Beyond Ourselves Podcast
Whopper of a Problem?
Do you have a whopper of a problem? Perhaps you’re even where the Lord led you, but the situation is more than you can handle. When Joshua found himself in a tough place, the Lord appeared to him as Captain of the Lord’s Host. Listen to what happened. Joshua 5:14-15 states,
Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, ‘What has my lord to say to his servant?’ The Captain of the Lord’s Host said to Joshua, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.”
Did we get that? Joshua bowed down and said, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” The Lord told Joshua that the place he was standing was holy ground; then He told him what to do. Isn’t that the position we need to take not only when we’re faced with problems, but every day? Bow before the Lord. Ask, “what do You have to say to me?” Then, listen with the intention of obeying. Why? Not only will He help you, but also because God rewards obedience. Learn more in my newest study, End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do.
CAPTAIN of the HOSTS, we bow before You. Speak to our heart and mind. Tell us what to do.
Where is Our Faith in God’s Commands
We talk about it. We sing about it. But, how much of it do we have? What am I talking about? Faith. We place our faith in the person of Jesus Christ and that He substituted His body on the cross in place of ours. We stand at a distance and say, “Whew! That’s great. I didn’t have to go through the scourging and crucifixion. Thank You, Jesus. I believe.” But when God says to exercise our faith in regard to cutting off our sin we say, “No way. Can’t do.” He says to exercise our faith and forgive as He forgives us and we say, “Not gonna do it.” He says to lay aside our old self and put on the new self-made in the image of Christ Jesus, and we march through our day as if we didn’t hear Him. He says to take up our cross and follow Him by laying down our life for the Kingdom and we go on with our day as if He wasn’t talking to us. If we really had faith that God “calls into being that which doesn’t exist,” as Romans 4:17 states, then wouldn’t we obey His commands, trusting that they lead to the promised abundant life? So the question is, where is our faith…in us or in Jesus? Here’s another question – how can we exercise our faith today by obeying something He’s calling us to do that doesn’t come naturally to us?
Lord Jesus, You CALL INTO BEING THAT WHICH DOESN’T EXIST. Open our eyes today to one of Your teachings that we’re not following, to serving You in the way You’re calling us to serve. Call into being our obedience as we place our faith in You.
Friends, you’re invited to my new study – End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do. I’ve been preparing for months and am passionate about us studying Revelation together. You can learn more about the study here. When you sign up for this free study, you are not committing to a certain day, time, or place. I’ll email the study to you and you can read, watch, and/or answer study questions at your convenience. I pray you’ll join me! After you register, please share with your friends so they can join us.
Needing A Remodel?
Have you ever looked at your life, job, or relationship, and felt discouraged? Have you ever thought, “I don’t see any way things can get better?” Or perhaps, “My best years are over”? If you have had any of those thoughts, be encouraged. Why? Hebrews 3:4 tells us that God is “the builder of all things.” In other words, Jesus was more than a small town carpenter. He is the one who built the heavens and earth. Jesus built His global church from a small number of men and women. If He can build the heavens, our bodies, and recreate us at our spiritual birth, He can build our lives in new, exciting ways. This is not the time for a DIY (Do It Yourself) makeover. We need a professional. Ask the Lord, the Builder of all things, to reconstruct your thoughts, to remodel your day, to expand the SONroom of your heart so you sit and have meaningful conversations with God and ask Him questions and learn from Him. Ask the Carpenter to remodel you.
Jesus, Builder of All Things, You are our Savior Carpenter. You took nails that were meant for us on Your holy body so You could build us into a kingdom of priests. Reconstruct us into holy vessels who bring You glory.
Disturbed by the Star or Delighting in the Star
Curious and apprehensive about who was scheduled to perform for a halftime show, I googled half time show. The name of the entertainer immediately popped up. Watching a few minutes of one of his music videos, I was pleased it didn’t include cuss words or nakedness. But then…… He is but one of many stars who influence people. Thank goodness, there is another star, more famous than any and His influence will remain long after other stars have come and gone. His name is Jesus Christ. In Revelation 22:16, Jesus says,
I am the root and the descendant of David, the BRIGHT MORNING STAR.
Jesus is the STAR we should watch and emulate. Jesus is the STAR we should listen to so often that we know by heart the verses He’s written. So as you watch earthly stars rise and fall, remember with deep gratitude Jesus, the Bright Morning Star.
Sweet Jesus, we love and adore You. You are our BRIGHT MORNING STAR. There is none other we follow and worship but You.
When Did You Become Christ’s Bride
Are you married? If so, do you remember where and when? I was married in an outdoor tabernacle on a wooden pew when I was 12. Oh, I’m not talking about when I married my earthly husband, Keith. I’m talking about when I said yes to Jesus – to be His bride. I was at a youth camp and the Holy Spirit convicted me during the evening service that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. I acknowledged my sin and confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior. He drew me close. He took my hand in His nail-scarred hand. Jesus forgave my sins and betrothed me to Himself before the Heavenly Father and angels. One day, I will see Him face to face. He is coming for me just as Matthew 25:6 says,
Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.
I’d love for you to hit the reply or comment button and tell me when you were betrothed to Christ.
Jesus, You are the BRIDEGROOM, the Savior of all who accept Your proposal to be saved. Thank You for coming to earth to save us. Thank You for loving us in spite of our sin. Thank You for preparing a place in heaven for us to live eternally with You. We rejoice and love You so much!
Bite, Chew, Graze
Are you hungry? Is there a gnawing in you? Do you feel that something is missing? Do you feel that no matter what you do, purchase, or where you go, you still want more? Do you fill the emptiness but it quickly returns? If so, maybe it’s your spirit that is hungry. If so, the solution isn’t more food, clothes, or money. The solution is found by filling our spirit with the Holy Spirit of Jesus who John 6:48 describes as the BREAD of LIFE. Jesus is to the soul what a delicious nourishing meal is to our body. Begin your day with bite-size Bible verses. Chew on them throughout the day. At night, graze on the promises of Christ. Go to sleep with your soul fully satisfied in Christ.
Lord Jesus, we praise You, BREAD OF LIFE! Thank You for satisfying the yearning of our spirit as we meditate on You.
Feeling a Little Wilted?
Have you ever walked through an unwatered garden? The plants are wilted. There’s little fruit if any. What a difference when you walk through a well-watered garden; one loved by the owner. Flowers and fruit abound. The garden has a fragrant aroma. The gardener has withheld nothing and has committed everything to caring for the plants. In Jeremiah 31:12 God is described as just such a Gardner and His people like a well-watered garden.
They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, and they will be radiant over the bounty of the Lord—and their life will be like a watered garden, and they will never languish again.
If you are languishing and are physically, emotionally, or spiritually wilted, I understand. Life can drain us at times. Go to your Heavenly Father. Open your Bible. Be filled and refreshed by His Spirit. He loves you! Drink deeply.
Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You, BOUNTIFUL Lord, that although life can be draining, we don’t have to languish. Rather, in You are the wellsprings of life. Thank You for Your ever replenishing supply of love, joy, peace, and strength.
Go for the Branch, Not the Thorns
Have you ever had something grow in your yard and you didn’t know if it was a flower or a weed? That’s happened to me. The same can happen with people or books that make flowery spiritual promises. The problem is, if they’re not rooted in Christ, the flowery show will fade and their false promises will end up being thorns to the soul. Jeremiah 23:5 announces the righteous BRANCH, Jesus Christ, whom we can trust.
‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.’
Jesus Christ, the righteous Branch, is the One to whom we want to be grafted for this life and eternity.
BRANCH of the LORD, who lives forever, thank You for giving us true, eternal life.
Hitch Your Wagon to the Right Star
Are you familiar with the saying, “Hitch your wagon to a star”? It’s an idiom that means “to commit to an aspirational goal or course of action that will lead to fulfillment.”* But many today are hitching to the opposite. Instead of hitching to what Romans 1:25 describes as God who is BLESSED FOREVER, they’re hitching to the world. The Bible warns us that there are serious repercussions when people don’t honor God, don’t give Him thanks, and they exchange the truth of God for a lie. God eventually gives those people over. Over to what? Romans 1:18-25 tells us – over to impurity, over to dishonor, over to degrading passions, and over to depraved minds. What are we hitching our lives to? The ways of the world or to God?
Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus, who are BLESSED FOREVER, help us examine the courses of action to which we are hitched and rightly hitch to You.
If You’re Alone, Broken, Sick
Are you alone? Are you emotionally all over the place? Are you broken? Are you sick? Ezekiel 34:16 tells us that God is in the business of tending to the lost, the scattered, the broken, and the sick. Listen to God’s promise:
I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick.
Yes, there are times in our lives when we feel like we can’t take one more step, that we can’t get through the day or night. How do we manage? We remember that our Heavenly Father sees us, He cares, and He is with us. We turn to Him. We let go of our stress by praying to Him. We read the Bible and are reminded of His love for us. He didn’t create the world scattered, lost, and sick, but rather as beautiful, peaceful, and perfect. All that our heart longs for, we will one day experience in His presence.
(Keep a gratitude journal of the ways God is working in your life and helping you. It will encourage you that you are not alone. It will gladden your heart. It will strengthen you.)
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for being with us and BINDING UP the many ways we are BROKEN. Thank You for emotionally, physically, and spiritually strengthening us.