The Ancient Path/Faith

     The 11^th chapter of the book of Hebrews is considered the faith chapter, filled with the heroes of the faith. This wonderful chapter begins with a definition of faith. I have this verse hanging over my kitchen sink.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11;1

          Faith. It is what pleases God. By our faith, we receive the free gift of salvation. It is everything in God’s eyes. Believing in Him, having faith even when we do not see. Faith brings hope.

And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

     Come to God in faith today. Take Him at His Word. Believe in Jesus Christ. He died for you and all it takes is to receive.

Lord,

We thank You for the gifts you give us. As we earnestly seek You, You promise to reward us, as our faith pleases You. We believe.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Faith of an Introvert

     For the extrovert and the introvert alike, we can be united in Christ, as He uses our gifts, our personalities and our natural abilities to serve Him. Understanding who we are, how we are made in His image, how we are made perfectly to share His glory, we can become content. “Contentment” is a beautiful word. The definition reads, “state of happiness and satisfaction, ease of mind.”

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

     Try not to compare yourself to others. God wouldn’t change a thing about you! But He will continually transform you into the person you are made to be in the world! He and the Holy Spirit will do the work as we follow their lead. And God designed you just the way you are to shine with His light in a way that brings you great joy, as well as bringing joy to others.

The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3    

     There you are, in a safe spot. Reading? Writing? Day-dreaming? Enjoying nature? Ahh, yes. Me, too. Focus on Jesus, enjoy the way He has made you, find the perfect spot to serve Him with the joy He will bring.

Lord,

You are the giver of peace, contentment, joy and hope. Fill each person’s heart and help us to understand one another. You have made us, each one of us, to be unique in the world. We are Your treasured inheritance, set apart. Help us to find our place.

In Jesus name,

Amen

    

The Faith of an Introvert

     Much of the life of an introvert is lived within our own heads. My husband is continually amused, bemused and confused at the things that roll around in my head and flow through my mouth. Distracted thoughts flow here and there throughout the day. We create, download, day-dream and ponder. It often takes us longer to sort through all of the details of life in order to make a simple decision.

     I read a book recently (highly recommend it) called, “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.”  This book delves into the brain, the personality and the culture of the introvert. One of the scenarios describes a group of people at a movie. One is an introvert. The extroverts in the group can easily sift through, navigate and incorporate each part of the movie. When it is over they can easily discuss each scene and what it meant to them.

     The introvert, on the other hand, needs to sit, look back through all of the sequences and talk about it later. As we focus so much on the inner workings of our brain, we can become too self-focused, too self-aware and too self-conscious. The Bible gives us some great tips on where we need to fix our gaze.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary and what is unseen in eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:2a

     Set your mind, set your heart, fix your gaze on things above, on Jesus. When our confidence rides on Him, we can remove the stumbling blocks that take us back into fear and doubt and self-criticism. We are His!

Jesus,

You are the perfecter of our faith. Keep us growing to trust You more, to rely on You more, to move the focus off of ourselves onto You, onto the eternal, the things that will last.

Amen

The Faith of an Introvert

     When our confidence is in Christ, we can rely on Him through the tough times. When we are uncertain or when we are filled with fear and dread, we can trust Him to see us through. He reminds us over and over again to “not fear,” and to “not be afraid.”

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jeremiah 17:7

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

     As introverts, we often worry too much about what others think, as if they are watching our every move. Place your confidence in Christ, above yourself and walk in freedom. He loves you just the way you are.

In Him and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12

Lord,

Give us ease and peace as we move in the world, as we place our confidence in You alone, above our worries, above our fear. We do not need to be afraid with You by our side.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Faith of an Introvert

       Maybe the hurts and misunderstandings, the suffering we have endured in our lives can and will be used for God’s purpose. Junior high was a traumatic time for me. Some of you may have been through something similar. There was the “cool” girl that made fun of me for a whole year, even though she didn’t know me and the homeroom teacher who apologized at the end of the year for mistaking my shyness for pride.

     Savoring times of solitude, of reading, of day-dreaming, continue to this day and lead right back to that time of teenage angst. Could it be some of the tough times in our lives can lead to creativity and deep thiking? I think so. Allow God to heal your old wounds and use them for His glory. He is strong in our weakness.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

     What an amazing verse. God’s grace is sufficient for us on a daily basis. And even though we may see ourselves or parts of ourselves as weak, we can more fully rely on God’s strength and show who He is. Have confidence in His power within you.

Father,

Your grace flows over us to give us just what we need for the next minute, hour, for the next step, for the next day. You are with us and Your strength is made perfect in our weakness.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Faith of an Introvert

     I see you there in the shadows, right outside the door, in the back of the class in the last pew or waiting to exit the party. The introverts among us are a perplexing group to the extroverted world. Little do they know inside of our outward-appearing peaceful countenance lies our heart-pounding, blood-pressure rising, breath decreasing ways.

     This doesn’t mean we aren’t social. Many of us are. But solitude is necessary to recharge our batteries. We need to sit back and think. Our brains are wired in a different way, no better, no worse, just unique. Our culture has steadily moved into a group-think, team-playing world where at work or at play we are forced to be too close, or expected to think on our feet and brainstorm at the drop of a hat.

     God sees us just as we are, fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139). Our personalities and our gifts were made just for us and we have a purpose and He has a plan. He honors the quiet gifts more than the others. Many of the others receive rewards from the world. God sees the heart!

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. 1 Corinthians 12:22

     Jesus is the head and we make up the body of Christ. Each one of us has a special and unique part to play. Have confidence in Him and in the ways He will use you.

Jesus,

Thank You for loving us. Give us the grace we need to be in the world right where we belong. We praise You for each personality type and for finding the special gifts and abilities we have to use in Your service.

Amen

Jesus and the Church

     On a morning walk last week I was stopped by a young man, a young man representing the church of Christ. He wandered over and asked me if I knew Jesus? He was young and enthusiastically representing our Lord.

     I answered with an enthusiastic, “yes!” He smiled,  said that was great, and asked if I needed prayer. My first thought was to say, “no,” but I was attending a writer’s conference the next day and asked him to pray for blessings for the day. He said a beautiful prayer and I, in turn, prayed for him as he gets ready for a youth conference in Hawaii. I took this encounter as an affirmation from God.

     It was a Holy-Spirit-led meeting and I thank God for it. So many “coincidences” occurred long before this conference and God, did indeed, bless it. Watch for those opportunities in your path. You never know who you will meet or how God will use you to bless others and others to bless you.

 Lord,

Thank you for the people you place in front of us and the places you lead us to and the purposes for our lives. We are Your church from the moment we rise until the morning sun greets us again. You give us the breath of life.

In jesus name,

Amen

Jesus and the Church

     Did you know the very last book in the Bible begins with letters from Jesus to various churches? The very last letter is sent to the church of Laodicea. In this letter Jesus writes these words:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

     His words become even more harsh in the next verse! Most of us in the West are lukewarm about faith. Most of us are comfortable, believing if we sit in a pew once a week, we are pleasing God. He doesn’t need our bodies to take up space. He yearns for a relationship, a deep, caring, relationship, bound in love and intimacy.

     Love for Christ brings passion. The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek, “with” and “God.” Remarkable. Let’s take off our tepid and watered-down faith and put on some enthusiasm. It’s contagious!

Jesus,

We no longer want to settle for a lukewarm faith. Fill us with passion and enthusiasm. A relationship with You is worth more than silver and gold.

Amen

Jesus and the Church

     Representing Jesus is such an honor. As we grow more as His disciples, we learn to rely more and more on Him and less and less on ourselves. Relying on Him brings humility. Think about what we were before Christ! The world and our flesh ran our lives as we moved to and fro, trying to find peace, trying to find or buy happiness, throwing away our resources on temporal things and unhealthy lifestyles. And now, we know Him. We understand unconditional and sacrificial love and we can share His compassion as we look at the hurting world around us.

We are, therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

     We are the church. “Church” is not a brick and mortar building. It is not one denomination over another. The church is us, the living, breathing, Spirit-filled believers around the globe. Jesus sees His believers as part of His body, each moving part playing a specific and unique role. Where do you fit? Are you the hands of Christ serving others? Are you representing His heart as you pray for and encourage others? Are you His feet moving around the globe as a missionary? Are you His eyes and ears watching and waiting for an opportunity to listen, to share? Represent Him wherever you are. You are placed at this time and in this season for a reason. To glorify Him.

Jesus,

Show us how to represent You. We represent our heavenly home as strangers away from our home country. Heaven’s power is available to us through Your Holy Spirit. Fill us with that power as we walk and listen and serve today.

Amen

Jesus and the Church

     We are the church of Christ wherever we are. Does your life look as if Jesus has changed it? Are you growing in the fruit of the Holy Spirit? The fruit includes, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Whew! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live each day blossoming with the fruit of the Spirit?

     The fruit grows in us as we remain rooted in Jesus Christ. Here are His words for us today:

“I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

     Apart from Him, nothing we do or say or act upon has any merit. The eternal glory of heaven rests in Jesus Christ and we are His ambassadors in the world around us.

Lord,

Keep us rooted deep in You as you grow the good fruit of the Spirit until it blooms all around us and affects our families, our friends and others in the world around us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Jesus and the Church

     Were you raised to believe church was a weekly duty? Did you dread getting up, getting dressed-up and sitting in a hard pew listening to things you did not understand? Did you know Jesus despises “religion?” Some of His harshest words were aimed at the religious leaders of His time on earth.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside, are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” Matthew 23:27

     Jesus does not care one hoot about our outward appearance, about our fancy speeches and our knowledge of theology, our degrees or the size of our bank accounts or our homes. He sees the inner man, the true believer, the one changed by His love, the one in relationship with Him. The old has gone, the new is here!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

     Don’t look to a church or to any denomination for all of your answers. Look only to Jesus Christ, the One who died for you! His life-changing love works from the inside out and transforms our very lives. Get to know Him. Read His Word. Accept His love. Receive the gift of grace. He loves you, just the way you are right now and He loves you too much to let you remain where you are. He will continue His work in you and in your life.

Jesus,

We look only to You for our very lives. Church is not about rules and regulations, about duty and obligation. It is about worship and fellowship, about loving one another, about serving You. Show us how to be Your church on the earth.

Amen

Purpose and Passion

 God’s purpose, His plans are above our own. His hand is in control. And when we give Him our very lives and walk in His ways, His purpose for us will be done.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

     Many of my plans have not worked out. How about you? Put your hand in the hands of Christ and He will use your life for good, for His eternal purpose. Let’s jump in with both feet and see what He has in mind.

And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

     He works “all things” together for good, even when we can’t see the end result. Maybe the end result will be after we are in heaven. God gives us His Holy Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing the life everlasting.

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 5:5

     One more verse this week and I’ll send you on your way to work and to act for our God. It is His work in us! Let’s let Him figure it all out.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. Philippians 2:13

Lord,

Your purposes are good. Work through us and give us passion and purpose as we rely on and trust You to work everything out in Your way and in Your time.

Amen

                                                                                               

Purpose and Passion

     Faith in Jesus provides the best, most passionate life. His love drives us beyond ourselves to a focus above the earth. Our temporal circumstances can be so difficult, so traumatic and so sad, but Christ rises above them all. His love encompasses our lives and beyond. Trust Him for the answers, trust Him to use your suffering for His good, trust Him to shower you with the power of heaven. We can do all things with Jesus.

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

     Everything was made through Him and for Him, and with our faith, we can move the mountains in our way.

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17

     Think we can keep the faith and trust our Lord? All things are held together because of Him. The sun every morning? The air we breathe? The rain, the stars and the moon? Yep, it’s Jesus. Trust Him with your life and He will see you through each day.

Lord,

We trust You. We know You are sovereign over all things. Everything is held together because of You. It is so much for our human minds and hearts to ponder. We love You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Purpose and Passion

     Our spiritual gifts are given to us to serve others. Some of us love to open our homes to others in hospitality, (not one of my gifts!), others find comfort in keeping things in order, the gift of administration, others have the ability to listen patiently, understanding and encouraging those who are suffering, the gifts of encouragement and mercy. Still others have the gift of teaching and writing, the gift of shepherding a group of children or adults, the gift to be a pastor or the gift of service, working behind the scenes. (see Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4)

     God loves to see us using our unique gifts for His purposes. When you fit in the body of Christ right where you were meant to be, you will be filled with joy and passion and the power of the Holy Spirit. Is God calling you to a new ministry, to be a prayer warrior for others, to help a neighbor? Watch for His lead. Wait for the prompting of the Spirit within and follow. He is the Great Shepherd and you will hear His voice.

My sheep listen to My voice. I know them and they know Me. John 10:27

Jesus,

Keep our ears and our hearts wide open to hear You. Guide our ways and show us how and when to use the gifts You have given us. Fill us with passion and with joy.

Amen

Purpose and Passion

     It’s all about me! Me, me, me! Self-improvement, self-made, self-confidence, self-awareness, self-satisfied, self-assurance, self-gratification, self-image, self-promotion, self-respect, self-sufficient, self-indulgent. You get the picture. All of the above can be summed up as “selfish.” Jesus shows us another way, the way of blessing, the way of looking beyond ourselves.

     Jesus sacrificed everything for us, becoming one of us and suffering all of our sins on Himself. It is called, “the passion of the Christ.” How did he do it? This verse may help.

For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

     For the joy set before Him? Jesus saw beyond the pain of the cross to the everlasting life He offers us. He looked to the day we will be with Him forever. That self-sacrificing love teaches us how to love. Raising children has taught my husband and me the most about sacrificial love. Not always easy, but filled with the deepest, most astounding, most earth-shattering blessings of life. Giving to others brings blessing right back to us. Give away the love Christ has given you to others, even when it’s not convenient, even when it seems impossible, even when it’s too tiring, even if we don’t have time. The joy set before us, through Christ, gives us perspective and passion. Eternity-bound blessings.

Jesus,

You remained steadfast in Your suffering to fulfill the promises of Scripture. You saw us as You suffered. Teach us Your ways and to live beyond ourselves, to give away our lives in service to You.

Amen

Purpose and Passion

     It has been four years since I began writing this blog. The joys of digging into God’s Word and passing His truth along is as much for me as for anyone else. To those of you who stop in daily or now and then, I am grateful to you and I continue to pray for you.

     I pray God continues to open our hearts to Him and all He has in store for us. His promises are eternal and life-changing. The self-discipline of rising with the dawn and starting my days here, at the computer with Jesus, have deepened my faith and given new meaning to everyday life.

     The perspective God shares with us, about us, and through us is invaluable. His vision is eternally-bound and yet He understands our earthly living. He has been here. He has walked on the desert paths of the Middle East. He has experienced hunger and weariness and He has been overwhelmed with grief and with joy. How He has suffered for you and me. Before His death, He prayed for Himself, He prayed for His followers then and He prayed for us. You can read through this entire prayer-filled dialogue in John 17. Here it is in part:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me. John 17:20-21

     Such powerful and beautiful words from our Savior, that we may be in Him and His Father. Why? So that the world may believe. Our purpose as believers? That others will know the truth. Here is the end of this long chapter of prayer, some of the last words of Jesus on earth.

I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I myself may be in them. John 17:26

     To make the world believe. How? Because of the love we have within us with Christ. Soak in those words as you begin your day. I will, too.

Jesus,

Thank You for the love You have shared and for the vision You give us to inspire others to believe. Thank You for the privilege of reading the very Words of the Creator of the world, to know You, to live with the Holy Spirit within us and to trust us with the opportunities You give us. Continue to keep us the paths You desire.

Amen

The Joy of the Lord

     Deep joy is a promise to believers. It is available to us along with the other fruit of the Spirit. (See Galatians 5) Joy in Jesus does not depend on our circumstances or even our feelings and emotions. It is the constant presence of Jesus within. Feel His joy in your spirit today. Let the joy be complete and steadfast throughout the rest of your life. Jesus brings spiritual joy.

I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11

     Believe, just believe and experience spiritual joy, deep and rich and overflowing.

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

     Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with that inexpressible and glorious joy. It is beyond earthly boundaries, heaven-sent.

Jesus,

We do ask You and Your Holy Spirit to fill us with the deepest joy that only You provide. We pray for our hurting world and that You would come into the hearts and minds of those who do not yet know You. Let Your joy shine in our lives so others may see You.

amen

The Joy of the Lord

Sitting in the presence of the Lord brings joy and peace. Be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46) Let His presence fill you with everything the world cannot give. He protects and loves us. Listen to the Words of the Psalmist.

But let all that take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. Psalm 5:11

You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:11

     The poetic words above are written to comfort you, to bring you joy, to recognize the eternal gifts of our God, so deeply felt as we sit in His presence and feel His joy.

Father,

Your Words are beautiful to our ears. Let them sing in our hearts as we go through our day, recognizing who You are and all You have to offer those who love You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Joy of the Lord

     Joy. Have you experienced joy? Where do you find joy? Is it elusive and rare? Joy-filled times in my life are etched forever in my mind. A new bicycle. Dancing until the wee hours of the morning. The times I still had my mom and dad around to love me unconditionally. The day I said, “I do.” The births of our daughters and watching them grow. The list is endless, isn’t it? Joy-filled times are most often found as we share life with friends and family and with our true love, if we are lucky enough to have them.

     But Biblical joy goes deeper. Biblical joy is not rare or elusive. It is available every day. Deep=seeded joy grows in our life with Christ. If everything in life is falling apart, remember Jesus died for you. He is here. He is near. He is available and we will be with Him one day forever and ever. Let this joy give you strength. This is a favorite of mine:

“This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b

     You are walking on holy ground with Jesus. Let His kind of joy fill you with strength to take on the day. His joy is your strength.

Jesus,

Your joy is soul-deep and available each day. Fill us up with spiritual joy as we go about our tasks today and teach us to savor the moments of earthly joy as we travel through life.

Amen