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Do Something God!

The message I heard Sunday morning reminded me of this teaching I shared nine years ago. The truth of God’s word never goes out of date.

“Do something, God!” Is that the cry of your heart? Are you dissatisfied with the way things are now and have been for a while? Is there a situation that needs changing and you feel the Lord is moving too slowly?

Those words above are the starting thought of Psalm 68. Do something God – do something. The Lord understands our thoughts and our impatience. However, He wants us to be content no matter our circumstances, not because our circumstances are good but because He can be trusted.

“God, get up and scatter your enemies! May all your enemies run from you…28God, show us your power! Show us the power you used for us in the past…33 Sing to him who rides his chariot through the ancient skies. Listen to his powerful voice! 34 Tell everyone how powerful he is!  He rules over Israel. His power fills the skies.” Psalm 68:1-34 ERV

Look at this story of Peter after one of his arrests.

“He (Herod) arrested Peter and put him in jail, where he was guarded by a group of 16 soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people, but he wanted to wait until after the Passover festival. 5 So Peter was kept in jail, but the church was constantly praying to God for him.

6 One night, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two of the soldiers. More soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. Herod was planning to bring Peter out before the people the next day. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord was standing there, and the room was filled with light. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him up. The angel said, “Hurry, get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s hands.” Acts 12:4-7 ERV

What I want you to see is the change in Peter? This is the same Peter who not only denied being a follower of Jesus but denied he even knew him when questioned by a young girl and some men around a fire.

Now he has been imprisoned simply because Herod was wanting to make points with the Jewish people by arresting christians. Peter isn’t pacing in his cell, he isn’t pleading his cause of false arrest, he isn’t even involved in an all night prayer meeting telling the Lord how unfair it is that he is there.

Peter is at rest – he’s sleeping! He’s learned to trust – he’s content. Peter’s confident that God is in control and by his side.

If your day started with the heart’s cry of the Psalms, “Do something, God!’ then calm down by focusing on the words just a few verses below this.

“Our God, you are the one who rides on the clouds, and we praise you. Your name is the Lord, and we celebrate as we worship you.” Psalm 68:4 CEV

Learning to trust brings peace. Trust takes us from fear to rest.

“I can lie down and sleep soundly because you, Lord, will keep me safe.” Psalm 4:8 CEV

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The Gift of Grace

Yesterday I shared with you on mercy. Today I want you to see grace, love in action.

Some teach that if we are “good christians” we will never face the hard things in life. But that just isn’t true. All we have to do is look at Jesus – He was maligned, misunderstood, hated and crucified.

The Apostle Paul said that he was being buffeted (harassed) by a “messenger of Satan” and that He had asked the Lord three times to deliver him. I’ve heard it said that God basically told him to “buck up”. But I don’t see it that way at all. I see God’s response to Paul as one of victory and deliverance – making him an overcomer and more than a conqueror. You read and you decide.

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” II Corinthians 12:8-10 KJV

Now for the Complete Jewish Bible

“Three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me; 9 but he told me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness.” Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah’s power will rest upon me. 10 Yes, I am well pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties endured on behalf of the Messiah; for it is when I am weak that I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:8-10 CJB

Christ was the strongest when He hung on the cross and cried out “Father, forgive them”. Grace is giving others something they don’t deserve – mercy, that we saw yesterday, is not giving others something they do deserve.

Jesus, in His most painful moments, forgave the thief hanging next to Him on the cross. Paul was stoned and left for dead one day and got up and walk to the neighboring town the next day to preach the gospel. He lived out what God had said.

“My grace is sufficient. My power is made perfect in weakness”.

Now, let’s look at grace and mercy together.

“ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV

Thank you Father for your grace being sufficient for me. It gives me YOUR strength for my weakness. Grace is God’s love in action!

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Mercy Rewrites the Story

Time this morning for another old song.

Mercy rewrote my life. Mercy rewrote my life. I should have fallen, my soul cast down but mercy rewrote my life.

Each year as we get closer to celebrating the resurrection of our Savior, and our Lord, my heart is drawn to focus on His mercy and sacrifice on our behalf.

Mercy: (I want this word to become engrained in your heart)

from Merriam Webster dictionary

1 a : compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment

2 a : a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion

3 : compassionate treatment of those in distress

Compassion shown to an offender. The focal point of the Tabernacle was the mercy seat. The focal point of God’s relationship to man is mercy!

Can you imagine being tasked with the responsibility for crafting the items used in the Tabernacle?

“Bezalel built a chest of acacia wood forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. 2 He covered it inside and out with pure gold and put a gold edging around the top…6 The entire lid of the chest, which was also covered with pure gold, was the place of mercy.” Exodus 37:1-6 CEV

This chest was the ark of the covenant – this ark was a sign of God’s presence and here in God’s presence was the place to find mercy!

Why do we so often run from God when we sin? The Father’s heart is that we run to Him, run to Him for mercy and for help, run to Him for forgiveness and restoration.

The high priest could only enter the Holy of Holies and offer the blood sacrifice once a year to the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat. But no more!

Jesus became our high priest, and He offered His own shed blood for the forgiveness of sins and we have been forever cleansed! Hallelujah!

“11 Christ came as the high priest of the good things that are now here. He also went into a much better tent that wasn’t made by humans and that doesn’t belong to this world. 12 Then Christ went once for all into the most holy place and freed us from sin forever. He did this by offering his own blood instead of the blood of goats and bulls.” Hebrews 9:11-12 CEV

I heard mercy described like this once.

We are taken to court with a long list of charges (sin) against us. The prosecutor (satan) stands before the judge (the Father) and declares that we are guilty. The defense attorney (Jesus) stands before the judge and says “My client throws himself on the mercy of the court, Your Honor.”

The judge then says” I will grant your plea for mercy however someone has to pay the penalty”. Then the defense attorney, Jesus, steps forward and says “I will pay the penalty Your Honor. Let my client go and take Me in His place. (grace)”

Mercy: not receiving the penalty we deserve

Grace: receiving release or forgiveness that we don’t deserve

Thank you Father for your mercy and your grace! Your mercy rewrote my life’s story!

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Grasshoppers – Oh My!

We have been experiencing an outbreak of grasshoppers and crickets here in our area. They are everywhere!

I decided to look up their life span – it can range from a few weeks to a few months. Ridiculous.

I’d like to tell you about a “grasshopper” mentality that lasted about 40 years. I call it the grasshopper syndrome. Grasshopper Syndrome was first diagnosed in Numbers 13.

Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt and God said He had given them the Promised Land. All they had to do was go in and possess it. Moses chose 12 men to spy out the land and bring back a report. Ten men came back with Grasshopper Syndrome and two men, Joshua and Caleb, came back “considering” only the good that God had revealed to them.

The ten men said this “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:33 The problem wasn’t the giants in the land, it’s that they were considering the giants and not God and saw themselves as grasshoppers.

We know from reading about Rahab in Jericho that the people’s hearts had been in fear from the moment they heard about the Red Sea parting that the Israelites would come and destroy them so really the ten men had nothing to fear except their own imaginations.

Now year’s later we find a second outbreak of Grasshopper Syndrome. It occurs in I Samuel 17. This is where we find the story of David and Goliath. The army of Israel had heard Goliath taunt them for forty days. “And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” I Samuel 17:10-11

Goliath was the biggest man around at over nine feet tall and he came out twice a day mocking the armies of God. Grasshopper Syndrome had spread throughout the entire army and they were filled with fear.

Then David, a shepherd boy, shows up to bring gifts to his brothers and things change. He hears Goliath’s defiant cries, and asks but one question “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?” To us today, that may seem like a silly question but it was David’s way of not considering Goliath’s size.

Since the days of Abraham, circumcision was a sign of God’s covenant with the nation of Israel. It meant that God had promised to be their God and always be with them.

Powerful, powerful covenant.

“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me using sword, spear, and javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel. You have said bad things about him. 46 Today the LORD will let me defeat you.,,Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel. 47 All the people gathered here will know that the LORD doesn’t need swords or spears to save people. The battle belongs to the LORD, and he will help us defeat all of you.” I Samuel 17:45-47

With one shot from the sling, Goliath was dead. What kind of Goliath is standing in front of you today – unemployment, illness, personal relationships, financial hardship – whatever it is, do like David.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” I John 4:4

Take God’s word and destroy the giant, remove Grasshopper Syndrome from your thinking, let God’s word have final authority in your life.

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From the Heart

I’m not normally someone who has restless sleep but this week has been a booger!

Tossing and turning all night long.

However, with that as my back story, coffee in hand, quiet surrounding me, except for the birds I have been listening to my heart. And wouldn’t you know it…I heard a song.

“Oh Lord, you’re beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Oh Lord, please light the fire,
That once burned bright and clear.
Replace the lamp of my first love,
That burns with Holy fear.” by Keith Green, 1980

1980, I was a young mother with two small children, ages 5 1/2 and 4. I had recently experienced a miscarriage and I was learning to lean on the Lord’s strength in ways that were beyond my years.

This song became the anthem of my heart. “Your face is all I seek. Your grace abounds to me”.

The abounding grace of Jesus – His grace that covered all my sin, His grace that brought me into right standing with the Father, His grace that saved me.

“ God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God treated us with undeserved grace because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.

7-8  Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because of God’s gift of undeserved grace to us. God has great wisdom and understanding,  9 and by what Christ has done, God has shown us his own mysterious ways.” Ephesians 1:5-9 CEV

“ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 NJKV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7-11 NKJV

We have God’s promise that when we seek His kingdom, His way of doing things, we will find it and not only will be find it but we will be rewarded for seeking Him.

“ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

Good days or bad days. Rest filled days or restless days, it doesn’t matter. We come to Him and praise Him from the heart and He will do the rest.

“You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. 2 You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, 3  and you refresh my life.” Psalm 23:1-3 CEV

Yes Lord, You are beautiful and I will praise you with all my heart!

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God Uses the Unusable

Do you know who Rahab was? She was a prostitute who lived in Jericho. Would you be surprised if I told you she was used of God to aid the Israelites in their destruction of that city? Talk about using some who was considered unusable – it would be her story.

Rahab’s home was on the city wall. I don’t know if there was a red-light district in Jericho but immediately upon entering the city of Jericho, the spies Joshua sent out went to Rahab’s house. I guess that they felt strangers going to the house of a harlot wouldn’t garner much attention because certainly there must be a steady stream of men going in and out of her house. But the arrival of two Israelites in Jericho didn’t go unnoticed.

The king sent and questioned Rahab as to where the spies were and she lied saying that they must have already left the city and if the king sent soldiers after them, they could probably catch up with the spies. She had hid them on her roof under the drying flax.

Rahab told the spies that the people of Jericho had lived in fear of the Israelites since they heard of how the Lord parted the Red Sea for them and then helped them defeat the kings, Og and Sihon in the wilderness.

“She said, “I know that the LORD has given this land to your people. You frighten us. Everyone living in this country is afraid of you. 10 We are afraid because we have heard about the ways that the LORD helped you. We heard that he dried up the Red Sea when you came out of Egypt… 13 Tell me that you will allow my family to live—my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all their families. Promise me that you will save us from death.” Joshua 2:9-13

I think it’s interesting that her country lived in fear for the past 40 years – since they heard about the Red Sea parting and yet, the Israelites had been walking around in the wilderness for 40 years afraid of the giants in the land on the other side of the Jordan. The report of God’s ability to fight for Israel had left their enemies in mortal fear and yet the Israelites didn’t have faith in God’s word but rather “considered” the giants in the land.

“ The spies said: You made us promise to let you and your family live. We will keep our promise, but you can’t tell anyone why we were here. You must tie this red rope on your window when we attack, and your father and mother, your brothers, and everyone else in your family must be here with you.” Joshua 2:17-20

A few days after the spies returned to their camp, Joshua set the battle plan in order and the Israelites took Jericho and everyone in the city was destroyed except for Rahab and her family. Not one Israelite died in the battle.

The Israelites had lived in fear of the giants in the promised land but the people in the promised land had lived in fear of God.

What giants are keeping you from God’s promised land today? What is it that seems so large, that you can’t conquer it? “Consider not” the giant that has paralyzed you in the past but instead consider God’s promise of blessing. When you put your faith in God and His word, He will go before you and cause you to rise victorious.

God loves using those who the world thinks are unusable.

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Let’s Be Honest

All I wanted to do this morning was have my coffee and go back to bed. I didn’t want to read my Bible and I only wanted to spend a little time praying. I’m tired, had a restless night and really no motivation for the day.

I looked over at my side table as I was putting my coffee cup down and focused on the beautiful orchid that was beginning to bloom. I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to be diligent. “Just read a little, Let Me do the rest. Let me water and nourish you as you have done with that orchid for the last year”.

Alright Lord. Water me. And He did!

“This is what the Lord Who made you, Who put you together before you were born, Who will help you, says, ‘Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, and you Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land and rivers on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your children, and will bring good to your children’s children. 4 They will grow like grass in the fields, and like poplar trees by the rivers.’” Isaiah 44:2-4 NLV

So many times, we think we have to have great revelation to be growing in Christ. If I don’t read massive amounts of Scripture and spend long hours in prayer, I’m not pleasing God and doing what He wants. But that’s not true.

Like my orchid, which I didn’t even know that I would be able to keep alive, it’s consistency. You see, every Friday for the last year I have put 6 small ice cubes on the soil in the pot. That has been enough to consistently water my plant. I’ve kept it on the table where it receives good sunlight and without any more effort from me it’s blooming.

The consistency of God’s word waters our lives and the light of the Son provides the warmth we need to grow and bloom.

“ I remember the days long ago. I think about all You have done. I think about the work of Your hands. 6 I put out my hands to You. My soul is thirsty for You like a dry land.

7 Hurry to answer me, O Lord! My spirit is becoming weak! Do not hide Your face from me, or I will become like those who go down to the grave. 8 Let me hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for I trust in You. Teach me the way I should go for I lift up my soul to You. 9 O Lord, take me away from those who hate me. I run to You to be safe.

10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a straight path. 11 Give me new life, O Lord, because of Your name. Bring me out of trouble because You are right and good.” Psalm 143:5-10 NLV

When we have a thirsty soul, the Lord brings refreshing and with refreshing comes new life.

Now, let’s go out and show the world the beautiful blooms God has created in our lives.

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I’m Staying Put

There’s a lady who used to live close to us and she had several dogs that she walked each day. There was one old dog that hated being on leash. I don’t know if he was just so old that he didn’t like to walk or if his feet and legs hurt or if he just didn’t like the leash, but his morning out was more dragging instead of walking. We felt badly for that dog each time we saw her pulling him along but it was a pretty good object lesson.

It reminded me of this conversation Moses had with the Lord.

“The Lord said, ‘I will go with you and give you peace.’ 15 Then Moses replied, ‘If you aren’t going with us, please don’t make us leave this place. 16 But if you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth.” Exodus 33:14-16 CEV

I see Moses saying “Lord if You don’t go with us, then they’ll have to take me, digging in my heels, and being dragged from here, cuz I’m not goin’ without You!”

Oh, for that kind of determination to be close to the Lord. Too many times, I have found myself running out ahead of the Lord and calling back for Him to hurry and catch up. Those are the times I find myself in situations that are not good for me. Those are the times I find myself asking the Father to rescue me once again.

How much better it would be it if I simply sat down and said I’m not going if You’re not. Period. End of conversation.

We get caught up in our own plans, defending our own reputation, making our way when we should be waiting on the Lord’s lead.

“…But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, ‘This is the road! Now follow it.’” Isaiah 30:20b-21

These last verses were a prophesy of John the Baptist and that he would proclaim the coming of Christ:

“Someone is shouting: ‘Clear a path in the desert! Make a straight road for the Lord our God. 4 Fill in the valleys; flatten every hill and mountain. Level the rough and rugged ground. 5 Then the glory of the Lord will appear for all to see. The Lord has promised this!” Isaiah 40:3-5 CEV

The Lord came to fill in our valleys and bring down the high places, to smooth out the rough and rugged ground. When we go where He goes we may have valleys and rough ground but He WILL make them straight and smooth. He will speak to our hearts telling us which way to go and how to get there.

We need to be determined that we won’t let our own ambitions, pride or desire for things lead us. We won’t let the enemy deceive us into following him.

Let’s dig in our heels and say, “Lord if You don’t go, I’m staying put!”

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Don’t Be a Grumpy Giver

Have you ever noticed that most of the images we see of “Grumpy the Dwarf” have his hands tightly folded across his chest?

Did you know it’s hard to give when your arms are locked?

Gratitude is expressed by giving thanks. That’s what I saw King David doing as his life was nearing the end. He gave his possessions and he gave his gratitude. His son Solomon had been chosen by the Lord to be the next king and to build the Temple.

“ I am making a special gift of gold and silver things for my God’s Temple. I am doing this because I really want the Temple of my God to be built... 4 I have given 110 tons of pure gold from Ophir. I have given 263 tons of pure silver. Now, how many of you Israelites are ready to give yourselves to the Lord today?” … 9 The people were very happy because their leaders were willing to give so much. The leaders had given freely to the Lord from good hearts. King David was also very happy.” I Chronicles 29:3-9 ERV

King David gave of the massive wealth that he accumulated over the years of his reign. Gifts from other nations and the spoils of war. And then he led the people in this prayer.

“David said, ‘Lord, the God of Israel, our Father, may you be praised forever and ever!
11 Greatness, power, glory, victory, and honor belong to you, because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you! The kingdom belongs to you, Lord! You are the head, the Ruler over everything. 12 Riches and honor come from you. You rule everything… And in your hand is the power to make anyone great and powerful!
13 Now, our God, we thank you, and we praise your glorious name! 14 All these things didn’t come from me and my people. All these things come from you. We are only giving back to you things that came from you. 15 We are only strangers traveling through this world like our ancestors…We build it to honor your name. But all these things have come from you. Everything belongs to you.
17 My God, I know that you test people, and that you are happy when people do what is right.
I gladly give you all these things with a pure, honest heart. I see your people gathered here, and I see that they are happy about giving these things to you.” verses 10-17 ERV

If we’re not careful, we have a tendency to be possessive. “I worked hard for this. I only have a little I can’t give. What difference does my little offering make?” Let Jesus answer that.

“ Then a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth less than a penny. 43 Jesus called his followers to him and said, ‘This poor widow put in only two small coins. But the truth is, ‘she gave more than all those rich people.‘” Mark 2:42-43 ERV

The Lord loves that we express our gratitude by giving.

“ Each one of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You should not give if it makes you unhappy or if you feel forced to give. God loves those who are happy to give.” II Corinthians 9:7 ERV

Give from a grateful heart. Don’t be a grumpy giver!

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And the Winner Is…

We all like to win. I was never very athletic so I would cheer from the sidelines, encouraging those who were competing.

But I know now that I am a winner and I’m cheering for you.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT

Those who have gone before us in this life of faith are cheering us on. Their lives are examples of encouragement of what God will do in the lives of common, ordinary people.

Do you realize Jesus considered Himself a winner when He endured the cross?

“In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” Colossians 2:15 NLT

He did this for all of us.

“ My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” I John 2:1-2 NLT

When our lives are committed to Christ we participate in His victory.

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” I John 5:1-5 NLT

We are destined to be winners – victorious – overcomers.

“ We thank God for the power Christ has given us. He leads us and makes us win in everything. He speaks through us wherever we go. The Good News is like a sweet smell to those who hear it.” II Corinthians 2:14 NLV

God uses us to be a voice for Christ in the world telling the Good News of His love, forgiveness and victory.

“ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57 NKJV

“ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 NKJV

Better than winning the lotto or anything else is the victory we have in Christ. And the winner is…US!

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