Season Of Joy

"Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as He causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the Word and in the world."
                                                              John Piper




Throughout the Bible, God calls His children to possess emotions that they are incapable of producing on their own. We are instructed to never fear or be anxious while the apostle, Paul, exhorts us to "Always be joyful" (1 Thessalonians 5:16, NLT). Because our flesh carries with it frailties and weaknesses and the propensity to sin if left to itself, these commands are not possible for us alone. Never and Always would be elusive at best.

The real question for us comes after we have been fearful or without joy. Will we then stuff our emotions or lean into the Holy Spirit to provide us what we never really could have provided for ourselves? Will we recognize that joy is both a gift from God and a response to the gift He has given?

The older I get the more acutely aware I am of how everything good in our lives comes from God. The beautiful sunrise, the air we breathe, the family we love, and the smile on a child's face are but a few of the blessings we can receive every single day. Too often, our frustrations come at the perceived things in our lives that don't go right rather than appreciating the plethora of things that do.

Yesterday I sat in a surgical waiting room for several hours watching the patients and families come and go. I saw very difficult diagnoses and challenges and watched time and again the physicians who had to explain the implications to the loved ones who waited. There were gasps and tears and instantaneous grief. There were also smiles of relief when the surgeries were completed. All of this really highlighted for me two things: how many true blessings I do have and how quickly life can turn on a dime. I wondered how people make it through crises without Jesus? Without real peace? Without real comfort? Without the assurance of salvation when this life is over?

I also really understood that joy is not contingent upon my circumstances. When Jesus is with you, you can find joy anywhere. It can be found in a hospital room, a classroom, a court room, a board room, or any other place on this planet. It is never conditional upon our circumstances; it is only conditional upon our relationship with the Lord.

Jesus said, "I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing" (John 15:9-11).

If I were to be completely transparent here, I would have to say that the first two places the enemy comes hard at me when I am my most vulnerable is by trying to convince me that God is not with me and that God does not love me. At times, this has not even been a hard sell for him. Too easily I have received the very lies that keeps joy at bay.

There have been other times when I really just needed to change my perspective on things. (Husbands can be good at pointing out this truth!). Whenever I tend to dwell on the dramatic or give way to the illusion that I am helpless in my circumstances, there usually comes a quick jolt back to what the truth really is:)

God has given us the fruit of His Spirit to assist us in all situations. He generously doles out: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our supply is never withheld or lacking in quantity. What He gives to us we can then generously give to others I our lives.

Life is sacred and it is precious and there is so much good that God brings to us on a daily basis. When we have the maturity to recognize the beauty in the Word and the beauty in the world, there is no limit to how we can bless other people. We literally can become the gift of joy for them that God has given to us. It is our life in Christ and it is our testimony.


There is a huge difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is temporary and contingent upon outward circumstances. Joy is permanent and cannot be destroyed by outside forces because it actually comes from the Holy Spirit inside of us. Joy understands that God is with us (Immanuel) and that He loves us like crazy no matter what. Joy trusts. Joy rests. Joy is our strength.

And yet, joy can be the easiest thing to lose at times. There can seem to be a killjoy around every corner. Even the prophet, Jeremiah, said, "There is no joy left in our hearts" (Lamentations 5:15).

So, if joy is something that you have lost, the first thing you need to do is to recognize it and admit it. If there was ever a time that you were more joyful in the Lord, recognize and admit it. Ask God for His help and His provision. David did when he prayed, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation" (Psalm 51:12).

Know Him and grow in Him because He is beautiful and captivating. His presence is refreshing, satisfying, and exciting. Allow Him to become large enough in your heart to eclipse all that troubles you. Spend time in His Word and look for His loveliness in the world.

During this hectic Christmas season (and all other seasons), it really is possible to continually possess true joy. In fact, Jesus died to make that possible for us. Receive His gift today and take a deep breath and enjoy this Season of Joy!


"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you at abound in hope."
                                                            Romans 15:13

Season of Wonder...

"Wonder knows that while you cannot look at the light, you cannot look at anything else without it. It is not exhausted by childhood, but finds its key there. It is a journey like a walk through the woods over the usual obstacles and around the common distractions while the voice of direction leads, saying, 'This is the way, walk ye in it.'"
                                                          Ravi Zacharias




When the shepherds found Mary and Joseph and Jesus lying in a manger they went and told everyone they saw. Over and over, they shared the Good News of what they had witnessed. Excitement flooded their hearts as they recounted every detail of the Newborn Child. And then, Luke tells us that "all who heard it were astonished and wondered at what the shepherds told them" (Luke 2:18).

Wonder overflowed in every person that witnessed any aspect of Jesus' birth. Merriam Webs9ter defines wonder as "a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable; desire or curiosity to know something; to feel admiration and amazement; marvel; rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one's experience".

Our lives and world are filled with wonder. Truly, they are all around, and yet, I wonder how many of them miss our notice. G.K. Chesterton says, "The world will never starve for want of wonders, but for want of wonder."

Often, familiarity can rob us of the beauty and majesty that surrounds us. For example, if Springtime only occurred every fifty years, how much more intently would we pay attention to it? E.B. White, the author of Charlotte's Web said, "We must always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder."

Yet, there is a wonder that extends beyond the beauty and majesty of all that God has created. There is a holy wonder of who God is. Thomas Aquinas said that "wonder is the desire for knowledge." It is the amazement we feel when we really have an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Over time, it's easy for our flesh to lose our sense of anticipation and wonder. Think about a time in your life when things were new: a new school, a new job, a new marriage, etc. At first you are thrilled and your mind races with possibilities of the future. After awhile, when the homework piles up or the deadline looms or your spouse snores really loudly... You get the picture.

As believers, we can do the same thing. When we first accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are excited and jubilant. We tell everyone who will stand still long enough to listen. Yet, over time, where does that astonishment, attention, and curiosity go?

I believe intentionality is required. A few weeks ago, my family and I had the joy of visiting our son in Arizona for Thanksgiving and seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. It was the first of the seven natural wonders of the world we have been able to see. We planned which day to go, clothes to wear (because it was very cold), times to leave, etc. As a result of our intentionality, we all stood amazed at the beauty of it instead of being distracted by lesser important things.

The psalmist, David, said, "I will cry out to the God of heaven who does such wonders for me" (Psalm 57:2). David said this as he was fleeing from Saul and hiding out in a cave. He was intentional about discovering the wonders of God and not allowing anything or anyone to stand in is way. This is holy wonder.

Holy wonder will lead us to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving. We will watch and we will be astonished. Our astonishment will extend beyond the created to the Creator. We will once again marvel at the manger and at the cross and we will see our Savior. Not a replica of who He is but the authentic version of a majestic God. We will join the angels at worshipping at the throne and we will wonder at the marvelous works of our Lord.

Edward Young, an English poet, said, "Wonder is involuntary praise". Our spirit rises within us to worship God as "The Wonderful One". Appreciation for redemption and grace percolates because we now can truly see the miracles that they are.

We will remember His wonders because "He has made His wonders to be remembered" (Psalm 111:4). There is power in remembrance that generates love and adoration. We not only remember the things God has done for us, but also the mercies we have received and the blessings He so generously gave that overflowed with His goodness.

Remembering means so much more than just recounting our past. It also means that we remember that God is present with us now (Immanuel) and is moving in our lives today. We live with the expectation of both seeing God and seeing Him move on our behalf.

Passions can be refueled and enthusiasm can brim within. Awe and wonder become the norm as we daily search for Him in everything. Again, David explained his daily awe by exclaiming, "I will extol You, my God and King, and bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever" (Psalm 145:1-2).

We remind ourselves that He is the God of Wonder. He is Wonderful. He floods our world with Himself; He floods our world with wonders.

The most awestruck people in the world should be believers in Christ. The Orthodox Jew prays three times a day "We thank Thee for Thy miracles which are daily with us, for Thy continued marvels" and they do not even know Jesus. Every night they declare that God "does great things past finding out, marvelous things without number" (Job 9:10). If they can praise God with wonder daily, how much more should those who actually know Jesus?

We are now in a season that remembers the birth of Christ. May we also remember His resurrection and all the other wonders He has done? May we believe that He is doing wonders now. May we regenerate our sense of excitement, like the children do, and know that this is the Season of Wonder!

"The Lord replied, 'Look among the nations! See! Be astonished! Wonder! For I am doing something in your days--You would not believe it if you were told."  (Habakkuk 1:5)

Season of Newness...

The child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him."                                                                                                           
                                            Luke 2:40




There is nothing that inspires more hope for the future and for possibilities than to peer into the face of a newborn baby. They are pure and beautiful and they radiate much of what is good in the world. They usher in a season of newness into a family or church or any other group to which they belong.

When God chose to send Jesus as a newborn baby there was so much that He was revealing to us. In addition to the fulfillment of prophecies, He was saying, "Behold, I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:5). The old order has gone and the new order has come.

Everything surrounding Jesus' birth was a miracle. Again and again, God shows us that nothing is impossible with Him. He has the ability to breakthrough everything natural and burst forth into all that is supernatural.

He is limited by nothing or no one. His power trumps every law of nature and even what we can conceive in our minds. He is "able to [carry out His purpose(s) and] do super-abundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams]" (Ephesians 3:20). He can literally blow our minds!

As Jesus grew into a child, we are told that He grew stronger and wiser and He walked in grace. This is the word that I believe God has for us today. As we enter into this new season we should continue to grow in strength and in wisdom and grace.

The Bible tells us that as believers we "go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]" (Psalm 84:7). As our dependence upon and devotion to God grows, we find that our strength comes from Him alone. We receive what we need and then we give it out to others. In this, we grow stronger day by day.

He is our Light and our Salvation (Psalm 27:1) and He becomes our strength in times of trouble (Psalm 37:39). As we continually abide in Him regardless of our circumstances, He makes our soul like iron (Psalm 105:18, Jubilee). David said, "On the day I called You answered me; and You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life" (Psalm 138:3).

As we grow stronger, we also grow in wisdom. Biblically, there are things we can do to become wiser. Reading the Word of God is one of them. David tells us that God's Word "is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

Another thing we can do is to seek wisdom. The book of Proverbs tells us that "if you will receive My words and treasure My commandments within you, so that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly]; yes, if you will cry out for insight, and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver and search for her as you would hidden treasures; then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshipping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] and discover the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-6).

We can also ask for wisdom. When God asked Solomon what he desired, it was wisdom that he sought and God honored and blessed that decision. James tells us that, "if any of you lacks wisdom, [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God's willingness to help]" (James 1:5-6).

Insight will help us to genuinely learn from our trials and will allow them to train us (Hebrews 12:11). Each trial has a divine purpose and each one carries with it a reward. They develop our character and ultimately yield a crown of life (James 1:12). In the midst of every trial God will "provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Lastly, we can continue to grow in grace. Peter tells us to "grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). This means we become more and more like Jesus. This happens as a result of what God does inside of us. We grow in our understanding of what Jesus has done for us and in our appreciation of the grace we have been given.

He sanctifies and transforms us to become more like Himself. The Holy Spirit convicts and gives us the power to transform into the image of the Son. Ultimately, our lives will prove what God has done within us when "We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Like Jesus, we can become stronger, increase in wisdom, and grow in the grace of God. As we enter into this new season that God has for us, this should be our goal. This is what will bring God glory in this season of newness!


"Behold, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
                                                          Isaiah 43:19

Season of Hope

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
                                                                                                                                         1 Peter 1:3




Christmas is a time that evokes a myriad of emotions in all of us. For some, it brings up images of family dinners and Candlelight services and it is joyful to its very core. For others, loneliness and sadness bubble to the surface at the thought of loved ones who have passed or family units that are separated or are no more. The joy of the season is no respecter of persons whether one has the ability to embrace it or whether one somehow believes that it has eluded them.

While at times our circumstances may appear less than ideal, there is a broader message of hope that God has given to each one of us. Deep down we know that it's there and the only contingency of us experiencing it is whether or not we let Jesus into those painful places in our hearts that are hurt or are broken. It is His resurrection power that has the ability to defeat every opponent of the Cross: loneliness, fear, disappointment, anxiety, discouragement, unresolved pain, unmet expectations, and anything else that would rob us of the hope that God brings to us.

Interestingly, the very first candle that is lit during the Advent season is the candle of hope. This is to remind us during the Christmas season of the hope God gave when He promised to send us a Messiah, a Savior, and a Deliverer. This promise was fulfilled when Jesus was born, and the rest of God's promises to us will be completed when He returns.

Jesus is the only hope of this world. Even seven hundred years before His birth, Isaiah prophesied of Him, "For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).

God is zealous to meet our needs during this sacred season. If we need counsel, He will provide. If we need strength, He will provide. If we need peace, He will provide. If we need companionship, He will provide. If we need restoration, He will provide. If we need wisdom and direction, He will provide. There is no need that we can have that God is not able to meet in abundance.

It is His resurrection power that fills our lack. It is His resurrection power that makes the impossible possible. It is His resurrection power that gives us both power and grace (Acts 4:33). Everything we need is found in Him. He is our hope.

Here are some of the promises of hope that God gives to us:

"You will be secure because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor"  (Job 11:18-19).

"The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love" (Psalm 147:13)

"Therefore, since we have been justified [acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. Such hope [in God's promises] never disappoints us because God's love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:1-2;5).


This year, in particular, I believe that God is speaking hope into our souls. Many of God's children have experienced difficulties and trials in this last season and some are battle weary. Not one thing that has happened to any of us will be wasted nor turned around for the good. There has been a greater purpose and plan for all that God has allowed into our lives.

Because of this past season, we are stronger and more patient and have learned to endure. In humility we have matured spiritually and developed our character in Christ. Now, we must stand in confidence and in hope with expectancy to see what God will do next.

Do not believe the lies of the enemy that tell you that things will never get better. Do not succumb to discouragement from what you see with your natural eyes. Stay focused on Jesus and invite Him in to every crevice of your heart.

Then, go share that hope with others. Here are the lyrics to Don Moen's song, entitled, Season of Hope:

                                 The prophet told us long ago
                                 A child will come to bring us hope
                                 A star lit up the night to show the way
                                For all the wise men seeking truth.

                                The child came as living proof
                                The Light of all the world still shines today
                                In a lowly cattle stall
                                Love was born to save us all.

                               It's a season of hope, a season of joy
                               And it all goes back to a Baby Boy
                               When God reached down and changed the world forever
                               We can reach out, we can believe.

                               In the power of love, we can all meet a need
                              And love can change the world forever
                              Behind the lights and the Christmas cheer
                              People try to hide their fear.

                              Many hungry hearts are lost and cold
                              But we can be the Light of Christ
                              Bring some joy to someone's life
                              And share the greatest story ever told.

                             Love can change the world, love can change the world
                             We are His hands, we are His feet
                             Across a thousand miles or across your street
                             We are His hands, we are His feet.

                             Across a thousand miles or across your street
                             We've got a gift,
                             Let's give it away
                             Make a difference today!

                   Be Blessed This Advent Season And Share Those Blessings!

                              
                                

Great Exploits

"First, before we can do great things for Christ there must be a sense of [our own] weakness. Secondly, there must be trust in promised strength; and thirdly, there must be fear removed by that promise: 'Fear not, for I will help thee.'"
                                                                                                                 Charles H. Spurgeon




Whenever God wants to move in a mighty way He often asks one or more of His children to step out onto a ground that appears to be very shaky. On this now fourth day of Advent, the most likely example of this is found in what God asked Joseph and Mary to do. Their story was one of challenge and intrigue and would leave every generation after themselves spellbound at the trust they displayed in their God.

My favorite Christmas movie is called The Nativity Story, produced by Temple Hill. The thing I love the most about this movie is that it really seems to depict the lives of Mary and Joseph in a very realistic manner. It does not hold back in telling their story from the vantage of the religious, traditional, societal, and emotional obstacles that they experienced in order to behold the greatest gift of God ever given to mankind.

Though the ground beneath them quivered and quaked, the truth was that God was with them and they were destined for victory. They continued in their journey with the assurance that God would help them and that He, alone, would see His mission through to fruition. They literally laid down their own agendas to see the fulfillment of the plans of God.

While none of us will ever again birth the Son of God in the flesh, there are many other great things that God wants to accomplish in the earth. And, in order for these things to be birthed, our lives must be laid down to the King of all kings. It will never be our will or our strength that will accomplish God's plans or will usher in a mighty move of God.

We must be conscious of our weaknesses before we can walk in victory. God will not go forward with a person that is walking in their own strength. As a matter of fact, God will empty out all we have before He will fill us up with Himself. Our emptiness is preparation for a mighty filling of God's Holy Spirit.

This is how we are assisted by divine strength. We contemplate our nothingness in light of God's greatness. Like the psalmist, David, said, "What is man that You remember him, the son of man that you look after him?" (Psalm 8:4).

Independence and self-sufficiency preclude us from bearing the eternal fruit that God desires. Charles Spurgeon said that the only fruit that God accepts is "the seed of which was sown from heaven, sprinkled in the heart, and harvested by the sun of grace." This is the fruit that is the result of a person who truly understands their own weaknesses.

Spurgeon goes on to say that if we really want to see God do great things through our lives that we must also trust in the promised strength that God gives. No matter what God asks us to do, if He helps us we can do it. Again and again, God promises us that He is with us and that He will help us. One example is Isaiah 41:13 which says, "For I am the Lord your God, the One who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, 'Don't be afraid, I am helping you.'"

To be helped by God is an honor. While we may never understand the timing or the methodology, there is no greater privilege as a child of God. He is with us and He helps us.

Therefore, we must work to put away all our fears. This is the number one tool that the enemy of our souls uses against us. We can literally "What if" ourselves into a frenzy. Fear is painful. It weakens us and it dishonors God.

Fear is focusing on the wrong things and anxiety (which is generalized fear) chokes out our faith in God. It keeps us from apprehending God's best in our lives. Charles Spurgeon said,

                                    "Ye trembling souls! dismiss your fears;
                                      Be mercy all your theme:
                                      Mercy, which, like a river flows
                                      In one continued stream

                                      Fear not the powers of earth and hell;

                                      God will these powers restrain;

                                      His mighty arm their rage repel,

                                      And make their efforts vain.

                                     Fear not the want of outward good;

                                     He will for His provide,

                                     Grant them supplies of daily food,

                                     And all they need beside.

                                     Fear not that He will e'er forsake,

                                     Or leave His work undone;

                                     He's faithful to His promises-

                                     And faithful to His Son.

                                     Fear not the terrors of the grave,

                                     Or death's tremendous sting;

                                     He will from endless wrath preserve-

                                     To endless glory bring.

If we live surrendered, humble lives and trust in His promises, we will walk in victory when we stand against fear. While I recognize that each of us may have a thousand things that we could focus on instead of God, I also see that God will reward a steadfast life. Interestingly, I believe there is a correlation that the more turbulent the times in which we live, the greater the reward. There is so much He wants to do in these times in which we live. Pray for a vision and revelation and then trust Him to do great exploits!

"You and I can do nothing of ourselves; we are poor puny things; but let us attempt great things, for God is with us; let us dare great things, for God will not leave us."

                                                                                                                             Charles H. Spurgeon

Blessed And Broken

"Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the grass; and He took five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and BLESSED and BROKE the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people."
                                                                                                                        Matthew 14:19




When Jesus saw that the multitudes who came to see Him were hungry, He was moved with compassion. The disciples in no way had the resources to feed such a crowd, but Jesus knew exactly how to meet their needs. They needed a miracle; that is His specialty. They were desperate to fill their emptiness and longing; He carried an abundance. Because their priority was being in His presence, He promised to add all the other things they would need.

The apostle, John, tells us that Jesus "knew what He was intending to do" (John 6:6). Using the bread as His example, He blessed it and broke it for all the people to see. This began His teaching on living a life of faith and a life of surrender before the Lord.

It all begins by giving Jesus all we have, including our brokenness. So often, we only want to share what we perceive as the "good" parts of ourselves with others and with God. Either consciously or subconsciously, we try to bury the less attractive aspects of our personalities or testimonies family history.

We hold onto our broken hearts, minds, dreams, and lives, hoping that someday they will miraculously get better. And yet, this is rarely the methodology God uses to bring about restoration. He asks us to trust Him with our brokenness and to give it to Him in full. Then, He asks us to trust the process that is required to bring about total redemption and restoration.

This is much easier said than done. If perfectionism is part of our DNA, the work required by the Lord is even more detailed and lengthy in the process. That is because perfectionism throws a veil over our brokenness and tries to pretend it just isn't there. To make matters worse, within the Christian community, we can immerse ourselves in good deeds to try to really convince ourselves of our own "goodness". And yet, this is not at all why Jesus died for us.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1). No matter how much we try to cover up the brokenness, there is always still a nagging sense that our lives are not yet completely free in Christ. And, it is the faithfulness of God to continue to prod us until we succeed in the freedom for which He died.

Our lives are messy and God requires that we give our mess to Him. Human nature wants to wrap it up and put pretty little bows all over it pretending it doesn't exist. God's way is to expose it to the light and deal with it in a way that will ultimately yield the abundant life.

If we give the worst of ourselves to Him, He will bless it and give it back to us so that we can then share it with others. At times, He will even break it more so that it can be used in a greater way. Remember, brokenness is  openness. And, openness is a good thing!

If you've walked with God for any length of time at all, there will be a time when something or someone will break your heart. Somewhere inside of us there is a place that believes that this just shouldn't happen to children of God. C.S. Lewis said, "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken."

And yet, loving others is the whole point. In Ann Voskamp's book, The Broken Way, she says, "I am what I love and I will love you like Jesus, through the strength of Jesus. I will love you when I'm not loved back. I will love you when I'm hurt and disappointed and betrayed and inconvenienced and rejected. I will simply love, no expectations, no conditions, no demands. Love is not always agreement with someone, but it is always sacrifice for someone."

She goes on to say that God calls us to the givenness of others. She states that our "Bad brokenness is broken by good brokenness", which is the giving out to others. C.S. Lewis said, "For in self-giving, if anywhere, we touch a rhythm not only of all creation, but of all being."

If we try to avoid suffering or mask it or attempt to comfort it, we miss out on the miracles and blessings that God intended for us. If we, instead, allow our suffering to propel us further into the heart of Jesus, we will be transformed. This is the transformation that brings freedom and healing to others.

As children of God, we are abundantly blessed. Simultaneously, for the greater good, God also allows us to be abundantly broken. Blessed and broken. For some of His children, this is the perpetual path He calls us to.

The promise He gives us if this is our path is that He will comfort us. The Greek word for comfort is parakaleo. Kaleo means to "call by name" and para means "near". It is ironically within our brokenness that we have the privilege to experience God and the comfort He brings in unprecedented ways. There are special blessings found along  broken path that are found in no other places. Our faith and surrender to Him are evidenced as we learn to trust Him in the process on our broken road.

This year, as we thank God for the abundance of our blessings, could we also thank Him for our brokenness too? His Light refracts through every broken place and yearns to touch other lives that are even more broken than our own. What if we intentionally seek out others who are hurting to show them the love of Christ? This is how we live the abundant  life in the midst of a broken path.

We are living in a season where God is calling us to be bolder and more intentional. No excuses. No hindrances- not even our own brokenness. We are a people who are abundantly blessed even if we are also abundantly broken. All brokenness will never fully be alleviated until we go home to be with Jesus. In the interim, may we be moved with compassion the way that Jesus is to find others along our path who are also blessed and broken. It is worth the risk!

                                        HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!


"By believing against all odds and loving against all odds, that is how we are to let Jesus show in the world and transform the world."
                                                    Frederick Buechner

True Trembling

"His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying,
'YET ONCE MORE I will shake not only the earth, but also the starry heaven.'

Now, this expression, 'YET ONCE MORE', indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken-- that is, of that which has been created-- So that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for our God is indeed a consuming fire."
                                                     Hebrews 12:26-29




Before the tribulation comes there will first be a season of Good News where the Gospel is shared throughout the earth (Matthew 24:14). The prophet, Daniel, speaks of this season when he says, "And in the days of these [final ten] kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people; but it shall break and crush and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever" (Daniel 2:44). Daniel explains that the kingdom God establishes in the earth will forever endure.

This knowledge should cause believers to have the true reverence that God calls us to possess. However, because our society as a whole has become so irreverent, there are many who do not. It is much easier to focus on God's love and kindness, and, in doing so, we can easily forget just how great and powerful God really is. This is why God tells us, "this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My Word and reveres My commands" (Isaiah 66:2).

God literally looks for those who are humble, contrite (showing sincere remorse) in their heart, and who tremble at His Word. He is not seeking what we can do; He seeks who we are. He promises that as we draw closer to Him that He will draw closer to us. Interestingly, the closer we get to God, the more our hearts will tremble before Him.

Error in the church occurs for two basic reasons. Jesus said, "You are wrong because you know neither the Scriptures nor God's power" (Matthew 22:29). While He was speaking to the Sadducees and Pharisees, the inference was that they really didn't know God. They could talk the talk and fake the walk, but they really didn't have the kind of relationship with God that is intimate and abundant.

Knowing God was definitely something that Moses accomplished in his life. He spoke face to face with God in the sacred tent. And, when he did, his face was so radiant that the sons of Israel had to turn away. The trajectory in his life was to hear from God and to seek hard after Him.

When God gave Moses His Word in the form of the ten commandments, Moses did not eat or drink for forty days. He carefully handled God's Word and then shared it with the Israelites. When "the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and saw the mountain smoking, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and we will listen, but let not God speak to us or we will die.' Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid; for God has come in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin'" (Exodus 20:18-20).

God shook Mount Sinai when He gave the law and He will once again shake the nations before Jesus returns. His voice thundered and shook the people at Mount Sinai and His voice will once again thunder throughout the earth. We will either be a people who trembles at His Word or we will be among those who ignore it which would be to our peril.

The book of Revelation tells us that during the tribulation seven thunders will be given a voice and will utter their message in distinct words (Revelation 10:3). The apostle, John, heard their message and started to write it down but was prohibited from doing so. He "heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Seal up what the seven thunders have said! Do not write it down!'" (Revelation 10:4).

We do not know why John was not permitted to write what the seven thunders uttered. Those utterances were to be sealed in an otherwise unsealed book. We will have to wait until the end of time to know what they spoke (Daniel 12:9).

The angel that told John about the seven thunders apparently had the authority of God's throne. His posture was that of a conqueror possessing his territory. Only the victorious Christ could make such a claim.

Between now and the end of time, it is imperative to know what God is saying. In times as critical as these, it is the only true thing that matters. We cannot be intimidated to draw close to Him, even if trembling is the end result of it. We may even hear the rumble of thunder:

"The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders" (Psalm 29:3).

"Thunder crashes and rumbles in the skies. It's God raising His voice!" (Job 26:11).

"God thunders with His voice wondrously" (Job 37:5).

"Then there came a voice out of heaven... the crowd of bystanders heard the sound and said that it had thundered"  (John 12:28-29).


More of God is coming to the earth. A season of fulfillment of the Word of God will occur. The light of God will be turned up. May we be a people in this season who are humble, contrite in spirit, and who hear and truly tremble at His Word!


               "Indeed, [at His thunderings] my heart also trembles and leaps out of its place."
                                                                  Job 37:1