"My Name Is Hope!"

"Do you know my name?" The sweet, bright voice came out of the blue while I was waiting in an express check out line at Walmart the other day. I had just finished a REALLY long shopping trip for groceries, field trip items, etc. and had somehow gotten out the door with some batteries not paid for. So, back in we went to the shortest line we could find to make things right. While I was waiting, the sweet voice came from a little girl sitting in the front seat of the cart in front of me. "Do you know my name?" It startled me slightly in a comical sort of way, but I am rarely at a loss for words when it comes to kids, so I answered her, "No, but you do. Are you going to tell me your name?" With a big smile she piped right back with, "My name is Hope!"

From there we had a silly, sweet conversation that only last 3 or 4 minutes about everything from the cool stuff she got for Christmas, to the fact that my twins' names (Esperanta and Esperancia) also mean 'hope', and that she and the twins both had sisters named Elizabeth. Hope smiled the whole time we chatted, and gave me a few moments of pure joy just from interacting with her for that short time.

When I first pulled in behind her dad's cart, I had noticed briefly that Hope suffered from some sort of illness that had kept her body from growing properly. Her body seemed to small for her big, beautiful face and her speaking ability. Once we got to chatting, I asked her and Hope told me she was seven years old. I knew for sure then that this sweet girl had a disability of some sort - but had I not been able to see her, I would have never known it at all. She had the spirit of a champion in every way - outgoing, positive, full of life and laughter - and best of all willing to share it with me.

When I came home, I told Pat about beautiful, little Hope and our conversation. As I did, I almost started to cry and realized that she had made quite an impact on me for an express checkout length conversation. The words kept ringing in my heart - "Do you know my name? My name is Hope!"As they did the Holy Spirit began to minister to me about how we are to go into this new year. We need to go into 2013 knowing the beautiful name "Hope!"

Although there many who can testify to the goodness of God manifesting in glorious ways in 2012, there are also many that faced great trials and battles last year. If they are honest, those folks were happy to see the year end as they work to regroup and move forward. From different places around the world, there were some awful tragedies that we watched on our television and computer screens that affected many of us deeply and caused us to cry out even more fervently to God for Him to move and bring revival to the nations.

Though the pain of these things is truly felt and cannot be made light of, it is of utmost importance that we never, ever lose track of of the sweet, bright voice of Hope. Even in times of turmoil, the believer must remember that when things are at their worst, God is at His best! We cannot always control the choices of people, or when and how the attacks of the enemy will come - but what we can do is take control of our souls, anchor ourselves in the Word of God, and make an intentional choice to keep our eyes on our Redeemer, knowing that no matter what - He has not forsaken us or let us go!

One of my very favorite hymns is It Is Well With My Soul. Here are just a couple of the verses.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
 
Refrain:It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.

This beautiful song was written by Horatio Spafford (1828-1888). He was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. His circle of friends included Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey and various other well-known Christians of the day. Over the course of 2 to 3 years, Mr. Spafford lost all five of his children to terrible tragedies, as well as losing most of his personal fortune in the Great Chicago Fire. He wrote the words to this hymn while he was on his way to meet his grieving wife in England after the tragic loss of his four daughters in a shipwreck.

I do not believe that any one of us would have condemned Mr. Spafford if he would have had a fit of anger, or even a time of questioning his faith after so many tragic occurences in such a short space of time. It is unthinkable to lose even one child, but all of your children? To see God bless you with great prosperity, only to see it destroyed before your very eyes? Yet instead of despair, Mr. Spafford anchored himself in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ and wrote one of the greatest and most encouraging hymns of all time. He found the strength to trust God and say "It is well" in the toughest of circumstances.

No matter what losses we may have faced in 2012 - we must not forget that we are more than conquereors through Him who loves us! My heartfelt prayer is that you will not allow any loss, no matter how great, to cause you to lose hope in Christ. He is our everpresent help in time of trouble, and will guide us through the storm to safe haven if will contiue to place our faith and trust in Him. No matter what lies behind you, there is a future and a hope waiting for you in the arms of a loving Father. Don't ever run away... always run to Him in the time of the storm. He is your rock and your fortress forever!

Can you hear her voice now too.... "Do you know my name? My name is Hope!"

For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:10-12

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As I Walked Through The Door by Judi Jo Adams

As I Walked 

Through The Door

I walked through the front door of our house the other day, after traveling for several weeks.  Ahh, that special feeling of being home greeted me once again.  As I carried my little boy down the hallway, who had hours before fallen asleep for the night, I was overwhelmed with peace.  There is just something about that feeling of coming home that I can only imagine in one other place.

I believe that God gives us foretastes on earth of what Heaven is going to be like.  We have precious gems, to understand the glory of the New Jerusalem.  We have beautiful rivers to understand the moving of His Spirit.  That day, I had my own home to remind me of how amazing it will be when we walk though those gates and enter into His eternal rest.  What a joy to look forward to, what a hope to be embraced.

Then, I was once again gently reminded of Psalms 23.   At a close study, we understand that what was going on around the writer was not necessarily a reminder of Heaven.  He was surrounded by the presence of his enemies & going through the valley of the shadow of death.  Have you ever felt that way?  I sure have!  It was in those times, that this passage of scripture became real to me.  We don’t have to wait for Heaven to experience green pastures & still waters on the inside.  They are for us now, but they require something of us.

After Jesus rose from the dead, we were not left here alone.  A Comforter has come to abide with us forever.  Jesus said in Jn 14:16-20, He was to be with us & to live in us.  There is no need to wonder where we need to look to experience peace.  We look inside, where He abides!  We aren’t waiting for Heaven.   We put our eyes on what is eternal, taking them off of the temporary.  We become doers of 2 Cor 4:18, looking at the things that are not seen.    

  

So when the storm rages & the winds blow, we know where our peace comes from!  Acts 17:28, an all time favorite of mine, says "for in Him we live and move and have our being."  We must put our eyes on Him, not on the storm.  It is simply our choice, but it will produce the greatest peace.  Why put our eyes on our bank account, which could look empty, when we can put our eyes on the one who will supply our every need?  Why put our eyes on our sicknesses, when we can look to the one who went around doing good and healing every manner of disease.

I can remember a few years back when I was in Mexico city with my husband and my mom.  We went to visit a hotel with a beautiful outdoor restaurant, little did we know it was titled after a lion tamer & there was a lion fenced in the garden.  It was night time & we were walking beside the fence row, my mom being right by the fence.  Now, you have to understand, she doesn't even like big dogs.  Without us knowing he was there, that lion had walked up right beside us & let out the roar of a life time.  Well, how can I put it in words?  My mom jumped, ran & ended up in the lap of a Mexican man.  We still laugh about that!

We had no idea what was in the fence!  Let me tell you, it was mighty & powerful!  So it is with us, we have been given all we need to make it through this life victoriously.  Col 1:27 lets us know that Christ in us is the hope of Glory. No need to wait to experience the wonders of Heaven until we arrive.  Let's tap into all He offers now!  As Jesus shared with His disciples that He would be sending them His Spirit, He began by calling Him the Comforter.  That is who He is in us!  All we need abides closer than the air we breath!

How wonderful it would be to experience Heaven now, like so many that have gone before us.  I sometimes feel like Paul in Phil 1:23-24 who said it was more needful to be here, yet you can tell from his passion he would rather be there.  We have a job to do, a life to live & only this one opportunity to do something for Him.  The joy of truly being home is before us & it is our blessed promise to help us look forward.  Until then my friend, we have the presence of His Spirit that lives inside.  At any moment, in the middle of any storm or simply when we need a rest, we can look to the one who lives inside and experience Him now.

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Oh Patience I Need You by Judi Jo Adams

Oh Patience, I Need You!

It’s an understated & annoying word, one that none of us truly likes or even remotely enjoys.  It’s something that makes us want to scream & yet we know we have to endure it.  Oh, patience, how we need more of you!  Have you ever shared these feelings with me?  Well, they are common & often misunderstood by others.  We hear so much about the amazing message of faith, but often too little about its other partner quite necessary to bring about results!

All of us enjoy hearing about instant miracles & prayer requests that come about almost as fast as they are uttered from our lips.  Glorious as they are, more often than not, results to our prayers are usually seen over a period of time.  The truth is that God’s time table and our time table seem to be on two different tables, if you know what I’m saying.  Well, if one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day, then I guess we may not quite get His timing yet anyway.  (2 Peter 3:8)

I’m also sure that, all the while, He is working in us to will and to do His good pleasure.  (Philippians 2:13)  So, let’s take a little deeper look at this word called patience.  I like to describe our prayers like a little boy going fishing!  What you want is the fish, the great cast into the water is your faith & the time it takes to get it to the shore is your patience.  I guess that might mean that the bigger the fish, the longer the reel!

We were on Brooke’s ranch in Texas a few summers ago when I caught an 8 pound bass; believe it or not it’s true!  The story is quite funny!  We were down at their pond, caught our own crickets & were having a ball pulling in little fish.  Right before we left, I gave another cast & thought I was snagged on the bottom.  I kept pulling & pulling, then all of the sudden I saw the big ol’ belly of a bass & started screaming.  That’s when the battle started, we all were yelling & Russ ran for the net.  It seemed like forever, but at the end of the day he was caught.  By the end of the night, that catch was in our tummies!  

I got hold of something big, but it just didn’t come in as easy as those small fish were caught.  That big bass came in with a battle, which sounds like what we call…“The good fight of faith”.  Gal 6:9 says, “And be not weary in well doing, for in due season you will reap, if you faint not.”  What?  You will have the desires of your heart.  Yes, unless you faint & drop the pole!  That means we must have patience until we see the promise.  It’s just like fishing for me!  You have to rest in knowing that the fish is on the line.  You may not see it yet, as it’s under the water, but you know it’s on the line & on its way to you!  That sounds like prayer found in1 John 5:15.  “And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”  You could also say it like this, “Once I pray, Heaven is at work.”  I may not see it in this realm, but I have locked hold in the Heavenly realm & my patience brings it forth into an earthly manifestation.  That is faith & patience working together!

Although we may not like it, patience is an amazing and beautiful gift from God!  Heb 6:12 says we are to be followers of them who through faith & PATIENCE inherit the promise.  It’s far from being idle, it’s actively trusting & knowing God is at work.  All in all, it’s what keeps us from fainting.  It’s the line that you can’t let go of until you see, with these eyes, what you have desired from God.  I believe His Word & I believe it 100%.  That means that if I do not faint, or let go of my pole, I will have what I have asked Him in prayer.  It’s not God’s fault if we set down the pole, he has no choice but to let that big one get away.  

So, today is your day!  Either keep on reeling or pick the pole back up!  You have what you asked of Him, which means it’s on the line if you see it with these eyes or not!  God is the same…yesterday, today & forever!  He wants to give you your desires, but he needs you to be patient, until the fish is in the net!

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He Makes It Beautiful by Judi Jo Adams

He makes it all BEAUTIFUL!

We may not understand everything in life!  Thankfully, Paul tells us in I Cor 13:12  that a day is coming when we shall see clearly.   He says, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”  Never the less, there remains those questions like “Hey mom, why were there dinosaurs on earth?”  Hmmm, I know there are many theories, but the truth is that we just may not “know it all” until we see Him face to face.  Can you imagine all He will have to share with us!  Oh, what a beautiful day!

We do have a blessed promise for this life.  It’s one that addresses some of those things that have happened that just don’t yet make sense to us.  Yes, this may be a topic that many won’t touch, but I’m not afraid!  I’ve just seen it come to pass so beautifully in a situation in our family.  Ecc 3:11 say, “He has made all things beautiful in His time.”  Don’t you just love that scripture!  My father passed away eight years ago this month & it was very hard for all of us, especially my mom.  Anyone who has ever sat at a bedside & watched a loved one cross over to glory understands this bittersweet experience.

I watched my mom, calling her every day at 6:00 pm when I knew she would be eating dinner alone; go through a very challenging period in life. Then, in May of 2010, I watched God make it all beautiful again as she married a wonderful God-loving man!  The theme scripture for their union, as I stood by her side, was Ecc 3:11 & it fit so perfectly.  Her new husband as well had lost his wife in a similar situation, but now they were both experiencing God do something new & beautiful for them.

Thank God that spring time always comes, the trees will bring forth their tender green leaves & new life will appear in the air.  Even when we go through challenging days, ones that seem like a branch in the winter that has lost all life, if we stay connected to the vine we will bloom again!  John tells us about that vine that will always produce fruit in John 15:5 & throughout the whole chapter.  He says, “I am the vine, you are the branches: he that abides in me & I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.”

So, what do we do as we are holding tight for the seasons of life to change? We have to abide in the vine!  That means we have to cling to Him, where the life of God is flowing from Him to you & remain in His presence.  There may be seasons that are a little more unpleasant, Joseph sure had them!  Last night I was telling the boys the story of Joseph & his journey that carried him to the palace.  At first, Wesley didn’t like it at all that Joseph went from the pit, to slavery, to prison & wanted me to stop reading.  He’s my sensitive little guy!  Then, I explained to him that life may not always be easy, but all that matters is that we get to the promise of our heart!  Jesus says it so clearly when He said in Jn 16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Will there be challenges?  Yes!  Is the one who overcame it all on the cross able to make it all beautiful again? Absolutely! 

Joseph has no regrets now &, when I look back at our hardships over the years, I don’t either.  The journey helped get me right here, so I’d thankfully do it again for Him!  After all, the good Shepherd of Psalms 23 was with me all the way.

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In Loving Memory by Daphne Delay

IN LOVING MEMORY

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

My 91-year-old grandmother passed away this week, so I have been meditating on this scripture for several days now.  When the Bible speaks of someone who has "fallen asleep" it is referring to someone who has physically died.  When it uses the word "dead" or "death" it is typically referring to spiritual death, or a state of being separated from God.  And in this sense, a person could be physically alive and quite healthy, but dead; separated from God.  But Paul stated that he did not want us to be IGNORANT.  We've looked at this word before.  Ignorance is simply a lack of knowledge.  Paul was saying that he did not want us to have a lack of knowledge (or understanding) concerning those who have fallen asleep (or passed on from this life) like those who have no hope.

I am thankful to say that my "Grandma" (as we all called her) was a believer.  A few nights before she passed, I asked her if she would have ever thought I'd grow up to be a "preacher"!  She couldn't talk but she smiled as we laughed at the thought.  Because the thing is, life is not about where you start but where you finish.  My Grandma had been a widow for 37 years (as long as I am old).  My Grandpa passed away two weeks before I was born.  Grandma was steadfast and strong.  Besides her husband, she had also lost a daughter and two infant sons, besides several siblings.  But as Paul wrote, we don't have to "sorrow as others who have no hope."  As Christians, WE HAVE HOPE!  Yes, the pain of separating on this earth from someone we love is very hard, but I honestly can't imagine the pain of that separation if I did not have the Spirit of the Living God abiding on the inside of me as a believer.

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you... Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel (Colossians 1:3,5).

There is a difference between natural hope and spiritual hope.  With natural hope, we can be disappointed.  But with spiritual hope, we can have confidence.  And that's actually what that word means - it is a "confident expectation of things to come."  That's why the scripture says "Now faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).  Abraham was our father in the faith and we are encouraged to follow his example: "Who, contrary to (natural) hope, in (spiritual) hope believed..." (Romans 4:18).

  

We too, must believe.  It doesn't stop our tears or the pain of loss, but we are still comforted with the thought that our believing loved ones who have "fallen asleep" are with the Lord Jesus and that we too shall join them someday.  In fact, Paul continued in Thessalonians to tell us that "...whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Jesus" (5:10).  So we don't have to wonder where our loved ones are - they are with Jesus our Lord!  And it may just be that they are there only a few minutes before they turn around and see us following right behind them.  Because you see, we find another beautiful promise in the Word of God: "Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8).  Our minds have a hard time wrapping themselves around the idea of eternity, but it is not like our seconds, minutes, and hours.  So even if I lived another 100 years, and Jesus tarried in His return, when I died, my Grandma would only have been with Jesus a few hours before I joined her! 

Hold on to your spiritual hope.  And all the more - share your faith so others will have hope also, as we all look "for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

In loving memory of Lillie Emily Edwards (1915-2006).  

I love you Grandma!

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The Anchor Holds by Daphne Delay

The Anchor Holds

Is your hope dragging? The Bible says it is impossible for God to lie, therefore "...we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us]" (Hebrews 6:18, Amplified). In another place, the Bible says hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:5), yet many people seem to either have no hope or their hope is "dragging."

Maybe that's why the scriptures compare hope to an anchor. "[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out on it--a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance]..." (Hebrews 6:19-20, Amplified). Our hope in God's promises and faithfulness can be likened to an anchor which has dug in, held on, and refused to be moved. 

In doing a little research, the encyclopedia describes an anchor as a heavy object used to attach a ship to the bottom of a body of water at a specific point. It works by resisting the moving force of the vessel which it is attached to. "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil." The hope of our soul, which is our mind, will, and emotions, must go beyond this world into the very presence of God. Our security in things unknown depends on it.

As I read these passages, I was reminded of a song I've heard a few times at special events, called "The Anchor Holds." In listening to the words, I'm certain the songwriter understood what the scriptures meant when describing our hope as an anchor. Quite possibly, the writer shared from first-hand experience of being pulled and tugged by forces of this world, only to be held tightly by the anchor of his hope in God.

He said, "I have journeyed, through the long, dark night out on the open sea. By faith alone, sight unknown, and yet His eyes are watching me. The anchor holds... Though the ship is battered. The anchor holds... Though the sails are torn. I have fallen on my knees as I face the raging seas. The anchor holds... In spite of the storm."

I can relate to his heartfelt expressions. There have been times when my mind wants to roll over the waves of conversations, diagnosis, and unsure possibilities. My own will has fought through impatience and selfish desires, not counting the swirl of emotions that accompany any and all of these onslaughts. But despite all that, deep in my core was something greater - something stronger and heavier - something secure. It was the anchor of my soul; it was the HOPE of my faith in God that reached farther than I could on my own and pulled me into His very Presence.

Instead of dragging, like an unsecured anchor bouncing on the bottom of the sea, my hope in Jesus held me tight despite the attacks of the storm. And as if someone bellowed it out over a bullhorn, my spirit would hear: "For we do not wrestle agains flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness" (Ephesians 6:12); Followed by: "Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting, you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon" (Ephesians 6:13-17, Message). And just like that, with uplifted hands, tears streaming, and gratitude on my lips, the anchor holds.

"I have been young, but I'm older now. And there has been beauty these eyes have seen. But it was in the night, through the storms of my life, that's where God proved His love to me. The anchor holds... Though the ship is battered. The anchor holds... Though the sails are torn. I have fallen on my knees as I face the raging seas. The anchor holds... In spite of the storm."

So, if you feel like your hope is dragging, stop and re-anchor. It's never too late. The only thing required is that the vessel stop to let down the anchor. Life isn't going to stop around you (any more than the storm), but you can stop in the midst of it to lower your anchor and secure your hope to God's Word. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about... It is good that the heart be established by grace..." (Hebrews 13:8-9). Trust this weathered sailor - the anchor holds

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What Is Good? by Dawn White

What Is Good?

Scripture:  Luke 9:23-24

Then He said to them all:  “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”

I recently have been reading a book that has challenged me in many different areas in terms of my walk with God.  One specific area is in the definition of good.  I’ve given much thought and consideration to this in the past few weeks.  In this teaching, I will share the ‘new’ perspective that God has given me about what is good.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines good as – being positive or desirable in nature.  Most of us would agree with this definition of good.  We tend to identify events/things as good if they are positive or desirable and we label them as bad or evil if they cause pain, suffering, and/or heartache.  

The Lord has shown me that this definition of good is a very selfish and self-centered definition.  That seems blunt and perhaps a bit harsh, but it is the reality.  You see when we identify something as good, we can easily overlook the sacrifice that has been made for the good to have occurred.  In a simple example, let’s consider the receiving of a gift.  I don’t know of anyone that doesn’t like to receive a gift.  That’s an event that we would consider good.  But, the giver has made a sacrifice of time and money to give you the gift.  When we are the receiver it is good.  

The gift is a simplistic example, but it illustrates the point well enough.  Now let’s give consideration to the life of Jesus.  For us, the life and death of Jesus was a good thing.  Because of it, we now have access to eternal life and abundantly at that.  But what about the perspective of God watching His only son hang on that cross and be brutally beaten.  What about the pain and agony for Jesus?  He suffered incredible physical duress, but the emotional pain and torment, I believe, were just as devastating.  And, what about Mary?  The bottom line is, she was the mother of Jesus.   It doesn’t matter that He was the savior of the world, she was still His mother.  I cannot begin to imagine and pain and suffering that this woman endured in the life of Jesus.  Yes, the life and death of Jesus was good for us, but it didn’t come without a sacrifice from many others.

Now let’s bring the goodness a little closer to home.  As Christians we are in no way exempt from pain, suffering, and attacks from the enemy.  We have been taught to fight the good fight of faith and stand firm.  And, this is what we should do.  But we’ve also considered these things to be bad or evil because they are painful for us.  We often cry out to God wondering where He is, why He isn’t doing anything, and asking why this is happening to us.  Sometimes our response is – What did I do to deserve this?

The Lord has challenged me to consider these painful events from a bigger picture.  In my mind I can see the saved standing on one side of a chasm and the lost or unsaved on the other.  The only way the saved can reach the lost is to have victory over the areas that the lost are struggling with.  When we have walked in their shoes and have had victory, then we have hope to offer them.  We have to meet them where they are at.  The bridge that allows us to cross is living out the same painful circumstances that they are dealing with.

Likewise, God knew that it wouldn’t be enough for us if He offered salvation from the heavenly realms.  We needed a savior to meet us where we were at, to come down and live our life.   If Jesus hadn’t walked the earth, He most likely would not have credibility with us.  Let’s face it, we are more apt to listen to someone who has dealt with what we’re dealing with.  

Jesus left the beauty and perfection of heaven to be born in a barn and to deal with the filth and stench of our sin and shortcomings.  From His perspective, I’m not sure it was a ‘good’ event.  But, the end result was life changing for us.

This new perspective is really about dying to our own selfish ideals.  The scripture above says we must deny ourselves and take up our cross (pain and heartache) and follow Jesus.  The essence of this scripture is about changing how we define events that are good.

The next time you’re in the heat of the battle, try to consider the good that will come.  I’m not saying that your whole perspective will change and the pain/suffering will be taken away.  But perhaps we can find hope in knowing that we can help and minister to others struggling in the same area.  The sacrifice that you make will be good for them.  You are building a bridge to cross the chasm.  And when you reach a lost soul and bring them back across that bridge with you, here’s what happens in heaven – ‘In the same way, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’  Luke 15:10.  The angels in heaven are in celebration when, through your victory over the struggle, you cross the chasm to the lost and bring that individual back with you into salvation and a life with Christ.   And that, my friend, is way beyond good!!

Be Blessed!

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Can I Help You by Dawn White

Can I Help You?

Scripture:  Is. 6:8

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?”  And I said, “Here I am Lord, send me!”

Over the past several weeks, our teenagers have been gone quite a lot, sometimes for several days at a time.  This has given me a lot of individual time with our 6 year old daughter.  When it is just she and I at home, she sticks pretty close to my side.  As I’m doing household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, yard work, etc., I often hear these words from her – ‘Can I help you?’  If it is a task that’s suitable for her, I set her up to ‘help’ me.

As she begins helping me with the task, her commitment to the task is directly related to how much fun she thinks it is.  Once it becomes a little redundant or requires something she doesn’t want to do, her enthusiasm wanes.

Perhaps you know where I’m going with this.  We are often in the role that my daughter is in and God is the role of the parent.  I often find myself wanting to serve God and asking Him ‘Can I help you?’  Those words roll off my tongue very easily.  And yet, my commitment is really no different than that of my 6 year old. 

When the task or assignment He gives me is new and fresh, I have much excitement with it.  When the new wears off, my enthusiasm tends to wane.  And, if the assignment gets a little messy, or presents a ‘thorn in my side’, I begin to question if I heard the Lord correctly.  I will tell myself, ‘Surely God doesn’t want me to go through all this hassle.  I must not have heard correctly.’

But Jesus said in Mark 2:17 – “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  Friends, it is the lost that we need to be reaching out to.  And because they are lost, the assignments sometimes get messy.  Let’s face it, sin is ugly, which means the assignments can be yucky!  But that’s who Jesus is focused on.  This doesn’t minimize His love or the importance of those who are already saved.  It simply means that now you are saved, it’s time to roll up your sleeves, get dirty, and go after those who are still lost.  They need to receive the touch of Jesus through us.

Let’s briefly go back to the scenario with my daughter.  Her words to me – ‘Can I help you?’ shed light on her perspective.  In her mind, she is genuinely helping me.  The reality is, I am able to accomplish the task, in most cases, without her help.  But it does bless her to ‘help’ me.  She does get some training in household tasks.  And, she feels good about herself knowing she has helped me.  

And so it is with God.  He is the creator of the universe and the author of life.  He hung the stars and the moon, created all animal and plant life, formed Adam from the dust of the earth, and formed Eve from Adam’s rib.  God doesn’t need us to accomplish the tasks before Him.  But He allows us to ‘help’ Him because it does train us, and it blesses us to know that we are helping the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I recently read of a large church where an older gentleman attended.  The church building was absolutely beautiful and God was alive and moving in the services.  Every Sunday the older gentleman sat with tears streaming down his face through the service.  This went on service after service.  Finally someone in the church approached the man and asked him about his struggles.  The older gentleman shared a blueprint.  The blueprint was of the very church building the services were in.  You see, God had given this man the task, but for various reasons, he didn’t stick it out.  He quit when the going got rough.  As he attended services there, he realized that God had used someone else to accomplish the task.  His heart was broken and he struggled to move past the guilt.  He eventually did move on, but it was a tough mistake to get over.

Friends, God doesn’t need our help.  He allows us to help Him.  Why?  Because we receive the blessing.  But we have to be willing to ‘get dirty’ in some assignments.  It isn’t easy, but it is worth it!  I challenge you, when you hear the Lord asking, ‘Whom shall I send?’  Step up with ‘Here I am Lord, send me’ and be ready to stick it out through the good, the bad, and the ugly.  You will receive the blessing!

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By The Grace of God by Dawn White

By The Grace of God

Scripture:  2 Cor. 8:7b

  See that ye abound in this grace also.

I’ve heard the word grace defined a few different ways as I have listed below:

1)God’s unmerited favor

2)God blessing us with what we don’t deserve

3)God supplying what I’m lacking at any moment to be His ambassador

Regardless of the definition that you prefer, they all provide us with the message that we’re getting a blessing that we as humans could in no way earn.  A dear pastor friend of mine once shared a dream that she had where the multitudes of people were standing around the throne of God.  All at once, the hands of everyone stretched upward toward the Throne of God.  It was at that instant that everyone realized that all of their needs were met at the Throne of Grace.  

I’ve come to love that word.  As I’ve grown in my spiritual walk, I have come to better understand grace.  Although it is intangible, for me it represents a sweet, beautiful peace.  I now realize that grace brings victory in every area of my life.   When Jesus hung on that cross for 6 hours, He was the epitome of Grace.  Remember, grace supplies what you’re lacking at any moment, to serve God.  I love it…..I don’t deserve it, but I am very thankful for it.  

Most of us probably perceive grace as something that we are receiving from God, which is correct.  However, the above scripture says that we are to abound in grace.  The American Heritage Dictionary defines abound as being great in amount or fully supplied.  Thus, we are given a command to see that we are fully supplied in this grace.  Worded in this manner, it seems as though we have a responsibility to tap into the Grace of God.  

In Romans 5:2a it says – “through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”  From this we see that we tap into the Grace of God by faith.  Just as we believe for healing or provision, we also believe for God’s grace, His unmerited favor.

In Ephesians 1:7 it says – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”  So if God has lavished His grace on us, then why do we need to stand in faith to receive it?  Just because God has given you something doesn’t mean that you are going to enjoy it.  He has given us many promises in the Word, but it is only by faith that we can cash in on those promises.  He has given (promised) us redemption and forgiveness of sins.  But we all know people who have not cashed in on this promise.  It is true, God has lavished His Grace on us, but we have to reach out and receive it by faith.

When is it that we need to tap into grace?  I believe that it is in all circumstances.  Almost daily I decree that I will do the day gracefully; that I will do it with excellence as an ambassador of Jesus Christ.  I do that because in Job it says that as you decree a thing, it shall be established unto you.  In faith, I decree that I will tap into the grace that God has lavished on me.

The apostle Paul wrote 2/3 of the New Testament.  Many of these books were letters to churches.  He often opened and closed his letters by bestowing God’s grace on the churches.  Why?  Because regardless of the need, God’s grace is sufficient.  Remember, as my pastor friend dreamed, every need is met at the Throne of Grace.  Tap into God’s grace and do each day gracefully in all areas.

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