Be Ye Separate

What do you think of when you here the word "holy"? When I was growing up that word meant some sort of perfect person with a halo over their head followed by angels singing. Funny enough I think a lot of people still think that way. But really the word holy means to be separate. We are set apart. Separate and set apart from the world. Many people view holiness as only an outward condition. For example; Some people may think it's not holy to play drums in church or if a woman was to wear makeup, she was not holy. I like the way John Bevere puts it in his book, "Heart Ablaze". He wrote, "A woman can have a dress down to her ankles, her hair in a bun, with no makeup or jewelry on, and still have a seducing spirit up to her eyeballs! A man can boast about how he never commited adultery or divorces his wife, but he may still lust after every woman who walks by him. That is not holiness. That extreme focused exclusively on the flesh, and holiness is not a work of the flesh. This notion led many people in the church into legalism."

When I looked up the word legalism in the Webster dictionary it said this:
Legalism, in Christian theology, is a sometimes-pejorative (pejorative means belittling) term referring to an over-emphasis on discipline of conduct, or legal ideas, usually implying an allegation of misguided rigour, pride, superficiality, the neglect of mercy, and ignorance of the grace of God or emphasizing the letter of the law over the spirit. Legalism is alleged against any view that obedience to law, not faith in God's grace is the pre-eminent principle of redemption.

Paul reminds us that we are now in Christ, we are adopted into the family of God and now everything is different!  Legalistic rules in the modern Church can have the effect of separating us from that new life by creating a list of things by which we can say we are “righteous.”  (We dress right, listen to the right music, etc.) It is not by works of righteousness that we are saved! For if it were then Jesus wouldn't have had to die on the cross. Our salvation has nothing to do with good works. Isaiah said all our works are like filthy rags!
I was dwelling on that thought the other day and I had a revelation and such a breakthrough! Almost all of my Christian walk (the past 16 years) I have been trapped in a lie. When the enemy would make me dwell on my past mistakes I would mourn and cry. I kept thinking "if only.." If only I had done that, said that, not done that, not said that - does that list sound familiar? I would constantly put myself down and feel horrible. But yesterday the Lord said to me, "okay...what if you had done everything perfectly? Would you still be without sin and not need a Savior?" This halted my thought immediately. I thought, okay..even if I had prayed more, read the Word more, did more in ministry, did more good deeds, always told the truth - IT WOULD STILL BE FILTHY RAGS!!! Wow did that ever wake me up! When you realize this truth it completely sets you free from the performance trap. You can't earn it, work for it, be good enough for your salvation. It's all about God's grace and His love. Holiness is not about how many good deeds you do for God.

But there is one thing we do have to do. And it's not what you may think. It's not just about believing in God for the Bible says even the demons believe and tremble. And it's not about works or how much money you give or how big your ministry is. Think about Judas. He left his job and followed Jesus. He performed miracles, healed the sick, cast out demons. But Judas went to hell.

Jesus said "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
- Matthew 7:20-23

So then what is it truly that makes us holy, seperate unto God? What is it we are suppose to do?
The answer is SURRENDER
We make a choice. We choose to serve the Lord. We choose to not just follow Jesus but to obey Him. We must leave the old behind and embrace the new. The world behind me - the cross before me. No turning back! No turning back!
Remember what happened to Lot's wife when she turned back? Her heart was still in Sodom and Gomorrah. She longed to be there. I was thinking about this a lot lately. I've been working on surrendering my free time to the Lord. And I have had a LOT of free time lately. But what made me sad was that I knew even if I had the will power to turn off the TV or get off the computer my heart would still long to be there. I realized it's the same thing! My heart should be passionate about the Lord, spending time with HIM! I realized I had a heart problem.
Holiness is not outward it's inward. God looks at the heart!
The more I read God's Word the more I realize how serious He is about us separating from the world. When the Israelites left Egypt God told them, I have delivered you from Egypt but now you must get Egypt out of you. How many times did they long to return to Egypt? Even after seeing God do amazing miracles? They saw the Red Sea part, saw God wipe out the Egyptian armies, saw God produce water from a rock, saw bread fall from the sky! Yet their hearts longed for Egypt and to return even though there they were slaves and in bondage.
We are slaves and in bondage to the world. God frees us from the world through Jesus Christ and then says now get the world out of you!

It's a lot to take in I realize. If someone ever told you all you have to do is say a prayer and you are saved then you were not told the whole truth. It's a surrendered heart. It's waking up each morning and saying Lord, I choose You! It's taking the time to read His Word and listen to His voice. It's about a relationship. It's about obeying Him and doing what He tells you even when it hurts. God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Did he obey? Yes, the next morning he got up and set out but I am sure that it hurt!!! Abraham didn't know God was going to spare Isaac. We know how the story ends but I am sure during those days and hours they walked to that mountain Abraham's heart was breaking in a million pieces. His flesh, his dreams, his visions, his wants all had to die.

Jesus said we can not have both. We either choose Him or choose the things of the world. What Isaac are you holding on to?

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy."
 - 1 Peter: 1:14-16

In other words, be separate.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. - Matthew 7:13-14

Overcoming Condemnation

LUKE 22: 31-34
At the passover supper we find Jesus speaking to Peter
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me

Here we see that Jesus already knew that Peter would fail and he would deny Jesus. Yet, I love how Jesus says to Peter that He had prayed for him and when he turns back to strengthen his brothers. Even though Jesus knew Peter would fail, He also knew that there would be restoration and that God would use Peter for great things.

Down in verse 60-62, we find sure enough that Peter fails the test. And he denys Jesus three times.

Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Peter had a lot of pride and had believed he would never fail Jesus. In this moment of fear or anxiety we find Peter did indeed deny Jesus even though he boasted he would die for Him. I am sure the look Jesus gave Peter was a look not of condemnation or even dissapointment but a look of compassion and hope. Jesus wouldn't have been dissapointed because He already knew Peter would fail. I am sure in that moment when Peter realized what he had done his heart broke because he thought he had blown it. How quickly the enemy must have come in and told Peter that Jesus would never love him or trust him again. But I love this chapter because we realize that God already knows our failures and our shortcomings yet through Jesus He sees great potential in us.

Then my favorite part!!! Jesus brings restoration to Peter

In John 21 we have an account of Jesus speaking to Peter. This is after Jesus has risen from the dead.


When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?  He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Here Jesus pours the healing oil over Peter. For every denial He asks Peter if He loves Him. Three times Peter denied Christ and three times he tells Jesus he loves Him. Then Jesus gives Peter hope that now he will be able to pass the test and one day die for Christ as he once had boasted. Then He gives him the command to follow.
This time Peter would. It didn't mean he would never fail again or make mistakes mind you but Peter had been restored by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

This whole account flooded my mind this morning. How easily we agree with the enemy and dwell in our own condemnation. If we fail the test God has set before us we go off and weep bitterly. But God knows we will fail. He knows we are made of dust. He knows! When Peter failed it was because he was looking at his own ability, and his own strength. But when he looked to the Lord for strength he was able to endure.
God looks at our heart. He doesn't look at our size, our strength, our own wisdom or education. This is clearly taught all through scripture as we see God choose David to be king. David, the smallest of all his brothers! Just a young lad. Or Samuel, whom God raised to be a prophet when he was just a servant boy to the high priest. Or Gideon, a man to afriad to offer his sacrifice to God in the daylight for fear of what would happen to him. But yet God used him to lead a mighty army. God KNOWS our weaknesses. Will you fail? Yes...there will be times that you fail. But it's your heart that God looks at. If you are truly in love with Him and serving Him with all your mind, all your might, all your soul that is what counts. Do we condem our children for making mistakes? NO! We bring correction but we do not hold it against them when they fail. Well, how much more does God love us then we love our children? TONS!!!

So if you are caught in condemnation, beating yourself up over past mistakes or even the past in general. STOP! The truth is if we are doing that we are just being prideful. Why? Because we believe we should have been better then that. Sorry but we are not. We are sinners saved by grace! Yea...ouch! But it's true. Instead look to the Lord and He will lift you up! It's only through the Lord's strength, wisdom, power, grace, mercy, & love that we can overcome.


Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. - Romans 8: 1-4

Serve in Humility, Tears, & Trials

In Acts 20 we find Paul addressing the Ephesian Elders. He speaks to them and tells them from the first day that he came to Asia, he served the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials.

This really grabbed a hold of me when I read it. How are we to serve? The explanation is clearly stated. We are to serve with humility, tears, and to endure trials. There is a trap we fall into so easily when serving in ministry. It is so easy to let pride come in and focus on getting attention for ourselves. To expect something in return. If you encourage someone you want encouragement back, if you provide for someone's need you want a return for that, if you speak or share a talent you want applause, etc. To truly serve is to give and not expect anything in return. Not even to expect a thank you. You are serving! How many times has Jesus given us something and we didn't even say thanks..
We serve in humility, we exteem others higher then ourselves. We give all credit and praise to the Lord. True service is giving of your time, your talents, and your finances and being happy to do it all without any gain for yourself. To serve in tears, to have so much compassion for others that you mourn and grieve over their pain. Your heart breaks for them. To care about your neighbor's problems more then your own. That is the heart of a true servant. And trials...to endure. To not give up on anyone just because it causes you discomfort or pain. To truly see their need above your own.

• HUMILITY: Be utterly yielded to the Lord. Be submissive to his absolute rights to control your life. Be willing clay in the Potter's hands. And be a debtor to all people. Don't dwell on what people owe you. Think about how the grace of God makes you a debtor to all.
• TEARS: If you are shedding them, be comforted. You are in good company with Paul. And if you are not, perhaps you should look for someone who needs you. Or perhaps pray that God would help you see what is at stake in the battle for faith and hope and holiness.
• TRIALS: If you are being tried, then hear the word of James: "Count it all joy, brothers, when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Make me a servant. Humble and meek

Lord let me lift up those that are weak

And may the prayer of my heart always be

Make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant today

Let us remember the one we serve. We serve Almighty God who created the heavens and the eath. The Alpha & Omega! God..who thought it nothing to give us His very best. His Son! We serve, Jesus! Who lowered Himself to leave His throne and become a baby born in a manger, and grew up in the poorest of places. Jesus, who humbled Himself to wash the disciples feet (a job not even done by the servants but the lowest of the low!) and Jesus, who put us first by taking our sin, shame, guilt, and penalty upon Himself. God in human flesh who was rejected, beaten, spit on, mocked, died a horrific death and did it all in our place.

He exteemed us better then Himself. He served us in humility. He served us in tears as He wept over us, and He served us in trials.

How can we do any less?

A Garden of Variety

A story is told of a king who went to his garden one morning, only to find everything withered and dying. He asked the oak tree that stood near the gate what the trouble was. The oak said it was tired of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine tree. The pine was troubled because it could not bear grapes like the grapevine. The grapevine was determined to throw his life away because it could not stand erect and produce fruit as large as peaches. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac.
And so it went throughout the garden. Yet coming to a violet, the king found it's face as bright and happy as ever and said, "Well, violet, I'm glad to find one brave little flower in the midst of this discouragement. You don't seem to be the least disheartened." The violet responded, "No, I'm not. I know I'm small, yet I thought if you wanted an oak or a pine tree or a peach tree or even a lilac; you would have planted one. Since I knew you wanted a vilolet, I am determined to be the best little violet I can be." - L.B. Cowman

This little story really blew me away! For someone who has spent most of her life in the trap of comparison it brought much healing and blew the doors off all the lies! I read this little devotional back in January and ever since then it's been on my heart to share it. Now, everyday I wake up and say, "Lord, I am determined to be the best Charity I can be." For if God wanted me to be like anyone else He would have created me that way!

Hollywood and the world is constantly shoving down our throats what our "image" should be. Basically they are trying to make everyone think they all need to be a rose when we were all created different. We were not all created to be tall, thin, and tan. Some of us are short, some tall, some lanky, some stout. Some of us have red hair, some blonde, some brown. God created each one of us with a unique look. AND, He created each one of us with a unique combination of talents and gifts. While some of us may have similiar gifts not one of us has the same combination. He created us with different temperments, personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. He created a garden of variety!

Have you ever received a present beautifully decorated? While the wrapping may be beautiful to look at it's really what is inside the package that counts. Say you receive a present wrapped in brown paper. Not so pretty to look at. But inside is a laptop!! You receive another present beautifully wrapped, wonderful colors, pretty bows but inside is a pair of socks. (Not that I don't like a good pair of socks..hehe...but you get the idea)
THE VALUE LIES WITHIN!!!!

So, let us all just focus on who we were created to be and stop trying to be someone or something else. Let us be the best garden our king could ask for ☺

We are all special, unique, and beautiful!

Be a Reflection of Christ

 One day the bathroom mirror went to vist the shrink. "Come relax in this recliner," the phychiatrist said to the mirror, "Now tell me what seems to be the problem?" "I feel so yucky about myself," the bathroom mirror moaned.
"Oh really? Now why would you feel like that?" "Well, nobody appreciates me for who I am," the mirror began. "Everybody just uses me. When they come into the bathroom, people don't even notice me. All they do is gape at themselves. And when they run the shower I get all steamed up. Then their hair sticks to me. They get their grubby fingerprints on me. And when they brush their teeth it spatters all over me." "I think I see your problem," the phychiatrist interrupted. "Your problem is, you have a poor self-image."
Stop. I'm interrupting this illustration. Would you agree that this is a ludicrous illustration? It's obvious why. It's because a mirror wasn't made to have a self-image. A mirror was made to reflect the image of another.
from "In His Face" by Bob Sorge

This was a very powerful illustration to me. We as believers are not to get wrapped up in self-image. We are to be a reflection of Christ. We need to stop focusing on who we are in Christ and instead focus on who Christ is in us!
It's so easy to fall into the trap of thinking we deserve to be treated better, or thinking I should be appreciated or validated. The truth is we don't deserve anything! Only by God's grace and mercy are we saved. We didn't do anything to earn it nor could we even try.
To be a reflection of Christ we must give up or self-image for Christ's image. I love this illustration of the mirror because I see the example of Jesus. He wasn't appreciated, people were not noticing Him for who He was. They were only looking at themselves and their needs. I would say Jesus could have felt used. Then the soldiers put their grubby hands all over him, he was spit on, beaten, and then crucified. The difference is - Jesus never complained. He was simply a reflection of the Father's love. Jesus didn't have a self-image problem because He wasn't focused on himself or his needs. He was focused on the Father. He was focused on us! His compassion for us!
Truthfully, there have been many times I myself have fallen into this trap of complaining, feeling unappreciated, unnoticed, and used. This can be a great trap the enemy uses to make us feel defeated. But we must  remember that we are not to focus on ourself but to instead be a mirror. We are the reflection of Christ. And in Christ we can do all things! We are to reflect His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, His kindness, His goodness, His meekness, His gentleness, His self control, and yes...his long suffering! We are to reflect His glory!

And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. -
2 Cor. 3:18

Barnabas the Encourager

 One of the best examples of an encourager is found in the book of Acts.
Barnabas' given name was Joses, or Joseph, but the apostles gave him the name Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement" or "Son of Exhortation" (Acts 4:36).

Barnabas was on of those people who was always looking to lift others up, to bless them, look out for their needs. It was Barnabas who stood up for Saul (Acts 9:26-30)

 Many in Jerusalem were afraid to see Paul, remembering hoe he had been the one behind many Christians who had been murdered. The death of Stephen and James may have been especially on their minds. Many may have faced his wrath or had family and friends who had suffered from his prior actions, but Barnabas spoke to the apostles and verified Paul's story of his conversion.
Barnabas also supported Paul by explaining how strongly he had preached in Damascus. Eventually, Paul was accepted within the Church. But would he have been accepted in Antioch and Jerusalem had he not been "vouched for" by someone with such a solid reputation as Barnabas?
By the time of Acts 11:22-24 we find Barnabas still active in the Jerusalem congregation and trusted by the leadership to go to Antioch to begin working with (giving encouragement and direction to) people who were responding to God's Word.
Here again, we see Barnabas living up to his name of Encourager. He understood what God was doing in bringing gentiles (non-Israelites) into the Church and probably spent the rest of his life serving God to this end.

Barnabas mentored Paul as he began working alongside the other teachers in Antioch. Barnabas took Paul and a young disciple, John Mark (Mark who later became author of the Gospel bearing his name), on a trip through Asia Minor. By this time Barnabas and Paul are both referred to as apostles (Acts 14:14).
After some time had passed, Paul proposed that he and Barnabas retrace the steps of their original journey and strengthen the churches that had been established (Acts 15:36).
Sadly, a serious disagreement came between Barnabas and Paul over whether young John Mark would accompany them on this trip. Paul was so upset with John Mark returning home in the middle of their first journey that he didn't want him to come on this trip. Barnabas insisted that they should take Mark. With this matter standing between them, they went separate ways (Acts 15:39-41).
This disagreement was not permanent, however, as Paul and Barnabas later worked together in serving the church in Corinth (see 1 Corinthians 9:6). We have no record of Barnabas being angry with Paul, and he continued to encourage (teach) young John Mark in his ministry. And later we see, Paul acknowledged that Barnabas had been right not to give up on John Mark because he had become a good minister—he was "useful" to Paul for ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).
God used Barnabas in a very influential way in the development of the early New Testament Church. His nickname of Encourager flowed from living God's way of life. How many people came to the knowledge of God's way of life, not only through Barnabas' preaching, but also (and maybe even more importantly) through his example and encouragement?

How amazing! When no one wanted anything to do with the former murderer, Saul, we see Barnabas stood by him. And when Saul then known as Paul gave up on John Mark it was Barnabas again who believed in him.

Let us live by this beautiful example set by Barnabas. Let us always see the best in our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. For ALL of us fall short of the glory of God and it's only by His mercy & grace that we are saved. Let us not judge but instead always seek out the potential in others. It's amazing what people can do and accomplish when they recieve a little encouragement and someone to believe in them.

Let us all be a Barnabas to someone today. ☺

The Power of Words

So, another lesson I learned from the story of Balaam is the power of Words. King Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites. For it was known whoever he blessed was blessed and whoever he cursed was cursed.
This really stood out to me. There is POWER in words! I mean really, think about it....so what if Balaam cursed the Israelites? It's just words.. right? But it was a great concern to God. So much so he had an angel ready to strike Balaam down if he continued down that path. So, much so that he made a donkey speak to get Balaam's attention to not do it. There is power in words!
We must be so careful what we say. That is why the Bible is always telling us to speak life! That there is life and death in what we say. Proverbs 18:21 says - "Death and life are in the power of the tounge. And those who love it will eat it's fruit." In other words what you say will happen. What you speak is what you believe.You are either blessing yourself or cursing yourself.
Do not ever think lightly of it. Speak blessings and not curses.

SPEAK LIFE!

Balaam's Heart

Well, even though I am in Exodus right now I am jumping ahead to Numbers 22. I recently had to share on the story of Balaam with the children I work with at church. So, this message is burning in my heart.

This morning as I spent time before the Lord I felt very convicted. I realized I too had a heart like Balaam. I have been making excuses to do what I want to do and worse...then resting on God's grace! That is so dangerous!!!

Aside from the Word I also have been reading a book called "In His Face" by Bob Sorge. In his chapter titled, In Hollywood's Face he writes, "You watch TV instead of praying because you enjoy food offered up to idols." The world practices and portrays it's idolatry on TV. You would never do the things they do on TV, because you don't serve their idols. But when you watch them do it, you are eating the food they offer to their idols.

It is very clear in the Bible that we can NOT have both the world and God. Either we choose the world or we choose God. It's very cut and dry.
The cross before me, the world behind me...no turning back! No turning back!

I realized I was so guilty of this. Not guilty of watching TV but guilty of wanting to watch a show or spend time on the computer more then I wanted to read God's Word. More then I wanted to spend time with Him!! Then I cry and wonder why my heart is hard!

So, back to Balaam... I realized the Holy Spirit kept telling me ever so quietly. Nudging me softy to shut the TV or computer off and go read the Word. Go spend time in God's face, in His presence. But like Balaam I tried to manipulate the situation to get my own way. I am blessed to still be here and not dead!!! Seriously...
I realize if I keep heading down that path death is waiting!

Thank the Lord He got my attention!

Whatever idol is in your life you must destroy it. The only way to soften our hearts is by His Word, prayer, and fasting. Whatever things of the world that are keeping you from that..it is an idol. Whatever you choose over God is an idol.

I know this is a difficult and sobering word. But we can not continue to believe that we can coast through our Christian walk, do whatever we want, and assume we are kingdom bound.
Bob Sorge wrote: Our problem is we have a convoluted concept of grace. We have come to define grace as "the tolerance of God that allows us to live with one foot in the church and one foot in the world." That's not grace, that's foolishness. Such a person is neither hot nor cold, and Jesus said "I will vomit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:16).
Grace is the kindness of God toward mankind, evidenced by sending His Son to die for us and redeem us to Himself, that we might be lifted from the filth of this world and live in the glory of His righteousness. God forbid that we should exploit His grace in order to return to the fiflth from which we have been redeemed.

It amazes me that even in the church most conversations I hear are about what's on TV, computer games, movies, sports, politics, ect.
We are Christians, which means we are set apart! Not of the world, redeemed from the world, from sin. But I feel like there is such a lie out there saying it's ok to be part of the world. Well, it's not! We are to be in the world but not of it.

I praise God that He has yet again given me another chance to turn from darkness. Jesus said the path is narrow and not many will find it. I praise God He has forgiven me but I also know that true repentance isn't just saying I am sorry but it is not doing that sin anymore.

In this moment of discovering His grace I started singing praise for a new day. The song, This is the day that the Lord has made came to my mind. I thought, the person who wrote this song must have fully grasped how exciting it is to have a new day. A new day to start over. His mercy is renewed every day. This is the day that the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.

God Knows Our Heart ♥ ☺

This morning as I was praying and communing with the Lord He gave me a poem. ☺ I always love it when He gives me a poem, the words come so easily and then when it's finished He says - it's done. Oh how I love Him!!!

OH, distracted heart. Stop with your wandering eyes.
Stop focusing on what the world can give and focus on the prize.
For their is hidden treasure! If only you could see
the world and all it's pleasure can not compare to me!

OH, heart that mourns and cries out in the night
Be comforted and know, you are precious in my sight
I hold you in my arms and long for you to see
that there is no man who could love you more then me

OH, heart that is ashamed and regrets all things you've done
Know and understand that's why I sent my Son
for He has washed away all your guilt and sin
He stand outside and knocks. Now, will you let Him in?

Faith through Circumstances

As I was reading in Exodus yesterday a thought crossed my mind and it took a day to formulate. I knew the spirit was showing me something so I had to go back and read it again and meditate on it. When I woke up this morning it came to me. So here we have Moses in the hot seat. He and Aaron have told the people that God would deliver them and they worship. Then they set out to go before Pharaoh. However, things get worse for Israel. Instead of being delivered they are told to make their own straw increasing their workload. They are now being beaten and treated worse for not making their daily quota of bricks. So now Israel is like, thanks a lot Moses! You made everything worse!
I kept thinking about that yesterday. Can you imagine how Moses felt? The very thing he feared seemed to be happening. Here is Moses crying out to God and saying, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why have you sent me?" I can imagine being Moses and having a meltdown, too. I would be thinking - I knew this would happen! You sent the wrong person!

But looking back at the burning bush God told him this would happen

But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. - Exodus 3:19-20

God told Moses that Pharaoh would not let them go easily. In fact he told Moses later he would harden Pharaoh's heart. God told Moses he wanted to show ALL His wonders towards the Egyptians and AFTER that he would let them go.

Now Moses didn't have a clue what God's wonders would be but really God was saying it was going to take a while and wouldn't be easy.

When I woke up this morning meditating on this the first thing that came to mind was faith through circumstances. It's easy to believe and trust when things are going well. But God wants us to have faith and trust in the midst of the storm.Things became worse for Israel before they got better. When God makes a promise we must endure and not focus on our circumstances. Just because our situation seems to get worse for the moment does not mean that God has left us. He is always right there beside us working all things for good even when they appear to be worse.

It is so easy to get caught up in the moment of our situation and lose faith. Let us instead choose to focus on the promise and on God's mighty hand to save.

He is mighty to save!