Shaking Off Serpents

"After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and it was cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, 'No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.' He, however, shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured."
                                                           Acts 28:1-9




The waves of the ocean rocked back and forth violently as a hurricane ripped through it mercilessly. The apostle Paul was bound in chains, as he was being taken to Rome to stand trial before Caesar, despite the fact that Porcius Festus could find no real charges with which to accuse him. In actuality, it was never really Festus' decision to make, for God had already determined that Paul would go to Rome because He had work for him to do there.

So, as he was en route, accompanied with other prisoners, Luke, Aristarchus, and his guard named Julius, their ship encountered a massive storm. Paul had warned the crew of the peril that lie ahead, but they chose to ignore his warnings. Ultimately, the ship wrecked and they lost everything except their lives. Cold and shaken, the 276 men set foot on the isle of Malta where their adventures would  continue to occur.

The people of the island warmly welcomed them and built a fire to help them warm up. Paul assisted them and grabbed a bunch of sticks to throw on the fire. As he did, a poisonous snake that was mixed in with the sticks recoiled from the heat and bit his hand. Not only did the serpent bite his hand, but it actually held on and was affixed to him.

Immediately the people jumped to the conclusion that this was judgment against Paul, and that surely he had done something ghastly, like murder, to deserve such a fate. They did not offer him assistance, or a physician, or even a bandaid (or whatever they used for bandaids back then). They stood there gawking, just waiting for the conclusion of what they knew to be his terrible, horrible demise.

They waited and waited and waited. After all, what kind of despicable criminal deserves an horrific storm, shipwreck, and poisonous snake bite? Their minds were in a frenzy just trying to imagine the atrocities of this criminal while they waited. Except, the unimaginable happened. That is, nothing. They witnessed him shaking off the snake, while no harm came to him. They could hardly believe their eyes.

These same people that had rushed to judgment now decided that Paul was some kind of god. After all, who could successfully survive all these calamities? People can be so fickle!

At this point, I just wonder what in the world was going through the mind of Paul? Was he asking God for the reasons of these circumstances? Was his mind reeling from questions as to why these things were a part of God's plan? Did he question God's goodness? Did fear and trepidation come pounding at the door of his heart?

After all, God had already told him he was going to Rome. Could he have been confident of his destination, yet trying to understand the boundless obstacles along the way? It is the times like these that I have come to understand it is not the reasons that truly matter. These are the times we need a greater revelation from God to hold onto our peace. We need the revelation that the storm can arise against us, but also that God is holding the clouds. We need the revelation that the snake can bite us, but that God has already defeated that age old serpent.

We must learn, as believers, to remain undeterred in our mission when the enemy tries to sift or shake us. We focus on the mission at hand and trust God with the rest of the details. The Bible tells us not to worry about tomorrow, because we have enough to deal with for today (Matthew 6:34). We definitely cannot be swayed by the unsolicited opinions of those who change their minds at the drop of a hat. Especially those who do not have our best interest at heart.

We must learn to shake off every single serpent that would seek to attach itself to us in an effort to abort our mission. We shake off: discouragement, unforgiveness, worry, fear, apathy, tolerating sin (ours or someone elses), or anything else that would separate us from God's Holy Spirit. Not only shake the serpent off, but throw it in the fire where it belongs. Do not allow it to hang around, otherwise it will rear its ugly head again.

What happens next in Paul's story really captures my attention. He went and stayed with a man named Publius, who had a father who was extremely ill. Paul laid hands on him and prayed for him and God healed him. In fact, the very same hand that the serpent had bitten was now used by God to heal others. This healing led to other healing until there was a full-fledged revival on the isle of Malta.

The same will always be true for us. However the enemy bites us or stings us can be turned around on his own head if we allow the Holy Spirit to first heal us so then we can minister to others in that same area. There is an anointing that comes when we have been bitten. And that anointing is always for the greater good. It is always for the multitudes that are suffering. It is only God's compassion that allows us to be bitten so that the many can be healed.

What ultimately happens when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, is that we receive power. God gives us the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Jesus goes on to say that when this happens that "nothing shall hurt you". We recognize the enemy, show up for battle, stand with authority, and surrender to the power of Jesus. This is how we overcome the enemy and shake off every serpent that seeks to harm us or our families.


                                         "Never wound a snake; kill it."
                                                Harriet Tubman

Treasures In The Dark

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
                                                           Romans 8:38-39




One of the fundamental cravings we have as people is to feel secure. We want it in our relationship with God, in our marriages, in our families, in our health, in our careers, in our finances, and in all the things for which we pour out our lives. When we wake up in the mornings, we begin our day planning out the things that need to be accomplished in order to make us and our families feel more secure. When life clicks along in a way that we perceive it should, it would seem that things are secure... that is, until life throws a curveball. Especially, a curveball for which we are ill-prepared.

It comes to us in the form of a phone call, or an unexpected illness, a divorce, or an accident. It can come through news from a loved one, or a job loss, infertility, or the death of someone dear. It can occur within a second, or drag out for months and years.  These are the times when it feels like our security is being shaken to the core.

After we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God passionately desires that we have assurance of our salvation. In Hebrews 6:17, we are told that "God desire(s) to show [us] more convincingly" that we are heirs of the promise and that His saving purposes for us are unshakeable. He wants for us to rest in His promises and enjoy the security He provides for those who are His children.

According to the book, Heaven on Earth, written in 1654 by Thomas Brooks, we can be assured of all the promises God's Word provides for His children. He states,
     "Beloved in our dearest Lord, you are those worthy 'of whom this world is not worthy'
                                                      Hebrews 11:38
                                   You are the princes that 'prevail with God'
                                                      Genesis 32:28
                         You are those 'excellent ones' in whom is all Christ's delight
                                                      Psalm 16:3
You are His glory. You are His chosen, culled, prime instruments that He will use to carry out His best and greatest works against His worst and greatest enemies in these latter days.

While God works overtime to convince us of our eternal security and the love He has for us, there can be seasons of our lives when we struggle to be convinced. Fear, doubt, and anxiety can worm their ways into our thinking until we forget that God is bigger than our circumstances and succumb to the pressures of the day. This is what happened to Peter:

"And Peter answered Him, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to you on the water'. Jesus said, 
'Come'. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased" (Matthew 14:28-33).

The thing Peter did wrong was to take his eyes off Jesus; the thing Peter did right was to cry out to Jesus. The Bible teaches us that to 'cry out' is to speak audibly with great emotion concerning an urgent need. He invites us to pray this way when we desperately need His mercy. It takes both faith and humility to cry out to God. It renounces self-sufficiency and appeals to the goodness of our Heavenly Father.

The Bible promises us that God both hears and responds to our cries. In Psalm 3:4, David wrote, "I was crying out to the Lord with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain." The name of Jesus invites both His power and authority into our situation.

While God hears us and responds to us, we may not always see the solution immediately. If He allows the problem to remain for a period of time, it is for His good purposes. While we wait for His perfect timing, we can always count on His comfort and presence in our lives, which is what supplies us with joy and hope.

There are times, however, when things feel extremely dark. This is a darkness that is not caused by sin, nor is it caused by ignorance. Actually, it is a darkness that comes because you are walking with God.  It came to every major man or woman in Scripture.  It came to Abraham when he stood waiting for God to accept his sacrifice (Genesis 15:12). It came to Moses waiting on the mountain to receive the commandments in the "thick darkness" where God was (Deuteronomy 5:22).  It came to Job when he "looked for good" but "evil came" (Job 30:26). It came to David more than once throughout the Psalms.

There are times when God intentionally brings darkness to our lives. This is the darkness that will not lift until it has accomplished the perfect work within our souls. Jacob was left alone in the darkness and "a man wrestled with him until daybreak" (Genesis 32:24). This kind of darkness is inescapable, but eventually God does provide the daylight.

The way you know if this is a God-ordained darkness is that you will usually feel emptiness and helplessness. God sanctions these feelings with purpose. What is empty, God fills. What is helpless, God saves and delivers. Like a newborn infant, we learn to depend on God in all new ways. We come to expect that He will meet our needs, even if it is impossible to imagine how in the natural.

If your world seems dark today, remember that this world is not our home and we will never be afforded complete security on this earth. We can learn to have faith that is unshakeable, though, in the midst of our circumstances. And, our circumstances can be used to draw us closer to the Lord and increase in our dependance upon Him. We can learn to trust God, even when we cannot see. We can stand and even keep walking, knowing that God is with us even if we cannot see or feel His presence.

We must say and do the things daily that convince us of the truth of all of God's Word. Not one single one of us is the exception to the truth of the Bible. Write down the promises He gives pertaining to your circumstances and declare them daily over your life. Believe God is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. Recall daily all of the things God has already accomplished in your life.

As the world around us continues to get darker,  we can remain convinced of our eternal security and the everlasting love of God. When circumstances are difficult and consuming, we can keep our eyes on Jesus and cry out to Him. He will never leave us or forsake us and He is orchestrating all things for our good and the benefit of others. That is who He is and that is what He does. He is good all the time and there are always treasures that He has prepared for you, even if you are sitting in the dark.


"I will give you hidden treasures hidden in the darkness- secret riches.  I will do this so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God os Israel, the One who calls you by name."
                                                           Isaiah 45:3

Relentlessly Pursued

"And they will call them 'The Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord'; and you will be called 'Sought Out, A City not deserted.'"
                                                        Isaiah 62:12




Working as a nurse, I saw many types of patients. There were patients who were anxious and had a million questions about their illness, treatment regimens, and medications. There were also patients who needed a lot of attention and their call button in their room was their best friend. There were the complainers, the histrionic, the demanding, the deniers, the stoic, the "Pollyannas", and those that were more concerned with others than themselves. There were also the patients that called everyone they knew within their area code to rush in and be by their side. There were those who sought prayer support. There were those who trusted the medical staff and those who second-guessed every available option. And, lastly, there were those who genuinely did not feel well and wanted to be left alone.

My point is not to make light of people who are ill and suffering. There is nothing like a diagnosis, an illness, a disease, or injury or an accident  that can turn a families' world upside down more quickly.  My point is to show that each one of us are wired to handle situations differently and when the stress level in our lives gets amped up, it is certain that the way we are hard-wired will be evident. It is also certain that if there are any frayed wires, these will show, as well.

What is true physically is also true spiritually. When life throws curve balls at us, we will usually default to the pre-existing wiring that is deep within. Some will "tuck and roll" and others will resort to all manner of coping that may or may not be helpful in the healing process.

If I could go back and re-do my spiritual journey up to this point, this would be the one major thing I would change. What I realize about myself is that I am the type of patient that just wants to be left alone. During the seasons of my life when circumstances were overwhelmingly painful, I tended to withdraw from my relationship with Jesus instead of running to Him for the assistance that only He could give. When I couldn't understand His plan and purpose in my life I hunkered down and just tried to survive the onslaught.

Retrospectively, I realize that it was during those times that God actually was pursuing me the most. I could not see it then (probably because I didn't want to see it), but today I definitely can. I think that the only thing I focused on during those times was for my circumstances to change, never realizing that my Sovereign and loving Heavenly Father desired more for those circumstances to change me. It was in the futility of ineffective coping strategies that I had to dig deeper to find a better way.

God had not stepped away from me. In fact, I now know that  He actually drew closer. Scripture tells us that "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). It was His mercy that enabled Him to prioritize what was the most important thing, even though I could not understand it that way at the time.

The same is true in medicine. Often, the procedures and treatments cause more pain before the true healing can begin. The physician has the foresight and knowledge to proceed, often in spite of much objection and definite consternation. If we recoil, or refuse treatment, we will prolong the duration of our suffering.

We are blessed to have The Great Physician, who not only treats our frailties, but He also chases after us in relentless pursuit of a loving relationship. He continually seeks, not only that which is lost (Luke 19:10), but also to have a relationship with us, and to become our One and Only. He is approachable and He is love. In fact, He is the ultimate lover of our souls and literally sacrificed everything to show us this very important truth.

The difficult aspect of this truth is that right now we are stuck in a world where inequities seem to abound. There is no shortage of news stories where evil abounds and we are caught in the midst trying to make sense of it all. The answer is that this side of heaven we will never fully understand the complexities of this life and, we have yet to see the conclusion of the story.

Some of my most difficult experiences in life, I have now lived long enough to see redemption and even restoration. While I definitely was gunning for a quick resolution, more often than not, it has required much time, prayer, and belief that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. While I still have some outstanding unanswered prayers, He has never failed me yet and I do not believe He will in the future.

When we look at our lives right now, we must remember that God's initiative on the table is to prepare His bride for His return. He told us in advance that He was returning for a bride that is radiant  and without spots or wrinkles (Ephesians 5:27). He cherishes us and nourishes us (Ephesians 5:29) in the midst of many people falling away from Him. When we witness people who seem to be getting away with their sin, remember to pray for them because in this time and season that is truly a frightening thing.

We should rejoice if we are among those that God is intently preparing for His return. While preparation for anything is usually challenging, we have both the hope and the joy of what lies before us. God has prepared more for us than we could ever hope or imagine, and I am confident that He is expectantly anticipating the glory of that day.

If today you are struggling under the trials and hardships of this world, ask God to give you a revelation of His love and constant pursuit of you. When we understand this, we are free to wholly love and pursue Him too. We are supernaturally translated out of the natural into His open, loving arms. He died to spend eternity with you, and He yearns for that intimacy to begin now.

Let go and allow yourself to be held. And comforted. And loved. And pursued. Quiet your heart to hear the declarations from your beloved.

        Whether you currently recognize it or not, you are Relentlessly Pursued!!!!


"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, You are still with me!"
                                                           Psalm 139:17-18

Saturday's Silence

          "Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand."
                                                           James 5:8




This Saturday is my husband, Brent's birthday. (For his sake, I will not disclose how many birthdays he has previously experienced!) Since his birthday falls on Easter weekend, it caused me to reflect on the significance of the Saturday that lies between Good Friday and Resurrection Day. Thinking back over my life, I do not recall a sermon ever being preached on the significance of the day that is sandwiched between the two most important days in history. And, since I currently seem to be in a "Saturday" mode in my own life, I was even more intrigued.

All the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion had been tumultuous and rapid. On the day that Jesus was crucified, God showed up in many unmistakeable ways. The curtains in the Temple were tattered, an earthquake shook the ground, the sun was hidden and darkened and the Lamb of God was sacrificed to save a people who had just put Him to death. Graves of the dead were opened and the disciples and loved ones of Jesus felt like their hearts had been ripped open and laid to bare.

The women in Jesus' life anointed his body and placed it in Joseph's tomb. And, on Saturday, everything was still. Jesus' body was still. The angels were still. The actions and voice of God were muted as the earth and its inhabitants gulped in pockets of air, effectually trying to process all the events that had just taken place. After a chaotic and hair-raising Friday, the stark contrast of the silence of Saturday reverberated throughout the universe without a word.

Fear began to dominate as the disciples hid behind locked doors. Afraid of the Jewish leaders who conspired to take Jesus' life, it felt safer to be hidden and out of sight (John 20:19). Their fears were legitimate, too, because at the same time, the chief priests and Pharisees met with Pilate to seal Jesus' tomb so that the disciples would not be able to steal His body (Matthew 27:62-66).

At the same time, we are told that the women who were with Jesus during His crucifixion rested because it was the Sabbath (Luke 23:56). As they were commanded, they spent the day honoring the Lord amidst what was surely confusion and bewilderment. So many questions had to surface in their hearts with very few answers to be found.

This is the dichotomy that is found in God's silence. It is so easy to vacillate between fear bewilderment. It is the time between the prayers that are offered and the answers to those prayers. It is the lapse that is found between the problem and the solution. It is the angst we experience when our questions mount and the answers to them still seem elusive.

                                     "God, are you there?"

                                     "Are you angry at me?"

                                     "I know you are able, yet I see no progress."

                                     "Please confirm that there is a plan in this."

(My favorite yet often useless question) "WHY????"

If you can't tell, I tend to ask a lot of questions. What I have found, however, is that it is the truth of God's Word that lights my path and directs my steps. If I will open the Word and declare what the Word says, peace will inevitably flood my heart. Even when I lack full understanding, there is a solace in knowing that God is God and He's already handled my situation and circumstances.

Even still, Silent Saturdays can be long and the silence of them most certainly deafening. If we are waiting for a healing or some type of redemption or restoration, the seconds can seem like days. The higher the stakes are for what we are believing, the more intense the pressure is around us.  The only true way for the time to seem to go faster is if we are single-mindedly focused on Jesus. Worshipping in the midst of the tomb, before we witness the Resurrection, is the highest form of praise that blesses the heart of God.

As I see it, if we are in a season of waiting, we can either survive it or we can thrive in it. God's purposes are that we rest, learn, seek His face and grow as a result of it. No amount of worry or fear or doubt will expedite our process (it actually may prolong it). We can wait and nervously watch the seconds tick on the clock, or we can wait well by trusting in the Lord and having the expectation that He will bring breakthrough. Just as Jesus "rested" in the tomb, we can learn to spend our time confident that we will see the deliverance we seek.

Quiet confidence and trust are our best resources when we experience the silence of Saturday. Jesus died with such conviction when He said, "For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave" (Acts 2:27). Jesus understood that God would never leave Him or forsake Him, especially in the grave.  Even during His darkest hour, Jesus knew that He could count on God. His Father would never fail Him or abandon Him.

While the enemy of our souls wants us to believe that God's silence is also God's absence, that is never the truth. That's what Silent Saturday teaches us. God is never apathetic to what we are experiencing. He cares deeply for every small thing that concerns us and will certainly answer our prayers in His timing.

Think about it this way. If God immediately rushed in and instantaneously answered every prayer, would we really respect and reverence His power in the same way we do when He shows up after an elongated battle? How would He "train our hands for war" (Psalm 18:34) and strengthen us for what lies ahead if we never had to use any spiritual muscles?

Silent Saturdays do have their purpose. They are positioned with precision to bring about God's desired results. They prepare us for the answers that are coming.  When God wants our full attention to something that He is accomplishing, He masterfully sets the stage for such to occur. It is like a dramatic pause in a theater production or opera that then heralds an unforgettable crescendo. Suddenlies occur when we place our faith in God and rest in His timing.

As we enter in to the holiest days of our faith, may we approach them with the faith that Resurrection Day is at hand and the eve of Silent Saturday must dissipate to the breaking of the dawn of Easter morning. Our God is faithful and He will complete that which He has started (Philippians 1:6). There is no story that is more redemptive or restorative than that of Jesus, Himself. In Jesus' story, as in our own, Silent Saturday is only a blip on the radar that gives way to the rolling away of a stone and the glorious appearance of our Risen King!


                                               HAVE A BLESSED EASTER!!!


          "O Lord, we wait for you; Your Name and remembrance are the desire of our soul."
                                                              Isaiah 26:8

A Surrendered Life

              "God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him."
                                                          Andrew Murray




As we are entering in to Easter week, I have been reflecting on Jesus' life and how He completely surrendered His will to His Father. Over and over again, Jesus slipped away from the crowds in order to spend time alone with His Father and to seek His heart and His will. Only one time in scripture do we see Jesus asking His Father to possibly reconsider His plans when He said, "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine" (Luke 22:42, NLT). And, this petition only happened after Jesus was distressed enough to sweat drops of blood.

Jesus exemplifies a perfect life of surrender to His Father. He was directed by God and followed His leading. He walked in faith and expected to see miracles and God's faithful provision for His life. He waited on God's timing and trusted that God's purposes would be accomplished. From the fountain of intimacy that Jesus shared with His Father, He knew that He could rely on the fact that God had His back and would never let Him down. Jesus understood the heart of His Father which enabled Him to trust His heart without doubt or insecurity.

Fast forward to today. In our culture, the word surrender seldom holds a positive connotation.  The word is actually a military term that means "to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand; to give up completely or agree to forgo; to give oneself up into the power of another especially as a prisoner; to give oneself over to something". Giving in and giving up are typically not popular messages conveyed throughout our society.

And yet, a surrendered life is exactly what God calls us to:

(Jesus said) "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow 
                     Me" (Matthew 16:24-25)

(Peter said) "Behold, we have left everything and followed You" (Mark 10:28).

(Isaiah said) "But now, O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our Potter; and all of 
                      us are the work of Your hand" (Isaiah 64:8).

(Jeremiah said) "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to
                           direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23).

(Paul said) "I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is
                    no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith
                    [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me
                    and gave Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20).


In our Christian walk, surrendering occurs at different levels. Initially, we surrender to the Holy Spirit when we receive salvation (Acts 2:21). When we let go of our own attempts to curry God's favor and rely upon the finished work of Christ, we become His children (2 Corinthians 5:21). Then there are other times in our lives where God requires a greater level of surrender that will bring greater intimacy with God and greater power for His service. The more we are yielded, the more we can be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

God does not want a part of us; He wants all of us. If we compartmentalize our lives, we miss out on the abundant life that Jesus died for us to have. Surrendering to His Lordship completely brings the fruit of the Spirit, His manifest presence,  and a myriad of blessings. By surrendering our will completely to His, we settle the battle with our flesh that desires to have things its own way.

This is not to say that there will never be another battle. It is to say that we have decided to yield our will to His, and, over time the fury of this battle subsides. As we mature spiritually, we learn to war against our self-centered nature and walk in  the victory that Jesus died for us to have. This requires intentionality, denying of self, and picking up our cross daily to follow after Him.

Instead of trying harder, we learn to trust and rely on Him more. We follow God's lead, even when we don't know where He is leading. We wait on His timing without demanding to know when that will come. We expect His miracles and provision without any idea of from where it will come. We trust in His purpose without understanding the circumstances which we are experiencing.

We let go of control, manipulation, and forcing our own agenda. When Jesus said, "not my will but thy will be done", He was telling God that if it was in His best interest to take the suffering away, then by all means to do so. However, if His suffering (or pain, or sickness, or circumstances) were needed to fulfill God's purposes and glory in His life or in another's life, then please do not take it away.

Oswald Chambers said, "Physical courage is grand, moral courage is grander, but the man who trusts Jesus Christ in the face of the terrific problems of life is worth a whole crowd of heroes."

There is so much in this life that we will never understand. The day we step into eternity, however, our minds will be illumined and suddenly the things that made no sense on earth will make perfect sense. We will see without a veil and we will be like Jesus!

If we grapple with fear because of the uncertainties of this world in which we live, we need a greater revelation of God's love for us personally. When we ask God for this revelation, He will gladly give it to us. If Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners, we can trust that He will gladly give us all we need for life and godliness.

He loves us so much! He loves us in spite of ourselves. His plans for us are good. It is His will to redeem and restore every aspect of our lives and families. It is because of His obedience and yieldedness to His heavenly Father, that, we too, can live a surrendered life!


                "The Lord can do no unloving thing toward one of His children."
                                                   Charles Spurgeon

What Is Your Trajectory?

"God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible- what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves."
                                                           A.W Tozer



Yesterdays shooting in Parkland, Florida breaks my heart for the families and school officials at Marjory Stonemason Douglas High School. Today, sixteen high school students and one heroic football coach are deceased and sixteen more are hospitalized (some in critical condition).  I cannot even imagine the level of devastation that must be reverberating within that community. Yet again, violence sends shock waves through a community and even through our nation. (Please pray for everyone that is affected by this tragedy).

My heart hurts for the teenagers today in our culture and the challenges they face. Being a teenager in todays culture must be not only confusing, but also filled with many temptations. Our society has convinced them to be tolerant of all people, but then they are barraged on social media with every sort of messed up lifestyle. In addition to the normal physiological and psycho-social changes that every teen experiences, we now have an opiod epidemic and far too many teens that are not sure how they identify sexually. Ungodly words and images flow through the internet like a tsunami and how easy would it be for a floundering, young soul to get swept up in the current that rages around them on every side?

While followers of Christ understand that Jesus is the Rock that keeps us grounded,  how must that appear to the youth that is inundated in a Babylonian type society? Many think that religiosity is the answer, but that is as powerless as a paper tiger. A.W. Tower said that, "One hundred religious persons knit into unity by careful organization do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team."

In far too many churches, the important issues of our society are ignored and not addressed. In order to be a light to our youth, we have to be willing to address the tough subjects in a way that teenagers can experience God's grace and know the power of His transformation. The love of God really can make a difference, but the Church needs the understanding and vision to be effective with the youth today.

For years, too much of the Church thought it would be a good idea to be "relevant" with the culture today in order to attract more followers, but following fads and trends without the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Gospel  seems to have led to an inefficacy in the Church. Oftentimes today, many churches don't even realize that they are operating without a third of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit vacated, but many did not even notice. The power to be saved and healed and delivered left, but few people cared.

As a result, the culture around us has lost their respect for Christians and the Church. If are lives are no different than the people who don't know Jesus, why should it attract those who are floundering? Why should no more that 10% of Christian teens who go away to college hold onto their faith? ( A study done by the Southern Baptist convention shows that we lose between 70 to 88% of our youth after their freshman year of college). Compromise has lead us to this place of impotency.

According to Tom Bisset, in his book entitled,  Why Christian Kids Leave The Faith, there are four primary reasons that teens cite for abandoning their beliefs. They state:
                         1. They left because they had troubling, unanswered questions about their faith
                         2. They left because their faith was not "working" for them
                         3. They left because they allowed other things to take priority
                         4. They left because they never personally owned their faith

It occurs to me that this mass exodus of our kids is happening because there are far too many adults who never fully made their own exodus from Egypt. In other words, when our children see adults who only embody only parts of the Gospel, they will be much less likely to fully espouse the Gospel themselves. God called the Israelites to leave Egypt completely and to serve Him in Canaan. We play with fire if we try to play church while we entertain ourselves with idols.

Kids today yearn for something in which to be passionate. If they can't find the true, good, and authentic One to be passionate about, they will find the counterfeit to get the attention they crave. We should not be surprised that they would resort to doing ridiculous things like eating tide pods and posting it on You Tube. We cannot legislate our way out of a problem that eminates from a cavernous soul.

Anxiety is another factor that is greatly affecting teens today. It has been said that anxiety is the spirit of this generation. Teens are being affected in unprecedented numbers. According to the American College Health Association, the percentage of teens who reported bouts of "overwhelming anxiety" rose to 62% in 2016, as opposed to 50% in 2011. Anxiety now outpaces depression and is the number one reason college students seek counseling. It now affects nearly one-third of both adults and adolescents.

Social media has a large role to play in the anxiety levels of teens. When they respond night and day to texts, post incessantly, and snap chat continually, the constant stimulation from digital habits takes its toll. One teenager, who was in in-patient treatment for anxiety said, "I don't think we realize how much social media affects our moods and personalities. While social media is only a tool, it's become this thing that we can't live without, but that's making us crazy" (NYT article, "Why are more American Teenagers than ever suffering from severe anxiety?").

All of us are created to have an impact on the world around us, and our teens are no exception. They long to make a difference, yet the enemy of our souls will gleefully seduce them to carve out that niche in a way that destroys them and dishonors God. To navigate that quagmire, they need wisdom and insight, as well as the power that only the Holy Spirit can provide to them. As adults, we need to heed the warning signs within our culture and within our teenage population.

When adult followers of Christ see the shaking in our society and then warning signs that are screaming so loudly, it should cause us to pause and understand that God is now calling us to a higher level of holiness. If goodness is the only thing that overcomes evil, then what is my role to accomplish this goal? It is easy to decide that there are just too many things happening in the world for one person to make a difference, and, yet, this is not what the Word of God  tells us.

When Daniel found himself, as a teenager, thrust into the wicked and degenerate society of Babylon, he understood that he was called to a more radical level of obedience in his own life. He positioned himself to make a true difference by evaluating every aspect of his life, including personal indulgences and prayer. He decided to get down to the nitty-gritty details of his life to effect reals changes in the culture around him.

Just as radical obedience was the answer 2700 years ago, so it is for us today. We must lay down those things that distract and steal our time so that we can intercede and stand in the gap for the multitudes that are perishing around us. It is not a coincidence that the book of Daniel is the sister book of prophecy to the book of Revelation, which, in my estimation, makes it extremely applicable to the times in which we live.

Each one of us has a trajectory in our lives. As the world around us gets darker, the level of our obedience should increase. Merriam-Webster defines trajectory as "a path, progression, or line of development resembling a physical trajectory". In physics, a trajectory is also called a flight path and it "is the path that a moving object follows through space as a function of time".  An object's trajectory is either controlled by gravity, and pulled downward; or it can be driven forward by forces inside itself, like a missile.  That is consistent with what we see in the spiritual realm as well.  Unless we have the Holy Spirit within propelling us forward and upward, dark spiritual forces will pull us inevitably downward, like gravity.

It is God's desire that we effect change in the world around us.  This will not be accomplished without the power of the Holy Spirit. He has a calling and purpose for each one of us, and that purpose is especially important in these times in which we live. We cannot allow the Church to continue its trajectory to fade into the darkness. We must fight on our knees first and then shine brightly wherever God has positioned us.

2018 will be a year for stepping into our destinies and apprehending the Canaan that God has apportioned for us. Now is the time to assess our own individual trajectories and make whatever adjustments we need to to come into alignment with God's will for our lives. (Remember, that even one millimeter can throw us way off our course). We must step up so that we can push back the darkness that is attempting to suffocate our youth and prevail within our culture. True assessment and revival can only begin on an individual level, and, with the power of God, it can reverberate and have a domino effect!


"He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life, and righteousness, and honor."
                                                           Proverbs 21:21

Wonders Without Number

"As for me, I would seek God, And I would place my cause before Him; Who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number."
                                                                       Job 5:8-9




There are millions of wonders that occur in our world everyday. From the sun that rises to the sun that sets, and, still, there are wonders that continue to occur in the dark.  Just two nights ago, we had a combination of a blue moon, a super moon, and a lunar eclipse that happened in the same night! (The picture posted is of this moon over our house.) The last time this happened was in the year 1866.

God's wonders occur all the time, no matter what season of life we may find ourselves. They can be seen in nature and in providence and in His grace. The whole purpose, plan and accomplishment of salvation is filled with the wonders of our God.

They are continuous and they are great. In Psalms, we are told that "God alone does great wonders, for His lovingkindness is everlasting" (Psalm 136:4). No one else can do them and they are always unique and powerful, filled with God's wisdom and grace.

Merriam Webster defines wonder as "a cause of astonishment or admiration; a marvel; a miracle; astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one's experience".  Wonders are awe inspiring and should lead us to drawing even closer to the One who accomplishes them. God reveals aspects of Himself through the wonders He performs.

Unfortunately, sometimes we get busy and sometimes we forget. Instead of focusing our thoughts and hearts on all that God is doing in the earth, we sometimes get sidetracked, sideswiped, or sidelined. These pesky distractions can cause us to lose focus on the most important things in our world.

In these cases, we can even pull back from our relationship with Jesus, instead of pressing in to discover the revelation and treasures He has apportioned for us. This is how disillusionment and discouragement take root and why some people even walk away from their faith. This day and time is definitely the time to press in "to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

As I reflect on this New Year, it occurs to me that this may be a year that is filled with the wonders of God. Surely our world would be a much better place if more people saw and experienced Him in a tangible way. It is my prayer that this will certainly be the case.

More important than seeing and experiencing His wonders is to see and experience His presence. This, in and of itself, is the greatest miracle of all. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, it was the presence of God that really knocked his socks off (or sandals), so to speak.

This makes me wonder exactly what was running through Moses' mind as he heard the voice of the Lord call him personally by name. Were memories from his former life in Egypt flooding his consciousness, or was he thinking more in terms of the people there that were still being oppressed? Whatever his thoughts were, he soon reached to cover his face, realizing now that he was in the presence of an Almighty God.

The Lord quickly assured Moses and explained to him that He had seen the oppression of His people and had heard their cries. He acknowledged His awareness of all that they had suffered. This was the day that God chose to come down from heaven to intervene on behalf of His people- the people with whom He had covenanted. This miracle (or wonder) occurred so that God could show that he cares for His people, and that He will guide, deliver, and bless them through His presence.

God commissioned Moses and told him what he was to do. Moses had many objections and doubts, but, once again, God reassured Moses that He would be with him and that He would give him the words to speak and the wonders in which he would be allowed to participate. Moses was still reluctant to proceed in God's mission, but the will of God could never be thwarted by the insufficiency of man. God was sufficient to overcome that too!

The destination of God's people was the Promised Land. No matter how many doubts or insecurities they may have had, God's objective would be accomplished. The same is true for us today. God is commissioning us into our destinies and we are going somewhere.

No matter what has come against us, God is reassuring us that He is with us and that He is sufficient to accomplish every promise and purpose that He has given to His people. Press in to His presence through reading His Word and loving and worshipping the One who really is sovereign over every mess. Take heart, sweet one, because I believe that this is a year in which we will see wonders without number!


                       "I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth..."
                                                      Joel 2:30