Did you enjoy fellowship today?

Photo by Evgeni Dinev

I have a great friend! I want to tell you all about her. She calls me at the perfect times just to say hi and see how I am doing. She really has a knack for knowing just when I need to talk. She sends me texts and emails frequently to check in. I don't usually have time to respond, even though I intend to. She gave me the best, most thoughtful gift for my birthday this year. It was exactly what I wanted. Huh. I just realized I don't even know what month she was born! She likes to meet for coffee or lunch and invites me, but I am just so busy with other things, I dont really feel like moving my schedule around. My friend is so thoughtful and she puts so much into our relationship. It really makes me feel special.

A little one-sided don't you think? Hopefully you realized that was a made-up story. I hope I am a better friend than that!

Unfortunately, this is exactly the way some of us treat Jesus. He calls out to us and we ignore his voice. He invites us to spend time with him and we are just too busy to fit it into our day. We often turn to Him when we need something and never bother to ask if there is something we can do for him.

One definition that I found for fellowship is: intimate communication, sharing of thoughts or emotions. 

That is what Jesus wants from us. He doesn't want us to check in just because we feel obligated and replay our day for him (P.S. He already knows).  He wants us to come to him with our true feelings, questions, praises and concerns. He wants to have a genuine two-way relationship with us.

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9) The word for fellowship used in this verse is koinonia it is a Greek word and it means partnership, participation and communion.

Can you imagine having a partnership with someone where there is no communication, no interaction and no reciprocation? I don't think the partnership could survive for very long.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7

God knows, and people will eventually know, if we are in fellowship with Christ. When we are spending time with him, we cannot help but be changed. We begin walking in light. We begin to talk and act like Him. We become little Christ's in the world which is what being Christian is really all about.

Walk with the wise and become wise, 

for a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 13:20 

I can't think of a better person to walk with!

Hold on tight

I woke up this morning thinking about Job. At the risk of my mom tuning out, I decided to write about it anyway. She does not like Job. But every time I tried to think different thoughts, he kept coming back to my mind. So, here we are.

The last two weeks have been unusually dark. Our lives have been filled with loss, death, young families being torn apart by divorce, cancer and even horror. It has not all happened, directly to our family, but it has come uncomfortably close to our door step. So, you can see why I was thinking about Job. He lost everything. His livelihood and all of his children were taken in a matter of a few short verses (Job 1:13-19). 

At times like this, it would be very easy to start questioning God. How could He let this happen? Where is the sense in this tragedy? 

At times like this, it would be very easy to start blaming God. Why would He do this? How can He hurt His children?

But, we need to take a step back. 

Job 1: 6-12

One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.  The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

It wasn't God that attacked Job, it was Satan. During dark and difficult times, we need to remember that we live in a fallen world. This is no longer the Garden of Eden where everyone is good and honest and forthcoming. There is sin, sickness and pain. There are other forces at work here.

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

It is so easy to dwell in this darkness, to be caught up in all the scary details and questions. During these Job moments we just need a glimmer of hope. At these times, I feel like anything good will be the fresh air that I need to keep pressing on.

Mark 5:21a, 25 - 33

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake,

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked,“Who touched my clothes?”

“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her,“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

I can remember a time not so long ago that I was on my knees praying, I knew, that if I could just touch the hem of his cloak, I would be ok. During the times of sadness, we have a choice to make. We can sit and soak in the darkness or we can push through the crowd and reach out to Him. It may be desperation or determination, but either way, our faith in Him is what leads to healing.

I have hope. My God is bigger than any of the bad things that are happening around us. He is still in control. He is always good. He cannot do anything that is not based in love. He can turn the bad things around and use them for our good or the good of others.

I had a glimmer this weekend. My little sister got married. The wedding was wonderful. We had so much fun as a family. She looked beautiful and she married a good Christian man. I know that they will have rough seasons in their marriage. Two people walking through life together is not always an easy journey. The best thing they have going for them is their love of Jesus. I know that they will make it through the dark times, because I know they will push through the crowd and grab hold of his cloak.

Lord Jesus, thank you for making yourself available to us when we need you most. You are never too busy or too far away. When we reach out to you, you are faithful to turn to us, look right at us and provide the healing that we need. Thank you for blessing us with your presence and your love. Thank you for your comfort in a world that doesn't make sense. Amen.

Life. Some assembly required.

This past weekend, I went to a fundraiser for the firefighters who were recently hurt in a Detroit business fire. The fundraiser featured several local rock bands and was held in a bar. This used to be a comfortable place for me, but in the last several years, places and scenes like this have become increasingly more uncomfortable. But, we had friends injured in that fire who are struggling to regain their lives and so, we have made an effort to support them whenever we are able.

I sat on a stool surrounded by my husband and friends and I began to look around and do some people watching. I saw people of many ages and a true mixture of styles. I have been making jewelry since high school, and so this is often one of the first things I look at. I was surprised to note a great number of crosses. It stirred my soul. I began really thinking about it.

What does the cross mean to you? 

As my journey progresses, I would answer this question differently now than I would have even a year ago. The more that I understand and live, the more that the cross represents to me.

How has your life changed since accepting Jesus? 

Accepting Jesus is the first part of our journey and for most, it is the easiest part. This however, is just the beginning. If we accept Jesus today and then go about our lives the same way we did yesterday, we are missing the point.

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity (Hebrews 6:1, NIV) 

On the radio this week, the DJ said, “Christian means little Christ”. We are supposed to become more like Christ and be little Christ’s in the world. Everyday, we need to work to be more like Him. For me, this has been the hard part. 

Imagine if I gave you a pile of materials like wood, screws, nails and various tools and then I said “I will give you one million dollars if you build a birdhouse”. Piece of cake you think, even without woodworking experience, I can fake my way through this and put together a birdhouse. Even if it is not pretty, it will be functional. “Here is the catch”, I say. “It has to look exactly like mine”. Things just got a little tougher, but bring it on, you think. “Oh, and you don’t get to see mine, and you don’t get any instructions”, I add. At this, your heart might sink. There isn’t much chance that your birdhouse will look exactly like mine, and that million dollars will not be going home with you.

Now, imagine God doing this; “I will give you eternal life if you live a live exactly like I planned for you. But, I’m not going to give you any instructions.” I have lived this way! Struggling with decisions, trying to be a better person through my own strength, wondering what God really wants for me. Life with Him is not supposed to be that difficult.

God gave us the gift of Jesus, some assembly required. The building and assembly, however, is us. God has given us all the instructions and all the tools we need in order to succeed. But, we will never make it if we don’t know what He wants us to do. It is so important to get into His word. Read the instructions that He has given us. Find the tools that He has given us and use them.

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us. (Hebrews 6: 18-20, The Message) 

Keep your eyes fixed on Him and on His word. The more we use the gifts He has given, the more we hold on to the promises He has made, the more we will be like Him.

There is always another option with a gift. We can choose to return it.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. (Hebrews 6: 4-8) 

There are people who have completely rejected the gift of Jesus. They have seen the goodness and the power and have chosen to give it back. Unwanted. It is a scary thought. It leaves me with the same uncomfortable feeling I had this weekend.

Don’t leave this gift in the box. Open it up!

Heavenly Father, I don’t want to waste the gift you have given me. I want to read your instructions, put my life together according to your plan and I want to be more like Jesus. I don’t want to remain unchanged. Please open my eyes, ears, heart and mind to all of your promises. I don’t want them to go unused. Amen. 

Hugs,

Lynnette

I don't know anything

What do you know? You don't have the credentials for this. You have never been to school for this kind of thing. I know all of your weaknesses, who do you think you are fooling? How can you tell people this stuff when you are so far from perfect?

These are all things that I heard this week. Earlier, I mentioned the quiet whisper of God and I realized that there is another small voice that I often hear. However, these things are not supportive, encouraging or loving. They are destructive, debilitating and crushing.

Throughout our lives, we hear many different voices talking to us. Parents, grandparents, teachers, friends, spouses, bosses, the media, the enemy. While most of these voices mean well, they may (or do) tell us things that are hurtful.

It is so easy to hear things and accept them as truth.

Now that I think about it, the things above are true. I don't have the credentials to write this blog. I don't have the education to interpret the things of God. I am not good enough on my own to direct people down the path of Jesus.

Don't listen to me... What do I know?

Looking back over my previous posts, I am the one who needed to hear these things the most. These are the things that God was speaking to me. These are the lessons that I needed (and still need) to learn.

So, what do I do with those bad whispers?

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT)

I have a choice to make. 

I can quit writing. I can go back to my shelter, where my life was hidden. I can stop sharing my story, my struggle, my experience. I lived there for a long time. It was comfortable and it is not that far from here.

Or.

I can continue down this unknown path. Through my lack of education, I can continue to share. I can tell you about my ups and my downs. Perhaps they will help you, perhaps they are only helping me.

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. Deuteronomy 8:2

I know that God is leading me. There are things that I have written that I know did not come from me. He has placed things on my heart and at times I feel I will burst if I don't write them down and share. I pray every time, before I write a word. Please God, let these be your words and not mine.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Today, dear friends I am boasting in the Lord. It is Him and not me! I am foolish, weak and lowly. He is all knowing and all loving. These are things I will never be. But, I will choose to be obedient!

Lord, I thank you for being good all the time. Thank you for always knowing what is best for me. I am nothing without you. Thank you for teaching me, for encouraging me and for leading me. I seek to serve you as Jesus served. I love you and I give you all that I am, even in my weakness. Amen.

Have you exercised recently?

I recently read that our faith is something that needs to be exercised in order for it to grow. I will be honest, the mention of the word exercise stirs up many emotions in me and none of them are very good or happy. My husband and my children are very active! They love and play several different sports and they work hard at learning to be better athletes. I am active in other ways. My activities include vigorous cleaning, running up and down stairs to do laundry, running the kids to school or activities and walking up and down the grocery store aisles. I know these are not technically the best way to exercise and they are not really helping my body, but some days that is all I can manage.

So, when I read that we need to exercise our faith, I wasn't entirely happy. But I will say, I was somewhat relieved. I have often wondered how others seem to have so much more faith than I do. It didn't seem right that God would give some an extra helping, while others are getting the leftovers.


Mark 7:24-30
The Faith of a Syrophoenician Woman 
Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 

"First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

This passage confused me for a while. Why are they talking about dogs and table scraps? There is a  sweet child out there possessed by a demon! Jesus, do something!

But, we need a little background in order to understand this story. He was a Jewish man. She was a Gentile woman. She had two strikes against her. In that time, she was at the bottom of the food chain (the dogs). Women, especially Gentile, women were not supposed to approach a Jewish leader, such as Jesus. But her child was home, suffering. She got word that Jesus was in town, and she had heard stories about the miraculous healings he had performed. She decided that her child was worth going against the social etiquette. She stepped out on faith.

Now, I don't think that Jesus was calling this woman a dog as a put down. I think he was helping her exercise. She had risked coming to see him, which was the warmup part of her exercise. She begged him to heal her daughter, which was the first part of her workout (she was still fresh and motivated). He questioned her request. She had to keep her eyes on her goal. She needed her daughter healed and had faith that he was the one to do it. She asked for just a little bit of what he had and that was the last part of the workout. She could have quit halfway through, but she didn't.

He daughter was healed. Her faith was strengthened. As a woman and a mother, she was heard, recognized and confirmed. But, none of this would have happened if she had stayed home with her daughter hoping for a miracle. God can, and does, perform miracles everyday. But, we have to leave the house! We have to take the first few steps on faith. We have to go out into the world. God is waiting and He is faithful, but it is our choice to get moving!

At times, I go through seasons of faithful exercise, they don't usually last long and then I am back to going without. I feel so much better and stronger when I do get regular exercise, but I don't make it a priority. The same, goes with my faith. There are days I feel strong and others where I haven't done the work.

I have a few things on my to do list that I have been avoiding! I am off to do them now. I am stepping out on faith and I know that God is waiting there for me to show up.

Heavenly Father, you are so good and faithful and patient. Thank you for calling me toward you and helping me grow in your love. Help me to see the opportunities that you have prepared for me, to exercise my faith. I know that you are with me and that you are guiding me through it all. Thank you Jesus, that you know exactly what I need to become more like you. Amen.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you are going to do to exercise today.

Dangerously Straight

I recently got a new haircut. I have discovered the key to making it look its best, is to straighten. As my hairdresser suggested, I went out and bought all kinds of products to help me achieve the desired effect.

My new shampoo is called Dangerously Straight, and this morning, it reminded me of a conversation I recently had with a friend. We were discussing the boundaries of having fun as Christian Women. We both agreed you can take it too far. In fact, we got a good laugh out of remembering her concern about dying her hair red "because Christian women don't have red hair". We can laugh about it now, but I think this is a real problem for Christian's. We tend to make up our own rules and put such strict boundaries around our life, that we end up not having fun. This "church lady syndrome" ends up being a terrible witness to the world around us.

Our goal in life should be to become more like Jesus. In the second part of John 10:10, Jesus said "I came that they may have life and have it to the full". Strong's Concordance defines full, as abundant. God wants us to have a full, abundant, happy life. He has given us boundaries. It is our job to live within those guidelines, not set up more of our own.

Why are we giving ourselves more boundaries? I think the key is in the first part of John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I think that we have bought into the rules of this world. I can't think of a better way to destroy the people of God and keep new people away from Him, than to make a relationship with Him look like drudgery. Satan tells us lies and we believe them. Good girls don't ____________. Before we know it, our lives are not filled with joy and fun. Our faces hang low. We are not experiencing the freedom that Christ died to give us. We accept Christ in order to be set free from the penalty of sin. This does not mean we can't have fun, it means we have a different kind of fun.

After the conversation with my friend, I did a google search for: what do Christians do for fun. I was amazed at the "hits" that I found. Some people poked fun at others who asked this question, some people provided extensive lists, one poor woman said "I accepted Christ and now I'm bored. I can't do any of the things I used to do". This woman, who received poor advice, quit reading anything but her Bible, unplugged her tv and quit calling her friends. I know that this is not what God had planned for her life!

We need to know God for ourselves, know his boundaries and keep Jesus at the center of our lives. This will help us discern what is Godly and what is worldly. The more space Jesus takes up in our hearts, the less room for the ways of the world. The more we pursue this kind of fun, the easier it will be to identify. The more we practice this kind of fun, the more uncomfortable the old kind of fun will become.

We also need to know our stumbling blocks. If we have strongholds or addictions, we need to avoid the triggers that could cause us to fall. God may set up additional boundaries for us in these areas. We need to listen to His prompting and obey! He is trying to keep us from sin.

Growing up, we had a collage of pictures of Jesus that hung in our dining room. The images portrayed Jesus with various expressions. Some of them were pained, some were content, but my favorite was the one of him laughing. I found this picture years later at the book store. I keep it in my Bible now to remind me not to be too serious. My Dad always says, "Don't take life too seriously, you'll never make it out of here alive".

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son to die for me. I know that you want me to enjoy this life, that you paid for. Please teach me your ways. I want to see the beauty, the comedy and the joy that you created. Please give me discernment to see the ways of the world and the strength to avoid them. Thank you for loving me and giving me the boundaries that keep me safe. Your word says your will fill me with joy and laughter (Job 8:21). I claim that today in the name of Jesus. Joy and laughter are mine and I will not let Satan steal them from me any longer. I love you, Lord and I live to serve you, joyfully. Amen!

The Oil of Gladness

Easter is so close. I am thinking a lot about death right now because someone special to me is very sick. We don't know what is going to happen. There is so much pain in loss. We feel it here.

God made the biggest sacrifice by sending his only son to die for us. That must have been a painful decision to make. But, it was necessary. The Lord does not want anyone to perish. (2 Peter 3:9) Time after time, God watched as people denied Him or chose to do things on their own. (Sounds like me.) The people of Israel couldn't do it- they were God's chosen people. Exodus 19:5 If you obey me and keep my covenant- you will be my treasured possession. Yet, they made golden calves (Ex 32:7-8) and built high places to worship other gods (2 Kings 17:9).

God knew from the beginning that his people needed a savior. When He created the garden of Eden, he already had Calvary planned. He knew why he was sending his son to earth. Yet He had to do it. He loved us so much that he sent his son (John 3:16) to die a terrible, painful and tortuous death (Matthew 27:27-50).

It reminds me of my loved one, watching someone we love in pain and suffering. God watched his son and could not take that from him. Like us, Jesus asked his Father to take it away. In fact, he asked twice, Matthew 26:39 & 42. But, God could not. Jesus had to die so that we could know heaven (John 3:16). It is difficult to watch someone we love, hurt and know there is nothing more we can do.

I am not comparing my loved one to Jesus. I am saying that God understands the pain and hurt that we experience.

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
- Psalm 56:8

Instead of turning against Him, we need to turn towards Him. He is the God of all comforts (2 Cor 1:3-4) and that is why he sent his son.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:1-3

Close Encounters

Have you ever had one of those study times when it feels like God is right there talking to you? I love that feeling! I had one today.

I am currently doing the "Breaking Free" study by Beth Moore with my small group (Beth's words and ideas are in blue). The study today was all about
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

As only Beth can, she dissected the scripture, explained each of the pieces, then put it back together so that I could apply it to my life. "Strongholds are like concrete fortresses we've constructed around our lives for protection and comfort. These fortresses become prisons. At some point we realize we no longer control them. They control us." Hmmm.... giving other people too much weight, power and control over my life? Sounds like a stronghold! One that I have dealt with so many times in my life. I am a pleaser. I want to make others happy. I want others to be happy with me. I don't want to offend anyone. Insecurity plays a major role in strongholds. I was/am not confident in who God made me. Unbelief that God can do anything (which is a sin). "We often rationalize our strongholds. We maintain excuses for not surrendering areas of our lives to the authority of Christ". My excuse: I need this or that (person, approval) to be ok.

divine power to demolish strongholds (v.4) The truth is that I really only need Jesus to be ok.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (v.5) I thought I knew what was best. I didn't seek God first and ask Him. Another sin- pride!

we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (v.5) We become victors through surrender to Christ. I need to surrender to Christ. I may have to do this everyday or even several times a day.

So here is the prayer I wrote in my notebook:
I am still so easily swayed by the enemies lies! God please break any strongholds in my life. I want to live in your perfect will today and everyday. I do not want to put anyone or anything in the place that only you should be.

I still had a few minutes, before I needed to get ready for the day. So, I opened another favorite, Come Away My Beloved by Frances J. Roberts. I turned to the bookmarked page and found:Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but 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. Roberts wrote, "Put down your anxieties, and trust Me for everything. You need nothing but what I am fully able to supply, with no effort on your part. I do not ask all My children to live in so complete a degree of trust, but I require it of you, because you cannot please Me with anything less."

I can feel the heat from the refining! Discipline has never felt so great... and freeing!

A Test

I heard this several times last week and it has really stuck with me. To me, it is really the same question asked different ways.

You get to go to heaven. It is everything you ever imagined and more. Everyone you know/knew and love is there. You want for nothing. But, Christ is not there. Would you still go? Would you want to stay?

You are a modern day Job. You lose everything and everyone that is important to you. But, you still have Jesus. Is He enough? Do you still lift your hands in praise?