Winning

Easter Sunday. The Devil hates days like this. Churches are packed, people are embracing, children are laughing and playing. It is a blessing to our Lord. But I can almost see the devil throwing a temper tantrum. As a matter of fact, I think I could hear the tantrum Sunday. Lightening flashed and the thunder crashed around our humble aluminum Church building. People were hearing the good news and Satan was MAD. At one point in the busiest service the power went out leaving the Pastor trying to compete with the sound of the heavy rain in the dark.

Time to throw up your hands? Say "I give up." "this is too hard" or "This is supposed to be fun." That is the Devil's goal, to take the wind from your sail (or the power from your microphone). The one thing he doesn't want You to know is: It Is Finished! Jesus has Won.

"Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."  (John 19:30)

Each of us who has professed Jesus as our savior, are Winning every single day because He already paid the price. So if the Devil is attacking you with one of his temper tantrums, tell him to go back where he came from ;) ha ha ha

"Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^"(Matt 4:10)

Reflection Question: How are you irritating Satan this week?

Cramming

On my way to Colorado, the man across the aisle was so tall with such long legs he was literally crammed into the seat. His knees were uncomfortably smashed against the chair in front of him. It seemed like every few minutes he would rustle and twitch in his seat to try to "fit" better, but no matter what position he tried to contort, there was no way to fit into that small space. 

Don't we do that with God? We try to cram Him into what our little minds can handle, so we can think we understand.

In our human dullness, God didn’t even have words to explain who He fully is to Moses. All He could explain is that He is the one who always was, and is, and is to come… by saying I am who I am.

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)

“Day and night [the angels] never stop saying:

   “‘Holy, holy, holy

   is the Lord God Almighty,’

   who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever.” (Rev 4:8-9)

I don't think I want to serve a God I can fully understand. God is mystical. I barely made it through the first level of college calculus. If God is relegated to the likes of what I can understand, we are in bigger trouble than I thought. Those people who cruise right through math may never be able to explain a Shakespearian sonnet. The truth is, we are made in the likeness of God, but none other than Jesus can claim to be or understand God. Even Jesus did not think he could understand God. He did, however know that The Father's plan was best.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Phil 3:5-7)

In Gethsemane Jesus prayed: “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)

This will not stop me from following Jesus or from trying to liken my life to His. As a matter of fact, serving God who is so much more than I could ever imagine has me seeking after Him that much more!

Reflection Question: Have you crammed God into something you can understand? Or do you serve the I AM?

Knock Knock

Who’s there?

When Jesus knocks, he has something a little different for each of us. The thing is, we don’t really know what that will be until we open the door.  Sadly, most people never answer his knock. Then, some people answer the door and invite Jesus in, just to kick him out and slam the door in his face.

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Rev 3:19-20)

The specifics will be different for all of us, but the basic call to each of us is the same. The greatest commandment is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

I have heard Jesus knocking since I chose to follow Him back in 2001. In so many ways I followed his callings for me. I started a Bible study in my sorority with another Christian sister, I spent a summer in Yellowstone on a mission trip, and I changed from one ministry (the one where I met Jesus) to another based on His calling for my ministry.

When I got married and had my first baby boy, following Jesus became much more difficult. Working 12 hour days for the Army, trying to take care of my family; life was just so busy! I always tried to honor Him in my day-to-day, loving the unlovables in the military. I asked my pastor to start a lunchtime Bible study on post so I could attend, and invited everyone I could, but it never felt like enough. I was plagued with depression and anxiety at different times.

As my transition off of active duty began, I had a million ideas running through my mind of what I should do next. Go back to school, work in the family sales business, try to get an active position with the National Guard… but none of that felt right either.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD” (Jer 29:11-14; emphasis mine)

Back in November, I heard the call into ministry, but all the pressures of this world and desire to make money led me to seek out other options. After looking into numerous possibilities, and even trying out some… I felt Jesus saying, “You can do this… but you’re just delaying the inevitable. I have something planned for you.” I knew that I would never be satisfied with my plans, but I had to let go and follow His. Totally scary for someone like me who likes to plan, but I know that although my plans might have been good, His plan is always best. So why settle for good when you can have the best? I don’t know where it is going to take me, but I’m choosing to follow Jesus into the ministry field. Look for Overflow with Hope Ministry in the near future!

Reflection Question: Jesus is knocking; have you opened the door to Jesus?

Motion

While flying through some turbulence I started to feel something pretty common for me: motion sickness. I have gotten air sick so many times, just the smell of aviation fuel can churn my stomach.

This is the feeling God has when we claim to be His, but simply muddle along doing some good things.

If you look at Rev 3:15-16, it says “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

The Greek word for spit there can better be explained as gag on and then upchuck.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

Our GOOD deeds are like dirty menstrual pads. No really. That's the translation for “filthy rags”.

I'm not saying that Grace isn't sufficient and Amazing. We will all continue in the way of the world, sometimes...but for salvation through Grace, we are required to sellout for Jesus. Don't be fooled, just because you pray or call yourself a Christian, doesn't mean your name is written in The Book.

“A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” …You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:18, 20-29)

That is probably the Best trick the Devil has played on us. To make us think that we can be "Christian enough" and then we have our Golden Ticket to heaven. We all want to know, how little can we do and still make it to heaven? What’s the minimum? Sunday church attendance? Prayer? Not saying bad words? …

Reflection Question: How have you been just a Lukewarm Christian this week?

Ouch

We have officially been in Colorado for six days; skiing for 5 days, with a one day break and I'm smoked! I have bruises on my shins that cause me to whimper at the slightest bit of pressure. So you can imagine that the force caused by my inertia while I try to gracefully glide down the mountain is more like a scary movie where I try not to crash.  To add to the out of control dance I seem to be choreographing, my quad muscles have never been this exhausted. It's like I'm tempting fate every time I choose to point the tips of my skis down the mountain.

I am far too stubborn to waste the money we spent on lift tickets and quit skiing. But even more than that, there is an amazing thing happening here at Snowmass this week. The DAV (disabled vets of America) is hosting their Miracle on a Mountainside for the 25th year. There are skiers and snowboarders with no legs, with one leg, half paralyzed, and blind. And those are just the men and women I have met. There are about 325 vets and twice as many volunteers making this miracle happen.

It's so inspiring to see these disabled vets and volunteers all over the snow. From the bunny slopes to the most rigorous black diamonds there is so much strength and love. The strength it takes for a blind vet to get on skis and navigate down a slippery snow-covered mountain side and the love and patience it takes for two volunteers (one in front as a vocal guide, and one behind with guide straps to use if necessary) to take something they love and apply it to someone who couldn't do it without them. It makes me want, even more than ever before, to make a positive impact on the world!

Reflection Question: How will you make your positive impact on the world?

photo used with permission

All There Is

Is Jesus really all there is? My husband recently said to me, "All your writing seems to have a theme. You always say that God is the only important thing, what about your family?"

I told him at the time, "you have a point, I will think about that." Here is what I've come up with...

Jesus says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)

Notice the word "all". Then notice that "all" is repeated four times. If you give All of your heart, mind, soul and your strength, that doesn't leave much for anything else.

"Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33)

So, then what does it mean to give your all to God. Should we all then become monks in a monastery and spend the rest of our days in silent prayer? No, of course not. That's silly. It's actually way harder than just That!

We are to love others. So wait, YES our families are important to spend our energy loving. Not just saying I love you at the end of a phone call or email and not just a goodnight I love you kiss before bed. True Love to ALL (there's that word again).

If you're at all like me, there doesn't seem to be anything harder than a vow of silence at a monastery. Consider with me, though, what love really is:

"Love is patient (even when the lady in front of you at the grocery has 3 types of food stamps).
Love is kind (even to your boss when you swear they have tried to sabotage you).
Love does not envy (even when your neighbor buys that new car you've been saying you want but can't afford)
Love does not boast (even when you were so right and they were so wrong)
Love is not proud (even when you accomplish something everyone said you couldn't)" (1 Cor 13:4, added comments mine)

I could stop there and most of us are ready to sign up for the "silent thing", but it goes even deeper.

"Love Does not dishonor others (even when they deserve it)
Love is not self-seeking (even when it deserved it)
Love is not easily angered (even when you're in rush hour traffic)
Love keeps no record of wrongs (even when you want to remind your husband of that horrible 1st Valentines Day together)" (1 Cor 13:5, comments added mine)

In the end I have concluded that both answers to the question at hand are wholly correct. God is Everything. He IS The prize. And by making God everything, you will make his people everything.

""The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"(Matt 25:40)

The two greatest commandments, Love God and Love others. (see Matt 22:37-40). You really can't have one without the other. You cannot truly love God and not love others and you also cannot truly love others without first loving God.

Reflection Question: Are you trying to love God without loving others, or trying to love others without first loving God?

Things

 

A co-worker of mine has a nice car. It’s not the newest car ever, but it is a quality brand and it’s paid for. Joe, like many men, really liked his car. He and his wife don’t have any kids yet, so you could say that the BMW was Joe’s baby. He keeps it clean, he waxes it, and it shines a beautiful blue color in the sunshine.

While on the way home to visit his family in some nasty weather, Joe was pushing his luck a bit in his sporty car. All of a sudden the slick street took control of the car and it started to slide and spin. Going about 60 mph the BMW hit the highway divider. Thankfully he didn’t hit anyone else during his acrobatics, though during that storm, there were three car wrecks at approximately the same time, two of them ended in fatalities.

In the end, the car was deemed a total wreck, but Joe walked away. He was so thankful for his life, especially after learning of the other two fatalities. Although he was angry at himself for his recklessness, and the financial burden he would have to put on his family to get a new car, he realized that things are just that, things. Life is what is precious.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor 4:17-18)

If we are so focused on the “stuff” in our life, we are probably not placing enough attention on the only thing that matters in this world. God. I wonder if God wasn’t trying to get Joe’s attention. Maybe He wanted Joe to stop focusing in what he has, and start focusing on Whose he is.

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Heb 12:1-2)

Reflection Question: How is God trying to get your attention on Him? Are you listening?

story used with permission