Beyond Ourselves

Things aren’t always as they appear. Just you wait and see. For instance, Jesus had no earthly possessions, wasn’t married, and when arrested, His friends abandoned Him. He was lied about, mocked, and beaten almost to death.  Mark 14:61 records the high priest questioning Him prior to crucifying Him,  “‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’” How incongruous. Blessed? Yet, Jesus was and is the Son of the Blessed One. So, when we think about our lives or circumstances, they may not seem to add up to our being the “blessed child of God.”  But that is who we are. Things aren’t always as they seem. Just you wait and see.

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Christ, SON of the BLESSED ONE, and for the blessings, You’ve promised us.

Sides. Children learn the concept of “sides” at a young age. They’re on this side or that side of the field depending on their team.  They learn about historical battles and what each side stood for.  The Bible tells us that there are spiritual sides. God is on one side and the devil is on the other. They’re battling over human souls. Ephesians 6:16 tells us how to extinguish the devil’s flaming arrows. But, we’re not in this battle alone. Our Heavenly Father is the Captain of our side, and He doesn’t use just any arrow to win the war against Satan.  Isaiah 49:2 tells us that Jesus is a  Select Arrow, sent from God’s quiver. He is the One who destroys the works of the devil and saves souls. Take courage. You may be in a skirmish, but if you’re a follower of Christ, you’re on the right side.

Lord Jesus, God’s SELECT ARROW, thank You for coming to earth to destroy the works of the devil and take us to Your side. We love and praise You!

“He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver,” Isaiah 49:2.

Prayers of My Heart – where I daily record God’s character traits to focus on His majesty and reign in my life and in the world.

Have you recently heard the word “fear” in relation to the pandemic, elections, fires, and even drinking water? Yes. The news, “Brain-eating amoeba in city’s water supply kills 6-year-old,” may have caught your attention when Texas Governor Abbott issued a disaster declaration in Brazoria County on September 27 after an amoeba that can cause a rare and deadly infection of the brain was discovered in the local water supply system. What more could happen in 2020, we may ask. Few would disagree with author/speaker Jonathan Chan’s statement that 2020 has been a year of America being shaken. Is our being shaken a bad thing? Or, might it be a wake up call? While some today discount the value of fear and associate it with not trusting God, the Bible explains the value of fear that is rightly placed. Is ours? For more on the kinds of fear and to consider which fear you have, read my column, “Are Christians to Fear or Not Fear?“

You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. Psalm 115:11

Heavenly Father, our nation has been shaken. Shaken by fires, lawlessness, the murders of innocent ones,  disease, floods, and more. We are looking to You, our Lord and Savior. Teach us how to walk through our days so that we point others to You. 

“Are Christians to Fear or Not Fear?“

Have you ever been separated from someone and you desperately wanted to be with them? Whether the separation is due to death, divorce, disease, or distance, the pain of not being able to be with or even get in touch with a loved one is indescribable. “Indescribable.” That’s the word people often use when attempting to explain their loss, suffering, and sadness. Jesus understands such depth of emotion. He loves us and created us to live in union with Him. Indescribable love drove Him to leave heaven’s glory and come to earth to seek and to save us. Jesus, separated from sinners, crossed the chasm between heaven’s glory and earth. He offers His outstretched hand to save us for eternity and to save us daily. How tightly are we holding to Him?

I’d noticed “The Return 2020” being promoted in a few places, but my attention had been on my husband’s recovery from back surgery.  However, when I texted my sister on September 26 and asked what she was doing, she responded that she was watching “The Return.” Deciding it was time for me to look into it, I googled “The Return 2020 Simulcast ” and was immediately captivated.  A few hours later, I shared it on Facebook and posted, “Watch with me.” However, I should have posted, “Participate with me.” Why?  The Return isn’t something you simply watch. Rather, you worship. You pray. You repent. You receive the Lord’s blessing. You are changed. It’s an experience rather than an event to observe. Jonathan Cahn’s message to America was powerful. After recounting Israel’s fall, he stated,

“America has likewise fallen. In the midst of our blessings and prosperity, we too have turned away from the God of our foundation. We’ve estranged ourselves from Him.” Continuing, Cahn stated, “We drove God out of our hearts. Out of our government. Out of our ways. Out of our laws. Out of the education of our children. Out of the public squares. Out of our businesses. Out of our media. Out of our culture. Out of our lives.” Jonathan Cahn.

 The Return 2020 is a call for repentance and revival. If you are news weary from Covid, rioting, politics, and more, watch The Return 2020 simulcast and more importantly, participate in what God is doing.

“We have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”        Daniel 9:5, 19

I have a question for you. Is it true that whatever we ask in prayer, believing, we will receive? Yes or no? _____ What is your Scripture reference? If you said yes and provided Matthew 21:22 as your source, then why didn’t God answer Jesus’s prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane? Certainly, Jesus asked in prayer, believing. On a more personal level, why doesn’t God answer the prayers of the faithful to heal their dying loved one? I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I do know that it is important for us to take the whole counsel of God rather than “cherry pick” verses. In the context of prayer, Jesus has already taught His disciples important, foundational principles of prayer in “The Lord’s Prayer.” We have a Father in heaven who alone is holy. He has a kingdom and will. Twice in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus referenced God’s kingdom – at the beginning and end of the prayer. It was clearly on His mind and a central part of His teaching on prayer. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus echoed Matthew 6:10, “Your will be done,” even while He allowed us to hear His “Son of Man” desire to avoid suffering, shame, and separation. As disciples of Christ it is critical for us to study and know the whole counsel of God. In the context of today’s question, we must remember Christ’s foundational teaching on prayer – praying God’s will. First John 5:14-15 is helpful. “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” Can you trust your life and loved ones to God’s will?

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for not only teaching us how to pray but for also modeling it. We love and adore You. Help us be wise stewards of Your word by our words and life. 

Prayer of My Heart – where I record my prayers and my Heavenly Father’s responses. Available on Amazon. 

How are you today? If I asked that in passing, you’d probably say, “Fine. And you?” I might answer, “Fine.” Or, “Doing great!” However, often, we aren’t fine. It’s not that we’re intending to lie when we reply. Rather, it’s a societal politeness. “How are you?” And, “how are you?” With those with whom we’re close, however, we share how we really are. We may say, “I’m sick of quarantining.” Or, “I’m really concerned about…..” If you’re wishing you had someone to confide in, remember that you do. Jesus is more than a God to worship. He’s a God who counts you worthy to die for and most certainly worthy to listen to. When we read in 1 Peter 5:7, “He cares for you,” that’s not a platitude. It’s our Heavenly Father letting us in on a little, no a big secret. Our wonderful Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ care for you. Talk to them. Tell them the secrets of your heart.

Thank You, Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ for caring for us. Thank You that we can talk to you about any and everything. Thank You that You listen and respond. We love you. 

Prayer of My Heart – where I record my prayers and my Heavenly Father’s responses. Available on Amazon. 

A few days ago I had a reality check. Was the woman in the mirror really me?  What about you? Have you ever had a reality check about yourself, but rather than do something to correct a bad habit you continued in it? Is there help available to those of us who want to change?  Yes. In Luke 24:49 Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit who would clothe His followers with power from on high. Talk about power dressing that affects not only us but our relationship with God and others. God knew we needed supernatural power to live out our faith. If you’ve not liked something you’ve seen about yourself lately, read Galatians 5:13-26, a great spiritual mirror. Then, pray to God to fill you with power from on high to walk out your faith. Find more tips in The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World and The Plan A Mom in a Plan B World.

LISTEN

“The Son of Man has come to SEEK and to SAVE  that which was lost, ” Luke 19:10.