The Lord is AMAZING!

Well, DUH! As if we didn't already know that right? It is so awesome (and therefore, so much like our God) to use things that we are doing, things we have done and things we were obedient to listening to or following to His Glory.

The Lord called me to facilitate a bible study at the Yamhill County Gospel Rescue Mission last year. After our mission trip to Guatemala, I stopped. Many things came up and, honestly, I just didn't want to do it any more. I was too tired to obey. Then I get a call a few months back asking if I could come back. "Sure" and I started again but this time was obviously different. I started by praying that the Holy Spirit would take over. Guess what? HE DID! If you live in the area, you can drop in and see how studying the Word can change lives! I have a new passion for my bible, bible study and just talking about the Word of God. Today, I was talking to my team leader for my upcoming Russia mission trip (see here) about what we are going to be doing. A big part of this is facilitating discussions for "home churches" (bible studies focused directly on the bible and what we read) and how to open up dialog with open questions to everyone, whether a believer or not! How COOL is that?! What I have been doing at the mission, empowered by God and (most of the time...though not always) lead by the Spirit, is exactly what we are doing in Russia with Best Life Fellowships!

He is always faithful to answer the prayers of those who follow Him. Whether or not we are listening because the answer may not be what we want to hear, is up to us. He asks us to be radical in our obedience. This is not beyond us. The Holy Spirit is there to enable us to go further than we believe or sometimes want to believe. Let Him guide you and your steps will be sure.

Father God, You are amazing! You are wonderful and forever I will sing your praises! I doubt what you want me to do sometimes. Help me with that. Give me Your Spirit so that my faith and my devotion are unwavering for You. Thank you for teaching me how to teach others. Please Lord keep using me for Your Good! Even if I don't "like" it sometimes because Your Good is so much better than my great!

Russia

The time is nearing. I have less than 30 days to raise half of the money to make it to Russia with E3 Ministries. I have accepted that I may not be going but I still know God is amazing and He can make anything a reality. This may not be the right time to go but I will continue trying. This may not be the right time but eventually it will be His right timing. I am not giving up. There are far too many people in this world that do not know the Father, what He did for us through His Son and that He gives a part of Himself to us to live IN US with the Holy Spirit. I know God will use me in His perfect time, for His perfect Will. Its not about what God is going to use ME for but what Glory HE gets by showing His GREATNESS.

There are some spiritual "gloom" days after arriving that I need to be prepared for. I hope for continued prayers and a lifting up of the spirits of everyone on this team. God is great!

Lord, I am far from perfect but You are not. I thank you for the opportunity to try. The lessons I have learned through this are amazing and are helping me to walk the way You want me to. Let me walk in Your footprints, not separate from. Amen!

If you would like to help send me to Russia (or help on a future trip if that is what the Lord has for me) please feel free to donate here! Thank you!

Bible Study With My Daughter

Let me start off this by saying, I absolutely LOVE the book of Acts. It is so full of truths, principles to live by, promises from God, courage and strength. I have been going to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) since September (I think) and getting to know Acts all over again after our church preached the book last year. I am getting so much out of the study, especially with the highlights, questions and lectures, and growing so much closer to the Lord. Seeing how He has been changing my heart, where He is focusing my attention and correcting my behavior is just, well, I would say amazing but really it's just, God.   

Yes, yes the title of this is Bible Study With My Daughter :) I am getting there. 

One of the things God has placed so deeply on my heart, as you may have seen from previous posts, are children. I absolutely LOVE kids. I truly believe they are our future and that if you "train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6) but what I was noticing was that I was spending a great deal of time training up OTHER kids. Between bible study once a month and Sunday School twice a month, I felt I was always "preparing" for a lesson but I was not teaching at home. Quite a bit of MY bible study time felt rushed, was done in the evenings after Grace went to bed and she never saw me doing it. What she was seeing is that I was rushing to get it done or talking about rushing around to finish it before BSF started. That doesn't sound like I was really teaching her the right way, does it? "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1) 

My daughter, Grace, is homeschooled. By many blessings of the Lord, we are able to do this. He has provided an amazing program through the school that allows us to be able to afford the cost more easily with the availability to have her in extracurricular activities. The Lord laid on my heart to teach Grace from home long before I had the ability and my wonderful husband has always been so supportive of this idea. Without whom (also a blessing, he is) I would not be able to keep the sanity and perseverance to continue on some days. As I would prepare her school lesson for the day, bible study always got swept under the rug. There was too much to do, too many assignments and reports, too many projects and we just didn't have time to add one more. Then a few weeks ago, I cam across this verse (??randomly??) "Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are sitting at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 11:19) OUCH! Too important to miss and yet I was showing her that these ideals were SO IMPORTANT that I was SHOVING THEM AWAY! I mean, we were reinforcing Sunday school...right? Well, sometimes. What about bible study...? Ohhh, nope. Just kind of got swept under the rug...

Let's just say, I think I got the full wake up call when I got a "Daily Devotional for Homeschoolers" the next day. Matthew 18:6-7 " “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!" Was I causing my little one to stumble? YES! By showing her that God came SECOND and not FIRST. 

 WHAT A BLESSING this bible study is, done through a child's eyes! We started a "Wall of Faith" as we go through the study of Acts (yes, just like BSF, they have a "family guide" for discussion at home and we use that as our guide...sort of, with lots of twists and turns along the way) where we have different cut out shapes like hands for prayers or verses on prayer, a bible or book for verses on studying, a lamb for verses about Jesus, a lion for verses about being strong or courageous, a dove for promises (and OH MY there are a LOT of those) and probably one of my favorites, little crosses for things special we want to remember, principles-truths-ways to live. I think I am getting at least as much out of this study as I am at the women's study. There is something special to see when you are looking at scripture through unconditionally loving eyes. Its not important to see the Lord through a child's eyes, right? "And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 18:3-4) 

Take the time for bible study. It is the single most important part of the day for you and your children. Not only will they be brought up in the ways of the Lord but you would be surprised at what you will learn from your children about love, correction and looking on the "glass half full" side of things. We look at Stephen in Acts 7 and say "Poor guy, he was stoned." My daughter looked at Stephen and said "He got to see GOD AND JESUS." I think I want a heart like hers...

Lord, Thank you for the blessings that you have given me in the areas of my life that I sometimes see as a burden. Help me see things for what they are and prioritize according to YOUR desire. Help give me the strength to continue when it seems my schedule is too full for YOU and to put You first not just for my, Lord, but for my daughter as well. Everything I desire to give to You, including my time and my priority. Academics come only after the real teaching is done! 

Proverbs 1

What jewels of wisdom!

Proverbs is a wonderful book to go through "For gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young" (Proverbs 1:2-4) What I love about this verse is that, to God especially, we are ALL YOUNG, we can all have more knowledge (and frankly, many of us crave that knowledge) and use more discretion! Thank you, Lord, for wisdom!

The first thing that was pointed out to me is that knowledge and wisdom are two really different things. You can have much knowledge, continue to gain knowledge and be completely self-taught but without wisdom. Knowledge is something you work for and is gained by circumstances or books, the theoretical, practical understanding of a subject.. Wisdom is something that you gain from God, from the insight that you are given about what is true, right and just. You can be knowledgeable or "smart" and have no wisdom. You, however, cannot be wise and have no knowledge because the wisdom is given WITH knowledge. 

Proverbs 1 really makes me feel like this is (and I fully believe it should be) a parents legacy. You can tell by reading it that Solomon is trying (if not desperately) to reach his children about the most important things to him. It's for ALL people, not for just a few in the "old days," everywhere and in any time. There is nothing that I have read so far that is "anti" anything, except foolishness and sin. If you want to obtain the closest relationship to the Lord by way of prayer and meditation, fasting, forgiveness, obedience and surrender then Proverbs may be the right book to read right now! This particular chapter is one of warning. Parents be careful what you teach because your children will follow (and we all know the best way to teach is by example, Prov. 1:8-9) and to be careful of sinful seduction (anything that will pull you away from God, Prov 1:10-19.) Wisdom is readily available for all people, you don't have to be a scholar. Proverbs 1:20-21 wisdom is calling out for everyone. To those who want to find her, she is there calling. Following up with repentance and turning from sin. You cannot be wise and willingly follow sin! If you repent wisdom will "make [her] teachings known to you" (Prov 1:23b) If you turn from wisdom, choose to take another path, then wisdom will leave you unprepared. You will eventually get to see what the consequences of choosing not to be wise in your life. Can you see the contrast of a false security over the lasting peace of God?

In this day and age, we don't need to have wisdom. It is so much easier to look for the answer that suits us, find people who believe as we do and have our lives and fellowship with them. If we look at Acts 27:13, they felt they had the "go ahead" because they got a little head wind. Wisdom would have been what Paul said to them "You should not have sailed from Crete as I had said" (Acts 27:22) Wisdom is knowing the RIGHT answer not the best one for the moment!

Father, THANK YOU and PRAISE YOU for the direction and the wisdom You have given to the people in my life that I get to glean wisdom from. I pray that more would seek You, want to know You and most importantly, Lord, that they would want to have a little of Your wisdom. Thank you for Your Son always and for the death He suffered for all of us. AMEN

Exodus

It amazes me how in the story of the Exodus, after God saved the people through Moses and led them out of Egypt, the Israelites worshiped a calf they created out of gold. They had just witnessed first hand the power of the Almighty God and they still turned away from Him! People often do that today also.We see something as supernatural or a miracle, something good or bad, and we see it as a "magic" (something that is just unexplained) or as "karma" (something that someone did to "deserve") but how often are we looking at the blessing inside? That it is God at work? Some people would rather think it is aliens that can tap into your brain than to think it is an all powerful God that is in control. 

And oh my goodness! How detailed the instructions for the Ark of the covenant! If He always gave us instruction that clearly, how much easier would it be to follow and how much easier that would make things for us but then would we need to or feel the need to need Him so much? What faith would we need then? Even Moses was more afraid of denial and embarrassment because "Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”(Exodus 4:10) Moses was given CLEAR and PRECISE direction from God and He questioned the most Holy One that created everything, destroyed almost all of the world once already and then Sodom and Gomorrah. Our God is amazing! He gives us the clearest direction we have without actually sitting down for a cup of coffee with us. We have the bible! We have an entire book filled with His direction, guidance, love, compassion and plan for our lives. It is readily available to anyone who needs one. Even if you don't go to church, don't like "Christians," ect. you cannot deny what is written in the bible...it is the moral compass for the world. Do we demand so much in our daily business, forgetting that it was He who gave us our life?

Lord, I thank you for who you are and I pray that I would remember that it is You who give me everything I do. Please help me to remember you in all that I do! 

PSALM 40

If you get a chance to read all of Psalm 40 I would recommend doing so but, for the purpose of this blog, I want to talk about what verses 11-17 are focusing on:

¹¹ Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD; may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
¹² For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
¹³ Be pleased to save me, LORD; come quickly, LORD, to help me. 

¹⁴ May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
¹⁵ May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame.¹⁶ But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!” 

¹⁷ But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.

What a humbling way to look! May YOUR love and truth protect me. Our sins are so great in number that it is being compared to the number of hairs on our heads. How overwhelming! To know that sin will be apart of my life until He returns, exhausting! To know that He has made it possible to not have to be a slave to this sin, REDEEMING! 

Those who say 'Aha'......may I not be one of those anymore! Your sin doesn't make mine any less and where we should be comforting, loving and helping each other we say "OOOOOHHHHHH! Look at so-and-so! Can you believe that?" Why do we point out shame? Why do we not comfort the disgraced? The sin is to be exposed but we are supposed to be loving and take care of someone BRAVE and STRONG enough to be honest about their "disgraces" and rejoice and be glad in He who can fix anything!

We all have areas in our lives that Christ's love needs to fix. We are ALL poor and needy. When Christ said to the Pharisees "It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick" (Matt 9:12) think about this question: Are you acting like you know you're sick....? Or do you really know you NEED Jesus? "You are my help and my deliverer; Oh my God do not delay" 

 

God's Love

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV

I love how this verse encompasses so many aspect of God. A love so deep that we cannot even understand. After all of the "I did THAT?" After all the shame. With all the hiding, the fear and the not letting go.
God, OUR FATHER AND LORD, says to a broken and binded soul, "I am here. I have always been here. I am never leaving, I am never letting go. I will never lie to you. I will never hurt you. I will never make you feel ashamed or guilty for what you do for me, in My Name. I am love.. I am the love that you have been looking for everywhere else and cannot find. Follow me and I will heal you and you will be mine."

Out of all of the "love" I have ever had in my life, I don't think anything have made me feel completely guilt-free though my marriage is very close I still feel guilty about things sometimes.) God's love is the only one that is completely unconditional and guiltless. The only time I feel guilty about God's love is when I am refusing to let it shine into my life. I never have to worry about what He has up His sleeve, His motivations, His intentions or what I have to do to "earn" His love (or more of it for that matter.) If I love Him, truly and with all of my heart, I will want to follow Him wherever He leads me. I never have to be afraid that He will leave me or that I am not doing enough to make Him happy as long as I love Him, obey Him and submit to Him. There is a willingness in submission. You are not "forced" into submission. Submission is an act of love and total trust for a Christian. I know God loves me enough to let Him take hold of every aspect of my life and make it His without a fight.

Am I truly being an obedient Christian in every aspect of my life? I don't think I am but I know I want to be!

Lord, I want to be obedient and submit to Your power and see Your Awesome Light in my life. Show me how to obey you. Give me the strength to do what You Will not what I want to or think is the "right" way to do things. I think I want to but show me how I NEED to. Remind me of Your Love. Your AMAZING and GLORIOUS Love. The only true love in all of Your creation. Amen!