Holy tidbits of time

I had such a blessed morning, I had to write about it. I went to Faith's house - a Nigerian woman - and led a Bible Study for 5 young Moms with little ones. There was a 5-year-old, an almost 4-year-old and 6 little ones between the ages of 8 months and 2. It was Bible Study in motion. We have no baby sitter. The Moms: Faith from Nigeria, Joy also from Nigeria, Evelyn from Ghana, Valerie from Ohio and Alyona from Moscow - as in Russia, not Idaho! Everyone speaks English but, at different levels and way different accents. At least Val and I tend to be able to understand each other most of the time! HA!

Last night it rained buckets but, this morning the sun was shining (thank you, Lord) so at least the kids could go out and play.

I had some long passages of scripture to read but, quickly abandoned that as I knew the little ones would not let us have peace for that long. So, we would read maybe 3-4 verses and then discuss those in detail and then move on. After a while I noticed a precise pattern: one of the ladies would read the verses, I would ask a couple questions and then we would discuss what the verses meant and how they apply to our lives. Then one or more children would start crying or screaming or....whatever! Moms would jump up, fix whatever was wrong, get some snacks or juice for the kids, sit back down and then we would read a few verses, ask questions, discuss, apply and then....cry or scream, fix, serve, sit back down.....and on we went.

I realized after about 3-4 cycles that the Holy Spirit was in control and He was allowing us those moments of calm to focus on His Word in between chaos. It was so plain to see and such a blessed time. Thank you, Lord! And thank You for these wonderful Moms that want to study Your Word and pray for their children. Thank You that they all welcome each other and are so kind and loving to each others' kids. Just Thank You, Lord - I think this is becoming my favorite day of the week!

The Bait of Satan - Offense

I am reading a book called The Bait of Satan by John Bevere. My daughter-in-love, Erin told me about it a few months ago - I think her brother Ross had read it. And then, when I was in New Orleans in March, my roommate, Jeri Lynn told me how it had impacted her life. So, while I was there, I picked up a copy. You'll notice that I have already added it to my list of Life-Changing Books - even though I am not finished with it yet. It's amazing - go get it and read it!

I was struck by something right off the bat - in the Preface, no less! The apostles traveled with Jesus for 3 years and witnessed many miracles - blind men could see, lame men could walk, a woman that bled for years healed, demons cast out, the sea calmed at His command and Lazarus raised from the dead! Incredible miracles that they somehow seemed to take in stride. But, when Jesus commanded them to forgive someone that had wronged them, they questioned it. How many times do we need to forgive? And when he basically answered - "every time." They responded "increase our faith" (Luke 17:3-5). This was the thing that stopped them in their tracks and gave them doubts. Forgiving after you've been offended, even in the light of all they had seen Jesus do, looked like too big an order and they were going to need some help.

We know that our old enemy, Satan is continually roaming the earth looking for who he can devour. He sets traps to lure us in and one of his favorite kinds of bait is something we all encounter - offense. Here's a quote from the book in the introduction, page 2.

Offended people produce much fruit, such as hurt, anger, outrage, jealousy, resentment, strife, bitterness, hatred, and envy. Some of the consequences of picking up an offense are insults, attacks, wounding, division, separation, broken relationships, betrayal, and backsliding......So many are snared in this deceptive trap that we have almost come to believe it is a normal way of life.

As I've been reading, I have been brought face-to-face with some offenses that continue to plague me after many years. They haven't really stopped me dead in my tracks - but, they have kept some areas of my life closed off and I have to admit - there is bitterness.

Dear Lord, search me and show me and make me willing to shed these chains of offense so that I can bring glory to You and serve you fully. AMEN!

Jesus says, "Come!"

My old friend, Jack Miller pointed me toward the book of Matthew in an email earlier this week, to a story that I've read 100's of times over my life but never let it sink deep into my heart.....

Matthew 14
Jesus had sent the disciples out in the boat while He went alone to pray and then He came walking to them on the water which scared the living daylights out of the disciples until He told them who He was.
v28 Peter said to Him, "Lord if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." v29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
v30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" v31 Immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Now I'm going to add Jack's own words here:
I have seen this scripture differently than before, because this time when I read it it becomes more clear that God fixes everything if we do it his way, and just "COME." Its always a heart issue. Later on in Matt. 19: 26 Jesus states; "And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Isn't it amazing how a person's heart can stop the God of the universe from achieving His will in our lives?

When my kids were little, I would often run to stop them from doing something that would hurt them. And now that they are adults, I would like to do the same. I watch and think, "Oh no, please don't do that, you're going to get hurt." But, now that they're older, I can't force my will on them. I can only watch. It makes me think of how often the Lord must look at me and think, "please don't do that, you're going to get hurt." But, just as my kids have the freedom to do as they please, the God of the universe grants me the same freedom. I know how badly I hurt when my kids are busy hurting themselves. Oh, how our Father in heaven must weep over me as well.

Lord, I don't want to make You weep. When You say, "Come." I want to come - simply trusting You even though it looks humanly impossible. I choose to trust You, believing Your Word and refusing to let the enemy of old cause me to sink because I'm looking around at the circumstances and consumed by fear! NO! I choose to look at You and keep walking forward. AMEN!

When The Mountain Won't Move

I am reading a book called "Breakthrough Prayer" by Jim Cymbala - he's the one that wrote "Fresh Wind Fresh Fire" a few years ago and I always love his books on prayer because they attest to the miraculous ways that God answers prayer. Anyway, this latest book has really spoken to me and I want to share a section of one chapter called "When the Mountain Won't Move." I have a mountain in my life right now that is not moving and I praise God for bringing me this message of truth and hope:

"Times of trial and difficulty remind us of two great challenges regarding the prayer of faith. The first challenge is to believe that no situation, however evil or entrenched, is beyond the scope of prayer. In theory, we know that God can do anything, but many of us fail to trust him when it comes time to pray for specific people or situations. Instead of looking to the Lord for help, we keep our eyes on the problem, which grows bigger the longer we gaze at it. We don't pray seriously about such problems because they just seem too big, too hard, or too complex for prayer to resolve.

Though we may mentally affirm the promises of Scripture, we fail to lean on them. Reluctant to come before the throne of grace to receive the help God promises, we worry, complain, live in fear and depression, ask others for advice - anything and everything but go to the Lord in prayer. (Or we mouth prayers but, all the time, not expecting God to answer, we're just paying lip service (this is added by me)).

The second hurdle is the waiting. Most of us hate to be kept waiting for an answer to prayer. We've asked the Lord to intervene, and we want immediate results. What's taking Him so long? We feel as though we're holding on for dear life, but the situation hasn't changed one iota. In fact, it's gotten worse! How long do we have to wait? Is God even interested in us? Does He care about our problem?

Without learning the secret of how to wait in faith, many of us become spiritually fatigued as we pray. We may start doubting whether God's promises apply to this particular situation. Instead of entertaining this as a reasonable doubt, we need to realize that we are encountering an area of spiritual warfare not often discussed.

God wants you to know that His answers are always worth waiting for! But remember, while you're waiting, Satan might whisper that you are alone and forsaken. Keep holding on to the Lord today no matter how you feel, no matter how bad things get.

If you have been waiting for an answer to prayer for a long time, remember that long waits often occur right before the biggest mountains come down. Keep praying and don't give in to the doubt or fear that tells you "this situation is impossible" or "that person will never change" or "it's just too late." Instead of letting Satan have the last word in the battle to believe, speak it yourself, borrowing from God's own word in Scripture: "the Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all He has made." Psalm 145:13"

I hope this thrills your heart, just like it did mine.....Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

1 John 1

I started a new Bible Study for women at IBC today - on 1 John. I figure the Lord must have some things to teach me in this book because - since starting this study - I have read and heard passages from this book coming at me from all directions this past week. Today, in the sermon this morning and just now - in the book I am reading "Breakthrough Prayer" by Jim Cymbala.

From my first lesson in 1 John, I learned quite a few things already:

• The apostle John wrote this letter so that we can know for certain that we have eternal life. From Cymbala's book - "God wants us to feel secure regarding our relationship with Him. He wants us to know with certainty that we posses eternal life as part of His family. This security and knowledge is significant because doubts and insecurity will grieve the Father's heart and hinder our ability to live victoriously. Because we are God's children, then, we can bring our needs to Him with certainty in prayer. We can have the same confidence in asking for things as we have about our salvation." AMEN!!
• John was an eyewitness of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was a close companion of Jesus. What John has written is inspired by God and without error. We can trust this book.
• God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. If there is darkness, fear, evil, bitterness, spite, anger - it is not of God - He is only light.
• When I walk in the light - living life in such a way that pleases God, it is not for my credit - it is to bring glory to God.
• I'm a sinner. Period. But, when I confess my sins to Him....HE is faithful and forgives me and cleanses me from all my garbage. Thank You, Lord!

From the Sermon this morning by Tim Plona.....1 John 1:8-9 gives us a new cycle to live by for recovery from sin:

My part:

• Admit I am sinning
• Stop the sin
• Confess the sin to the Lord

Gods part:

• He forgives me
• He cleanses me

Instead of continuing on in my cycle of sin over and over again.....STOP the cycle and by God's grace begin anew! YES!

The Woman At The Well

Lately, I have been struck by the knowledge that Jesus knows all about me. He knows every sinful action or thought that I have committed over my entire life. And still....He loves me and He has forgiven me and He has set my feet upon a solid rock - Himself.

I am another Woman At The Well.