AM I PASSING MY GREATEST SPIRITUAL TEST?

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  James 1:2-3

            According to James, testing brings endurance. How? The nature of a test is to face a challenge that takes me beyond my proficiency level.  I must stretch to achieve it.  It will appear too hard at first glance and require that I find some new muscles.  God knows me well enough to know how to present a test that is perfectly shaped for my area of weakness.  When I face it head on and rely on His grace to process events according to His truth, my strength increases.  Endurance is the result and I am closer to becoming a spiritual champion.

            I can testify that the tests I have faced over the course of my life have involved my view of God.  Each time something happened to me that seemed unfair, I was tempted to malign God’s character.  On the tip of my tongue was the accusation that He had overlooked me and/or abandoned me.  When circumstances appeared to accuse Him of things His Word says He is not, and I chose to believe the voice of the liar as he interpreted the events for me in my mind, then I failed the test.

            I remember when my father died of lung of cancer some years back.  I was sure that God had made some personal promises to my sister and me about his healing.  This wasn’t just a hunch I got in prayer. There were many physical confirmations, beyond what His Word says, that I based His promise on. But God didn’t answer the way I expected.  In fact, His ultimate answer was in direct opposition to what I felt He had promised.  Dad died. This was one of my greatest tests because, momentarily, I felt tricked. Continue reading “Am I Passing My Greatest Spiritual Test?” →

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.  Psalm 32:8

When one of our children fails to understand an important concept critical to their lives, we try explaining it another way.  We’ll pull analogies and real-life stories to serve as examples of the point we’re trying to make.  If they still don’t fully understand, we don’t just walk away from them and mutter, “They still don’t get it.  I give up.  How dense!”

I suspect that you’re like me in that God has you on a journey where you are learning a specific lesson or two over a period of time.  The lessons are divinely chosen according to my areas of needed spiritual growth.  When God begins to speak, I am not clear as to why I’m being shown this or how it will play out in its entirety.  I am burdened with dull eyesight.  Over the course of months, even a year or two, the Holy Spirit keeps teaching me the same message but driving the point home through many different means.  I meditate on related portions of scripture, then see an effective real life example in another spiritual leader, then watch a stunning example in a movie perhaps, then see that subject explored by some current authors, and so it goes.  Each time the Spirit speaks, the subject opens like a flower.

God’s teaching is customized and unique.  The many ways He brings it are also uncommon.  He does not belittle me when I’m still confused.   Oh, the lovingkindness and patience of my Father.  I can be sure of this ~ If I am a sincere seeker of truth, and if I don’t understand how something works in the kingdom, I have a patient Rabbi.

In gratitude, Lord, I echo David’s words in the Psalms.  You have made me wise because You have been my instructor.  In Jesus name, Amen

HOW DO I CAST MY BURDENS?

Cast your burdens upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee.  Psalm 55:22

         I’ve never seen so much anxiety around me.  The world feels as fragile as an eggshell.  As children of God who know they can carry everything and everyone to Jesus in prayer, perhaps we need new insight this morning about casting our cares upon Jesus in ways that bring greater relief.

         Some burdens are heavier than others but sometimes the weight of a single one can threaten to drown me. Throughout one single day, it’s not that heavy but when I attempt to carry it over many months, even years, my spiritual muscles give out. Continue reading “How Do I Cast My Burdens?” →

DOES GOD GRIEVE?

I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

         Marriage is built on love. Love is proven when I am invested in the things my husband cares about most. What God leads him to build, I support. When he is frustrated, I listen and help problem solve. When he can’t do it alone, I give my best efforts to make him successful. When he fails, I feel for him as if the failure were mine. When he loses what he loves, I ask God to give me a heart for his loss and I make sure he doesn’t grieve alone. Live long enough as a couple and each of these statements will become part of your marriage experience.

For the past week, I’ve been wondering how much I care about the passions of God’s heart. He is my Bridegroom also and I am to be invested in His dreams. He also wants to build. Do I support it? He also is frustrated. Do I listen to Him in prayer and take part in holy problem solving? He also doesn’t work alone. He has chosen me to do kingdom work. Am I engaged with what I was created by Him to do? He also grieves when His dreams for people and ministries are shattered by sin. Does His pain move me?

God sent Jesus to birth many children into the kingdom. He, collectively, calls them His church. He is passionate about His church family and how it should function to raise spiritual children to maturity. He’s constantly trying to communicate to leaders about what to preach, when to pray, when to correct, when to restrain. But if they don’t listen, the effect is catastrophic. People languish and God’s dreams are broken. Then He grieves.

• Last Sunday, someone needed to come to the altar to repent of his sin. The chains on his wrists could have been broken but the pastor didn’t listen to the Spirit to make an altar call.
• Last Sunday, a woman attended church who was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. God prompted someone to pray for her healing but that person was self-focused and dismissed the nudging.
• Last Sunday, a couple was hanging onto their marriage by a thread. They decided to file for divorce on Monday morning. God had a saving word for them but the sermon that should have been preached was never even conceived.

While I should be heartbroken for the people who missed opportunities for no fault of their own, I should be even more saddened for the Father who dreamt of blessing His children but saw sinful humanity failing to cooperate. How many things, from just one week, is God grieving? Was I one of those who missed an opportunity? Perhaps I am someone who can redeem someone else’s lost opportunity.

This morning, I can’t stop the tears. I’ve been asking God to help me understand, more deeply, His heart and His passion. If someone like me has the capability of comforting God, I pray I will prove it with passionate obedience.

It’s not about what I want. About my ministry. It’s all about what You want and me embarking on Your dreams. I’m here. In Jesus’ name, Amen

 

FAMISHED FOR THE TRUTH OF JESUS

Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.  Jude 1

Jude was the brother of James and Simeon, and all three were the half-brothers of Jesus.  They had more than this one thing in common; they did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah until they were all older.  Oh, how blood relatives can be blind to anointing. Proximity yields a normalcy that obscures the signs of kingdom greatness. In spite of their initial rejection, they all became bright lights after the resurrection.  Their passion for Jesus was stunning as they took the Gospel to far-reaching places and were martyred for their faith.

Jude wrote a letter to the church that was short but powerful.  He addressed them about the deterioration of doctrine.  He begged his readers to defend the faith, to contend for it vigorously at all costs, even unto death.  He was clear to convey that when you and I defend doctrine, we defend a Person. Jesus.  When we err from any one important tenet of the faith, we mar the face of a Person, not a document. Continue reading “Famished For The Truth Of Jesus” →

He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood. Genesis 38:1-19

         Judah was a failure as father-in-law to Tamar. He left her without a husband and ensured her vulnerability in that culture. Tamar took matters into her own hands. She tricked Judah by playing the part of a prostitute. For the privilege of laying with her, she asked for two things; his signet and his staff.

         The narrative of the Bible reveals that not much has changed. Every human craves what the signet and staff represented. We often sell our soul to get it.

• A Signet: A signet was a sign of authority, a raised seal that was used to sign important documents. If you worked for a wealthy person, he gave you his seal to do business on his behalf.

Not knowing that God has sealed me with His favor, not knowing that I am His signet ring (Haggai 2:23), I arm myself with earthbound credentials. I will not remember that I often like Moses. I can stutter, dress like a poor shepherd, but still experience spiritual success because the Spirit of God is speaking through my mouth. Continue reading “Staff and Signet” →

Yahweh, we have awaited you – for your name and your memorial with long of soul.  With my soul I have longed for you in the night, indeed, in my inmost spirit I look for your dawning.  Isaiah 26:8-9

         Ever been in trouble and waited for someone to show up to rescue you?  Maybe they did come and you couldn’t hold the tears in when you saw them.  The same burst.

     Just as often, the opposite occurs.  Someone promised to help but got sidetracked and left you stranded.  You fended for yourself and the hurt is still profound.  Your ability to fully trust them has eroded.

         Isaiah says that Israel is waiting for God’s name and His memorial.  That means that they are waiting to see evidence of God living up to all that His name means.  What name are you waiting for today?  While my name, Christine, may mean just one thing, Yahweh has many names and each one is rich in meaning.  Which prayer will you make yours?  I’ve started what could be a very long list.

Come, El Hanne’eman, faithful God!  Those around me fail to see what I need.  They cannot tell how badly I am in trouble.  Come and support me, nourish me. Continue reading “Which Name Do I Need?” →