Rust-bucket to Useable Glory

The old, rusted-out truck rattled to a stop on the back of a flatbed truck. To me, it was ready for the junk yard “crusher”, but to my friend it was a beauty waiting to be revealed. What it would require, would take an unfathomable amount of time and labor. Every screw, bolt and wire, and every scrap of metal would be removed from the interior and exterior. The stripping, scrapping and sanding of every rusty spot would consume months. Pieces unable to be fixed would need to be found – and the finding of those old original parts, would be a job in itself. Bumpers, headlights, seats and even armrests must be exactly right to complete this restoration. At its completion, it couldn’t just look great, it must also be able to function as it should; thus, requiring complete reconstruction of everything under the anticipated, shiny hood. It must be useable – its original purpose must be restored. The end result for the restorer: a stunning transformation from rust-bucket to useable glory.

The word restoration stirs in us an immediate response – one of hope. When we hear it, we anticipate renewal in all areas of our lives; relationships, finances and health are just a few. We expect a quick change, a change that we hope will miraculously transform us, others and our circumstances.

So, when God spoke to my heart and my church, that 2020 would be a year of restoration; I was excited, anticipating all that God would do. Then March came with a deadly virus and a “lockdown.” But now, as 2020 nears its end, I look back and realize that God has been faithful in His promise of restoration.

Restoration is a process – a hard, grueling process. What is true for the restoration of a truck is even more valid for you and me. Each of us have walked through this year differently. The pain and hardships have been very real and daunting. Yet, I have felt the close presence of the Lord through every step. He was there with me; teaching, whispering, encouraging and sometimes carrying me. His transformation in our lives is found in the middle of the stripping, scrapping and sanding – the very process of restoration – the process that this year has accomplished in each of us. We have all gone through that same process, this year.

 We have had to be stripped of all that wasn’t important, scrapped of our own opinions and attitudes, and pridefully sanded into a humble, lover-of-His-presence. He is continuing to replace every lost and worn out part, and is carefully re-wiring us to the purposes we were created for. We are changing from an unusable rust-bucket to a son and daughter of the King, ready to carry out His purpose and plan for our lives and those around us. We are becoming His useable glory.

This year of restoration is nearing completion. The restorer desires to reveal and release His beauty, completely restored and ready to be used. Are you ready? Let’s accept this assignment to carry all that He has restored in our lives into a new year, as we are becoming exactly who the restorer designed us to be.

Ps. 23:1-3 The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss. That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name. (TPT)

A Sacrificial Job

As parents we keep our personal worlds revolving by wearing many hats. Our most sacred position is to take care of those we have been entrusted with – those little gifts of life. A good parent does that with love, encouragement, protection and a hand that “adjusts” the character of each little one, when needed.

As I woke this morning I began praying for our country; all the governors and mayors in each state are currently facing difficult decisions and choices. They are in need of God’s wisdom as they decide what is best to keep the children safe.

Growing up there were three of us and at different times throughout our lives we found ourselves at odds with the decisions or restrictions implemented in our home. There were three types of response – the “just go with it”, the “whiner and complainer” and the “rebellious” one.

A good parent looks to the needs for the whole family. They are not swayed by outside manipulation, by the children’s whining and complaining or by the outright rebellion of some. They notice those that are willing and just go with it and are encouraged by them. They focus on what is best for the whole family. In the midst of stressful times their outlook must be filled with love and encouragement, as well as, the farsighted ability to protect from harm, while directing each toward a growth outcome that will ultimately make them stronger while adjusting the character of each child as needed. This is a huge and often lonely job!

I am grateful for my parents’ hand in my life and for the gift of having three children who I have had the great honor to parent. The job is often lonely,  thankless and always sacrificial but is the greatest job you will ever accomplish in this life.

So, as I pray for every state in our country – for each governor, mayor and leader – I pray for God’s wisdom and the strength to stay the course as a good parent whose number one priority is to keep the children safe as they encounter all three of these children. I give thanks for the hard decisions they are making. And as children, I pray that we would think about our responses to the decisions and restrictions that have been implemented in our house.  We need to choose to be willing to walk in peace whenever possible – lifting our character choices up to God for His “adjustment” before we step into the role of “whiner, complainer” or “rebel.” Our choices can affect and possibly destroy our house – our family!

Romans 12:18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (ESV)

 

Remember Always

The air was charged with excitement and anticipation as He mounted the young donkey. They had no idea what the next few days would hold, but entering the city expectation of freedom crackled in the atmosphere. The crowd shouted in joyous singing, welcoming Jesus as He entered.

The following days became a blur. They were shocked as He turned over the money-changing tables in the temple and He prophesied and condemned the religious leaders. They intently gleaned His words as He taught impacting parables to the crowds that gathered listening to His every word. As the crowds pressed in, those few short days were filled with memories that would flood over into the centuries that would follow.

The anticipation of the Passover feast approached and Jesus instructed them to go ahead of Him and prepare to celebrate together; it was going to be only their small group, it would be a welcome time of respite. The room was filled with love as they sat, not knowing this would be their last meal together.

And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:15-20 NIV)

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Communion has never been a ritual to me, but a personal time to remember what Jesus did. The understanding of its significance, however, has grown. We usually hear of the bread and the wine together symbolizing Christ’s sacrifice for us, but one day I heard a teaching that transformed my understanding.

There are two elements – the cup and the bread – each having specific impact to our lives.

The cup signifies the blood Jesus shed for our forgiveness. When we receive this gift, we understand we have been made righteous and our sin has been washed away under His blood. We now have access to His presence because of this new covenant made on our behalf.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s Grace. (Ephesians 1:7 NIV)

The bread, however has a significance that we often don’t understand or walk in. The bread is for healing! From head-to-toe, Jesus bore our pain and disease; from the crown on His head to the nail driven into His feet.

The symbolisms of Passover are significant to understand. The preparation and use of the matzah bread during Passover hammers-home its importance. It was baked, pierced with holes and stripes. The baked (burnt) bread for the fact that Jesus received the full wrath of God for our sins. Pierced with holes and stripes for He was pierced and took a merciless beating for our healing and wholeness. The lambs blood placed over the door-posts covered sin and kept those within from God’s wrath (Jesus did that for us). But then the lamb was roasted, broken and eaten for strength. When they left Egypt there were …. none feeble. (Ps.105:37) Jesus was broken and beaten for our strength and healing.

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. (Psalm 103:2-3 NIV)

When we take communion, we remember what Christ did for us – both for our forgiveness and for our healing. Remembering should be a celebration of thankfulness and a place filled with faith. A faith of knowing that we can now walk boldly into the throne room of God, forgiven and set free. A faith where we can walk in strength and health. Disease is not the children’s bread; health, strength and healing are!

Jesus instructed us to take communion often in remembrance of His sacrifices. We have the privilege and ability do this at home, we don’t have to wait to go to church. Taking communion is as sacred and as simple as our ability to pray and be heard. As you contemplate the significance of what Jesus did for you, celebrate in remembrance with a new understanding of what belongs to you – forgiveness and wholeness.

Jesus in Our Life-line

I Peter 5:7  Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you have believed in God, now trust and believe in me also. (TPT) 

John 14:1 Let him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. (TLB)

These two scriptures have been a training ground for my life. They have encouraged me, have taught me to lean on Jesus, grounded me in trusting God in the midst of chaos, and have been my life-line.

The training process always begins with the small-stuff; learning to walk as you lay your worries, cares and fears at the feet of Jesus; not too hard, right? Then when the medium-sized worries begin to filter into your life you learn to strengthen your resolve and move forward. You’ve got this – this isn’t so bad? These scriptures may now have become a simple platitude.

Well, the training is not complete; the large-ones, the overwhelming worries, cares and fears step into your life. Now, you have to chew on these scriptures, pray them out-loud and spend considerable time at the feet of Jesus; leaving them there over and over again. It’s during these times you will learn a powerful truth, one of fighting forward!

Once you think you have conquered the understanding of these two scriptures, you have a solid foundation. But, there are still Goliath-sized worries ahead. Right now, living in the midst of an unseen virus, you watch in horror as a tsunami of crushing waves strike day after day. Your life has been turned up-side-down and that foundation might find a few cracks from the shaking.

Today in the midst of a pandemic where debilitating fear, pain and anxiety saturate your environment; your resolve begins to dissolve and your armor and strength to fight-forward is slipping. Here, enters the need for your life-line! Here, you have nothing left within yourself but your faith! From here you are able to find your place to fight-forward, only as you continually spend time in Gods presence.

Our sustaining refuge is found at the feet of Jesus. As we wait in His presence, sit at His feet, worship and read His Word, we will find our peace, our faith and our resolve to stand up. It is in this place that we will, again, be able to pick up our armor and willingly move to the front-lines to fight-forward.

There will be days where we will be weak and shaky, where our faith will waver but as we learn where our help comes from, as we learn to live by these scriptures, they will become an encouragement and a grounding of our faith. As we sit at the feet of Jesus with our heavy hearts, fears and pain we will find our only true life-line – Jesus. He is waiting there for you, join me at His feet where you will find the courage and peace to get up and fight-forward.

Will I Believe?

     Our lives begin, filled with dreams and visions of purpose, part of the very cellular fabric of our beings. Then tempests of life quickly begin to surge in – stealing, killing and robbing us of those divinely-designed purposes.

Our Choice is a
Question – Will I Believe?

     When the force of fear grips my heart and the pull of pain tries to stop me in my tracks, I will look instead at the face of Love – the face of my savior – who has promised me a life that will be fulfilled in purpose and abundant life.

     When double-minded doubt descends on me. I will look up to the cross of Jesus where my faith is founded. There I will be reminded of who I belong to and the foundation of my beliefs. There I will again shout, “YES, Lord!” and see freedom respond to revelations of my purpose, dreams and visions.

     When uncertainty and frustration spin me into frozen deadlock, I will lay down my control. I will look to my Father and trust in His authority – not my own. I will accept my inability to control my situations and circumstances. I will remember that He alone has a plan for me, which is abundantly-filled with a future and purpose. I will trust in His plans.

     When grief and loss threaten to pull me below the waves of life, I will look up. My eyes will look to the maker of my soul, and from there my strength will immerge.   I will lay down the past and fight for the future – agreeing with His promises for tomorrow.

I Will Believe!

     Tumultuous times may bring waves of negative emotions: fear, pain, doubt, uncertainty, frustration, grief and loss; but our stand must be one of courage! When the waves assault us, we are made stronger when we look UP! Our faith arises, and we take to the front-lines and to the walls of the city with a courageous warrior’s cry of, “I do believe!”

     I do believe in God who always loves me, always has the best for me and always wins!  I do believe in His son, Jesus Christ, who loves me so much that He paid full price for me now and for eternity – giving me complete freedom. I do believe in the Holy Spirit who is ever-present to whisper strength and courage to my spirit when my knees shake and promise to buckle. I will be strong and courageous – fighting forward toward those dreams and visions of purpose that were created in my being.

I DO BELIEVE!

     Join me – RISE UP – stand strong and courageous – shout NO MORE when the tempests of life surge in to steal what He has rightfully placed within your being.

         RISE UP and take your place on the front-lines in the Kingdom of God!

RISE UP and take your place as intercessor on the walls of the city!

RISE UP and step into the abundant life you were created for!

RISE UP and BELIEVE!

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

 

The Son Breaks Through

The fingers of sunrise desperately try to penetrate, but darkness prevails as the landscape is covered with a shroud of fog. Its thickness is palpable to your senses: your eyes unable to focus or find clarity to see the huge tree that lays only feet away, your ears silently unable to absorb any vibration of sound while your body experiences the physical pressure of this weather phenomenon. The feeling of total aloneness settles heavily over all that it encompasses.

Eventually, its end begins to materialize, the sun reaches through and with one sudden rip the curtain is pulled apart, the sun wins as its warmth permeates and lifts off every heavy shred.  Where lack of focus and clarity were, suddenly sight is restored; where silence and pressure seemed to reign, the reverberation of life begins to erupt.

Fog is much like the extremely difficult times in life, times when we have no choice but to walk “this” out alone. Those life-altering times, in every form, are overwhelming. Those times when the world seems to shut down and nothing else matters; the unexpected diagnosis of cancer or terminal disease, the death of a loved one, a divorce, a betrayal, a job loss – you know – those ones that take your breath away!

When you find yourself overwhelmed with the fog of life, know that you are not alone, you have a Father God who promises to never leave you or forsake you. In the midst of that darkness He has sent His SON to bring light into every situation. He will bring strength when you have none, hope to your hopelessness and faith in the midst of your doubt. He will faithfully stand beside you in the midst of suffering, covering you with love, washing away the fear that threatens to engulf you.

We have a God who never stops working even when we don’t see it or feel it. He is always there, He is your champion in the dark times, He is your healer, He is your refuge; your hope is found as you look up, stand on His promises and fight forward. Our God always shines through and pulls back the Fog.

John 1:4-5 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (ESV)

Daniel 2:22 he reveals deep and hidden things, he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwell with him. (ESV)

Psalm 28: 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. (ESV)

Psalm 42: 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (ESV)

II Corinthians 5: 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. (ESV)

Stand Strong and FIGHT FORWARD

One day last summer I found myself singing an old song by Helen Reddy, “I am woman.” I triumphantly pushed forward to finish unloading the second truckload of planting soil into the raised bed. I had just completed the bed using 3000 pounds of landscape blocks the day before – all by myself – a single-handed feat to begin with. As that last wheelbarrow was emptied I was overwhelmed with the goodness and presence of God. The reality of His healing stunned me. As tears ran down my face I surveyed what had been created by a woman living under a diagnosis of debilitating strength, yet here it was. My God had been continually pouring His faithfulness and healing over me as I fought forward every day during the past 3 1/2 years.

I was diagnosed with an inflammatory disease that affected my heart and all of my joints 3 years ago. Over those three years using a small hand shovel to plant flowers in a pot was a huge challenge, filled with severe pain. Side effects of chemo meds as well as assorted other trial medications kept stealing my life from me throughout this process. My faith that God was in control never wavered but there were days that I wondered if my life was done and I had done all that God had called me too. But one day my Rheumatologist suggested another trial medication, one that was a weekly injection in my stomach, I went home and had a real “on my face” discussion with Jesus – if He had more for me to do – then I was going to stand on the promise that HE IS MY HEALER not another awful medication. I had a perspective adjustment that day and chose to FIGHT FORWARD – I knew that He had this, no matter what the symptoms looked like.

I began standing on scriptures that I had known for decades:

Be still and know that I am God – Psalm 46:10

The Joy of the Lord is my strength – Nehemiah 8:10

In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge – Psalm 36:7

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness –

II Corinthians 12:9

So, as I stood there, that afternoon holding a shovel in my hand, the reality of how much God had done in my body overwhelmed me.  I had continued to FIGHT FORWARD and trust that HE IS MY HEALER all the while He was quietly restoring my cells, strengthening my muscles, and shrinking inflammation in my joints – bringing freedom where the enemy had been stealing.

Those years were extremely difficult but I have learned to walk in a depth of faith that I wouldn’t trade for anything. If He had not chosen to bring me to the place I stand in today – I would still FIGHT FORWARD and still stand on the truth that HE IS MY HEALER.

No matter what I face – His presence, His love, His grace goes before me.

If you find yourself struggling through life’s overwhelming circumstances, don’t give up, stand strong, and FIGHT FORWARD! Take one day at a time, always believing that He goes before you and know that He is your God, your refuge, your strength and your joy.

When We Need His Attention

This morning my two dachshunds joined me on the couch for my quiet time, one so content to snuggle, stretched out alongside me (from hip to knee). The other one, well, her need was a different story. This little one didn’t want to just lean into me and know that I was there, she required my hand to touch and caress her continually – she needed my attention. Different personalities and different needs at different times but both greatly loved.

We are much the same. We have a loving Heavenly Father that is happy to enjoy time with us either way. The continual presence of Holy Spirit in our lives allows us to snuggle in, stretch out and know that He is there; no need to question or fear. But then, there are times when life has turned upside down, and we are in need! Those times we need to know He is close, He cares and we have His attention. That is when He simply reaches out and touches you, His presence, His continual caress are poured out without question.

So, don’t worry where you are, just lean into Him and He will know your need. Be thankful for a loving God that loves you during all phases of your life journey – the contented and struggling – for He has you carved right into His hands.

Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are continually before me. (ESV)

The Lion’s Den

As children, we have heard the story of Daniel in the lions’ den; how he was thrown into a pit of hungry lions because He chose to worship God and not man. When morning arrived, He was still alive because God had protected him and shut the lions’ mouths.

But while reading the whole story you will find a few more details that we need to consider. God had a plan for Daniels life, it was seen by those around him and deception began. Manipulation ensued, the challenge and betrayal were placed and many others bought into it, leading to the pit. The lions began to snap at his heels in human form long before he was tossed into that pit.

That story still speaks into our lives today; our choice to live a life that is pleasing to God is continually challenged.  Each choice you make will find lions’ snapping at your heels; lions’ you least expect. Once your course is set, the enemy will use others to distract and manipulate you. When that doesn’t work, along comes betrayal and whisperings that will drag others along for the ride. Ultimately the pit arrives, if you stand your ground.

Warfare does and will come but remember that just as God had a plan for Daniel, He has a plan for you. There is a plan and a dream buried deep inside of you that the enemy wants to disrupt and destroy; make the hard choices and don’t forget that your God is a God that shuts the mouths of lions’!

If you find yourself headed to the lions’ den, feel their hot breath and hear the snapping of teeth all around you – look up, focus on the face of Jesus and His plan for your life and trust that in the morning you will step out of the pit alive.

Daniel 6:22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”

A Single Snowflake Changes Everything

It began as darkness slipped in, tiny almost unseen flakes of snow falling over the lush green landscape. What change could these single frozen droplets make? But what a surprise waited as the sunrise glistened over what had changed overnight into a breath-taking blanket of white. Those single flakes had given their all, combining to create the beauty before my eyes.

We walk through life waiting for our God planned “big” purpose, our life-assignment to emerge. While all along God has been quietly directing our life with each YES we have intentionally declared to His whispered request. Each time you have loved another, each time you have shared encouragement, each time you have preferred another over yourself, each time you have given; all of these have been like the snowflakes, accumulating into His plan and purpose for transformation.

Don’t wait for the “big” purpose because it won’t begin big. It will begin one flake at a time, with every choice you make to give all that you can, as you say YES to His voice. As you give honor to Jesus every day, your purpose will emerge and you will look back at a life that will have changed the very landscape that you stand in.

Mark 14:8b She has done all that she could to honor me.  (TPT)