Following and leading ... or just following?

I’ve had something stirring in my heart for awhile now, and especially the past few days.  I guess a question that sums it up is: What are we, as followers of Christ, doing to lead others to God? 

I recently was in the midst of a few folks who are followers of Christ and a few topics came up that seem to be a “faux pas” in the Western Church.  I believe I’ll address a few of these things here.

As we were discussing Jesus casting demons out of people in His day as part of the lesson, someone stated that he thought that just maybe there were still demons that possessed people today.  Of course there are!!  As this situation unfolded, I felt led to share my limited understanding of this.  I shared about how I had worked with a group of women and we did cast out demons in Jesus’ name.  As I shared, both astonishment and a hush came over the group.  One person even said, “I don’t know that I could have been a part of that.” My question is:  Why not?  If we are disciples and followers of Christ, are we not called to do what Jesus did?  Jesus, laid hands on people and healed them.  He prayed for the blind and gave them sight.  He cast demons out of people.  These are just a few of the things that Jesus did.  Why is it that there are churches full of “Christians” who choose to believe that these things are not for this day and age?

We live in a time where people who are afflicted with the demonic, don’t know it and are often sent to doctors in the belief that it is mental illness.  Now, although there are folks who do have physiological problems that do cause mental illness, not all people need medicine to treat their issues.  Some are demonic issues and some are physiological issues.  The problem within our society is that we, for the most part, choose to not believe the demonic part of that statement.  I have witnessed a young woman diagnosed as bipolar have demons cast out of her.  Afterwards, God transformed her mind and she was no longer taking meds for these issues that were obviously misdiagnosed not only by the secular doctors, but also by pastors in her church.   

These things are real, but for some reason, our society has decided that they, for the most part, don’t believe it.  

One of the things I said during our discussion was the Jesus had the Holy Spirit without limit.  This is the same Holy Spirit that lives in us … the same!  There is no reason why we shouldn’t be doing the same as Jesus did!  So, my question is:  

Why are we just sitting back doing nothing about situations like this?  I believe it’s because of our unbelief.  The majority of the Western church simply refuses to believe.  This is nothing new.  I was reading in Matthew 17 today about how a man brought his son to Jesus to be healed.  The son would have seizures and often fall into the fire or into the water.  The man had taken his son to the disciples and the disciples were unable to heal him.  Jesus then called them (the disciples) a faithless and perverse generation.  Later Jesus told the them that it was due to their unbelief that they were unable to cure the boy.  He said that they must have faith and also, this situation called for prayer and fasting.  Now, if the disciples, who walked and talked with Jesus missed it, I can see how easy it would be for us to miss it, as well.  

But, what if God is trying to get our attention here?  Just maybe He wants to remove scales from our eyes and unclog our ears.  What do you believe?  Do you believe that God has made a way for you to lay your hands on people, pray and heal others and cast demons out?  Or do you choose to not believe?  What are you doing for others in this respect?

We live in a society that, more often than not, chooses to live the “easy life.”  We have churches full of “Christians” who come from generation after generation of Christians who are now coasting on the prayers of the generations of the past.  We have Christians who believe that because someone is having a difficult time, they need to walk away from that person and not help them because that “issue” is beneath them and it’s best that they not associate with that person.  Trust me, this is true!  I, more often than not, have had people … “followers of Christ” walk away and not offer any help whatsoever simply because they “didn’t have the time, or didn’t want to get involved, or simply chose to have no compassion.”  Is this how we see Jesus when He encounters people with troubles or sickness in the Bible?  No, it isn’t.  

Why do you go to church?  Is it because it’s a social event?  Do you go because of “good programs?”  Do you go because you’re expected to go?  Do you go to praise and worship God?

If you go to praise and worship God, what do you do with what you have received from God in that experience?  Do you keep it to yourself?  I’ve had people say, “Wow Angie, you really put yourself out there,” when I have shared my experiences.  Or, “Wow, you’re really in tune with the Holy Spirit!”  Well, my question is: Why aren’t you putting yourself out there?  Why aren’t you in tune with the Holy Spirit, as well?  This lifestyle that I have chosen isn’t just for “special people.”  I’m not special.  I’m simply choosing to live my life to the full as a follower of Christ.  Isn’t that what God wants of all of us?

Look, Easter / Resurrection day is only a few days away.  It’s the time of year that we take note and celebrate the truth that Jesus, while sinless, sacrificed his life for all mankind.  I ask you: Did He die so that we could sit back, coast through life, and then go to Heaven when this life is done?  No … He didn’t!  It’s His will that none … NONE, should perish.  2 Peter 3:9

Are you allowing God to work through you to reach the lost in your world?  If you consider yourself a Christian, what are you doing to advance the Kingdom of God?  God isn’t telling us that we should all be missionaries, or sit on street corners with signs warning of the end, etc.  It’s actually fairly simple.  We simply have to be intentional about living a life led by the Holy Spirit.  I have to tell you that I don’t believe there are very many Christians who choose to live their lives this way.  Far too many people attend church, head home and then go about their lives with no intention of being led by the Holy Spirit.  Sure, we pray, meet with our  Christian groups during the week, and head back to church the following Sunday and repeat and repeat and repeat.  But, what are you doing to reach the lost in your world?  Are you coasting through life just to make it through so you can enjoy Heaven in the next life?  

Folks, there is an arrogance within much of the church that believes that this is the way we should live our lives.  This isn’t truly living a life of a follower of Christ. We can go to church, praise and worship God, learn everything there is to know in the Bible, be inspired by awesome stories of God’s goodness to us, but if we’re not doing anything to share with the lost, what good is any of it?

Jesus’ ministry on this Earth was three years long.  Look at what He did to help the lost and hurting.  He was a friend to sinners.  He met them where they were and sincerely loved them.  Are you able to sincerely love someone who won’t attend church with you?  Are you able to simply allow God to work through you without demanding that the non believer do things the way you want them to?  God’s ways are not our ways.  We are not God.  Only God is God.  Jesus loved people and walked with them.  Jesus is our example.  I wonder how long he walked with us without demanding that we live our lives a certain way before we accepted Him as our Savior?  He is our example.  ~ Selah 

 Look at the “religious leaders” of His time, what did Jesus have to say to them?  Well, just to name a few things, He called them a “brood of vipers” and “whitewashed tombs”.  He described them as having the cup clean on the outside, but the inside of the cup dirty, meaning that they had a great appearance, but anything deeper than that appearance and He wasn’t impressed.  They were superficial.  They knew the scriptures by heart.  They had a plan and acted accordingly, but, when the Savior of the world stood in front of them, they didn’t even know it.  They saw Him spending time with sinners, healing them and casting out demons.  Then, they accused Him of being led by Satan.  Their faith and belief system was superficial simply because Jesus didn’t fit the mold that they had been taught.  I don’t want to live my life that way.  I choose to live the way Jesus did to the best of my ability.  I believe His way is not only much better, but, the only way.

The beginning of 2018, I posted a blog about making time to reach the lost and hurting in our world like the good Samaritan.  I believe that God is trying to get our attention.  I believe that many of us do truly love the Lord, but that our process is somewhat flawed.  The Western church believes too much of what is taught in our seminaries today … not that it’s all flawed.  That’s not what I’m saying.  But, what I am saying is that we are all called to be disciples of Christ, not just “the leaders” who have attended seminary and are now paid to lead a church.  It’s not just the leaders job to lead others to Christ.  Many of our churches are designed to “feed” followers, but are not set up to teach us to be true disciples of Christ.  We are all called to be disciples.  We all have a specific purpose for our lives no matter where we work or spend our time.

So, with all that said; What are we, as followers of Christ, doing to lead others to God?  Are we following Christ and leading others to Christ ... or just following? ~ Selah 

What do you believe?

Lately the Lord has had me stay focused on chapters 10 and 15 in John.  This morning, John 15:24 stood out to me.  “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both me and my Father.”  These are words spoken by Jesus.  Throughout the previous text, Jesus had been ridiculed and criticized for “doing good works.”  Now, the good works that Jesus was doing were things like, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, revealing sin in lives and releasing them to “go and sin no more.”  Jesus knew who He was.  He was God in flesh allowing the Holy Spirit to heal, give sight, etc. 

In John 15:24, it says that if he had not done these works, they would have no sin.  I find this very interesting because basically, it was the Jews / Pharisees (the religious leaders of the time) who were criticizing Jesus … to the point that they wanted to kill Him.  John 10:31-33 (Hmmm … what about that commandment, “Thou shalt not kill??)

The religious leaders of that time knew the word.  They had it memorized.  They had it down.  But, when God in the flesh stood in front of them, they didn’t know Him.  They saw the good works He did and claimed that He had a demon.  But some said, “These are not the words of a demon, can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”  John 10:21

The good works that Jesus did an does seem to be a stumbling block for us. Why is that?  Why is it so difficult for us to believe that miracles do happen … everyday … great or small. ( as seen by human eyes. It’s just as simple for God to do a “small” miracle as it is a “great miracle.”)

Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Basically, Solomon is saying that history repeats itself.  It’s all been done before. Mankind will repeat the same things over and over again year after year, decade after decade, and millennia after millennia.  We shouldn’t be surprised when we see these things being repeated.  But, I believe the question is; “Do we even see when history is repeating itself … in religious leadership, in the government, in the work place, in our own little world … in ourselves?”  You see, I don’t have to look very far in my own life to see that history is repeating or has repeated itself.  I don’t have to look very far in my world, religious leadership near or far, or in the government to see that history is repeating itself. But, I have to look to God to give me eyes to see it.  And, I have to look to God to know how to make the proper changes.  History does repeat itself, but what can and should we learn from it to make changes at any and all levels?

Twenty years ago, I helped a single mom with a teenage child get her sight back from blindness due to fast growing cataracts.  God led us to an organization that took care of her issues one hundred percent!  She had lost her job due to literal blindness and was living on $350 a month.  I watched religious leaders turn their backs on her.  In fact, my pastor at that time told me that he didn’t give pearls to swine.  He really did say that! Unbelievable!! History repeating … Luke 10:25-37  Now, as I got to know this woman, she revealed to me that her dream was to have a soup kitchen for the lost and hungry.  I have to tell you, I encouraged this woman to follow her dream.  I didn’t discourage her because of her situation or what the world … or fellow Christians would consider her “status” to be in society.  That’s not for me to do.  Her dream is between her and God and it’s for her to work out with Him. 

Just recently I was out and about and saw an acquaintance that I hadn’t seen in about a year.  She asked how I was doing.  The last time she had seen me, I was in much emotional pain due to the recent announcement that my husband was divorcing me.  The divorce is now old news and I’m in a much better place … not where I want to be, but working towards it.  As I explained to her all that God had done and is doing, the countenance on her face began to change, not for the good, and physically she even backed up from me a bit … as though there was something wrong with me.  She then literally looked away and walked away from me as I was in mid sentence.  No, you see, there’s “nothing wrong with me.”  I’m simply working out God’s will for my life.  She had told me of God’s will for her life and I rejoiced with her.  I didn’t make a judgment that she was incapable of following the dreams that God has placed inside of her.  I certainly didn’t receive the same encouragement from her and I won’t let her unbelief discourage me, either.  Again, unbelief in God’s good works.

We, too easily, can know God’s word … inside and out … but, can get hung up on His good works.  If we believe that we know completely how God works things out, we are fooling ourselves, and basically, we are placing ourselves as God when or if we make a determination that someone is “incapable” of something.  That’s not our job and it doesn’t work that way.  God does what He wants, and it’s not always the way we would do it or even comprehend it.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither  are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:8-9

Recently, I had a gentleman tell me that it’s not possible for us to hear God’s voice.  He found it necessary to tell me four different times in about a minute that he was a religious leader and that he had never heard God’s voice.  Again, a stumbling block.  God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He can and will speak to us whatever way He chooses.  We must be willing to listen.  See Numbers 22:21-39

We must be very careful.  Jesus said that if He hadn’t done those good works, they would not have sinned.  I believe that is very relevant for us today.  We must not allow ourselves to get caught in unbelief because of the good works that Jesus is doing all around us, through others who are willing to allow Him to work through them.  And, when I say this, I’m in no way saying that we should believe everything that we see, hear, or experience.  We must use wisdom, which God provides.  If any of you lacks wisdom, ask of God and He will give it without reproach. James 1:5

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again and again; many of us in the church have become dependent upon our own experiences and, knowingly or unknowingly, decided what is or isn’t of God.  Instead of being led by the Holy Spirit, many of us are leading with worldly head knowledge instead.  By doing that, we are, knowingly or unknowingly, placing restrictions on God … placing Him in a box.  You see, if we choose not to believe, we’re literally keeping the Holy Spirit from working in all the ways that He could. You can read about how Jesus was unable to do many miracles in home town in Matthew.  “He did not do many miracles due to their lack of faith.” John 13:58  Are we, as the Church, stopping God from doing many miracles due to our lack of faith?  Do we persecute those who do have the faith to believe in God’s very creative miracles?  Do we seek to stone them with our words, simply because we choose to not believe?

Jesus went about doing good.  Acts 10:38. He had an unlimited supply of the Holy Sprit, as do we, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit like Jesus was.  John 3:34  And we, as followers of Christ and co-heirs with Him, have the same Holy Spirit.  All we need to do is simply believe.

There was a man in the Bible whose son was taken over by a demon.  He sought Jesus to heal him.  Jesus said to the man “If you believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”  The man said, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.”  Mark 9:14-29  Jesus then cast out the demon and the boy was healed.

I believe there are many in the church who don’t even believe that casting demons out is necessary in this day and age.  This is very far from the truth.  I, myself, was a part of a group of women who cast demons out of a lovely young woman who had been greatly abused in her short twenty-one years of life.  We watched her transform from being bipolar, depressed, anxious, and on medication to a whole person, free from the demons (and medication) who had controlled her life due to situations beyond her control.  This is the healing power of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior!

Do you believe?  Do you need help for your unbelief?  I have to tell you that in my own life, I pray that scripture often at times … especially in the past two years.  I have been in situations where I didn’t understand why certain things were happening or sometimes even what was happening.  I trusted God because I believed Him.  But, I prayed for Him to help any unbelief that I had within me, as well.  I’m very grateful for that scripture.

As the Church, the Body of Christ, we need to take our hands off of things more and allow God to work through us.  We need to ask anew for eyes to see as God sees, ears to hear clearly what the Holy Spirit is speaking to us, and help for our unbelief.  Having unbelief about certain things isn’t necessarily a bad thing because we’re human.  We need God’s help.  If we didn’t need help with unbelief from time to time, there wouldn’t be a story about in in God’s word, and we wouldn’t need God.

Ultimately, we need to see God’s good works for what they are.  We don’t need to fear them and, in turn like the Jews of Jesus’ time did, deny them.

God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8  He is in control, not us.

We really don’t want to repeat the things that the Jews of Jesus’ time did … ultimately denying the good works of God, do we?  Let’s not let history repeat itself on our watch. There are so many lost and / or hurting in the world, and the church, as well.  Let’s  take our hands off and with wisdom, embrace God’s healing and restoring powers.  Let’s choose to ask for help with any unbelief we may have so that we don’t hinder God from moving in our lives or the lives of those around us.

He is God. We are not. 

Let’s not allow unbelief to keep us form God’s best for us … keeping us from fully impacting the world around us for the advancement of God’s Kingdom! 

Ninety-nine or one?

One came for you when you were lost. Are you seeking the one who is now where you once were?

Jesus came for us.  He sought us when we were wandering and lost.  We are to mirror what Jesus does.  Don’t hesitate to help someone simply because you “feel” uncomfortable, incapable or unqualified.  Those very reasons are exactly why God can work through us the best.  Isn’t it 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 that declares that when we are weak, God is strong in and through us?  “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-11

So, how is it that most of us help lead others to the Lord?  I’m sure we all do things here and there to personally speak to others to show the love of God. But, to me, and maybe I’m wrong here … it seems entirely too much like it just easy for us to give money and believe that our job is done.  Now, please understand that I’m not trying to discourage us from giving.  No, that’s not the point of this. Don’t stop giving.  But, what I am attempting to do is to get us to look at things in a different light.  My question here is:  Are we giving only and not stretching ourselves in other ways … like going to the “one” in our world who is lost?  Is it easier for us to give money because we don’t have time to “go after the one?”  Maybe, just maybe, we’re so busy “making money” that we don’t actually make time to stretch ourselves to be more like Jesus … choosing to go after the one.

Who in your world crosses your path on a regular basis and you choose to not reach out or show them the love of Christ because of inconvenience, lack of time, or feeling unqualified?

I believe in our world where the popular saying is “time is money,” we have given too much power to that belief.  Is it money that matters the most?  Is it time that matters the most?  Or … is it people who matter the most?

What if that person we neglected to speak to or pray for died only moments after we decided that we didn’t have time … or we were uncomfortable about it?  I don’t say this to condemn or shame us in any way!  I say it to open our eyes to view things from another angle … a wider, broader angle … attempting, in our humanness, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to see what God sees … instead of our narrow, limited, humanistic vision.

In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells a parable about the Good Samaritan. He said there was a man who had been physically attacked, robbed and left on the side of the road for dead.  Now, after this had happened, a priest and and Levite passed by the injured man.  These two religious people were so busy about their “religious busy-ness” that they chose not to show love to this injured man on the side of the road.  Later, a Samaritan passed by.  He not only stopped to help the man, but he paid a local innkeeper to take care of man … because, like every one else he was busy also.  The difference is love.  The Samaritan man stretched himself in this situation and he showed love.

Now, in that day, Samaritans were not looked upon kindly by the Jews.  They avoided one another.  Oh, I just love how Jesus used the example of a Samaritan doing the right thing when the religious leaders of His own ethnicity chose to walk away.  Jesus not only gave us an example of how to treat others here, but He also showed us that salvation is also for the gentiles.  And, he used a Samaritan man to stir the people up … to make them think.  Jesus had a wonderful way of illustrating with words so that we all can learn how to be more like him.  

Symbolically (hopefully, not physically), have you ever been in the same position of the injured man?  I have.  And, I have, many times, experienced the busy-ness of the first two examples.  Often, my thoughts have been … “just go to church because you don’t have the time for me.” I remember I said it out loud one time and the look I got was incredible.  I then explained that these people were too busy with “church” that they refused to take time out to help.  I wasn’t asking for money or handouts.  I was looking to connect with another human being.  I needed help in dealing with a very challenging situation in my life.  I received no help whatsoever.

I have to tell you.  I didn’t let those experiences stop me from God’s will for my life.  Those people chose not to help.  But, I didn’t choose to stop pursuing God because of those people.  Don’t let that happen to you in your walk.  I see so many people  who look to imperfect humans to find God.  Yes, God works through human beings and we are able to see that.  But, we are imperfect humans.  We are not God.  Only God is God.  Don’t forget that.  And, because of these things that I have experienced, I have made the decision to pursue being the third man in the parable.  I don’t want to be the busy religious men who are lacking love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13  I want to be like Jesus, who leaves the ninety-nine.

With all of that said, I want to be the one who goes after the missing or hurting one in my world.  I know what it feels like to be “left on the side of the road, hurting.”  Now that I’m upright, healed, and walking, I want to be the one who seeks out the lost and hurting.  

Are you leaving the ninety-nine to seek the lost and hurting one? Or are you simply busy entertaining the ninety-nine?  There is a difference.  Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:4

At the beginning of this piece, I stated that many people choose to not reach out because they feel uncomfortable, incapable, or unqualified.  I’d like to address this a bit further.  We live in a world of Master’s degrees and PhD’s.  If we don’t have the proper “education,” we “cannot get a good job.”  Well, okay.  That seems to be where our world is right now … and … there’s nothing wrong with education … nothing at all.  But, again, I’d like to broaden our perspective.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. I Corinthians 3:19  If we are followers of Christ and we believe that He is who He says He is, don’t we know the One who knows literally everything?  I mean,  I don’t need a Master’s degree or a PhD to know and believe that.  Not only do I have direct access to God Almighty, I have an intimate relationship with Him!  James 1:5 tells me that If I lack wisdom, all I have to do is ask for it.  Our world is so hung up on education that many are missing the simplicity of who God is.  He is everything … which is so much more than any degree. (again, I’m not against education). If we feel uncomfortable about helping someone, we only need to ask Him to help us through a situation.  If we feel or are incapable of something we only need to ask Him for help.  If we feel unqualified, again, we need only ask.  “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” Luke 11:11-13. 

May I suggest that in many, many ways, we have become so educated that we have fallen into the trap that we believe that we have things figured out instead of fully relying on God?  I really do believe that many within the church believe that all that’s needed for a “successful church” is simply a good formula.  I literally had someone speak that to me within the past several weeks.  No … no … the only formula there is, is more prayer to our Heavenly Father.  And, I don’t need an education to know that prayer is the answer. 

Our nation claims to be a Christian nation.  I do believe that we are and that it was founded on Christian beliefs.  Otherwise, we wouldn’t be as blessed with all that we have been and been able to be a blessing to so many others.  But, I believe we are in that phase where the generations have become spoiled and perhaps a bit ungrateful for the prayer and hard work that has brought us to this point.  I believe many of us are coasting on the prayers, reliance on God, and hard work of generations long before us.

We need to change our perspective.

Perhaps that will take place from our knees … in prayer.

Don’t stop giving.  In fact, Lord willing, I encourage you to give more!  Step out of that box you’ve allowed yourself to be contained in.  Reach out to the “stranger” that you, in the past, have chosen not to reach out to for whatever reason. Allow God to be your strength and your wisdom.  Pray Luke 12:12 over your situations.  The Holy Spirit will give you what you need to say in the moment that you need it.  Allow God to work through you.  Let Him do things His way.  Remember, we don’t have all the answers, but, we know the One who does.  It’s not our job to save people.  Jesus already took care of that. It’s our job to make ourselves available.  More than likely, we won’t be perfect when we take these steps.  That’s ok, learn from the mistakes.  That’s how we grow.

So, in this new year, I encourage you to be courageous and go after the “one” wandering astray in your world.  And remember, One came for you, gave His life, and went the distance for you when you were the one who was wandering astray!

Make it an excellent 2018!  God bless!    

Worth more than many sparrows ...

So, this morning after I had spent time with the Lord, praying, reading, and thinking, I went downstairs for another cup o’ Joe. I was thinking of my next task ... a scripture - picture, which I create quite often. In my head I asked the Lord what He wanted to create through me today. Immediately, my eyes were drawn to a single sparrow on a branch in my back yard. My mind was then drawn to a moment when I was in Australia.  My trip there was nothing short of miraculous. I had known for nearly 9 years that I was to go there. I hadn’t given up, but at times, I had grown a bit weary wondering if I had truly heard the Lord correctly in this … ya know in my human-ness! 

Well, last December, I was in my fourth month of living in California. The Lord had called me, much to my surprise, to an internship at a church in CA that then led to a Christian program where I assisted in teaching Afghan women refugees how to speak English. While I was there, I heard the announcement of a worship conference/gathering at HopeUC church on the CentralCoast in AU.  I began to pray about going.  Little did I know that in early February my husband of 27 years would call me to say he was divorcing me. I had wanted to go back to Arkansas.  I was all alone in CA … in the desert, so to speak. The Lord had said that I would be as certain as to the time to go back to Arkansas as I was when I went to California. Oh, how true that statement was!

I say all of this to brag on God.  Of course, He returned me safely back to Arkansas ... I was a wreck, and CA to AR is a long drive!

I made it back, and with no money and no job, He supplied every dime I needed for an attorney ... more than just a couple thousand dollars ... all within 4 weeks to the day I stepped back on Arkansas soil.  I was amazed!  I began to believe that I could actually attend the conference. I put my trust in Him, and sure enough He, again, supplied every dime I needed for that, as well.

I had planned my trip well, so I thought.  In my planning, I had mistakenly thought that I could walk to the church from my hotel.  Oh how wrong I was … and I think of myself as a pretty good planner!! :)  But again, there was God! He had seen my error in my planning ... and He was ready with a plan!  Sure, I could have taken a cab everywhere I went. That was my plan “B.”  God’s plan was better. He led me directly to a church member at HopeUC, seemingly randomly (of course, nothing is ever random) …  a little more than 24 hours after stepping on Aussie soil.  This kind elderly gentleman offered to “be a taxi” of sorts, kindly taking me to and from church and then also showing me some of the beautiful sights around the vicinity. Of course, I could have hired a driver, but God placed this gentleman in my path. He was/is a wonderful person whom I still communicate with. He’s like a father figure type of friend.  Isn’t God amazing?!?

So, the first day of the conference, I was moving a chair to sit with some incredibly friendly folks and a cute little sparrow flew right in front of me. It was like time stood still. In that seemingly long moment, that realistically lasted only a second, the Lord reminded me of how He takes care of the sparrow. He reminded me of my value and worth compared to it. My heart (and eyes) swelled as I was overwhelmed with His goodness.

God’s ways are not always our ways. If He’s said this once, He’s said it a couple hundred times in the past twenty months alone!! And, even when we pray, plan, and put things into His mighty hands, we do sometimes get it wrong. But God!  As long as we put our trust in Him and keep our hearts pure, He is there with a plan.  It may take longer than we expect, but God’s timing is perfect.  Habakkuk 2:3

So … as you continue on this journey of life, remember; “Don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:31 God is with us always and forever … for those who call on Him. Psalm 145:18

Be Thankful ...Deliberately!

Many years ago, around 2003-04, my life was an absolute mess. I didn't really know what was happening. I was depressed. I had terrible anxiety ... and I didn't even know why. All I could do was cry out to God. I didn't have the support of family. As far as friends were concerned, I didn't have any that really cared about what I was going through. I WAS ALONE ... as far as humans were concerned. God was always there ... even when He didn't seem near. 

As I sought the Lord and even some counseling, I began to realize what had happened in my childhood that God was healing me of. There were many things that I never even realized. My eyes were blinded to some things, and others I had deliberately buried. I had never been taught how to deal with things properly. BUT GOD!! He sees all. He knows all. He IS in control of all things. And, He chose this time in my life to reveal to me what had happened that I just didn't understand ... and began the healing process.

I had closed myself off from everyone. I would literally strengthen myself to pick Nicholas up from school. I would do everything I could to be a loving, caring, and nurturing mom. There was no reason for my son to suffer for my own misfortune as a child. I wouldn't have it! 

The summer before his 4th grade year, I felt led of the Lord to begin selling my pepper jelly at the Farmer's Market in Bentonville. I went to the market, found a place to set up, and found myself next to the loveliest of couples ... Tom and Mary. This too, was their first time at selling things at the Farmer's Market. Instantly, we became the best of friends. They were wonderful Christians who loved me for who I was. Long before I ever confessed to them how I felt, they were like the mom and dad that I needed in my life. Eventually, they would tell people that I was their "adopted daughter." (They actually have five daughters of their own!) 

Fast forward to 2017 ... a few years ago, Tom went on to be with the Lord. Mary and I still talk. She is like a mom to me. I love her dearly. She has been a rock to me over the past several months, but especially the past couple of weeks.

I say all of this, not to place Tom and Mary on a pedestal, but to give God praise! He knew that I needed them in my life and they needed me. Sometimes I don't really "feel" like I do as much for Mary as she does for me, but somehow it all works out. God crosses the paths of people to help each other out as He works out His purposes in our lives. We may or may not see it at the time ... or even later. But, He works all things for the good for those who love Him. 

I can say that I'm grateful for the things that God worked out in my life at that time, as difficult as it was. Those things He brought to light and healed me of has enabled me to help many others since then. And, although I am going through a difficult time now, I can say that I am grateful for it ... because I know that He will bring good from it ... and eventually bring me to a point of helping others in my same situation. 

This Thanksgiving Eve, I just ended a call with my spiritual mom, Mary, whom I am eternally grateful for. Her 88 years on this earth has given her much wisdom. I am grateful to be someone who is able to glean wisdom from her life.

What or whom are you grateful for this holiday season? Don't overlook the small details. I assure you, if you look closely, you'll see the fingerprint of God on it. 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone ... God bless!  :)

Listen Well

I sat in Starbucks today ... I thought I was going to do some writing. But, after a few minutes, a young woman sat down next to me. She was dressed in gym clothes so I asked her where she works out. She began talking and 90 or so minutes later, I felt like I now know most of her life's story.

I didn't do a lot of talking in this conversation ... and I'm ok with that.  Because of the outcome, which includes her making a note of where I go to church so that she and her family might visit, I'm reminded of the importance of simply listening.

For several years now, I've expressed, many times, about the importance of listening to others and not just slinging out our opinions. This isn't new thinking for me.  And, now that I'm in the midst of another challenging time in my life, I'm even more aware of how much listening and not speaking is needed.

Although I'm sure people don't intend to hurt with their words, I believe they're very much unaware of just how much they do just that by speaking when they really just need to listen.

It's important to remember that no matter how long we've been a Christian, we're no better than the person standing next to us. Maybe you've been a Christian for a long time and you have all the 'Christianese' down.  Maybe you think you have answers for everyone because of your vast number of years as a Christian. Well, I encourage us all to remember that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.  And, age doesn't always mean that wisdom is present in the words that we speak.  We need to think before we speak.

Being a good listener takes patience.  I'll also throw out this reminder that I've heard Joyce Meyer say many, many times: 'You're not Holy Ghost, Jr.'  Haha ... that still makes me laugh, even though there is an abundance of truth to that statement.

Look, we're all flawed people. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23 Of course we’re here to help others.  But, I also believe that we need to be good listeners.  If we’re always concerned about what our response is going to be, we are not truly listening to what the other person is saying.

In this instance, I believe this young woman needed to tell her story to someone.  As I listened, I found out that she is a mother to six children in a blended family, the youngest being less than a year old.  Her husband is in Afghanistan and she is here handling this rather large family nearly on her own.  She needed to get a few things off of her chest.  And, towards the end of the nearly two hour chat we had, she actually asked me my opinion on a couple of things.  Now, had I injected my opinions on her while she was “venting”…telling her story, I’m not so sure that she would have even wanted my opinion, let alone asked for it.

A couple of days after this, I found myself at a church service on a Saturday night where I had attended several years ago.  I don’t attend church there now, but felt drawn there by the Holy Spirit.  As I walked in, I had decided to sit completely in the back simply because I truly wanted to be by myself in the Lord’s presence.  I said, “Lord, please don’t let me see anyone that I know…but, not my will, but, Yours.”  I sat down on the very last row of a section.  This sanctuary holds between 1800-2000 people and was filling up.  There had been a young couple with a baby sitting a few chairs down from me.  During the beginning of the worship, they left.  A few moments later a man walked in and sat down in their place.  I looked over and I knew exactly who this person was.  He is someone that I have met at the Starbucks where I go to write my book.  He and his wife have been praying for me since I left to go to California.  This was not a coincidence.  I got his attention and waved.  He smiled.

After the church service was over, he asked if I was back from California for good.  I explained my situation to him.  In this instance, he was the one doing the listening and I was the one doing most of the talking…even though it was only for a few minutes.  He said that he and his wife had been praying for me and that I had come across his thoughts many times over the past few months.  Now he understood why.

You see, I feel “safe” being transparent with this person.  And, that’s the type of person I want to be with others.  I believe this is the mark of a mature Christian.  It’s not our job to go around “fixing” others.  It’s our job to love others, which may include words of wisdom.  But, I believe that more often than not, we need to simply listen to others without an agenda of any type.

For myself, I process when I share situations with others.  And, through that processing, I usually find the answers that I need for myself without the unwanted or unneeded input and/or interruption from others.  Now, let me just say that I certainly am open to hear what others have to say.  I’m not closed off to healthy dialogue.  What I am saying is that many have an agenda to “fix” others and that’s what is a definite turnoff.

Learn to listen to what others are saying.  Like I said before, it takes patience.  But, I believe it will pay of for our relationships in the long run.

Think before you speak because it’s not all about you.  Being a good listener to someone who is speaking is serving them well.  We are all called to be servants to others.  Let’s serve well.

The Fields Are Ripe for Harvest!

I’m practically laughing at myself because I didn’t realize that it was Valentine’s Day today when I woke up.  My initial plans were to simply read my Bible, (get caught up on my daily reading, as I’m a few days behind!) head to the gym and begin the process of packing my things to return to Arkansas.  But then, the idea of going up to the Big Trees State Park here in California ran across my mind.  I looked at the clock and decided to make a go of it.

 

I enjoy the drive to Calaveras County as it is a beautiful drive in many ways.  Much of the drive is through farm land which consists mainly of orchards, quite unlike the farmland I’m used to in the Midwest.  And, it looks as if I’m just shy of missing the full on beautiful blooms on the thousands upon thousands of trees that I passed today.  Passing through the farmland then gives way to hills, big beautiful hills that then grow into mountains.  I just LOVE the mountains.  As the numbers for elevation grow larger, the numbers for the temperature drop.  This is one of my fave places as this is the third time I’ve visited there in the nearly 6 months I’ve been here. The air is crisp and has the wonderful aroma of cedar.  Trust me; my words don’t come close to describing the actual experience!

Anyway, I was able to trot through a small portion of the park.  Silly me, I forgot about just how much snow had been on the mountain and it IS still winter!  It was very muddy and there was a lot of running water due to the melting snow.  I didn’t stay long.  Just being there one last time before I head home was sufficient for me.  It’s not just about the destination, but the journey.  And, God’s beauty is amazing … that is all!!

 

As I passed through one of the small towns on the way to the park, it crossed my mind to stop and eat at one of the local pizza places that I’ve eaten at both times I’ve been there previously.  Then I remembered a man who worked there.  I remembered him because he was sincerely friendly and the presence of the Lord was very strong on me when I had spoken to him.  As I came back down the mountain, I tried to talk myself into just heading home to save both time and money.  But then I realized that it was the Lord who wanted me to stop.  In my head, asked the Lord what the man’s name was.  I heard “Pete.”

 

So, I stopped at the restaurant.  I looked around for the man as I ordered my pizza.  Sure enough, there he was.  He came right up and greeted me.  I told him I was glad that I saw him on my last trip to the Big Trees because I was headed back to Arkansas next week.  And, guess what his name is?  That’s right, it’s Pete!!  Thank You, Holy Spirit!!

 

You see, the stop at the pizza place really wasn’t about me at all.  It was the Holy Spirit planting yet another seed to a lost soul.  In the flesh, I didn’t want to take the time, and, although I love pizza, I’m watching my girlish figure and thought that perhaps I should skip it.  This wasn’t about such superficial things and yet, even though the five minute chat with this man may have seemed superficial, the Lord was at work.  You see, I have prayed for Pete every time I’ve been to eat there.  They are very simple, but effective prayers.  And, I believe that one day I will see Pete in Heaven.  Today was Valentine’s Day and God wanted Pete to know that He is loved.  Now, I didn’t have to say those words.  That’s not how the Lord led.  I only had to be the vessel and allow Holy Spirit to work through me.  It really is just that simple.  1 Corinthians 3:6-7  He does the work.  We just need to be willing to follow Him, and His ways are not always like ours.  Isaiah 55:8

 

I just love when this happens.  Holy Spirit is amazing!  You see some people may never have darkened the door of a church and the only Jesus they ever see is through us, the followers of Christ that make up The Church.  That’s why it’s so very important that we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in spite of what we think in the “natural.” I almost chose to miss it today.

 

It’s God’s will that none should perish.  2 Peter 3:9   And, do you remember that the Good Shepherd will leave the 99 to look for the 1 lost sheep? Matthew 18:12 , Luke 15:4  We need to remember that we are not our own; we were bought at a price.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 You see, it would have been easy for me to simply hit the road for home in the name of saving time and money.  But I knew that this was more than a stop for food.

 

If you’re a follower of Christ, I urge you to stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit for these opportunities.  I have to tell you, nothing else will make your day quite like being in the will of God like this.  And, if you’ve never experienced a moment like this, ask God to lead you in this way … because He will.  Trust Him.  He’ll give you the words you need to say.  Luke 12:12  Trust me, I pray Luke 12:12 over situations all the time!!

 

Remember that the fields are ripe for harvest.  John 4:35, Luke 10:2  Something else I’d like to throw out here is that we have to look at others through the eyes of God.  Yes, the fields are ripe for harvest, but remember, we don’t get to choose what the “harvest” looks or acts like.  We’re sent to do the work!  The “harvest” may be pierced, tattooed and with colored hair … or perhaps Muslim, or Buddhist, etc.  They are no less loved by God than you and I are.  He loves us all.  We all have the invitation to be in relationship with Him.

 

We, as followers of Christ, need to love more … and not just use the word love.  Love isn’t just a word.  Love is a Person.  That Person is Jesus.  Jesus is God.  He who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  1 John 4:8   If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Savior, you have Love living inside of you.  Don’t block Love from flowing through you.  All too often I’ve experienced people using the word love when in reality the presence of love in their actions was no where to be found.  I get it.  We’re all human and we all have those moments.  But, let’s not make it a lifestyle.  Where does love begin and end in your world?  We need to make the conscience choice to let Love, God, flow through us.  We need to stretch ourselves to love more on a continual basis.  Don’t just reach a certain point and stop.

 

As followers of Christ, let’s purposefully be known for our love of others.  I challenge you to do that!  I believe it will make a difference in our world.

 

The fields are ripe for harvest...