I am quickly becoming a fan of this young guy.  His website is full of relevant and cutting edge info.  He cites and does cutting edge research.  Read his bio on his website

www.draxe.com
Let me know what you think.

GF TREAT

Been looking for a good gluten free bread recipe.  GF bread is so expensive and tastes bland with the texture of styrofoam...(I'm not the only one who has this opinion...)  so, I tried this recipe after taking a few weeks to collect the different ingredients.  They are a bit expensive in and of themselves but make many loaves. We just sliced it and spread it with coconut oil and honey.  Quite yummy!
Try it!

http://gfrealfood.com/2009/06/10/kims-gluten-free-dairy-free-whole-grain-bread/

Hi All!
It has been on my mind to restart my blog.  One of my prayers of late has been for God to teach me to love people more and better. Communication...I am a crummy communicator.  I need to practice.  I need a good subject.  No better subject than the Lord Jesus and what He's doing in my life.  My JOURNEY involves being a wife, mother, teacher, and bible study, writing, fitness, nutrition, home-making, physical therapy and FRIENDS.
I'd like this to be a place where we can ask questions, voice a concern, share a funny, pray, post a gluten-free recipe, review a movie...I don't know, just be friends.
Join me?
Outstanding!

COLOSSIANS HERE WE COME!

Hi You Guys,
I am so excited about studying Colossians inductively!  It is going to be great.  I have gotten all the information about how to study inductively and will have it all arranged in a notebook with the text of Colossians printed up for us to use together.  We'll be starting on Monday April 18th.  As you wait to begin, you can be reading through the entire book of Colossians a couple or three times to get the flow and intent of the letter. You'll be one step ahead of the game with that.
Please let me know that you are going to participate and if you will invite any friends to join us.  I want to be prepared for them.
My daughter Abi is going to do the first evening, introducing us to the inductive method, as she has been taught in it and is looking to practice teaching it.  Both of us are excited about this.  I hope you are too!
Let me hear from you and pray for God to speak to us as we learn to study God's Word for ourselves under the direction of the Holy Spirit within us!

MEDITATION: REST AND WORK

At long last, I have arrived at a time when I believe I can begin into a new project!  After having a blessed rest in Monterey, CA with no demands, time alone meditating on scripture with just God and me, and much physical rest, I am truly looking forward to beginning anew. I actually am pretty pumped!

My meditations last week were in Psalm 119 where the psalmist sounds like some kind of goodie-two-shoes where he talks about only meditating on and walking in blameless ways always!  Who is this person?!?!

As a New Testament believer, under the law of grace Romans 6:14-15 and living by the commandment of love Mark 12:30-31, as I read, I replaced “law”, “precept”, “rules”, “statues” with “the law of grace” and when I read “commandments” I inserted the fullness of “loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” and “your neighbor as yourself”.  When I did this, there was a transformation and challenge of how to apply that “law of grace” and “commandment to love” and see how it applied to 

my everyday life and attitude.

My focus was on the WAW, the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which corresponded to verses 41-48. Here is how it went:

 “Let your steadfast (resolutely unchanging) love come to me, O God, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me (the enemy, Deceiver, Satan), for I trust in your Word. And take not the word of truth (God’s Word of Holy Scripture) utterly out of my mouth for my hope is in your rules (law of grace).  I will keep your law (of grace) continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place (security, peace, freedom, gracious place) for I have sought your precepts. (law of grace). I will also speak of your testimonies (written or spoken proof of existence) before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I delight in your commandments (to love) which I love.  I will lift up my hands (worship) toward your commandments (to love) which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes (law of grace). ***all parentheticals mine

All of the actions and thoughts are motivated out of gratitude toward God for His grace and provision, not fear of punishment.  Punishment was fully taken by Jesus on the cross.  Discipline and consequence surely follow our rebellion against God’s way, but it is inextricably mixed with His love to bring our hearts back to that “wide place” of security, freedom, mercy and grace IN HIM.  It is God’s heart’s desire for us to love Him back….He’ll do anything to rescue us and bring our hearts to His.

Living bound by the law of grace, I am free to love and see God’s work in my life and in the lives of those around me.  I’m free to live for God where He has seen fit to place me, in the ministries He’s placed me, with security and peace. It is wonderful work and rest! 

HIATUS

This is that last post until spring....April.
Feel free to chat here if you'd like.  I'll check once in a while to see if you have left any comments.
I love you all so much.
Lisa

PURIFY LONGING EXPECTATION

How about this freezing weather?  Where in the world did the global warming go?  I heard tell from the same folks who promote global warming that we are now entering into the ice age that will remedy the vast ice melt that we have experienced in global warming!!! Don’t get me started! It is an amusement, though.  We can have confidence in the Creator of this planet that HE will sustain it for us. I will do my small part but let the Master 

Designer do the maintenance. Wow, side bar!

Do you ever have a longing to go south at this time of the year?  Since the “ice age” began last month, my thoughts go to a place where it is warm with sunshine.  It is a place where I would love to be outdoors much of the time.  I go into hibernation mode about now, something that is not good AT ALL for a woman my age. It takes an act of self discipline to even run errands, no less get to the gym and go for a walk!  I know, for you on this blog that are half my age, you are probably thinking I’m a wimp…could be!

This morning as I was meditating on the second part of 1 John 3:2, I have developed a new longing for my perfection to come as a believer. In love, God gives me a chance to anticipate His appearing. He motivates and excites me about His appearing.  He says in 1 John 3:2 that, as God’s child I don’t know exactly what I’m in for, “But we do know that we will be like him, for we shall see him as he really is.”   Pastor Mike gave three batches of scripture to fill in some of the gaps.

In Philippians 3:20, 21 we are encouraged about our physical change: “But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Whew! A glorious body…I don’t have a good picture in my mind of what it will be like, because it is probably ill-perceived, but I know my glorious body won’t get sick, ache or run down!  So, I’m shouting Hallelujah!

1 Corinthians 15:50,51  tells that my changed self will be raised imperishable, incorruptible, immortal! That is certainly something to which I look forward!

Psalm 17:15 was picturesque to me. “And I---in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” The wording almost makes me think that David’s pondering bred awe and longing. Awaking from the sleep of death, he would IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, see Christ’s likeness….without a sin nature, IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, sinless like Jesus! I am nearly breathless with that.  Oh, how I long to be sinless, righteous like Jesus!  And I won’t want another thing but to see Him.

Now the very cool realization here comes in verse 3. “And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.” This longing and expectation of Jesus’ appearing and my subsequent change into His likeness is what purifies me, just as He is pure. This is the answer to the question of, “How do I live till then in my fallible, corroding, sinful body?” “Where is the victory today?” “I cannot do this righteous living thing!” The answer to all of this is to have the eager expectation of His appearing at the forefront of the mind.

 

The forefront of the mind is a battleground for sure.  The thought life is where the flesh succumbs to temptation giving birth to sin.  Watch what the mind’s focus on the appearing does for the walk of the believer. Titus 2:11- 13 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say, “No,” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope---the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (bold italics mine.)  That longing permits me to say, along with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day---and not only to me but also to all who have long for his appearing.” 2Timothy 4:7-8 (bold italics mine). I can have confidence that my pursuit will be rewarded because of the purifying longing for His appearing.  It will have kept me busy to fight a good fight and win a good race and keep the faith.

I looked at the practicality of day to day focusing that is taught in Colossians 3:1-4.  Setting my mind and heart on things above with Christ and God in heaven, keeps truth of who and what I am in Christ at the forefront of my mind’s eye. Then, “when Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Verse 4.  The verses that come after this are the imperatives of the life lived for the Lord.  However, they cannot be accomplished without the mind being fixed on God, Christ, heaven and His glorious appearing! That is what is going to purify my walk!  The conscious fixing of our minds on those things make possible the walk in life in the imperatives.

 

My business is to focus on the loving relationship the Father desires with me. Relationship. Loving Him back. I’ll walk and talk with Him, longing for the day I’ll see His glorious face, feel His loving hands cup my face, and hear Him say, “I love you. You’re home. Welcome to glory.”

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

HOW TO POST A COMMENT...

To post a comment on the blogspot…

1. You need a platform from which to comment.  
2. Do you have a google account?  There is a sign-in button at the top right hand corner of the blog post page. 
3. If you have a google account, sign in and then post a comment. 
4. If you don’t have a google account, all you have to do to open one is 
5. click the sign in button and they will ask you to sign in. 
6. They give you the opportunity up there to sign up OR create an account. Put in your email address and make a password. 
7. Then, when you post a comment, you will see, just below the comment box, a line that says, “comment as” and then a drop down box.  The list will include “google”.  
8. Click on in and it will ask you to sign into your google account.  
9. There is a handicap word they ask you to type, one of those swirly, words, for security reasons. 
10. Then you can post….it sounds complicated, but it really isn't.

LAVISH LOVE

1John 3:1-3

My heart and spirit where on such a spiritual sprint on Sunday during the sermon, I almost had to get up and sprint around the back of the church!  Of course, being me, instead of that open display, which may very well have gotten me escorted out of the building and my husband kicked out of church leadership, I just sat and wept tears of gratitude realizing the provision of God’s lavish love.

1 John 3:1 describes how God gave His love….in my bible version, NIV, he LAVISHED His love on us. When I think of lavish, I think of the flowers I saw all over the island of Kauai. I remember the view from the deck of my brother’s ranch house in the Colorado Rockies.  I remember seeing one of my babies on an ultrasound just two days after I found out I was pregnant with their heart just ticking away! Love lavished on me to even have senses to appreciate all this!

God has provided for my salvation from time immemorial.  One of the ministries of the Savior is outlined in Isaiah 61:1-3.

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, 
   because the LORD has anointed me 
   to proclaim 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,^[a] 
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor 
   and the day of vengeance of our God, 
to comfort all who mourn, 
 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion— 
to bestow on them a crown of beauty 
   instead of ashes, 
the oil of joy 
   instead of mourning, 
and a garment of praise 
   instead of a spirit of despair.

Christ was sent, in the past tense, for the ministry of binding up the brokenhearted…from the Sovereign Lord, the Father.  In Beth Moore’s bible study, Breaking Free, she taught that the Hebrew word for “sent” meant to “be shot forth”.  In Psalm 127:3-4, God calls sons, arrows in the hands of a warrior.  John 3:16,17 “For God so loved the world that he sent (shot forth) His only Son (that arrow), that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send (shoot forth) His Son (arrow) into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (Parentheticals are mine.) I need to quote to you what and how Beth illustrated this unfathomable love and ministry of the Savior to us:

“John 3:17 tells us God gave His Son for the salvation of the people by sending Him into the world. You see, God only had one arrow in His quiver.  The most perfect arrow ever to exist. This arrow was a masterpiece, priceless to Him.  Cherished far above all the hosts of heaven.  Nothing could compare.  His only heritage.  His only Son.  But as God looked on a lost world--desperate, needy, and in the clutches of the enemy-- His heart was overwhelmed.  Though we sinned miserable against Him, few sought 

Him. God could not love us less.

“Love reached sacrificially into the quiver and pulled out the solitary arrow.  The quiver would now be empty, His cherished arrow in the hands of hateful men.  Yes, God so loved the world, but God also loved His only begotten Son with inexpressible, divine affection.  The divine dilemma: two loves. And one would demand the sacrifice of the other.  Only one weapon could defeat the enemy of the world- God’s arrow.  He positioned the weapon, pulled back the bow, steadied His grip, aimed straight for the heart. “And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.  Luke 2:7.”

By that lavish love, God calls me His child!  He made provisions for me!  Sacrificial provision for my salvation, adoption, and inheritance as one of His children!  I’m doing a dance!

Be back tomorrow exploring how God’s love affects my future. Then in one last post I hope to talk about connecting God’s love to my present.

But here’s a question: Ever had the lavish love of the Lord bind up your broken heart? Has He ever revealed Himself such that your heart couldn’t resist His lavish love and you just had to relinquish the open wound in your heart for healing? If you are comfortable, share, would you?  It would be a great encouragement to all of us.

HELP

OK, here is something for which I have been asking the Lord for help.  I am looking for people in the scriptures who had expectations of either God or man that they felt were unmet....I was given one instance where Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, in Ruth 1:20 calls herself Mara, Bitter, because the Lord brought her back to her people empty when she left full of sons and a husband.
  
Can you think of places in scripture with such instances? 

Thanks for your input, ladies.
Thanks for the above example, Bambi! 
Love you guys!

YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK

I've been spending time today trying to link my Kindle to this blogspot. I know it can be done in a round about kind of way but I was thinking of a one-click-get-it-over-there-in-a-nanosecond-kind-of-way.  Someone figure it out, please!  I am itching to get it done!


Considering our discussion around my living room last night, we were essentially concluding that we are what we think.  Because there is a war on for our minds, we must take our thoughts captive filling them with the Word of God lit by the Holy Spirit Himself who was given to us at the moment of our salvation.  Fill the mind with the former and the spirit up with the latter and we have our defenses up! 


 With that in mind, I would like to challenge our tiny blogworld with this: post a scripture verse that will raise our hearts and eyes to the Creator. Let's fill each others eyes and minds with God's Word.  Philippians 4:8 says: "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worth of praise, dwell on these things."


Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinketh, so is he."  


What do YOU think?


Let's hear from everybody, OK?

On 1 John 2:18-29

In studying this passage for a couple of days, my deepest impression, believe it or not, is that the Lord, through John, coveys His deep concern for our hearts and souls.  Warning after warning comes concerning what deceptions will come.  Surely the picture of the antichrist is familiar to believers.  At least it should be.  But how do we know that they are antichrists? 

From the pulpit and the witness in my heart the answer is that we must know the Truth of the Word of God.  Study His character.  Search for scriptural principle.  Stay in context of the whole of scripture.  Then, comparison to the world’s standard can be made.  The lies and deceptions are exposed by the Light of the Word of God.  John’s description of the antichrist is full in the context of 1 John 2. 

1) Many antichrists will arise in the last hour (18)

2) They went out from among us  (19)

3) They are not for us although they will try to appear to be  (19)

4) They deny Jesus  (22,23)

5) They deny the Father  (22,23)

6) They deny the Truth by trying to deceive (26)

Mind you, the enemy of our souls is the father of lies, his native tongue is lying.  He masquerades as an angel of light.  Therefore, we must all the more know the true Light, and the Truth of the Light. The cunning of the deceiver is more insidious than ever now.  So, biblical wisdom and deep faith and trust need to be our tools and weapons.  Every article of our spiritual armor must be in place and reinforced continually so we can stand. Refresh yourself with Ephesians 6:10-18.

I could barely get over the example Pastor Mike used by quoting Karl Marx’s statement of faith eight years before he became one of the most wicked rulers in the 20^th century.  He was clear in his statement but, boy, his heart and soul were never connected to it to have done the treacheries attributed to him. 

Our airways and media are full of such deceivers.  And we would do well to scrutinize before we believe anything but whole counsel of the Truth of God’s Word.

Here is a question I have for you all if you are following Pastor Mike’s sermons or have been studying along with me in 1 John 2. 

The word “anointing” appears in chapter 2 in verses 20 and verse 27 twice. What is this anointing? When did this happen? Why does it matter?

I would love to hear your thoughts.  Your responses mean so much to me.  It is an encouragement to me to see interest in the Lord’s Word and how you take it to heart. 

I am full of anticipation for your response AND to be filled with encouragement by the Truth concerning our confidence in Him and His Promise.

PARKING IN THE SNOW

Where?

We have a snow day from our homeschool co-op today! There was a scramble from about 5 AM till 9 AM with text updates from the TV station and weather services, delays from the school districts, families from our distant locations (Berwick, Troy/Canton, Bloomsburg, Danville) calling to voice concern....whew, it was a relief to get the decision  made and realize...I have a day in my week I had no plans crowding!  Oh Cool!  What to do?!
One of the happiest visions of my morning was when my kids came to me all sleepy-eyed (yes, at ages 16 and 18) for the news of the snow day...kind of a squishy smile, eyes barely opened and cheeks hanging.... and their delight to return to bed for a while longer knowing there wasn't a bit of pressure to which they had to yield today. I feel it too.

I wonder what I'll do? I wonder what you guys are doing today too.

Why don't you write and tell what you are up to today for fun!  Where did you PARK yourself?

I for one, just haven't decided what the next thing is yet....carrot soup and fresh bread, I think!

AN OXYMORON

1/11/11

For the word of God, which is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, has pierced and penetrated me to the dividing of my soul and spirit, my joints and marrow, judging the thoughts and intents and motivations of my heart. Nothing, even my inmost motivations, is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything in my heart, soul and mind is laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom I must give account. Therefore, since I have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, I will hold firmly to the faith I do profess. For my high priest, who is able to sympathize with my weaknesses, has been tempted in every way, just as I am—yet was without sin.  Therefore, I will approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace and help in my time of need. Derived from Hebrews 4:12-14

I have gotten to like action/suspense movies.  It surprises me too…everyone stay calm.  The sound and movement and tension are a psyche for me.  Since I have begun to watch more of these types of shows and movies, I have seen broad sword battles on the screen.  Narnia, Braveheart, Gladiator. If I was ever able to stay awake for one, I’d venture to say that the Lord of the Rings movies had their fair share of them too.

Broadswords, as I understand them, are weapons used for cutting, most of which could dismember or decapitate the enemy. Lethal. http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/Broadsword.htm    You have to be mighty to wield one of these offensively.

As I have been studying scripture, I find that the Word of God is “sharper than any two-edged sword”. It comes to bear on us to the dividing of our souls and spirits, to expose the thoughts, intents and motivations of our hearts.  The heart of man is desperately wicked, who can know it; even the saved heart. The spirit is made new, but we carry it around in this flesh/body of ours that is bound by the curse of sin. So God sees fit to do this dissection.  I see God as a warrior. He is a Defender taking whatever measures necessary to keep his protectee from harm.

I see the work of His Word as a surgery of sorts. Have you ever had the privilege of observing surgery?  The skilled surgeon’s hand manipulates the scalpel to open up the covering of our skin and connective tissue to expose what lies underneath.  Is he looking for an injury, a diseased organ, something to repair?  In any of these cases, a skillful incision must be made.  The accomplished surgeon probes with intent and completes the task. I see God as a surgeon. He is One who skillfully opens and repairs or excises that which is diseased to make His beloved well.

God’s Word has been both of these to me recently. He’s jealous. He will not share His glory or worship with another. His name is Jealous. (Ex 34:14). He is a consuming fire, a jealous God, in response to the idolatrous heart. (Deut 4:24). Shoosh, there are many places where God’s jealousy surfaces and it is always because of His beloved’s wandering, idolatrous, adulterous heart. His beloved is so precious that He will do anything to rescue her from others. Enter the broadsword!

As expectations bind some of my most treasured relationships, God has lovingly shown me that even though these are most valuable, they are not supposed to be supreme.  He alone is the Only One worthy of all of my heart. When I impose any expectation on another to meet a need for or in me that is fully God’s to penetrate, I am sabotaging the relationship and giving God less than all of me. This realization came to me recently. The crush of unmet expectations was incapacitating.  All I could do was wag my head…for days…outwardly and in my heart…what a bloody mess!

Then came the infantile response, “What does this mean about this relationship? Is it all just a terrible, shallow, weak accord?” Blame and victimization for my misunderstanding God’s point was seeking vent! Lord help me!

Finally, the Word’s surgical procedure excised what was poisoning my heart.  I tried in my own strength to right my heart.  And with each attempt I saw that my effort only proved to expose my inabilities. I couldn’t forgive, couldn’t be unconditional, couldn’t give.  But, the excision brought the remedy, the Truth of God for me.  “Reckon it dead…but alive to Christ.”Rom 6:11.

Is that it? Yep. Every time the disappointment arises again, reckon it dead. Every time the anger boils, reckon it dead.  When the tide of bewilderment and misunderstanding rises, reckon it dead. You know why I can? Jesus can sympathize with me in every way. He went before me in flesh, but never sinned so I could know He knows. I can boldly approach Him because He invites me to come and ask and pour out my heart and receive Grace. Oh, beloved of the Lord, because I am alive in Christ, He is my living Head, my Defender, Shield, Buckler, Maker, Husband, Friend, Author and Finisher of my Faith, Redeemer, Counselor, my Prince of Peace!  I am part of His Body for whom He provides and cares. I am forever bound to the One who never disappoints, is always Good, infinitely deep in Mercy and Love and Grace.

You know what an oxymoron is? It’s a phrase in which the parts are contradictory, ie. “deafening silence”, “new classic”, “living dead”.  I see God’s love and care for me as an oxymoron. His Love is the devastating Healer of my soul making my heart sick for Him to heal. It is not cruel in any way. No, He is Goodness. He is Compassion. And in Grace, He meets my need.

LET'S DO IT! 1 JOHN 2:7-11

I’m not sure why this piece is difficult for me to write.  The commandment of love, the commandment to love, the contrast of loving and hating for a believer: all these seem somewhat out of reach now.  Maybe as I write God’s heart will become clearer to me.

The command to love is ancient.  Deuteronomy 6:4,5 states: “Listen, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone! You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul mind and strength.”  Leviticus 19:18 states: “…love your neighbor as yourself.” These are the commandments of old of which John speaks.  All the children of Israel knew them. John, in 1 John, now encourages the believers, Jew and Gentile alike, to consider the new commandment: “Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

Mark 12: 29-31

Jesus cited the exact same commandments that came from the Old Testament to those inquiring of Him in Mark’s gospel.  John, in verses 7-8 of chapter 2, talks about a NEW commandment.  They are the same commandments! John’s point is that now believers know how to walk in this commandment because Jesus lived it out, right in front of their eyes. He loved the unlovely, difficult sinners, right where they were. He sacrificed His heavenly reign to come and love in a tangible way, in the bodily form, so we would have an example, a perfect example.  It was total sacrifice: “God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Today, all can read the gospels and see how Jesus loved the world in which He lived, step by step, in a variety of settings, with His Hands on and in the teachings that came from His mouth.  All can know it is possible.

Ah, yes, but the flesh is that with which believers must contend. It is what throws us into the darkness that John speaks of in verses 9-11. John speaks of it, not to discourage his readers, but to give them a guideline for themselves, to examine their own hearts and recognize inconsistency.  He already, in 1 John 1:9, gave tremendous hope for us. “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

When God lays a burden of love of the unlovely on our hearts, we need not run and hide.  We need not say aghast, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord!” Jesus demonstrated some outrageous love for us to consider. The woman with the issue of blood comes to mind.  The ten lepers are another example.  (Can you tell that smelly, dirty stuff is an issue for me?!) Others might cite the tax collectors, (no one liked these guys) or the Pharisees (the arrogant upper crust religious leaders). All may be considered unlovely and unlovable for different reasons. But, Jesus loved them. He healed them, forgave them, confronted them, spoke to their inconsistencies…but oh, He loved them.

Are there some in our lives we need to love like Jesus loved?  Is there an irritating soul, an irregular person with whom we have to deal? If God brings that to light, be brave, and do it! What marvels shall we see when we step out in faith believing that Jesus did the same so we could know how to do it and be able to do it?

Every time I write like this, it undoes my comfort zone, because I am talking about stuff that is on my heart, yet unexplored at times in the physical realm.  I do know that when I do step out in faith, and do what God desires of me, peace indescribable is mine. 

God is for us. He wants us to be his Hands and Feet and show His love in tangible ways. He gives us one another so we can hook arms and walk together encouraging one another to take the risk and love the unlovely. Let’s do!  Come on, you guys, let’s do it for the glory it will bring the Lord, our Maker, Master, Redeemer, Friend.

FOR ENCOURAGEMENT

Here is a webcast by Paul Trip from 10th Presbyterian Church in Philly that Patti Inns recommended about HOPE. It deeply touched me.  If you have time, take a listen to it.
The message's title is:  Advent: The Promise.
 http://www.tenth.org/index.php?id=58
I'll be back on blog after the new year turns.
Blessings to you,
Lisa

MY CHRISTMAS HEART

I haven’t been on the blog lately. Holiday comings and goings at a brisk pace with kids visiting and finalizing all the Christmas prep have consumed so much of my day time.  However, I have thought and prayed for you guys much in these last several days.  Christmastime is so special for me.  Memories flood my recollection.  Vintage Christmases, 1960’s type, of toys, wagons, dolls and goodies under the tree, bleary-eyes transformed into eyes agape with wonder, my own kids thrilled to this day to give and receive gifts…these are what make it so special. 

I’ve been contemplating gift giving…small wonder in this Christmas season of giving.  I love giving gifts. The joy of anticipation, seeing delight on the face of the recipient charges me up! I wiggle and giggle and can barely contain myself when I know the gift will be appreciated. Don’t you just love your kids’ faces and peals of laughter, your spouses’ kiss and your friends’ hugs when they love the gift you have given?

I stayed on budget this year.  Yes, that is a fact.  It is a “smallish” Christmas.  We have cut way back on gift giving for Christmas morning but promise the family a week at the beach come summer time, God willing.  Our family enjoys such bounty. It struck me, on the way home from my last quest for gifts and finally finishing, that the relative size of what appears under the Christmas tree has changed.  It is smaller than in years past. Yet in comparison to many, we have copious resource for gift giving.  Then, I thought about what God the Father gave to Mankind: His only Son, innocent of every fault, to take the punishment for sin. I pondered what Jesus, the Son gave to do the will of the Father. 

“He made Himself nothing taking on the very nature of a servant….he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!” Phil 2: 7-8

 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9

What have I given? What have I done? How have I responded to the gift God Almighty gave to me? Never to repay, but to show gratitude, I show a puny obedience that wavers at best.

But, here is a quote that I just found in a Christmas card…” He became what we are that He might make us what He is.” From The Incarnation of the Word. Athanasius, c. 296-373 AD.

Even my giving is made possible by Him.  Providence alone gives so that I can give. The immeasurable gifts of love, goodness, kindness, mercy are all by His Spirit. His continual gift of the Holy Spirit indwelling me, makes it possible for me to give. 

So, if you haven’t received a wrapped up gift from me, know that God’s gift is at work in me. I hope to bless you with it. It is all I have to give back to Him and to you.

Blessed and joyous Christmas!

LIVING ROOM BALM

Last night I had the immense pleasure of witnessing the God-ordained order of discipleship.  My heart has become impassioned to see mothers, young and old, walk in the fullness of their ministries within their homes.  It just so happens that the group in my home last night are all wives, too.  Some have great marriages, some mediocre marriages and, I have to admit, some have marriages that are on their way to the pits.  Some are even in the pits! The marriages vary in length from 4 weeks to nearly 40 years! What a fertile ground for discipleship these women offer. The Holy Spirit has brought so much change in their lives. 

We were studying the subject of meekness which emerged from a serious look at the attitude and actions of a godly wife in 1 Peter 2 and 3.  Meekness and a quiet spirit, which are of surpassing value to God, are the marks of beauty of that godly wife. The behavior springing forth from her attitude wins over the misunderstanding or unbelieving husband.  It is a tall order for a woman to live in this way.  In fact, the meekness God desires to see in a wife is not of human will but none other than part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:23. 

Knowing this, there was discussion about the difficulty and suffering some must endure while walking in the Holy Spirit’s power.  Parts of the discussion were focused on these topics:

• ·        Being offended by unfaithfulness is a HUGE issue to deal with.  Add this to an already poor relationship/walk with the Lord, it could be a long haul till there is healing and forgiveness.
• ·        We CAN gently and lovingly point out to our husband how their over-control or even lack of leadership hurts us, but WE cannot make him change.  We can only change ourselves.
• ·        Dealing with sin in a Matthew 18 order, still doesn’t change a person.  WE fulfill our obligation, but allow the Holy Spirit full reign as HE is the convictor and restorer.
• ·        I wonder if we would see more miraculous or supernatural results in our pleading with God if we left the end of a thing, the beginning and the middle too, to God’s Holy Spirit to work.  Meanwhile, we keep on obeying and loving God and wait to see God’s Hand--- like Moses said to the Children of Israel as they faced the Red Sea in one direction and the Egyptian army in the other,  before the Lord parted it…”Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  The Egyptians (adversary) you see today you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Ex 14:13-15.

God is clearly possessing the hearts of these dear ladies. They are doing the hard work of believing God’s Word for their marriages and their own attitude and behavior.  Then, what to my amazement should I witness here in my living room, but a turning of one of the younger in the Lord to another even younger in a discipleship posture to come alongside and encourage and teach from the platform of lessons learned in this walk of faith! I tell you what… I was jumping out of my chair, literally! Life on life mentoring, discipleship and fellowship that is taught in books is happening right here!  I still feel the wonder of it.

 The work of the hand and heart of the Almighty reached down from one woman to the other in love and offered the direction for healing.  “And they shall be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” Isaiah 61:3  I am a witness of that display. It was glorious. More powerful a balm than ever I have seen. 

GRACE AND MERCY: PSALM 103 (in two parts) Part 2

“But you don’t know me! I have such a sinful heart, selfish, deceitful, horrid!” Do we think our sin is greater than His salvation?

“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.” Just for kicks I wanted to find out how high the sky was and found that the experts are saying that the more they look, the more immeasurable it gets. http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/kw/size-galaxy

Oh thank You, dear One who loves my soul like a Father who pities His children. That pity is translated to mean, “love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection.” (Strong’s) He knows my frame, that I am but dust, like grass and flowers that fade quickly. BUT, in verse 17, we find the MERCY of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, infinite, for those who 1) fear Him, 2) keep His covenant, 3) remember His commandments to do them.

That’s a tall order! I cannot do that in and of myself! The New Testament brings relief to us in Ephesians 2: ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a]and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

There’s the answer. God reaches down into our pit in great love, in great mercy, in great grace, and makes us alive in Christ, even when we were dead in sin.  Even as believers when we cannot find our way out of the pit. Of His own initiative by His pervenient grace, He comes for us, as that tender Father, and scoops us out, cleans us off in His Son’s redemption, pours the oil of gladness on and sooths our prickly, self-worn out souls, and crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercy!

Then the exclaiming begins: “the Lord has established His throne in Heaven and His kingdom rules over all!”  We have a tender Sovereign who reigns over all! Whoa! No wonder David starts in with speaking to the angels calling them to bless the Lord! His heart and soul are now full of the good things spoken of in verse 5.

The believing SLS is without excuse. We possess rich blessings at the Hand of our Holy Father. He offers a crown of lovingkindness and tender mercy. He brings Truth to bear on us and Grace to answer our objections. He rules in sovereignty. We are deep in His Heart and Hands.

BLESS THE LORD OH MY SOUL!

GRACE AND MERCY: PSALM 103 (in two parts) Part 1

Oh, today I might be able to do some Christmas shopping! I am getting into the spirit of gift hunting. Would a million dollars be enough to supply my list? Sometimes I go way overboard, but I have to tell you, I am feeling so full of good things that I want to give very big, very many gifts! My husband should be looking over my shoulder right now... I promise to stay on budget!

All that aside, I do want to get down to the post. From one SLS (you'll see what that means in a minute) to another....perhaps....give a read to Psalm 103.

David’s soul must have been rather downcast if in the first two verses of this psalm he had to tell his soul to bless the Lord three times!  I wonder what happened or what he did!  Maybe it wasn’t anything bad but he was so full of gratitude he just couldn’t help himself…maybe he was “doing a dance" before the Lord! I don’t know, just wondering.

This psalm seems to be a great remedy to the self-loather’s soul (SLS). The SLS is full of self-condemnation, the sense of “screwing it up again”, feeling like they’ll never get it right. SLSs sometimes work on the basis of insecurities born in their dysfunctional or traumatic upbringing.  http://www.outofthefog.net/CommonBehaviors/SelfLoathing.html But more often than not, for a believer, it seems that one can become a SLS because their less-than-pure motivations for action are known to themselves. Sometimes our own expectations of ourselves are unreasonable and much too stringent. Legalism bears on many a SLS. We are not gracious with ourselves. We consider ourselves with a hypercritical eye…judging by an extreme standard without forgiveness or grace. And it brings our ministries to a screeching halt when we fall into that pit to wallow. Note the focus on self… it’s critical.

In our house we use a quote from James Dobson from a story he told about his son a long time ago.  The son got stuck on a tailgate of a truck and hollered, “Somebody help the boy! Somebody help the boy!” So, in a getting stuck in the pit mode myself, I was hollering to the Lord, “Somebody help the girl! Somebody help the girl!” Enter Psalm 103. 

Those first 5 verses are written like a cheer! Motivate your heart, soul and mind! Remember God’s benefits to you: forgiveness of ALL your iniquities, healing from ALL your diseases, redemption, compassion and mercy from the Creator of the Universe, satisfaction of the soul with pleasant, rich things so we are renewed and repaired.

Do you see all the attributes of God displayed? It is good medicine for the soul to say them to the Lord, calling Him by those names. It is pleasing to Him and it raises our eyes from self to His throne and character. 

Holy, Benefactor, Forgiver, Healer, Redeemer, Bestower of gifts, Satisfier, Rejeuvenator…

Verse 6 was the crux of matter for me.  “The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” I looked up the word oppressed to find this definition in Webster’s 1826 dictionary: burdened with unreasonable impositions, overpowered, overburdened, depressed. The SLS burdens themselves with unreasonable impositions. They are overburdened, depressed with and within themselves.  But look here, it says that the Lord executes righteousness and justice for them.  The Lord brings the Truth to bear on the SLS and judges them, with remedy.  Verse 7 seems to be saying, “Duh! He made known his ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.” REMEMBER?!?!? And then, here comes the remedy for the SLS’s soul: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.  Ah, it is as if my soul would sink into the soothing spa of His gift to me.  Grace and Mercy.