National Day of Prayer

The 63rd annual National Day of Prayer, May 1, 2014, will have profound significance for our country.  It is an unprecedented opportunity to see the Lord’s healing and renewing power made manifest as we call on citizens to humbly come before His throne.

Our theme for 2014 is One Voice, United in Prayer, emphasizing the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to place their faith in the unfailing character of their Creator, who is sovereign over all governments, authorities, and men.  To further highlight our theme, we’ve chosen Romans 15:6 as our Scripture for this year:  “So that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

For the May 1st observances, Anne Graham Lotz, the 2014 Honorary Chairman, wrote a special prayer to be simultaneously read throughout the nation at noon (EDT).  This recitation will create a huge wave of prayer, flowing from one coast to the other, illustrating the unity of God’s people and acknowledging His dominion over the circumstances facing us.  Millions of people will gather to pray at thousands of events facilitated by our volunteer coordinators and people just like you!  We hope you’ll join with our staff again as we seek to bring more communities than ever before together in prayer.  As a way of assisting you, we have assembled a variety of resources that describe how to organize and publicize citywide prayer breakfasts, worship services, and rallies.  These materials also present creative ideas geared toward helping individuals and families to establish meaningful devotional times.  If you have any questions after reviewing these items, please don’t hesitate to contact our NDP staff at (800) 444-8828.  We would count it a privilege to lend a hand in whatever manner we are able.

At this crucial time for our nation, we can do nothing more important than pray.  Thank you in advance for making this spiritual discipline a personal priority and for standing with us as we encourage others to incorporate prayer in their lives.  The Lord has graciously anointed our efforts, empowering them to touch and change many hearts and lives.  We look forward to seeing His hand move across our land in exciting ways each May in response to our petitions!  In closing, we ask that you prayerfully consider becoming a volunteer in your church or community to lead a National Day of Prayer gathering. May the Lord’s peace fill your heart as you rest in Him throughout the days ahead.

Anne Graham Lotz's prayer:
Lord of the Universe. Lord of this planet. Lord of the nations. Lord of our hearts. On this National Day of Prayer, we look to You…
In the darkness, You are our Light.
In the storm, You are our Anchor.

In our weakness, You are our Strength. In our grief, You are our Comfort.
In our despair, You are our Hope.
In our confusion, You are our Wisdom. In time of terrorism, You are our Shield. In time of war, You are our Peace.

In times of uncertainty, You are the Rock on which we stand.

We make our prayer to You using the words of the prophet Daniel:

O Lord, You are the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments. You are merciful and forgiving. You are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame because we have sinned against You, and done wrong. We have turned away from Your commands and principles. We have turned away from You.

Yet You have promised in 2 Chronicles 7, that if we–a people identified with You–would humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways, then You would hear our prayer, forgive our sin and heal our land.

So we choose to stop pointing our finger at the sins of others, and examine our own hearts and lives. We choose to acknowledge our own sin–our neglect and defiance and ignorance and even rejection of You. This day we choose to repent.

In response to our heartfelt repentance, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Father of Jesus Christ, in keeping with all Your righteous acts and according to Your promise, turn away Your anger and Your wrath from the United States of America. Hear the prayers and petitions offered to You on this National Day of Prayer, as we give You our full attention. Give ear, our God, and hear; open Your eyes and see. We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy.

For the glory of Your Name hear our prayer, forgive our sin, and heal our land.

We ask this in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ who offers us salvation from Your judgment, forgiveness for our sin, and reconciliation with You through His own blood shed on the Cross. Amen.

- 2014 National Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz

0

Secret Church: The Cross and Everyday Life

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a simulcasted Secret Church event at my home church. We met up for a quick dinner at 6pm, settled into the sanctuary at 7:00, and then were blessed to hear from Pastor David Platt (out of Brook Hills Church in Birmingham, Alabama) until 2:00 AM!!  Wow.  For the bulk of our time, we learned about discipleship through the pages of Scripture and answered the question:

How do we follow the radical commands of Christ in the normal routine of everyday life? 

We journeyed our way through a one hundred and seventy eight page (178!) outline through four 90 minute teaching segments.  We worshipped corporately.  We paired up to pray for the people of Turkey to hear and know the Gospel.  In short, it was intense...and it was awesome.

What is Secret Church?  I'll let Platt's church explain...
When we think of "church" in America, we think of going to meet at a building, singing, praying and hearing a message from a pastor or teacher. But in many places around the world, "church" meets in a home, an apartment, and sometimes even in secret. Many times there are just a few believers who know and follow Christ. These small groups of Christ-followers often meet for many hours in study, prayer, and fellowship. Sometimes they face great difficulties to meet together. In some places it may even be dangerous to gather as a church to worship, pray, and study the Word. So when they come together, they want to make the most of their time together. 

Secret Church is our "house church" where we meet periodically for an intense time of Bible study—lasting 6+ hours—including a time of prayer for our brothers and sisters across the globe who are facing persecution and for those who have still not heard the gospel. This is not for the uncommitted or faint at heart. But if you desire to know God more deeply through His Word and know His church more fully around the world, then please join us for Secret Church.

Our prayer is that God will use this focused time of study and prayer to enrich our knowledge of His Word. We pray that we would also gain understanding of the state of His church and our brothers and sisters around the world who face many difficulties—and even persecution—as they follow Christ.

The objective of Secret Church is not just to come and learn for one night but to take what we’ve learned and pass it along to others. We also want to recognize the great need to pray and come alongside our brothers and sisters who live in places around the world where there is little to no gospel witness or where the gospel is met with resistance. We want to use what we’ve learned during this gathering to make disciples of Christ—both locally and globally.

Platt's church hosts a Secret Church twice a year, but you can participate, too, even if there is not a simulcasted event near you.  Check out www.secretchurch.org or radical.net for more information. All of the past Secret Church audio/video messages and pdf files are available on the radical website and can be downloaded free of charge to your desktop (keep in mind, you can also order DVDs, CDs, and study guides through the Radical Store if you prefer to go old-school). I would encourage you to check it out--it was A.MA.ZING and I know the in-depth experience in God's Word will bless your life!

0

Why Pray in Light of God's Sovereignty?: Part 5 of 5

Source: crosswalk.com

Yesterday, we considered the fourth reason why we as believers ought to pray in light of God's Sovereignty.  Today, let's consider the last reason in our series on prayer.

1. God Has Commanded Us to Pray
2. Jesus Modeled A Life of Prayer
3. God is Able to Respond to Our Prayers
4. God Actually Does Respond to Prayer

Reason #5 God has ordained prayer as a means by which He accomplishes His Eternal Purposes

At this point, some may wonder how it is that Scripture can teach both that God Providentially brings all things to pass in conformity with His Eternal Purpose and that the prayers of men can have a significant affect in the unfolding of world history. The seeming contradiction between these two Truths vanishes, however, when one realizes that
“… the same God Who has Decreed the end has also decreed that His End shall be
reached through His Appointed Means, and one of these is prayer” (The Sovereignty of God,
167).

In other words, God in His Infinite Wisdom was pleased to ordain prayer to be a means through which He accomplishes His Good Pleasure in and through His Creation. As A.W. Pink writes, “God has decreed that certain events shall come to pass, but He has also decreed that these events shall come to pass through the means He has appointed for their accomplishment. God has elected certain ones to be saved, but He has also decreed that these ones shall be saved through the preaching of the Gospel. The Gospel, then, is one of the appointed means for the working out of the eternal counsel of the Lord; and prayer is another. God has decreed the means as well as the end, and among the means is prayer” (Ibid., 171).

Understanding this relationship between the Sovereignty of God and the prayers of men begins with recognizing the comprehensive nature of God’s Eternal Purpose. Richard Pratt writes, “God’s plan is so comprehensive that it not only includes the final destinies of things but also includes the secondary, creaturely processes that work together to accomplish these ends. For instance, God does not simply ordain light to shine on the earth each day; He also employs the sun, the moon, the stars, and countless other things to accomplish that end. God does not merely determine that someone will recover from a disease; He uses doctors and medicine to accomplish the healing. As the playwright of history, God did not simply write an ending for the book of time. He wrote every word on every page so that all events lead to the grand finale” (Pray With Your Eyes Open, 109-10).

In other words, the “all things” which God works out “according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11) includes the means that He uses to bring about His ultimate Ends. God uses the sun to bring light to the earth, He uses doctors to restore people to health, and He uses prayer to bring about many things He has purposed in eternity past.

For example, when one wants to cross the street safely, he uses the crosswalk and looks both ways before doing so; when one desires his family members to turn to Christ for Salvation, he seeks to proclaim the Gospel to them; when one desires to provide for his family, he works hard at his place of employment. And in the same way, when one desires such-and-such to happen, he prays to God to bring it about, recognizing that prayer is one of the means through which God brings about His Purposes here on earth.

Several examples in Scripture indicate that God has ordained prayer as a means to accomplish His Eternal Plans. First, when Abraham sojourned in Gerar in Genesis 20, he lied and told King Abimelech that Sarah was his sister, at which time Abimelech took Sarah into his harem of wives (v. 2). In response, God closed all the wombs of the household of Abimelech and threatened the king with further judgment if he did not restore Sarah to Abraham (vv. 7, 17). However, at the same time that God warned Abimelech of this judgment, He also told him, “[Abraham] is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live” (v. 7). In other words, God revealed to the king that His Plan was for Abraham to pray and intercede for the King so
that Divine Judgment would be withdrawn. Then, in verse 17, God’s Preordained Plan came to fruition: “And Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.” A second example can be found at the end of the Book of Job. God addressed
Job’s friend, Eliphaz the Temanite, saying, I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly (Job 42:7b-8a; NIV)

Then, as verse 9 reveals, Eliphaz “did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer” (NIV). From this it is clear that God not only ordained that His Wrath toward Eliphaz would be turned aside, but He also ordained that the Means He would use to accomplish that end would include the Intercessory Prayer
of His servant Job. A third and final example of God’s ordination of prayer as a means to accomplish His End can be found in God’s Promise to Israel of future restoration in Jeremiah 29. In verse 11a, the Lord told Israel that He knew the Plans that He had for her. In other words, the God Who knew the end from the beginning was not unaware of what He had purposed for Israel's future. He continued by telling Israel that His plans were “for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” (v. 11b). What will happen in the future when God's Plan unfolds and He Providentially brings it to pass? He continued:

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile” (vv. 12-14).

God will restore His people in response to their prayers, but these prayers—rather than being an intrusion into God’s Eternal Plan—are actually part of God’s Plan. Both the means and the end—the prayers and the restoration—have been ordained by Him and will be brought to pass by Him (cf. Ezekiel 36:37).

Prayers of petition and intercession, then, should not be thought of as attempts to alter the Eternal Purposes of God. As Pratt writes,
“Trying to alter the eternal decrees of God through prayer is like trying to reach the moon on a trampoline; it is impossible. Our petitions cannot interrupt God’s plan for the universe anymore than a trampoline can break the power of earth’s gravity” (Pray With Your Eyes Open, 109).

Instead, prayer should be understood as “one of the many secondary causes through which God fulfills His plan” (Ibid., 110).

It is obvious, then, that one need not deny the Sovereignty of God in order to be committed to a life of fervent prayer. For such a life begins in an obedient submission to the Command of God and the Model of Christ, it flows out of the recognition that God is able and willing to respond to the prayers of His children,
and it rests in the Assurance that God has Sovereignly ordained prayer as a means to accomplish His Purposes.

**Please note: This prayer series must be credited to Dr. Matt Waymeyer and his postings on the subject.  Dr. Waymeyer is an Instructor of Bible Exposition and New Testament at Master's Seminary.  I have reread his teachings on the subject of prayer and God's sovereignty for several years now and they continue to inform and bless my prayer life.  Prior to posting this series, I have emailed Dr. Waymeyer and received his complete permission to use his material in any way that I might find helpful for this blog. **

0

Why Pray in Light of God's Sovereignty?: Part 4 of 5

Source: crosswalk.com

Yesterday, we considered the third reason why we as believers ought to pray in light of God's Sovereignty.

1. God Has Commanded Us to Pray
2. Jesus Modeled A Life of Prayer
3. God is Able to Respond to Our Prayers

Today, let's consider another reason...

Reason #4 God Actually Does Respond to Prayer

The fourth reason that believers should pray is that God not only can, but actually does change the course of history in response to prayer. Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened.” As Wayne Grudem points out, Jesus “makes a clear connection between
seeking things from God and receiving them. When we ask, God responds” (Systematic Theology, 377).

Scripture is filled with examples of God granting to His people what they have requested in their prayers of petition and intercession. 1Chronicles 4:10a records the prayer of Jabez in which he said, “Oh that Thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that Thy hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldst keep me from harm, that it may not pain me!” In response to Jabez’s prayer, “God granted him what he requested” (v. 10b). In Exodus 32:10, God told Moses of His intentions to destroy the people of Israel because of their idolatry. But Moses interceded on behalf of Israel (vv. 11-13), and in response to his prayer God relented and did not destroy them (v. 14). And as James records, God responded to the earnest prayers of Elijah in both initiating and ending a three-and-a-half-year drought (James 5:17-18; cf. Genesis 18:22-33; 32:26; Daniel 10:12; Amos 7:1-6; The Acts 4:29-31; 10:31; and 12:5-11).

At the same time that it is acknowledged that God is Sovereign, then, it must also be acknowledged that “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16b; cf. 4:2). In fact, immediately after answering the question of how to pray in Luke 11:2-4, Jesus goes on to answer the question of why to pray by giving two reasons—because God rewards diligence in prayer by granting requests (Luke 11:5-10), and because God delights in giving good gifts to His children (Luke 11:11-13).

In the words of Richard Pratt, then, “Prayer is a powerful human effort that can significantly affect not only the lives of individuals but the very course of world history” (Pray with Your Eyes Open, 112).

This truth, no doubt, should be a powerful motive for the children of God to pray. As Grudem writes,

“If we were really convinced that prayer changes the way God acts, and that God does bring about remarkable changes in the world in response to prayer,...then we would pray much more than we do. If we pray little, it is probably because we do not really believe that prayer accomplishes much at all” (Systematic Theology, 377).

**Please note: This prayer series must be credited to Dr. Matt Waymeyer and his postings on the subject.  Dr. Waymeyer is an Instructor of Bible Exposition and New Testament at Master's Seminary.  I have reread his teachings on the subject of prayer and God's sovereignty for several years now and they continue to inform and bless my prayer life.  Prior to posting this series, I have emailed Dr. Waymeyer and received his complete permission to use his material in any way that I might find helpful for this blog. **

0

Why Pray in Light of God's Sovereignty?: Part 3 of 5

Source: crosswalk.com

So far, we have considered two reasons to pray in light of God's Sovereignty. Today we will consider another reason...

1. God Has Commanded Us to Pray
2. Jesus Modeled A Life of Prayer

Reason #3 God is Able to Respond to our Prayers 

Rather than hindering the prayers of believers, the Sovereignty of God ought to motivate them to pray, because

“Prayer grows from the certainty of God’s Omnipotence and Sovereignty” (Hunter, The God Who Hears, 47).

Put another way, if God does not rule in absolute Sovereignty over His
Creation and is not able to accomplish whatever He Desires in and through it, why
bother requesting anything of Him--since He is unable to deliver?

In other words-the Questions should not be, “If God is Sovereign, why pray?” 
The Question should be, “If God is not Absolutely Sovereign, Why pray?” 

To illustrate, if a five-year-old boy repeatedly asks his mother to make it stop raining on a Saturday morning, this may create a precious memory, but in the final analysis the boy’s request is misguided. As much as his mother might like to alter the weather, she simply lacks the ability to do so, and therefore to request this of
her makes little sense. But when the children of God come before the Throne of Grace, they come with the full assurance that their Heavenly Father is able to accomplish whatever He is pleased to do- because nothing is too difficult for Him. That Truth is a powerful motivation to pray.

“To be worth praying to,” Hunter writes, “God has first of all got to have the Power to do what we ask. Second, He must have Sovereignty over Creation to do what He wants to do” (The God Who Hears, 48). Believers must come to their God presenting to Him their requests because He has both the Authority and the Ability to grant what they have requested in their petitions and intercessory prayers.

**Please note: This prayer series must be credited to Dr. Matt Waymeyer and his postings on the subject.  Dr. Waymeyer is an Instructor of Bible Exposition and New Testament at Master's Seminary.  I have reread his teachings on the subject of prayer and God's sovereignty for several years now and they continue to inform and bless my prayer life.  Prior to posting this series, I have emailed Dr. Waymeyer and received his complete permission to use his material in any way that I might find helpful for this blog. **

0

Why Pray in Light of God's Sovereignty?: Part 2 of 5

Source: crosswalk.com

Yesterday, we considered the first reason why we as believers ought to pray in light of God's Sovereignty.  Today, let's consider another reason...

Reason #2 Jesus Modeled a Life of Prayer

A second reason believers should offer prayers of petition and intercession to God is that such prayer was modeled by Jesus Himself who withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed (Luke 5:16).  Jesus’ consistent example of fervent prayer to the Father is evident throughout the Gospel accounts. During His Ministry in Galilee, Mark records that

Mark 1:35b
… in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a
solitary place, and there prayed.

After feeding the five thousand in Bethsaida, Jesus sent the multitudes away
and

Matthew 14:23b
… went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there
alone.

On the night before He chose the twelve disciples, Jesus

Luke 6:12b
… went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Later Luke refers to a time “while Jesus was praying alone” (Luke 9:18), and
eight days later Jesus “took along Peter and John and James, and went up to the
mountain to pray” (Luke 9:28). And who could forget His prayer in the Garden of
Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39-44; Mark 14:35-39; Luke 22:41-45) or Jesus’ “High
Priestly prayer” of John 17? And what believer fails to cherish the fact that the Bible
teaches that Jesus now lives in Heaven to intercede even now on our behalf
(Hebrews 7:25)?

In offering prayers of petition and intercession, Jesus was not ignoring or
denying the sovereignty of His Father. This is obvious from several of Jesus’
prayers, not the least of which includes His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane
(Matthew 26:39-44; Mark 14:35-39; Luke 22:41-45). As Hunter writes, “He (Jesus) knew that by God’s set Purpose and Foreknowledge He would be put to death by being nailed to the Cross (Acts 2:23). He told the incredulous disciples this at least three times…. Yet in Gethsemane, as John Mark tells it, Jesus ‘fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him’ (Mark 14:35)”
(The God Who Hears, 51).

In other words, even though Jesus was well aware that His Death at Calvary
had been preordained by God, He still saw fit to petition His Father that this Cup
might pass from Him.  If the followers of Christ are to be imitators of Him and “walk in the same
manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6), they too must be characterized by fervent prayer
for themselves and for those around them. Knowing that Jesus prayed as a way of life may not clear up the tension that exists in believers’ minds between the Absolute Sovereignty of God and the prayers of Man- but it should motivate them to imitate the One who Himself saw no
disparity between His Own Prayers and the Sovereignty of His Father.

**Please note: This prayer series must be credited to Dr. Matt Waymeyer and his postings on the subject.  Dr. Waymeyer is an Instructor of Bible Exposition and New Testament at Master's Seminary.  I have reread his teachings on the subject of prayer and God's sovereignty for several years now and they continue to inform and bless my prayer life.  Prior to posting this series, I have emailed Dr. Waymeyer and received his complete permission to use his material in any way that I might find helpful for this blog. **

0

Why Pray in Light of God's Sovereignty?: Part 1 of 5

Source: crosswalk.com

This week we are discussing the role of intercessory prayer in light of God's absolute sovereignty.  If you missed the introductory post, please read it here.

Why Pray in Light of God's Sovereignty?

Reason #1. God has commanded us to pray

The most obvious reason to pray is that God has commanded us to pray.  This is evident throughout the teachings of both Jesus and the apostle Paul.  Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, introducing the prayer with the words, "Pray then, in this way" (v 9).  Afterward, He instructed His disciples to be persistent in their prayers (Luke 11:5-13).  In Luke 18:2-8, Jesus told them a parable "to show that at all times they ought to pray" (Luke 18:1).  And upon arriving at the Garden of Gethsemane, He instructed them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation" (Luke 22:40)

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing" (I Thess 5:17); he instructed the Philippians, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (4:6); he charged the Colossians, "Devote yourselves to prayer" (4:2); he wrote to the Ephesians, "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf..." (6:18-19); and he urged Timothy "that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men" (1 Tim 2:1).

The point is clear: God has commanded us to pray throughout the Scriptures, and our response to this command must first and foremost be one of obedience.  Even if we never reach a clear understanding of the relationship between the sovereignty of God and the prayers of man, the fact that God has commanded it should be enough to move us to pray.  When God promised Abraham a son through whom he would become a great nation (Gen 21:12) and then commanded him to sacrifice that very son (Gen 22:2),  Abraham bowed the knee of submission before His Creator and simply obeyed what was commanded of Him (Gen 22:3-10).  The believer who asks the question "Why pray?" must follow his example and do the same.

**Please note: This prayer series must be credited to Dr. Matt Waymeyer and his postings on the subject.  Dr. Waymeyer is an Instructor of Bible Exposition and New Testament at Master's Seminary.  I have reread his teachings on the subject of prayer and God's sovereignty for several years now and they continue to inform and bless my prayer life.  Prior to posting this series, I have emailed Dr. Waymeyer and received his complete permission to use his material in any way that I might find helpful for this blog. **

0

Why Pray in Light of God's Sovereignty? Overview

This week we will be considering a question I have honestly wrestled with for a few decades now...If God is absolutely Sovereign, why pray?  In other words, if God will simply do what He wants to anyway, why offer prayers of petition and intercession? Why bother requesting that God do such and such when everything has been ordained by Him beforehand? If prayer consists of pleading with God to change His eternal purposes, isn’t such an undertaking feeble at best and arrogant at worst? Although there are no easy answers to these questions, Scripture is not silent on this issue. My purpose here is to examine the Bible’s teaching on the Sovereignty of God and the prayers of man with the goal of answering the question:

Why pray in light of God's absolute sovereignty?

First of all, let's define what "sovereign" means.  According to Websters Dictionary, "sovereign" means "one possessing or held to possess supreme political power or sovereignty, one that exercises supreme authority."  As we will see below, the Bible is crystal clear about this issue--God IS absolutely sovereign.
When people make plans, it is not uncommon for those plans to fail or to be thwarted in one way or another. In contrast to His creatures, however, Almighty God always brings about that which He has purposed. In a word, God is Sovereign. This Truth is perhaps most clearly seen in the words of Isaiah 46:9-11, where
God demonstrated His superiority over the Babylonian idols by declaring:

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and 
there is none like me, 
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet 
done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far 
country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do 
it. 

In this passage, God indicates that He both purposes what He desires to happen and then actually brings those purposes to pass. In other words- God providentially brings about in time and history what He has sovereignly ordained in eternity past. As the Apostle Paul writes, God “works all things after the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). The truth of God’s sovereignty over His creation is taught throughout
Scripture. The psalmist declares,

Psalms 115:3
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Psalms 135:6
Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep
places.

Proverbs 19:21 states,
There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall
stand.

and Proverbs 21:1 states,
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

This is just a sampling of Scripture, but as I stated before, the Bible leaves NO doubt that God IS absolutely sovereign over past, present, and future, and over all His creation.  So, for the next week or so, we will be visiting the question of WHY we should pray, as believers, in light of God's sovereignty.  Join me, will you? Your prayer life and your faith might just depend upon it!

**Please note: This prayer series must be credited to Dr. Matt Waymeyer and his postings on the subject.  Dr. Waymeyer is an Instructor of Bible Exposition and New Testament at Master's Seminary.  I have reread his teachings on the subject of prayer and God's sovereignty for several years now and they continue to inform and bless my prayer life.  Prior to posting this series, I have emailed Dr. Waymeyer and received his complete permission to use his material in any way that I might find helpful for this blog. **

0

Boasting About Our Influence?

Source: thespruce.com

Today let's consider what the apostle Paul has to say about influence!

"But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you..."  2 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

I don't know about you, but I want to be proven faithful to serve and influence my little "bathtub"!  I will boast in it, as the Lord has assigned these waters for me to work and to serve in today!

And another little gem that I wholeheartedly agree with...

"Never underestimate the importance of simply being physically present in the place where God wants you." --Warren Wiersbe (pastor)

AMEN!  And I would add to that, being mentally and spiritually present in the place where God has you!  So put down your phone and ENGAGE in your "bathtub" today, dear one!  I will do the same :)

0

The Mother of the Boy

Source: thetophouselizard.co.uk

I was around the breakfast table with my little ones a few weeks ago and we were discussing the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14).  It is a story I have heard a hundred times or more, but this day it was different.  As I was reading from our Jesus StoryBook Bible, my throat caught as I paused to consider the significant yet quiet role the mother of the boy with the five loaves and 2 fishes played in the story.  Suddenly, I could picture her quietly packing her young son's lunch and sending him out of the house for the day in a quiet, ordinary, arguably "mundane" act of service to her family.  And  yet...how significant a contribution it was to the multitudes that day!  If it were not for that faithful mother packing her son's lunch, he would have had nothing to offer Jesus when He asked His disciples to feed all those hungry people listening to His Sermon on the Mount that afternoon.  How Jesus multiplied that small gift of service and used it to perform a miracle recorded for the ages!  What influence that mother had that day!  It made me stop and ponder throughout the day...what small acts of motherly and "mundane" acts of service could the Lord use and multiply in my life and in the lives of my children today?  What about you, dear friend?  What humble acts of service could God use in your home or workplace today...acts that might go unnoticed by most, but could be used in miraculous ways to nourish God's people and advance His Kingdom?  Let us never underestimate the power our God has to use and to multiply the "ordinary" things He calls us to do throughout our day!

0

Praying to Fulfill God's Purpose

Source: bossfight.co

I thought this was a wonderful follow-on from our discussion the last few days about influence.  I learned it from Stormie Omartian's Bible study on The Power of a Praying Woman.  Here is her prayer about fulfilling God's purpose...may we pray it alongside her as well...

"Help me to live my life with a sense of purpose and understanding of my calling.  Take away any discouragement that I may feel about this and replace it with joyful anticipation for what you are going to do through me.  Help me to rest in the knowledge that your timing is perfect...Help me to be content where I am, knowing that you won't leave me there forever..."

You see, when God wants to do something GREAT, He will often make us WAIT!  Think of the natural world--do any of God's great creations happen overnight?  Look at a juicy watermelon, a mighty oak tree, a tiny little newborn baby...or the Grand Canyon.  All of these things take months, years, perhaps even centuries to grow to full maturity!  Pray and pray and draw close to Him during these seasons of waiting and worship Him above all else.  It might take awhile to give "birth" to God's great work.  I can't help but think of Hannah, who desperately wanted a son and fervently prayed...and the Lord finally fulfilled her desire with a baby boy she named Samuel and dedicated to the Temple (1 Samuel 1). God will do it in His time--do not try to make things happen on your own! Let us not forget Sarai who, while waiting for God to fulfill His promise for a son, concocted the idea that Abram should sleep with her handmaiden Hagar, who later gave birth to Ishmael (Gen 16). This was not God's plan!  Sarah would later give birth to Isaac herself, years later, seeing for herself that YES God IS faithful to His promises, in His time (Gen 21)!

Let us surrender all our dreams to the Lord.  God wants us to cling to Him and not our dreams (despite what Disney movies will tell you!).  And let us never forget that when the time is right, God can do a quick work. Think of childbirth.  All those many months the baby develops, hidden inside the womb, and then BAM, your body kicks into labor and within hours that precious little one is screaming his or her head off in the delivery room! I've had the blessing of experiencing that miracle three times over with my little ones!  When God's timing is right, He will quickly bring about AMAZING things in accordance of His will!

I hope these reminders are an encouragement to you during those "quiet" and "mundane" seasons of life, dear one!  Hang in there!  This might just be an amazing season of "pregnancy" where God is working to make and to mold you and your circumstances, to then perform a quick and mighty work for you to enjoy in all it's glory!

0

What Scuffy the Tugboat Taught Me...

Hello friend!  I am back today in our discussion on influence with some super-spiritual reading material, the beloved Little Golden Book, Scuffy the Tugboat and His Adventures Down the River by Gertrude Crampton.  While I recognized it from my childhood, I honestly was not familiar with the story until I read it one day, several years ago, to my own children.  I read it once to them at bedtime and that was it--I secretly ducked out of their room with it in hand and tucked it away in my spiritual journey suitcase for me to treasure in my own journey with the Lord!  What??! Okay...let me explain....

This story is about Scuffy, a little toy boat who is sad and "cross" and feels as though he was made for "bigger things."  So one day, the kind toy shop owner takes him home to sail in the bathtub with his little boy.  But, no...Scuffy is not content floating around in the bathtub and instead dreams of sailing upon the mighty waters like an ocean liner!  So, the next day, the kind man and young boy take Scuffy to a brook and let him sail.  And to Scuffy's delight, he goes on to sail quickly away to bigger waters that were made for him!  Feeling proud, he ventures into more "important" waters like rivers (wide enough for bridges!)...and on into the sea.  But soon, he realizes that there is no end to the sea and all he wants is to be back with the kind man and his little boy!  Once safely home, the book ends with Scuffy in the bathtub saying, "This is the place for a red-painted tugboat.  And this is the life for me."

In this little book I could see MY life at that point in time.  I could see MY discontentedness with the ordinary and mundane situation I was in, staying at home with my little ones, with the desire to do "more important" things for myself, others, and for the Lord.  Fortunately, in the ensuing years since I first read this book, the Lord has given me such a joy and deep-rooted satisfaction and contentment in my work mothering these precious little ones.  No longer do I yearn for "bigger" waters--I understand more now than ever that this "bathtub" is just the perfect place for me!

Just recently I reread another little gem, this time a little book on prayer by Madame Guyon that I had read in college.  Imagine my delight when I ran across this passage...

"If you want to reach the ocean, sail a boat down the river.  Eventually, without exertion or effort, you will find the greater waters."                                         --Experiencing God Through Prayer

Ahhhh....YES!...sounds like Scuffy the Tugboat to me!  If we seek the "bigger waters" out of a spirit of discontent, we will not be pleased with what we find!  But instead, let us be content with our present position, albeit humble and seemingly small and non-influential.  God will use it and develop it as He sees fit and in His timing and we will find JOY in the journey!

0

Influence

Photo courtesy of adweek.com

Today we are going to look at a topic that really hits home for me:

INFLUENCE

This is a biggie for a lot of us living in a modern culture where you either GO BIG or you GO HOME.  

Most of us will not be famous (as the world defines that term)--we will not be known and admired by millions, we will not have expansive platforms from which to preach or minister or serve, we will not do things that will be recorded in history books (again, from the world's perspective...the Bible tells us that all our words and deeds are being recorded by God and each of us--saved and unsaved alike--will be held accountable for them at the end of the age (Matthew 12:36, 2 Corin 5:10)).  

This concept of influence has hit me hard recently, coming from growing up as a "successful" straight-A student leader and becoming a recognized medical student and resident physician...to later becoming a stay-at-home mother of three little ones where there is NO paycheck, NO annual awards banquet, NO promotions, and oftentimes, NO thanks!  (but...I wouldn't trade it for the world!) 

Perhaps you, too, can relate.  

You feel that you have a lot to offer, but this current season in your life seems pretty quiet, ordinary, and mundane.  Perhaps young David felt this way, knowing he had been anointed by Samuel to assume the throne after Saul...and yet, he was "stuck" tending sheep in obscurity!  And as we see so many times in the Scriptures (with Moses, David, and young Jesus), God often uses those quiet seasons in life to train His leaders of the future!  

One thing that I try to preach to myself on a daily basis is that influence is NOT about having a particular social position or attaining a certain financial status.  It is NOT about earning awards and receiving pats on the back.  The Lord is constantly reminding me that it is not about the number of people with whom I come into contact (and how are we ever to quantify that anyways!); instead, it is all about lives and hearts.  

Jesus tells the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin underscoring the fact that even ONE lost soul is precious to Him and worth all the effort of finding (see Luke 15).  In fact, we Luke 15:7 tells us that all of Heaven rejoices over just ONE lost person coming to faith in Christ!  Jesus chose to pour His life into 12 disciples, instead of large crowds.  We might think of having influence as being seen, heard, and known in a flashy way, but God does not.  His Kingdom came quietly...with a baby in a manger. 

Another thing the Lord frequently reminds me of is that it is not all about ME.  Perhaps, in God's great design, my purpose is to influence the influencers!  Look at Esther in Scripture. She was an orphan living in Persia, and then one day, she was queen of the whole land.  Her influence saved an entire race of people, the Jews. Yes, she was in the public eye, but her cousin Mordecai wasn’t...but he had raised her like a father and continued to influence her even when she was queen.  I also think of David, whose heart burned to build a temple for the Lord.  Even his trusted spiritual adviser, Nathan, thought it was a good idea (see 2 Samuel 7:1-3).  But not all good ideas are GOD's ideas!  God straightened David out and made it clear that the task of rebuilding the temple was to be Solomon's (David's son) task...not his own (1 Chron 28:2-6). 

And here is the key...again, another point I have to remind myself day-to-day and often moment-by-moment...influence isn’t about a social position; it’s about a heart position.  When we show up with a heart of excellence, out of humble service to our God, we are operating from our most powerful position of influence. When we are obedient to God's leading, people will be positively impacted (even if they do not notice!). The Bible says in Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” You sharpen the people around you by simply doing what is right.  And I believe that sometimes all that God asks of us is to be available to others.  Perhaps we simply cannot do another thing, but if we are willing to ask questions, listen, and be available to be used by the Lord, He will use it to minister to another (I think of Nehemiah's example with this!).

We all have days when we don’t feel very influential. Maybe life has knocked you down a few times, or maybe you feel overwhelmed by things that are beyond your control (ummm...HELLO...I struggle with feeling influential as I move every 3 years on average as a military wife!). I encourage you to read the book of Esther in the Bible. Esther was orphaned as a young girl and seemed to have little hope for significance, but there was something different about her. She trusted her cousin Mordecai when he told her, "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).  Through a series of events, God’s favor positioned her in the palace of the king.  And she boldly petitioned the king to save her people and was used by the Lord to rewrite history!

That same Sovereign Lord is also working in YOUR life and MY life today, to position us where He will have us, dear friend! The apostle Paul tells us in Acts 17:26-28,

"From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being...'" (emphasis mine)

God has all of our appointed times and places in mind...for the purpose of seeking HIM, the Scriptures say.  He does not want us to do a work on His behalf as we seek to influence the world, but instead, to die to our flesh and rely on Him, joining Him in the work HE is doing to influence the world for His Kingdom.  

And the Lord is teaching me about my biggest area of influence right now...the powerful influence we have as  intercessors...as we pray over our families, workplaces, nation, and the world!  Isn't that just like God?  To use the most quiet,  intangible, private practice in our daily walk to have the MOST influence over our lives and even the world?

Our influence may be extremely "subtle" on the outside, in the eyes of the world.  We may not receive accolades or acknowledgements in this life, and we may not even realize all the ways we are affecting the people around us (in fact, let's pray we don't...as this will only lead to pride and self-reliance!).  But make no mistake about it, we have a HUGE influence on those around us...even if it is "only" through prayer!  

2

God's Armor

I found a little gem in the Scriptures this morning, tucked away in the fifty-ninth chapter of Isaiah. This little passage first caught my eye because it shows God calling for an intercessor (vs 16)...and yet finding none.  Now, I have long been familiar with the Armor of God as described by the apostle Paul in Ephesians chapter 6, verses 11-17.  It is found in a passage pertaining to spiritual warfare, and Paul exhorts believers to "put on the full armor of God" to stand firm against the devil...

 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God...."

But I had NEVER heard of this armor in the Old Testament!  Imagine my surprise to see that God himself, uses some of these same pieces of armor to equip Himself to wage battle...but this time, in a vengeful way, exacting judgement upon those who rebel against Him. Starting with Isaiah 59:16-19...

"He saw that there was no man,
    and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
    and his righteousness upheld him.
17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
    and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
    and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
According to their deeds, so will he repay,
    wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
    to the coastlands he will render repayment.
19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,
    and his glory from the rising of the sun;
for he will come like a rushing stream,
    which the wind of the Lord drives."

It is interesting to see ways the Old Testament complements the New Testament, and how the New Testament in Christ fulfills the law and prophesies of the Old Testament, isn't it?  I will keep this passage in mind as I pray over my spiritual armor today...that this is NOT just a mere exercise for believers, but that the Lord God adorns Himself with this powerful armor to wield His Authority...that is also ours in Christ as we pray to bring about His Kingdom here on Earth!

0

The Eternal Palm Sunday

Happy Palm Sunday to you, dear friend!  It is a special day to celebrate as Christians, as we remember Christ's procession into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey.  It must have been exciting to see Christ himself, triumphantly entering into the beloved city as the crowds shouted, "Hosanna!" (literally, "Save us!"), waving palm branches and throwing down their coats on the road for him to ride over!  However, as much joy as it gives us to look back on that exciting and prophetic event, we cannot forget that it is but a mere shadow of what is to come for us as believers in Heaven as we worship Christ forever!  You see, Palm Sunday is not just a day we celebrate by looking back into Biblical times...but it is a day to be celebrated as a FUTURE event that WE will partake in!

We see a glimpse of this through the disciple John, in his Revelation on the isle of Patmos (Rev 7:9-12)..."After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Let us not forget to enjoy the FUTURE Palm Sunday as we stand together with people from every nation and from every age and worship God our Lord and Savior!  Let us not forget to teach our children and remind our loved ones about THIS Palm Sunday today, too, friend!  What a blessing THAT day will be!

0

Resurrection Garden

Here is a fun AND meaningful activity you can do with your kids to learn more about Easter (Resurrection Sunday). This is called a Resurrection Garden and I got the idea from Pinterest.  Here is the picture I pinned from this site...

As always, real life is not QUITE like Pinterest...haha...as I truly let the kids do EVERY step (minus handling the hot glue gun) and didn't futz with it to make it "perfectly pinnable."  The kids had a blast getting dirty and messy!  I laid out a vinyl table cloth to make clean up easy.

We've had fun talking about the three crosses and the EMPTY tomb!  I had enough supplies on hand so each child could make their own, which they really enjoyed.

Here are the supplies you will need:
14" clay saucer (I used plastic to wash and reuse each year--they stack and are light!)
4" Terracotta pot (I will probably use 2" size next year to make it easier to cover with soil)
Potting soil
Grass seed--I used Vigoro fast grass (Walmart) but wheat grass also works well--you basically want to select a FAST germinating grass! (green craft moss could also work)
Small rocks--I used black and brown river rocks I use decoratively in vases throughout the year, but you can just grab some outside or use gravel
1 large rock (to prop up against the "tomb")
Assorted sticks (for crosses)--the kids also had fun scouring the yard and their playgrounds at school for these
Hot glue gun (to glue the sticks into crosses--you could also tie with twine)
Spray bottles (to mist grass seed each day with water)

This blog has a wonderful tutorial--check it out for step-by-step instructions!  I was pleased with how fast the grass started to germinate! 

Hope this gives you and your family something fun AND meaningful to enjoy this Easter!  And as always, thanks for stopping by!

0

Pity the Plant

We are enjoying a short visit from my in-laws this week and last night we pulled out a favorite board game of ours to play after the kids went to bed.  The game was a train-themed game called Ticket to Ride where you draw various destination cities and attempt to build trains to link up these cities to earn points.  Well, let me preface this discussion by saying that I am very blessed to have wonderful, loving, godly in-laws, and my mother-in-law is especially helpful and loving to me and to our kids.  However, my mother-in-law is also very competitive when it comes to games and this night was no exception!  She decided to go for broke and play out her trains (on nonsensical routes, mind you!), leaving the rest of us with many unfinished destinations and having to subtract out large amounts of points from our hand at the end of the game (I personally had to deduct 30 points!).  So, after the game, when we turned in for the night, I found myself feeling bitter and angry--why did she have to do that?  I mean, really stick it to us?  In fact, I woke up the next morning still thinking about it.  I prayed to the Lord to renew my mind and forgive my prideful and vengeful thoughts and He was very gracious to take me right to the Book of Jonah, in the 4th chapter when Jonah is incensed about the plant that had quickly grown up to give him shade, and then quickly withered and died, leaving him in the scorching wind and sun.  Jonah is furious that the Lord would take away his shade tree, and yet, he feels no pity for the people of Ninevah, who are about to be annihilated should they continue to reject God and not repent!  You see, Jonah is more emotionally involved in his shade tree (and his own comfort and pride!) than the people who are without Christ (and did I mention he was a preacher in his day?!)!

"But God said to Jonah, 'Do you do well to be angry for the plant?'  And he said, 'Yes I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.' And the Lord said, 'You pity the plant for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. and should not I pity Ninevah, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000  persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?" Jonah 4:9-11

But are WE not like that, too?  I can get more incensed about the "injustices" of a board game than I do about the genocide happening in the Darfur region of Sudan!  What about you?  Can you get more angry about flight delays or cancellations, or if a sales clerk forgets to apply a coupon to your purchase, or if you get cut off in a line of traffic...than you do about all the injustices happening around the globe to God's people? People are trafficked into slavery, go without clean water and basic health care, are persecuted and beaten and imprisoned for their faith...and yet we choose to pity the plant!  God ended the Book of Jonah with a question in Jonah 4:11 (quoted above)...leaving us to answer that very question for ourselves!  Will you join me as we repent from our perceived injustices over petty little "plants" and seek to have a heart that is burdened by the things that burden the Lord?  I pray we do!

--And here is another little gem over in Isaiah 49:10 that I discovered later in the day--
"they shall not hunger or thirst,
    neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
    and by springs of water will guide them."

Praise the Lord that HE pities US and will not allow a scorching wind and sun to harm us!  Oh the riches we have in Christ, that we have been reconciled with God!  Oh, how I love how the Lord weaves His Word together for us, to gently show, convict, and guide!

0

Resurrection Eggs

Back again today with a little Easter devotional idea that I use with my kids.  During the 12 days leading up to Easter Sunday, we take the time each morning to reflect upon one aspect of Christ's Passion week.  This is done with a short Bible reading from one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) and a visual aid that is enclosed inside a plastic Easter egg.  The kids have fun with this and are excited to see what "surprise" is inside each egg for each day.  You can find these "Resurrection Eggs" in Lifeway Bookstore or you can simply make your own like I did here.  All you need are a dozen plastic Easter eggs and just little trinkets you can find around the house.  Last year, my MOPS group made each of our families a set as a group and it cost about $1 per kit!!

Here's a quick listing of the contents of each egg.  

Day 1--Perfume (cotton ball spritzed with perfume)
Day 2--Palms (use plastic plant clippings to last)
Day 3--Silver coin (nickel)
Day 4--Communion cup (or you can use brown Play-doh or foam to resemble a loaf of bread)
Day 5--Thorns (whole cloves)
Day 6--Cross (you can cut foam into a cross shape, make a cross using toothpicks glued together to form a cross, or jewelry)
Day 7--Nail (short and not too sharp for little hands!)
Day 8--Dice (use 1 die from a board game)
Day 9--Q-tip (cut in half to resemble a sponge on a stick)
Day 10--Spices (short cinnamon sticks)
Day 11--Stone (small rock)
Day 12--Leave EMPTY (He is RISEN!)

I have the Scripture verse references mounted on a card as a quick reference

So this set can be used in various ways.  We use it to count down to Resurrection Sunday, sort of like an Advent Calendar, the 12 days preceding Easter during our morning devotional time.  However, you could also go through each egg in one lesson and tell the entire story of Christ's Passion week.  For older children, you could even mix up the contents of the eggs and have them arrange it in order by memory, telling the story themselves.  Be creative!  It is entirely up to you and your family!

You also might be interested in watching this video from Lifeway that walks you through this helpful tool!  Their set is a little different and uses slightly different trinkets, but it is the same idea-- Lifeway Resurrection eggs video

I place my eggs in this cute little Easter egg plate (given to  me as a gift, but I think it was bought from Kohl's) and place it in our kitchen during the Easter season.  For the remainder of the year, I store them in a foam egg carton along with the Scripture reference card along with our seasonal decorations.

I hope this gives you another TANGIBLE way to teach your children the Gospel message of Christ during the Easter season!

0

Three Crosses

Yesterday morning I read the story of Jesus' crucifixion and the criminals with my children.  We discussed Jesus and how he was falsely accused by the Jewish leaders and arrested and crucified by the Roman soldiers between two robbers (Luke 23).  In many ways, these two robbers encapsulate all of our reactions to Christ.  Every person, whether they admit to this or not, is a criminal, a sinner against God's law, deserving His punishment. And each one of us has TWO distinct choices in how we are to react when we gaze upon the cross of Christ.  These two choices are personified in this Biblical (and historical) account of the criminals on the crosses flanking Jesus.  One criminal mocked Jesus, saying, "If you are Christ the Messiah, save yourself and us!" (Luke 23:39). The other robber said, "You and I deserve our punishment but Jesus has done nothing wrong."  He called out to Jesus, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42).  One criminal refused to have faith, demanded more "proof" of Jesus' divinity, denied, mocked, and ultimately rejected Christ.  The other saw his own sin against the backdrop of Christ's perfection and was led to repent and desired eternal life with Jesus. And Jesus answered him with these amazing words: "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).

And there you have it: two reactions, two choices, that every last one of us has.  The choice to repent and believe (by God's grace) and the choice to reject and rebel.  That is it.   The one choice we do NOT have is to remain neutral.  You see, not "choosing" is by default rejecting.  Let me illustrate.  Let's say that the young man you have been dating decides that he loves you and wants to marry you and so he bends down on one knee and pops "the question"...he proposes to you and asks for your hand in marriage.  Well, of course, you can say "YES!"  or you can say "No, thank you."  But I would submit to you that if you were to say, "Hmmm...I am not sure...let me think more about it..." or just completely ignored him and refused to answer him at all...you will have ultimately rejected him.  It is the same with Christ.  You either believe in Jesus unto salvation or reject Him...but never think for a minute that you can just stay neutral and just consider Him to be a "good teacher" or a "wise prophet."

We see the two criminals' reactions to Christ on the cross in Paul's missionary journeys as well.  In any place Paul would preach the Gospel message, two things would invariably happen.  People would repent...or people would riot.  They would accept and believe in faith...or they would reject and become hardened and angry, attempting to run Paul out of town or take his life! Paul's missionary stop in Ephesus is a classic example of this.  In Acts 19, the first half of the chapter shows us Paul baptizing people in repentance, and they are filled with the Holy Spirit as born-again believers.  The last half of the chapter shows a riot breaking out among the worshipers of the goddess Artemis and we see Paul ultimately departing for Macedonia in Acts 20:1.  There's NO room for fence-sitters when it comes to the gospel message!

But one of the most remarkable things about the story of the criminal on the cross is that when we do repent and place our faith in Jesus, NO sin is too great to be forgiven!  Like the robber on the cross who repented, it is never too late to be reconciled with Jesus and meet Him in Paradise!  Jesus' death on the cross brings us back into a good relationship with God (Romans 5:10-11).  What grace!  So, I must ask, where are you, dear friend?  ALL of us are on one of these crosses to the left and right of Christ!  I pray and trust you will be on the one that bows their heart to the Lordship of Christ and enjoys Paradise forever with Him!  If you have more questions about this, perhaps my salvation testimony would be an encouragement to you...

0

The Truth War: Book Review

A few years ago, I was confronted by a dear friend of mine about her growing uncertainty in the truth contained within the Bible and many foundations of her faith.  In particular, she was investigating the Emergent Church movement and beginning to embrace their very “tolerant” theology.  Her questioning about many “bedrock” theological issues and her lack of certainty about God’s truth and the inerrancy of the Bible led me to investigate the Emergent Church movement and the more widespread assault that the Church is currently undergoing as it pertains to Biblical truth.

At that time, I was very encouraged by the book, The Truth War, by John MacArthur.  Within its pages, MacArthur discusses the pitfalls of postmodern thinking (that truth is relative and certainty, assurance, and bold convictions are arrogant and therefore wrong), the importance of standing firm in the faith as presented in the Bible, and ways to identify and address the errors and false teachings that are seeping into our churches and pulpits.

The book walks you through Jude, a book written to warn believers about false prophets within the church and to encourage them to stand firm and fight for the truth.  MacArthur reminds readers that as we “fight” for the faith, we are to do it in spiritual terms, being mindful that the real enemy is not people, but rather “arguments and pretenses" (2 Corinthians 10:5) and “powers of this dark world" (Ephesians 6:12), and that this “truth war” is never to entail physical force or weapons.

I was encouraged by MacArthur’s clear stance presented in this book that we as Christians have been given the Word and the Spirit to be assured of THE Truth.  I am reminded of Luke 1:3-4, which states,

"With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” 

The war on truth is real and it is being fought within many of churches in America today.  One way I was challenged by this book, among others, is to KNOW what I believe and WHY I believe it and to stand FIRM in Biblical truth.  God’s truth is so deep and rich—let us all be diligent to KNOW God’s Word, study it, and stand firm in the Lordship of Christ and the power and inerrancy of His Word.

0

10K Fundraiser for Living Water International Update

 

WE DID IT!!  My hubby and I were able to complete the 10K race on Saturday morning and raise $1530 (surpassing our goal!!) for Living Water International.  This Christian organization is one we have partnered with for years now to provide clean water wells AND the Gospel to those in need around the world, in places like India, Peru, Mexico, and Africa!  

 

It was exciting to see how God moved in people's hearts to give toward this fundraiser.  We had donations, large and small, from non-Christians and Christians alike, from close family members to old high school friends!  Thanks to all for your love, support, donations, and prayers--

we couldn't have done this without ALL of your help!  

0

My Salvation Testimony

A few months ago, I was given the opportunity to share my salvation testimony with my Sunday morning Bible class.  It was a wonderful exercise to revisit how I became a Christian and reflect upon how powerful and life changing an experience it truly was!  Since I have started this blog, I realized that you too, my dear reader, might want to know more about me and how I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal way.  So I hope you will be encouraged by my salvation testimony and if you are a believer, will be encouraged to reflect upon your own testimony and perhaps be led to share it with someone else this week!

I've heard it said that salvation takes but a moment...but you spend the rest of your life trying to figure out what exactly happened in that moment.  And it's true--I have come to understand my salvation experience very differently as I've grown as a Christian.  I was born and raised in a "Christian" home, but not what I would now describe as a "Spirit-filled" or a "Spirit led" home.  What I mean is that I was raised by Christian parents and went to church, prayed at meals and at bedtime, and I even recall talking about theological concepts like the Trinity with my Dad (...something about liquid, solid, and gas...) but I never really saw the connection of God and the Bible to the nitty-gritty areas of real life.   Now we moved quite a bit growing up and we went to many different churches--Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran.  And I even went to a Christian school for many of my elementary years...and yet, I was still lost in my sin. 

In Christian school, we had chapel that was taught by this little old lady with her pretty flannel graph pictures.  And my sister, who is four years older than me, was saved through the witness of this little old lady (I honestly do not remember her name...but I can assure you God does!).  Well, I can recall growing up--I think I was in 4th or 5th grade--and my sister asking me, "Risa, are you a Christian?"  And I thought that was the STRANGEST question I had ever heard--I didn't tell her that at the time, but I mean, what did she think I was?  We had grown up in the same household!  Did she think I was Buddist or Jewish...or what? 

Well, a bit of time passed and my family relocated to North Carolina, and we joined a church and I became involved in the Jr. High youth group, and soon became best friends with the pastor's daughter--her name was Jenny.   I saw Jenny's quiet example in her daily life and I began to stand up and take notice--there was something different about this girl....how she treated her younger and oftentimes annoying brother (I can say that as I was the younger and often annoying sister), how she was friendly to everyone...I don't really remember all the specifics, but I could see that her life was different and I wanted what she had. 

Well, the summer after we had moved to NC, I attended my first church youth camp at Bonclarken and heard, for the very first time, the story of Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, and the fiery furnace in the book of Daniel.  Now here's a story that speaks directly to what most young people face--peer pressure--and I was so impressed by these three young men who KNEW what they believed and had the STRENGTH and SECURITY to stand up for the truth, even in the face of death.  Wow.  Again, I wanted what they had.  And I recall coming back from that church camp and at some point in the weeks that followed, praying a prayer when I was in bed one night and asking Jesus to come into my life.  And I did it several nights in a row, just to make sure I had "done it right" and "it had worked"--it was sort of like that '60s sitcom "I Dream of Jeanie"--I expected to close my eyes and pray and then open them to a completely changed world.  But it wasn't like that--my room was the same, my school was the same...but then as I began to live out the following weeks and months, I soon realized that I was a completely changed person.  Now granted I was 11 years old, so it is not like I was dealing drugs and walked away from a life of carousing and partying.  But I became secure in who I was, I had a peace, a contentment, a security that I had never known.  I suddenly didn't need to hang out in the back of the school bus and try to "be cool" and yearn to be accepted by the "in crowd"--I could be my own person and be true to my faith and grow in the Lord.  And God was so faithful to provide me church friends, a few Christian friends at school, youth leaders, and mentors, to speak truth into my life and encourage me in the faith.  

Now, let me return to my first point and then I will close.  Throughout my Christian life as a teenager and college student, I would have described my salvation testimony using the following terms "I accepted Christ" or "I made a decision for the Lord"...terms like that.  But now, after the perspective of many years, I have come to understand that as a unsaved sinner, I was dead in my sins (Eph 2:1).  And what can a dead person do?  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  A dead person can't choose, or accept, or make a decision.  I have come to understand that my salvation is a product of God alone--His sovereign choice made before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4)--and He relentlessly pursued me and chose to call me and save me.  Why me?  I don't know why--I probably never will this side of Heaven, but all I know is it was for HIS glory. 

This became crystal clear to me when I saw years later, on an old VHS tape, a Christmas program from my church from when I was in 4th grade.  You see, during this Christmas program, there was a CLEAR presentation of the gospel.  And I was astounded to learn that I was there, in this crowd somewhere, and yet I hadn't truly HEARD the gospel--I had left as lost as I had come.  And it became clear to me at that moment, and more so in the ensuing years as I have studied and better understood the Scriptures, that God is truly the author and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2), and HE called me to Himself in HIS timing to do HIS service for HIS glory.  And while I will never truly understand this mystery of the gospel and how it intersects our lives, I am just so grateful and amazed that He would call and save a sinner like me and use me to further His kingdom. 

So maybe, in a few more decades, I will come to understand my salvation experience in an even more profound way.  I think we never truly get "beyond" our salvation experience and all that it encompasses.  I think I will forever be coming to understand what TRULY happens in that moment when you are carried from darkness to light, from being considered a slave to sin to becoming a slave to righteousness.  It is a profound reality for all of us as believers.  And I would encourage each of us see it for what it is--an amazing, mysterious, awe-inspiring interaction with the God of the Universe that will forever change our lives and our eternal destinies.

0