Author: Christine Wyrtzen

“I Can’t Believe You’d Ask Me To Do This!”

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“I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’D ASK ME TO DO THAT!”

And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”  Genesis 22:7

            Today’s devotional is for one in a thousand.  If you resonate with how Isaac might have felt, than I am thanking God for the privilege of writing this morning because not everyone has an Isaac-kind of story.  Yes, everyone suffers because we live in a fallen world, but not everyone is handpicked to sacrifice in a way that is so very solitary.

            To how many could Isaac relate his story and know that they would understand what he was talking about?  Precious few.  What God required of him and his father was steep.  Being ‘chosen’ meant excruciating testing.  Was there a moment, even for a split second, when Isaac said to himself, “This can’t be happening. Surely, I’m not the sacrifice!”

            Have you ever had such a thought?  “Surely, God hasn’t asked me to suffer such things!”  The story you are living, or have lived – few know.  You understand that if you told the whole story, it would cause others to stumble in their understanding of who God is.

Continue reading ““I Can’t Believe You’d Ask Me To Do This!”” →

God’s Wisdom – Don’t Abdicate!

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DON’T ABDICATE!

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. Psalm 5:3

You will have some good days; ones that you look back on and make you smile. They will give you the joy of reminiscing.  You will also have some bad days; ones you end by throwing up your hands and believing you’ve failed too badly.

Remember, My mercies are new every morning. Today is the day to begin again to do something different from yesterday. The regrets of hours past need not define the future. All progress is marked by forward and backward steps. Determination to learn from failure and continue to walk forward are the keys.

Stumbling is to be momentary and instructive – not an action that causes you to sit and abdicate. Don’t despise failure.  I will redeem it as wisdom.  So, rise up in new strength. Rest in a new promise that will fuel righteous choices for today.  I’m your comforter for your yesterdays and your helper for today.

God’s Wisdom ~ Little by Little

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“Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”  Deuteronomy 23:30

Let’s talk about this big thing that overwhelms you; that thing you bring before me nearly every hour of the day.  I know you wish it weren’t there, that I’d reach out with a sweeping wave of my hand and remove it.  You are frustrated that I’m not doing it when all power is mine.

I told my people when they were traveling through the wilderness to Canaan, “Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”  My plan is for each of my children to become mighty in wisdom, strong in muscle strength, and fluent about the ways of the kingdom.  Slaying one giant at a time will build into your life the things which are critical for your future.  Never underestimate what is gained when you walk with me and see a progress that characterized by baby steps.

I am not stingy nor is my power limited.  It is My love that restrains my hand from completely rescuing you so that I can do what is ultimately best on your behalf.  I know that this mountain makes you tremble, even despair.  But by dealing with your fear, choosing to stand in faith, you are being transformed into a champion.  When you can’t see your progress, I can.  And I have!  You have already changed more than you know.

Stuffing Painful Memories

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STUFFING PAINFUL MEMORIES

Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief.  Proverbs 14:13

            That which weights down my heart like lead is usually difficult to acknowledge.  Somewhere beneath my sanguine exterior, grief pokes at me constantly, begging for acknowledgment.  If it’s too frightening to process, I will run from it. If the grief is terrifying, I’ll run from it indefinitely.

            I am in tune with the sad eyes of people at social gatherings.  Those who regale others with the funniest stories of the evening can be the very ones who cry themselves to sleep in private agony.  How many comedians have admitted that they struggle with depression? It seems to be a theme. The jokester is often the troubled soul. Continue reading “Stuffing Painful Memories” →

Pre-Requisites of Good Teaching

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PRE-REQUISITES OF GOOD TEACHING

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable.  Proverbs 15:2

    I still tremble with fear knowing that I have been called to be a teacher of the Word.  In the beginning of my ministry, I was a recording artist and never could have imagined the future. I’ve learned the hard way that teaching is so much more than just sharing information.  Eloquence of the spiritual kind is what happens when what a teacher shares is shaped and empowered by God to go into a man’s spirit, like a well crafted arrow, to change his life.

  • To teach successfully, I must have wisdom.  That means I have come to the end myself and recognize that I am spiritually bankrupt without God.
  • To teach successfully, I must know people.  I must understand the heart of a man and how he thinks, moves, and breathes with or without God.  That starts with knowing myself as revealed by the Holy Spirit.
  • To teach successfully, I must be in tune with whether or not others are connecting with me.  Blank stares, napping, shifting in their seats…these are not good signs. I must be open to others feedback.
  • To teach successfully, I must know when the hearts of my listeners are ready to hear the message.  There must be fertile ground for the seeds to take root.  A message delivered prematurely, even though it may be expertly crafted, is completely wasted.  I may as well have curled up at home with a good book. And, there will never be fertile ground without prayer. Lots of it.
  • To teach successfully, I must know how to hear the voice of God’s Spirit while I’m teaching.  As one who used to be chained to my notes, convinced that I needed to have every “t” crossed and every “i” dotted, I have learned that God wants to tweak my messages during the delivery.  If I don’t know how to hear Him and don’t have the guts to follow His lead, I will live in the bondage of perfectionism. I will forfeit the thrill of seeing Him move supernaturally through a Spirit-led tangent.

“The Scriptures come alive to me,” is one of the greatest comments a teacher will ever hear.  God is looking for those who are willing to do their own rigorous heart preparation before ever taking the podium. I’m asking God to never let me do anything less.

Break me and mold me.  Burn the message into my spirit and remove the dross. I finally have no other agenda than Yours, Lord.  In Jesus’ name, Amen

“You Won’t Believe What’s Happened To Me!”

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‘YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT’S HAPPENED TO ME!’

I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.  Romans 15:29

         The word ‘blessing’ has been thrown around so much in our Christian culture that it may as well be a common word like shoe or house.  Yet, what it really means is this ~ something miraculous has happened to me.  I should use the word in conversation and then follow it up with, “You won’t believe what’s happened to me!”  Paul is going to come to Rome in the fullness of blessing.  What does that look like for him or for me?  Blessing is based on unbelievable realities.  I’ve chosen three.

  1. 1.    “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, then heirs.” Rom. 8:17  What is the announcement?  “You won’t believe what’s happened to me.  I’ve just inherited a fortune and become an heir, equal in wealth to what God gave Jesus Christ.  When I die, it’s mine.  My heart is bursting.  I’m blessed.” Continue reading ““You Won’t Believe What’s Happened To Me!”” →

Save Yourself The Trouble

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SAVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE

“Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.”  Proverbs 9:8

            Since the Word of God is ‘profitable for correction and for instruction in righteousness’, it would also stand to reason that the messenger who brings the Word of God to others is also bringing correction and instruction.  As God’s ambassador, I should be prepared because not all are willing to receive it.  I shouldn’t be surprised when the experience turns sour and my spirit is left stinging after the encounter.

            If the other person’s pride is wounded, there is often payback. The level will be determined by the degree of evil in the person.  Try to reason with a mocker, one who is addicted to being right, and you can plan on being insulted.  His need to look good at all costs will prevail.  Rebuke a wicked man and the stakes go even higher.  Instead of arguments, there will be personal attacks.  Know that your soul will be unsafe and the target of injurious comments meant to do personal damage. Continue reading “Save Yourself The Trouble” →

Your Reaction To Good News

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YOUR REACTION TO GOOD NEWS

Good news puts fat on the bones.  Proverbs 15:30

            What do you do when you get good news?  It would be interesting to give good news to ten people and note their different reactions.  Not all would dance and exclaim, even though they are happy.  Each person processes joy differently.

            I have spent many years of my life traveling with various people.  Life on the road allows you to get to know someone really well.  I know I was an anomaly to more than a few because of my seeming lack of response to things.  For instance, when we drove down the highway and passed some beautiful scene, most in the group would point and exclaim.  They couldn’t stop talking amongst themselves about what they had seen.  I, on the other hand, usually took it in privately.  My appreciation was just as deep but just solitary.   Often, someone in the group would say, “What is the matter with you?  How can you refrain from gushing over that?”   I usually answered, “I’m gushing on the inside!”  And I was. Continue reading “Your Reaction To Good News” →

Two Levels Of Understanding

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TWO LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING
 
“A man of understanding walks straight.”  Proverbs 15:21

It’s one thing to read something and say, “Yea, I see the reasoning here.  This makes sense to me.”  It’s quite another to act on the premise and experience the truth firsthand.  The first produces a casual nod of the head.  The second, a fluency born of experience.

I am struck by Solomon’s choice of words.  He didn’t say that a man of understanding thinks straight.  He walks straight.  To be a woman of understanding, I take the Word to heart enough to go out and live it.  I try it on when it’s convenient and when it’s costly.  I obey it when I feel like it and when I don’t. I get to see God’s precepts spring to life as they are proven true in my experience.  I develop the credentials to become a teacher because I know how God’s truth fits into the scenarios of life.  I have the ability to, not only comment on them, but discuss each one at length.  The many nuances of truth are golden to me because I have mined them through a discipleship that has transcended the classroom.  People who know me will always be able to tell when I’m blowing smoke and when I am intimate with my own sermons.  Continue reading “Two Levels Of Understanding” →

What’s Your Secret?

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WHAT’S YOUR SECRET?

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn aside from the snares of death.  Proverbs 13:14

            The older I get, the more I am in touch with the fact that my mind has turned into a running catalogue of information.  Perhaps like you, I’ve asked many I’ve admired, “What’s your secret?”  They might have answered in ten words or less but their advice went deep into my spirit and their words still live to this day.

            My inner library is constantly shifting.  As I learn yet another secret from a wise child of God, to own it might mean I have to replace an un-truth from someone I looked up to long ago.  They might have given me their advice with sincerity but, with time, I felt like I drank from a stagnant pool rather than a stream of living water. Later, I learned that Jesus regarded their instruction as foolishness. What often appeared to be good advice was revealed as flawed. Continue reading “What’s Your Secret?” →