless I really need Him. It’s amazing how long it takes to get my attention. Today, I realized that God was fighting for my attention, my affections–and I have to admit–it brought a huge smile to my face. I love that God never stops pursuing me. He never lets me go. He searches my heart; He tests my anxious thoughts. I am His and He is mine.

“I am but a foreigner here on earth; I need the guidance of your commands.” Ps. 119:19

“Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you.” Heb. 10:35

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