THERE WILL BE NO WAR!

With a heavy heart I came seeking today, after a sleepless night -- and my restlessness was not due to late-night espresso drinking, but to a question of family dynamics that I turned over and over in my mind. How can our sibling relationships be so fragile? How does poor communication and a lack of planning turn into all-out war? It seems we walk through a minefield, not knowing what will set off a sudden blast!

As you well know is my everyday habit, I came seeking in God's word for wisdom and encouragement. I didn't have to get far in my daily reading to receive reassurance. The prophet speaks of Jesus when he proclaims:

. . . every boot of the tramping warrior in battle . . .
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire. (from Isaiah 9:5)

What Isaiah is saying is that the soldier's boots, and the spoils of war, will be needless, useless, meaningless, and purposeless under the reign of Christ. There will simply be no war - we won't even be able to relate to the concept of strife! The passage continues:

. . . the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
. . . Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government
and of peace there will be no end.
(from Isaiah 9:6-7)

I am not called to be content to sit and watch a family misunderstanding continue. I believe what it says above, that "the government is upon HIS shoulders." The Lord Jesus is able to govern in my life and in this family. I throw the managing of relationships on his broad and capable shoulders, for he is able to make peace abound when I trust him.

My New Testament section of reading today includes a timely reminder that division not to be considered "status quot," but should be recognized as what it is: the work of the enemy. I am not called to sit back and let misunderstandings and divisions continue in this family. Here are the words of Jesus quoted by Mark:

If a kingdom is divided against itself,
that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand. (Mark 3:24-25)

How shall misunderstanding be cleared up? How shall the situation be rectified? How will this family ever learn to get along? I am not really responsible to come up with answers for all those questions, but I am called to trust the Governor, for indeed the government (the decision-making process) belongs to the Lord Jesus. My job is to place this whole mess in his hands, and to know that he is mighty, and that he is able to make sense of it all. He can make it turn out all right.

So I trust the Lord to resolve not only this one little misunderstanding, but to mightily bless this family in ways I haven't even dreamed of or imagined. Lord help me to be willing to take it one step at a time. Help me to trust the Governor, and to be patient, allowing him to put everything and everyone in our proper places and relationships. Glory to God. Amen.

CHANGE: Are We Willing to Be Willing?

When we are impatient to see change in our lives & circumstances, let's remember God's promises. I, for one, am desperate for change! Where am I going? Will I ever get there? I don't want to go 'round and 'round, repeating the same mistakes, unable to dig out of my rut.

It is a new year, but why should I hope for anything different? Well, I actually have a very good reason to hope, and so do you. Someone believes in us, enough to bet His life on us. Paul's letter to the Romans reminds us of the huge investment Jesus made, his very life blood:

. . . perhaps for a good person one would dare to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were [no good], Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:7-10, ESV [paraphrased])

Do you ever doubt that God will truly change your life? Do you wonder if things will ever work out? If we truly believe that Jesus has the power to take away our sins through his death (as it says above, we are "justified by his blood"), then we must also trust that Jesus will take action to save us "by his life." He is alive and working in us daily to change us from within.

We are being saved from ourselves, from our ruts, and from our tendency to repeat the same mistakes over again. He sees us very clearly, Dear. He knows us well, and knew us entirely before our lives even began. He loves us and He has the power to change our lives.

Yes! In spite of all our shortfalls and imperfections, Jesus believes in us. He invested himself thoroughly in our lives and continues to intervene daily for our transformation. Remember these promises from Paul's letter to the Philippians:

. . . He who has begun a good work in you

will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

(from Phil. 1:6, NKJV)

for it is God who works in you

both to will and to do

for His good pleasure.

(Phil. 2:13, NKJV)

God is at work to change us, even though we may not be able to clearly see the evidence. Change is cumulative, and will become visible over the passage of time. When we are desperate for change, we only need to do ONE THING. All we need to do is check our hearts to make sure that we are willing to be willing to change.

Even in our willingness, Jesus helps us. He can make us willing, according to Phil. 2:13, and He is also capable of working the necessary changes in us, in our lives, and in our circumstances! God is able, and we can trust in every one of his promises. Repeat God's promises aloud to yourself, in personal terms. Say to yourself:

. . . He who has begun

a good work in me
will complete it, for it is God

who works in me
both
to will

and to do
what

pleases

Him.

The Lord Jesus does all the hard work and asks so little in return, just that we be willing to be willing. This year, let's consciously offer him the willingness to be made willing. Let's offer it with our whole hearts, and simply trust Him to do the rest.

Keep Planting Seeds

Keep sowing little words of kindness and grace; keep planting seeds of love! Of course it may take time for the results to show, but what an opportunity to grow something supernatural. What a way to show the Lord's supernatural love. Jesus says:

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?" (Matthew 5:46)

Even the lost and corrupt (the "tax collectors" of this world) find it easy and natural to love those who love them. They dote on their family members, they care for their friends. They give and receive affection. It is only natural! People are conditioned to respond in that way, and well they should.

We followers of the Lord Jesus have a chance to go beyond that natural exchange, to rise above the conditioned response. We have an opportunity to love supernaturally, ESPECIALLY when our generous words and acts of kindness are unmerited and unrequited. Be encouraged:

. . . my beloved [daughter], be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor. 15:58).

Dietary Concerns

Are you getting a balanced diet from your everyday reading*? What I mean is, are you working your way systematically through the entire collection of scripture you know as the Bible, even if you don't read a lot every day? Remember, it took me four years to work my way through the "Bible in a Year" reading calendar the first time I used it, no joke! Even if you don't consume numerous pages at one sitting, do read consistently, with an open mind and willing heart to process, internalize, and heed what it says. It will change you:

Do not merely listen to [or read] the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25, NIV)

Don't feel badly or give up if you fail to stay on a reading plan by calendar date! Some days the reading is just too intense to rush through; it may take several days to digest. Here's an example: James chapters 1-5 were supposed to be one day's reading, according to the http://www.backtothebible.org/ chronological calendar, and three days later I was still on James chapter one! It is just that good, and merited plenty of thought. So do take your time to "hear" the perfect law that gives freedom. Hear it in its entirety; hear it with your heart, and have an open mind to allow it change you, fortify you, and cause you to grow!

PLEASE NOTE: if you are reading bits and pieces (Psalms, Proverbs, New Testament passages) rather than working your way systematically through the entire canon of scripture, then you are not doing what I advocate, Dear! If the Book is a believer's food to nourish the soul, and you are browsing for tasty morsels like cheesecake, pecan pie, and other yummy items that appeal to you, how healthy do you expect you'll be next week, next month, or next year? Don't pick and choose! Use one of the many reading plans available to help you get balanced spiritual nutrition. I want you to be strong and healthy, and have all the "nutritional building blocks" you need to face each day's stresses and challenges.
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*Everyday Reading: remember, for a daily reading plan just go to http://www.backtothebible.org/ and pick one out! There are five calendar plans to choose from under Bible Studies & Devotions at the top of the page. The fourth choice, Reading Guides, will bring up your options. You may have to ignore the date and pick up where you left off day by day, allowing yourself to fall behind. The important thing is to stay on track, reading the calendar passages in consecutive order so that you'll eventually work your way through the entire Bible.

Giving Thanks on a Bad Day

I heard an inspiring message today about offering thanks to God when I don't feel like it, of offering praise to God when things are not going my way, when I'm having a BAD DAY. According to Psalm 50:23, not only can I honor God, but I can also work in my own best interest by consciously clearing the way for him to inervene in my circumstances & rescue me from my distress:

. . . He who sacrifices thank offerings
honors me, and he prepares the way
so that I may show him
the salvation of God.
- Psalm 50:23 NIV

Wow, what a fabulous reminder that the things I think I'm doing "for God" (as if God needs anything I can provide) are actually for my good. Paul writes:

. . . give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you
in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Thes. 5:18 NIV

Paul doesn't give an explanation; he expects me to give thanks because it is God's will, but going back to what I know of God's character*, I can imagine WHY it is God's will for me to give thanks in all circumstances. I know that God's intentions and all he asks of me are for my own good. I have read in Psalm 50:23 that the "sacrifice" of giving thanks clears the way for God to show me his salvation. If I believe God's word, then even my most selfish motives will cause me to praise and thank God in order to open the way for his rescue in time of trouble.

Truly, God never asks me to do anything beyond my capabilities, nor to give beyond my means. His yoke is easy and his burden is light (per Matt. 11:30). Think about what this might mean in your life. Will you pledge to give God thanks, especially when you are hurting? The willful act of thanking God as you move through a difficult day will be to your benefit, and will clear the way for him to rescue you!
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* God's Character - What I know of God's character is based upon my daily pursuit of God in his word. If you are not on a daily reading plan, go to http://www.backtothebible.org/ and pick one out! There are five calendar plans to choose from under Bible Studies & Devotions at the top of the page. The fourth choice, Reading Guides, will bring up your options.

Do You Doubt God's Good Intentions?

Yesterday's reading included the famous "wisdom" verse (James 1:5), which I often quote. Re-reading it in context was revealing in light of my feeling that sometimes God does NOT generously grant wisdom when I ask. There is a clue in the context:

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Ouch, that hurts! Verses 6-8 talk about our mental approach to God as we seek wisdom. We must believe and not doubt that every challenge has a useful purpose in our lives; if we doubt, we show ourselves unstable and unfit.

What, exactly, are we not to doubt? That God has wisdom to give? Not many of us have a problem believing in God's wisdom on a grand, universal scale. No, the challenge is believing that God would focus his attention on me. It is easy to believe God is able to do amazing things, but I often doubt his good intentions toward me.

If you are running up against a brick wall asking for direction, my heart is with you. May God grant you the ability to walk in the conviction that YOU ARE LOVED, personally and individually, by the creator of the universe. His intentions are good. God's heart's desire is to express his love and good intentions toward you in a unique and personal way.

Back up a step and ". . . be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (per Romans 12:2). How can you be transformed? By the power of his word. Speak these truths over your life. Print them, trim them out, look at them a dozen times a day, memorize them. Reprogram and reformat your pattern of thinking by dwelling on these true sayings:

" . . . I know the plans I have for you,"

says the Lord. "They are plans for good

and not for disaster, to give you

a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

God showed

how much he loved us

by having Christ die for us,

even though we were sinful.

Romans 5:8 CEV

. . . he who began

a good work in you

will carry it on to completion

until the day of Christ Jesus.

Phil. 1:6 NIV

Soak your soul in the warmth of God's eternal and true intentions toward you as an individual. If you claim to believe God's word, you must work it into your brain (by repetition and rote memory, if need be) that his intentions toward YOU are good, because YOU are loved. Believe it, or if you are not there yet acknowlege that you DON'T believe it, and ask the Father in Jesus' name for his power to "get it." Ask again for that needed revelation of wisdom. It will be granted!

Self-Interest vs. Self-Sacrifice: A Choice

With difficulty I read my calendar passages* today, Matthew 27 & Mark 15. It is always hard for me to take in the crucifixion accounts without being deeply moved, and today was no exception. This exchange at the scene of the execution stood out:

So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself." (Mark 15:31)

How true, though spoken in ridicule and with grave disrespect, that "He saved others; he cannot save himself." Truly, in order to save others, he could not save himself. He had to choose; he couldn't have it both ways. He could have saved himself - if only he'd given up the "others," all the lost causes lined up throughout history (including you and me). What a call to make, to deny even his right to life itself - and to give it up for the unworthy creatures before him, who were oblivious at best.

By comparison, what little is asked of me in order to follow in his footsteps and take part in who he is! I'm not asked to make unreasonable sacrifices like what Jesus did. No! "His burden is light." When I am called to choose between self-interest and what's best for another person today, what will I choose? Will I consciously weight the balance in the favor of the other guy, even if the other person is totally oblivious, at best?

Unlike the actions of my Savior, any selfless action you or I might perform is not wasted on the unworthy; it is given as an offering to One who is aware (not oblivious), who sees us for who we are, who loves us unequivocally, and whose very spirit is present to strengthen our resolve.

It is my prayer that the choice Jesus made on the cross will stay fresh in my mind and yours today; that we will be strengthened in the Spirit to walk with a renewed perspective on what is a reasonable level of self-sacrifice, and what is a justifiable level of self-interest. Today may we take joy in living in light of HIS choice.

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*Calendar Passage - if you are not on a daily reading plan, go to http://www.backtothebible.org/ and pick one out! There are five calendar plans to choose from under the Devotions link in the left-hand column. The bottom choice, Reading Guides, will bring up your options.