When Truth Is Trampled

"Justice is turned away backward and righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) stands far off; for truth has been trampled in the street (the city's forum), and uprightness cannot enter the courts of justice. Yes, truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. And the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice."
                                                                                                                               Isaiah 59:14-15




The conflict in our nation continues to escalate. If you had to narrow the scope of what is so conflictual, you could narrow it to the battle of truth and lies. What once was upheld and honored and esteemed is tragically being trampled underfoot by the masses. It would seem that the only apparent standard we hold as a nation is that we have no standards.

There was a day when we could count on the judicial system or the F.B.I. or the Department of Justice or even the media to sound the alarm of the injustices in our land. However, that is no longer true. Partisanship is the order of the day and it no longer bears any resemblance to the Biblical truths outlined for us in God's Word.

During the lifetime of the prophet, Isaiah, he also encountered the battle between truth and lies. The rulers of his time were so wicked that he compared them to pregnant women giving birth to sin (Isaiah 33:11; 59:4). He also noticed similarities of them to snakes hatching their eggs and to spiders weaving their webs (Isaiah 59:5-6).

Isaiah understood that no matter how intricate or organized their web of deceit was that ultimately that would prove to be the very thing that brought about their destruction. The apostle, James, confirms this when he states that "every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire. Then, the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin. When it is fully matured, it brings forth death" (James 1:14-15).

God is never pleased with injustice. When we see it in our land it is a clarion call from heaven to intercede and intervene. Prayer and fasting for our nation is a necessity. And, when we see that truth is being trampled, it is incumbent upon the people of God to lift it up, exalt it, and make it known. Only God can save our nation, but He does call His people to partner in what He is doing.

We cannot shrink back or profess ignorance (Proverbs 24:11-12). The more critical the times, the more vocal we should be. There are too many people being deceived by the lies. There are too many people on the slippery slope of destruction.

The Truth is not democratic, or republican, or libertarian. It is not opinionated or biased. We do not need political correctness in our land; we need Biblical correctness that will revive us into the nation we are called to be. The Truth is not a nebulous construct; The Truth is a person and that person is Jesus Christ.

It is His words that need to be lifted up. It is His characteristics that need to be emulated. It is His heart that needs to be sought in the midst of so much chaos and turbulence in our land.

When we do this collectively, there are certain promises that God makes to us that we can take to the bank. One such promise is found in the very same chapter of the book of Isaiah. It states, "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives]" (Isaiah 59:19).

In other words, God will intervene on our behalf. He will zealously and divinely mediate what we cannot. The result of His intervention will be salvation and the fear of the Lord, and He will be glorified!

He will covenant with every person that turns from their sin and walks in the truth. He says, "As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord: My Spirit, Who is upon you [and who writes the law of God inwardly on your heart], and My words which I have put inn your mouth shall not depart... nor will they depart out of the mouths of your [true, spiritual] children, or out of the mouths of your children's children, says the Lord from henceforth and forever" (Isaiah 59:21).

When God's glory shows up, all things are made new. It begins with His grace in our lives and ultimately becomes His glory. Jonathan Edwards said, "Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected."

For so many Christians in our nation, this past season has been an extremely difficult one. Could it be that God is perfecting His grace within us? Could it be that it is God's plan in this next season to be glorified in His Church?

His glory dwells within us. It is the Light that will pierce our dark culture and our dark world. It is what God will use to draw all men to Himself, when we look up and lift Him up.

Lovingly and mercifully, we extend our hand to those who are being deceived. Not to prove we are right or that we have all the answers. We reach out as the tangible hands of Jesus so that others know they are valued. They are loved.

We let go of judgment and defuse the conflict that we see. When we humbly and truthfully recognize that we are all merely sinners saved by grace, we will joyfully extend that same grace to those around us. This is how genuine believers respond when we acknowledge that The Truth has been trampled in our land.


"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to act justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?"
                                                               Micah 6:8

Synchronized Heartbeats

          "He's a man whose heart beats to my heart; he will do everything I want him to do."
                                                                Acts 13:22




Even outside the Labor and Delivery room, you could distinctly hear the differences in the two heartbeats. Twin "A" sounded like a bounding, rapid gallop, while twin "B" was slightly quieter at a much slower pace. It was ironic to me that even identical twins would never be identical in regards to their cardiac function- the very beats that gave them life.

Synchronicity in their heartrates still does not occur even after the twins are born. Each heartbeat is separate and unique; it is solely their own. No matter how many similarities, likenesses, or commonalities they share, they will never share a synchronized heartbeat. That is reserved for our relationship with God.

The man in the Bible who gets the lofty praise of such synchronicity is David. He is referred to as "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). At first glance it may appear that David  lived a perfect life and made no mistakes. However, this could not be further from the truth. His sin repertoire includes: lying, parenting mistakes, murder, and adultery, to name a few.

Yet, why would God commend David for his heart? What characteristics of his life stood above the rest? What caused his heart to beat the way that it did? What made David's heart beat the way that it did? How in the world did it beat in synchronicity with the Creator of the universe?

Immediately, this pulls my mind to the wonders of the human heart. This single muscle, that weighs no more than a pound, reliably beats more than 2.5 billion times in the average lifespan. It pumps over two thousand gallons of blood per day. It perfuses all the cells of the body with oxygen, as it simultaneously draws out the waste. It begins beating four weeks after conception and doesn't stop until we go home to be with the Lord. It is an amazing organ!

Similarly, when I think about David's heart, I think in terms of its: position, persistence, perfusion, and power. The intimacy of his relationship with God was of the utmost of importance as he longed to be as close to God as he possibly could. He desired what God desired and he did what God asked him to do. Even when life was challenging. Even when God's desires defied human logic.

The position of David's heart was bowed down. He was both humble and reverent. He rightly ascribed God's position, as well as the position of man. He said, "Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath" (Psalm 62:9).

He understood that when we are in right position with God that we are protected. Throughout many precarious situations, God delivered him again and again. He said, "The Lord will protect [me] and keep [me] alive; [I] will be called blessed in the land; and You shall not deliver [me] to the will of [my] enemies" (Psalm 41:2).

Despite the many people and circumstances that tried to take David out, he was persistent in his walk with God. There were times and seasons when he felt like he had lost everything- that is, everything except God. David used these opportunities to grow closer to the Lord.

Oswald Chambers says, "If God allows you to be stripped of the exterior portions of your life, He means for you to cultivate the interior."

And that is what David did. His faith both pleased God and was rewarded by Him. David was grateful in the times of peace and prosperity and he was grateful in the times of fear and despair. He never forgot to thank God for all he had- that was one of his finest characteristics.

David's life was perfused with adoration, devotion, and love for God. He delighted in His commands and he adored God's Word. Again  and again, he states that he meditates on them both day and night. David chose a heartbeat that was steady and strong.

He recognized the blessing of obeying God's precepts and walking in communion with Him. He shouts out his love for God and admits his life would be meaningless without Him. He states, "Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways" (Psalm 119:2-3).

All of these characteristics enabled David to live in the power of God Almighty. He trusted God with all his heart no matter how difficult his circumstances were. He said, "The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).

He was faithful, obedient, and repentant. His heart broke when he hurt God's heart. He cried out to God and said, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" (Psalm 51:1-2).

David accomplished God's will in his life. He did not allow distractions, deterrents, or despots to get him off track. When God told David to do something, he did it without hesitating. He did it with love and passion.

David's heart beat for God and in synchronicity with God. It was the driving force of  his life. The God-shaped vacuum in his heart was gigantic and he was always mindful of God's presence in his life. Because of this, he knew what things to add to his life and what things to delete. He knew God's will and purposed in his heart to accomplish it. David understood that the most important thing in this world was to have a synchronized heartbeat that beats in rhythm and melody with the Lord!


               "We cannot always trace God's hand, but we can always trust God's heart."
                                                           Charles Spurgeon    

Going Dark

"Remind them to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work, to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men."
                                                                                                                                              Titus 3:1-2





As lawlessness escalates in the country around us, so does the absurdity of the presidential campaign before us. No matter on which side of the aisle you find yourself today, we can probably all agree that our governmental leaders lack the character and gravitas that once made this nation great. Corruption and moral decay careen out of control at unprecedented levels and it would seem that all that is right and good is being ridiculed and mocked.

Social media, for some, has become the coward's platform to say all manner of evil things towards those who hold opposing views. It is used to insult, disrespect, chide, and deride the very people that God has called us to minister to. And while we rant and rave towards the unfortunates that are less knowing than ourselves, we are being distracted from seeing the Only One who can effectively change things- Jesus!

The roar of the hatred and division crescendos to a tone that deafens and deceives. Every time we respond in anger and vitriol we disobey the very commands that Jesus gave to us. He warned us that these times were coming and that people would hate us just because we are His. Jesus tells us how to respond. He says, "What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops" (Matthew 10:27). We go dark when we quiet our hearts before the Lord to hear what He has to say. It is quiet and it is personal.

The problem we have is that too many believers are trying to wage war in the natural realm. The truth is that these battles can only be won in the supernatural realm. The apostle, Paul, tells us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

Still other believers have chosen to disengage from public debate and go radio silent. This also is not a Biblical stance. In the Old Testament, when the nation of Israel was divided (Israel and Judah) and without hope, God sent Ezekiel to tell them that He was going to restore their land and regenerate their people. He called His remnant to the ravaged land and told them to rebuild. Their assignment was to build up what had been torn down.

The Holy Spirit showed Ezekiel this by giving him a vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37). These were the skeletons of many bodies who had been dead for a very long time. They were dormant and desecrated- unable to do anything of value during a time that was crucial in their history. Then God asked Ezekiel a question. He queried, "Can these bones live?" (Ezekiel 37:3).

Ezekiel did not have the answers because, from a natural point of view, this was certainly an impossibility. However, from a divine perspective, we know that "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). It wasn't that Ezekiel lacked the faith of what God could do; it was that he was uncertain of what God's plans were.

Then God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the dead bones that God's breath would enter them, they would be covered with flesh, and that they would live and know the power of God (Ezekiel 37:4-6). Ezekiel obeyed the Word of the Lord and saw that God's Word is powerful and alive and that it also imparts life (1 Peter 1:23). The dead army of bodies became a living one and they rose to their feet to accomplish God's will.

Interestingly, all the promises that God gave to Ezekiel were not fulfilled at that time. They were a prophetic message for believers living in the last days prior to the return of Christ. These believers would become the bride of Christ that Jesus would return to reclaim for His kingdom and His glory. This is the army that would one day move across the earth preparing others for the return of Christ.

It is my belief that as a nation we are at a critical junction for our future- both naturally and supernaturally. I believe this is the time that God wants to pour out His Spirit on the earth and do great things. This will require the sacrifice of repentance and radical obedience.

He is calling us to grow closer to Himself and hear the Words that He is speaking. These are the Words that we are to shout to the world. Not our own- only His. Jesus is the One who matters right now and we need to put our eyes back on Him.

We cannot focus on those who are "lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power" (2 Timothy 3:1-5) because they distract us from the Only One who can bring revival and regeneration to our land.

God has a plan for this election cycle and it is incumbent upon each one of us to not assume what that plan may be. We have to seek His heart regarding the things that are important to Him: advancement of the Gospel, loving one another, preparation of His bride, and Him being lifted up in our individual lives and in the earth. We will never truly know His heart if we are focusing on the chaos and lawlessness we see in the natural.

I honestly do not know if our nation is barreling towards God's judgment or if He will mercifully give us a reprieve to be about His Kingdom agenda. What I do know is that whatever decision He makes will be the one that ultimately ushers in the greatest number of souls in this end-time harvest. God is good and what He does will always be for the greater good.

The thing we can do as believers is to recognize the times we are living in and not get sucked into the vortex of unholy speech, attitudes, and deception. Jesus is the anchor of Truth when we approach Him in reverence and humility. He will lead us into all truth and righteousness. Self-righteousness will rapidly lead us to destruction.

Pray for all of our leaders and presidential candidates. Recognize that these representatives merely represent the sin that is so rampant in our land. God is allowing us to see in the natural what is so prevalent supernaturally. Instead of hostility, how about some repentance?

God's Word and the Holy Spirit are the only good options for our nation today. Charles Spurgeon said, "Decayed churches can most certainly be revived by the preaching of the Word, accompanied by the coming of the heavenly breath from the four winds." Prayer is the essential catalyst.

On an individual basis, we need to conduct an honest assessment of our relationship with Jesus. Is it alive and vibrant and bearing good fruit? Do you know what Words He is telling you to speak?  Or, is it on life support that barely survives from week to week? It is not enough to only be spiritually fed once a week. The more uncertain the world around us becomes, the more important it is to have daily, one on One time with the Lord. This cannot be done solely in the public square. This is the kind of relationship that only happens by going dark!


"The coming revival must begin with a great revival of prayer. It is in the closet, with the door shut, that the sound of abundance of rain will first be heard. An increase of secret prayer with people will be the sure harbinger of blessing."
                                                                                                                                   Andrew Murray

Lightning Inside The Eyewall

"Out of the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."
                                                                                                                                   Revelation 4:5




This morning, as I am writing this blog, I am watching the Storm Tracker on the Weather Channel. They are tracking Hurricane Matthew, which will affect approximately 11 million people in Florida and the Carolina's. Currently, Hurricane Matthew is a Category 3 storm, but because of the lightening that is occurring inside of the eyewall, it is poised to quickly become a Category 4 storm.

When there is inner core lightning, it means that the storm is very strong and continues to strengthen as it moves. Studies have shown that these bursts in the inner core that are accompanied by electrical activity will cause a deepening of intensity. They will cause the storm to quickly escalate into a formidable force that wreaks much havoc throughout it's path.

Interestingly, the majority of storms have no lightning inside the eyewall. It is a very rare storm that does. That is because only the most powerful storms have the flashes of lightning within them.

Pondering these truths made me stop to consider some of the storms that I have personally experienced in my life. To be honest, the vast majority of them had little or no lightning inside the eyewall. Often, I would revert to survival mode and try desperately to avoid the discomfort of the storm that raged around me.

Recent revelation and understanding has taught me how to really lean in and experience God's presence and power in the midst of my storm. Instead of hunkering down and trying to minimize its effects, I realize that when I actively participate and cooperate with what God is doing that there are treasures to be found in the darkness. The primary treasure that we receive is more of God, Himself.

There is so much of Himself that God wants to give us when we are experiencing difficulties. Instead of shielding us from trials and tribulations, God reveals to us that He has something even better in store for us. What is better is the goodness, kindness, mercy, and love that flows from the very heart of God.

Over and over in His Word, He promises that we are never alone in the midst of our storm. He promises hat if we lean into our circumstances and lean into Him that He resides with us in the eye of the storm. He says, "My presence will go with you and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14).

The problem that we have, however, is that the noise of the storm around us is loud and sometimes it is hard to hear God while it rages relentlessly. Yet, as we acknowledge Jesus by faith and appropriate the truth of His Word, we will begin to see and hear Him more clearly. And, when we worship Him, we will feel His manifest presence in our lives.

As we ask Him to give us a "Spirit of Wisdom and revelation" (Ephesians 1:17), He will begin to teach us in the midst of our storm. This enables us to interact with His Word (which is what God uses to speak to us). The book of Hebrews tells us that "the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Ultimately, God is after our hearts. He wants to cleanse them and make them fully alive and functioning to Himself and His purposes. This is when He releases His power in our lives to accomplish His will.

God's power is the demonstration of His presence. His power and His presence are inseparable. This is what strengthens us and gives us the grace to be steadfast in our walk. This comes from truly knowing the depth of His love for us personally. Intimately.

The apostle, Paul, said, "May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ, through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Now to Him Who, by the action of His power that is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]- to Him be the glory! (Ephesians 3:16-21).

No matter what we do (or do not do), we will experience storms in this world. We do get to choose whether or not we will just brace ourselves merely to survive the affront or whether we will press in to experience God's presence and power. For goodness sake, if we have to go through them anyway, please let there be lightening inside the eyewall!


                                   "No pressure is greater than God's power."
                                                      Charles R. Swindoll

*** Please pray for the people in the path of Hurricane Matthew

True Redemption

"The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out."
                                                                                                                                        Luke 8:1-2




She was the last one to leave the Cross, and the first one to visit His grave. She expressed much love, gratitude, and servitude to the Lord because she owed Him her very life. She would never forget that Jesus had healed her and liberated her from seven demons because torment defined her very existence until she met Him. The power of His touch propelled her heart to beat faster and her respirations to accelerate along with it. This was no ordinary Man. No, this was the Son of God. This was her Redeemer.

Mary Magdalene responded by passionately devoting her days to: loving, faithfully ministering to, and anointing her Lord. The fire of her love and compassion was fueled by her remembrance of the depth of her bondage. She determined in her heart to commit her whole life to following Him and allowing His goodness to flow through her to others.

Propelled by a force that was greater than her own, she pressed on to the destiny God had planned for her life. She opted to leave the past and press into her future. She left her home in Magdela to become a disciple of Jesus. In turn, she was redeemed and made whole; she would never be the same again.

Jesus transformed her life in every way. He took the love and devotion she gave to Him and turned it into a heavenly revelation of her Resurrected King! He honored her sacrifices to Himself by still allowing her story to minister to people in need. He helped her mature in every level of His grace to become everything He had created her to be. She wasn't just redeemed spiritually. No, every aspect of her life was transformed and redeemed to the glory of God!

It still amazes me how God runs His redemptive thread through the whole of our lives. He takes the tiny mustard seed of our faith in Jesus and imputes all of our sin to Him so that we stand righteous before Him. The book of Romans tells us that "All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).

But, He doesn't stop there. While grace displays God's heart for us and pays for our sin, He still has so much more for us as His children. He takes all of our failures and shortcomings and He uses and redeems each one. When He adds His redeeming touch to all that is broken or not working, He makes it count for profound purpose and His great glory!

More often, it is our failures to which people can relate, and not our successes. This is how we become conduits to help those around us. Max Lucado says, "Blessed are the available, blessed are the conduits; the tunnels, the tools. Deliriously joyful are the ones who believe that if God has used sticks and rocks to do His will, then He can use us."

There are so many people around us who have very real challenges and struggles. While it is true that we are more than conquerors in Christ (Philippians 4:13), and that God does give us victory in all things to triumph, it is also true that hurting people need to know the places that we have struggled and failed. They need to see our humility, along with God's power.

Failure will never define us if we are determined not to be the same person coming out of something as we were going into it. God will always be glorified if we allow Him to touch our circumstances and bring redemption to them. Jack Hyles says, "Failing is not a disgrace unless you make it the last chapter of your book."

We are reminded that we are not God when we fail. We are also reminded of just how much we need God in our lives. We need Him to redeem us, which means "to buy back, recover, and to make up for". It is not just about being redeemed eternally; it is also about living a redeemed life, which is the only kind of life that brings God glory.

God intentionally made humanity dependent upon Himself. We are lesser beings through which He might be glorified. We are told that "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to bring forth the light of the knowledge of the clarity of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay vessels that the excellency of the virtue may be of God, and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).

He sends His message through jars of clay so that He will get all the glory. It all starts with Him and it all ends with Him. In eternity, the glory of the redeemed will all go to God and not to man.

Throughout the whole Bible, God's desire is to redeem a broken humanity. Over and over, He proves that He will redeem all things that are given to Him in submission. He redeems: people, families, relationships, broken hearts, dreams, purpose, and destiny. We find that some people are involved in the redemptive process and some are not.

For those who are involved, God empowers them by His Spirit to live redeemed lives. He gives us revelation to hear and know Him so that we are not left on our own to try to figure things out. He also speaks through other Spirit-filled believers to convey His heart and message to us. He also illuminates His Word to light the path in front of us.

His Spirit also teaches us how to live sacrificial lives that prefer others before ourselves. He shows us how to walk in humility and to apologize to the people we hurt. God uses sacrifices in a mighty way to bring about redemption in the broken places of our lives.

The Holy Spirit also brings us to a place of maturity in our walk. He shows us how to receive God's grace at every level to be all He is calling us to be. We walk life out with others in order to hear more and be more like Jesus. We make a decision to not let our past define our present or our future in Christ. Only Jesus has the power to define our destiny.

Redemption is a beautiful gift that is placed upon us. It is not earned, nor is it deserved. Lavishly, God pours out His very best on us so that we can be His ambassadors of grace to those around us. His heart is to always "seek and to save that which is lost" (Luke 19:10), and we are graciously part of His loving plan. That, my sweet friend, is true redemption!


"Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I'm not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things- things which could be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him."
                                                                                                                               Oswald Chambers


 

ISSUES?

"And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all of her living upon physicians, and could not be healed of any, came behind Him [Jesus], and touched the hem of His garment: and immediately the issue of blood was healed.

And Jesus said, 'Who is this that touched Me?'
And when all denied, Peter said, 'Master, the multitudes press Thee and crush Thee.'
But, Jesus said, 'Someone did touch Me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from Me.'

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him declared in the presence of all the people for what cause she touched Him, and how she was healed immediately. And He [Jesus] said unto her, 'Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.'"
                                                                                                                                        Luke 8:43-48




Exhaustion pulsed through her veins into the very marrow of her bones. This exhaustion extended far beyond the  physical realm. She had given all that she could give and she was spent in every way- physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, and even financially. She had toughed it out for such a long time that the true realization that her burden was too heavy to bear become a gradual one. Today, however, there was no doubt in her mind.

Misery and affliction had been her closest companions for twelve long years as she pursued resolution from every available source. And yet, it had been to no avail. That is, until the day she determined in her heart that she would touch the Only One who could genuinely bring restoration to her body, soul, and spirit. Her complete healing came when, in total honesty, she came to the feet of Jesus.

Desperation drove her to where true help could be found. While her circumstances were dramatic, she chose to not stay stuck in the drama. In her core, she was determined to : find God's will, submit to it, and declare it to the world! She would not blame anyone or anything for what she was experiencing. She would not allow excuses to deprive her of God's very best in her life.

Whether or not we suffer with physical limitations or illnesses, we all have issues that we are faced with daily. They may involve: marriage, job, prodigals, mental illness, finances, conflict, demands, addictions, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, jealousy, fear, as well as societal pressures and problems. Sometimes we perceive the issues around us correctly, and sometimes we do not.

Regardless of whether we think we have an accurate understanding,  the first thing we should do is to seek God's perspective on what we are dealing with and then come into alignment with what the Bible has to say about our problems. When God showed the prophet, Daniel, some issues that would occur in the future, Daniel did not understand. He said, "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, 'O my Lord, what shall be the issue of these things?'" (Daniel 12:8).

At least Daniel understood what he did not understand. He had insight and he also had the humility to ask God for help. He knew where to turn and he had the resolve to walk it out to its completion.

One of the problems we have created in our microwave society is that we want a quick fix. If given the option, we would prefer not to dig down and do the hard character-building work that God would have us to do. We want an instantaneous, drive-thru answer, and if that doesn't work then we want something or someone to numb the pain. Oh yeah, and we want that quickly too.

There are three major areas of misperception that we see today: who God is, who we are, and who others are. If we perceive incorrectly in any of these areas concerning an issue in our lives, we will have major problems. And, if we compound these problems by the insatiable need to be right, we will quickly get stuck on stupid.

The book of Proverbs tells us to "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above everything else you guard, for out of it flow the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23).  We do this by daily putting on a spirit of humility and asking God to show us the barriers in our life and the things that would separate us from Him and from others? Then, in meekness and in repentance, we ask the Holy Spirit to remove the bits of a stony heart and replace them with a softness and tenderness for Him.

A soft heart is what the woman with the issue of blood had. She also accurately perceived who Jesus was. She knew that He had healed others and she was confident that He could heal her too. When she saw Him, she saw the love and compassion in His eyes and she made a decision to trust in His goodness.

She put her faith in the deity and sovereignty of her Savior, even at great risk to herself. Even though she was considered ceremonially unclean, she pushed her way through the crowd to get to her King. No one or nothing would stand in he way. She had a need and she was confident that He was the One who would meet that need.

She also had an accurate perception of herself. She understood that her circumstances were dire, but she looked beyond them to see that she was a beloved daughter of God. She was  secure in Him and she would not allow her insecurities to prevail and to steal her miracle.

By societies' standards she was not an important person. But, in God's economy, there was no one more important. Not coincidentally, she touched the hem of Jesus' garment while He was on His way to heal Jairus' daughter. Jairus was a wealthy, prominent citizen who had far more social standing than she did, but she believed that Jesus loved her just as much. She would not allow a faulty self-image to rob her of her blessing.

She also had an accurate perception of the people around her. Even though the crowd around her was sizable and pressing hard against her body, she had not come for their approval. Therefore, she was not intimidated by either the masses nor the status of those who had come to see Jesus.

She was on a mission and she would not be deterred. Her heart was pure and she was willing to persevere and do the thing that challenged her. Therefore, God honored her faith and commitment, and she was made whole!

Unwilling to keep quiet regarding what Jesus had done, she seized the opportunity to confess Christ and glorify God. This was so easy to do because she had been able to meet Him face to face and receive His warm words of love and comfort. She could do no less than to share the Good News with others.

Her trial ended  and her suffering ceased. Her words inspired Jairus, who would soon learn that his sick daughter had died. (Fortunately, the same Jesus that healed the woman with the issue of blood also helped Jairus and raised his daughter from the dead!). This woman who had touched Jesus, and had been touched by Him, would never be the same. She exchanged her weakness and exhaustion for God's presence and power. Her life morphed into a life of purpose and victory and a testimony for all to see!

God offers each one of us the same promise of victory. We must choose whether we will bring our issues to the feet of Jesus or whether we will allow them to expand and grow heavier. It is far more productive to exchange our issues for His touch of wisdom, knowledge, and insight. When these are utilized along with an accurate assessment of God, self, and others, we will have no choice but to walk right out of our issues into the spacious place of promise. What a beautiful exchange!


"God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself."
                                                          Dietrich Bonhoeffer

From Barrenness To Fruitfulness

"We will this year gather celestial fruits on earthly ground, where faith and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord."
                                                                                                                               Charles Spurgeon




For many believers, this past year has been one of many difficulties and trials. As the stress and pressures have increased around us, it as become more obvious which places in our lives are the weakest and have the most vulnerabilities. It is quite likely that discouragement has knocked on the door of your heart, especially when you survey the barren desert places that God is shining His light upon.

If we only focus on what we see in the natural, it may seem reasonable to throw up our hands in frustration, or even despair. And yet, God never created us to only view things from a natural perspective. One of the reasons Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to earth was to help us see the supernatural things in the earth that He is doing.

Believe it or not, there is beauty even in the barrenness. The most beautiful thing about barrenness is that it becomes the backdrop for God's fruit-creating power. Even the most desolate things can become a setting to showcase God's extravagant love. As we take an inventory of our needs, it drives us deeper in our pursuit of Jesus. This is the only place where fruit can be found.

When we identify any area of barrenness, it is important to rise up in faith against it. God's very existence is life and abundant life at that. Therefore, as His children, He expects that our lives reflect that as well. The only way they will do that is through our connection to Him. Only He can cause eternal fruit in our lives to grow.

The type of fruit that God causes to grow is solely up to Him. It will always begin as a work inside of us before it is ever manifested externally. We can try to produce our own fruit by tying on good works to our lives, but they will never be sustained. It is God's workmanship, and it is for His glory alone.

Because of my background professionally as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, when I think of barrenness the first thing that comes to mind is infertility. Interestingly, the Bible showcases nine women who were unable to conceive a child. They are: Sarah, Abimelech's wife, Rebekah, Rachel, Manoah"s wife, Hannah, Michal, the Shunammite woman, and Elizabeth.

All of these women lived in a time where barrenness was not only painful, but there was also a stigma attached to it. They most likely felt deficient or unworthy. To make matters even worse, most of them probably also understood that God was quite able to open their wombs (Deuteronomy 7:14) and that if He did not, there were no other options. They did not have the benefit of modern technology. There was no: Clomid, Injectable FSH and LH, Inseminations, or In Vitro. Future hope grinded to a halt!

They felt stuck in their sorrow, and yet, God had a much bigger plan for their lives. While He understood the depth of their pain, He wanted to bring forth the harvest that would result in His best for their lives. He allowed their barrenness to drive them closer to His heart.

Out of all these women, Michal was the only one who remained barren until the day she died (2 Samuel 6:23). Unfortunately, she had allowed bitterness and resentment to rob her of all the blessings that should have been hers. Instead of drawing closer to God in her time of need, she withdrew and mocked the Only One who could help her.

She had been given everything any woman of that time would have desired. As King Saul's daughter, she was born a princess that would grow up to become the wife of a king. She was a queen of royal descent but that wasn't enough.

One day as she peered out the window of her castle, she saw her husband, David, dancing in the streets and praising God. He was bringing the ark of the Lord into the city of David, and he was ecstatic. So ecstatic, in fact, that he had not bothered to wear his clothing.

The Bible tells us that when Michal "looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord [that] she despised him in her heart" (2 Samuel 6:16). Instead of joining the celebration with her husband, she chose to reject him and the blessing he bestowed. As a result, she missed out on the blessing God had apportioned for her life.

She didn't stop there, however. She went on to verbally assault King David because he was so joyful. She said to him, "How glorious was the king of Israel today, who stripped himself of his kingly robes and uncovered himself in the eyes of his servants' maids as one of the worthless fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" (2 Samuel 6:20). The bitterness of her own feelings of worthlessness were promptly projected onto her husband, which positioned her against the man of God. Not the right move!

There is a vast difference in barrenness as a part of our journey versus barrenness at the end of our lives. All of us will have seasons when one aspect or another of our lives feels very barren. It can be: in our professions, our marriages, with unsaved loved ones, in our finances, in our health, in our ministry, and in countless other areas.

The important thing is to not give up hope or grow stagnant in our faith. Oftentimes, the very area that is the most barren will reap the greatest harvest. Remember the other eight barren women? Some of their miracles included: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Samuel, and John the Baptist! God would ultimately use each of these men for mighty purposes in His kingdom.

In order for us to move from barrenness to  fruitfulness, we have to remember that He is the Vine and He is the Vinedresser. It is incumbent upon Him to choose the fruit in our lives and to cause them to grow. Our responsibility is to stay connected to Him, pure in our hearts, and submitted to His pruning, cultivation, and timing. He is faithful and He will turn our barrenness into a fruitful plain!


"I have told you these things that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing."
                                                                                                                                        John 15:11