Who's your daddy; knowing God as Abba Father: October 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Jail-house conversion

"They got religion" is an often coined phrase when someone turns to God out of desperation. It's a good thing but is it sustainable? What we do with what happens past our darkest hour determines the depth of our long term relationship with God. Once we realize we've become incarcerated to our sin (unable to break free on our own) we reach a turning point where we turn to God out of shear desperation. For some, it literally happens in jail/prison through mandatory incarceration, limiting their freedom to continue in their self-destruction. The question most of us ask when we witness a "jail-house" conversion is simple: Is the person turning to God because they have no other choice or because it's an authentic decision?

"Set me free from my prison, so that I may praise your name." (Psalm 142:7, NIV)

The better question to ask is this: If I could see the bars, chains and locks that sin has put upon my life, incarcerating me to it (whatever "it" is) wouldn't I choose God, as well? To some degree, each of us has experienced a "jail-house" conversion with God (we all sin and fall short of God's standard, every single day). However, there's hope. God isn't requiring us to be perfect (flawless, sinless) but to be humble (placing our lives in His hands and living each day with God's purpose/plan and desire for our lives, first). There's nothing more powerful than what God can do through our lives when we realize we hold the key that unlocks the door to change in our lives. And nothing is better than walking with Him every day as we see our lives change.

Thought to live by: God isn't concerned how you came but that you came to Him.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Hand-to-mouth faith

When Elijah was called by God to face down God’s enemies and walk in his ministry, the first lesson he had to learn was more about faith than about provision. Living only on water from a stream and food from a bird’s mouth, God’s provision was all Elijah could rely upon and that had to be enough.

“And it shall be that you shall drink of the brook and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” (1 Kings 17:3, Open Bible)

In an odd sort of way, that sounds like heaven on earth: God will take care of me and I don’t have to worry. But try feasting on what comes out of a bird’s mouth (ridiculously small portions) and sipping on what trickles through a drought fatigued stream (maybe a handful of water at best) and you’ll see “faith” from a whole new perspective. It’s not that God is trying to “test” your faith, but that He’s trying to strengthen it. When you walk with Him you will have to learn that what you’re about to do looks nothing like what you see on TV, read about in the media or dream about in your heart. Those are merely the “things of this world”. Hand-to-mouth faith teaches one priceless lesson to all who obey their calling: Obedience to God. What comes out of it will always bless others more than it blesses you. Learning to never give up on what God is doing is the first lesson of faith.

Thought to live by: Obedience is greater than sacrifice because it increases our faith.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

The jailer of unforgiveness

In 2002, a drunk driver forever changed my life and taught me a lesson about unforgiveness. Hit from behind at 65 miles an hour, I became a “victor” of this woman’s disease (notice I didn’t say “victim”). At the time, I didn’t know how profoundly this one moment in my life would change me, in a positive way, forever. The year following the accident I was asked to give a victim’s witness testimony for the prosecuting attorney. The morning of her hearing, I sat at my computer and began to write. The anguish I felt spilled over the page, allowing me to unload much more than just my unforgiveness toward this woman. Cathartically, it felt good. Spiritually, it felt out of place. I remember the torn emotional struggle I felt between the two extremes; should I be honest about the damage she caused or forgiving and let it go? The latter didn’t even seem like a choice, but it was. As I sat there in front of my keyboard, the Holy Spirit spoke very clearly into my heart, “Why don’t you let me write the letter”, He said. Through the blinding stream of tears I began to write as if I was taking dictation. What poured out on the page was not from me but from Him so that we both could be set free. Simply put: He loved her and wanted her to love Him and trust Him with her life.

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14 NIV)

It took many, many years for me to understand fully that “teachable moment”: When we fail to forgive someone we become their “jailer”. Not only do we spiritually join in on the stronghold that keeps them jailed in their past, we feed the spiritual stronghold trying to stop our future. Our lives become consumed with our unforgiveness each time we pay any attention to our perpetrators affliction upon our lives. Instead of (truly) giving God the keys to their cell through our decision and willingness to forgive, we become the jailer who has to maintain a vigil outside their prison gate (continuously recalling our past encounter with them by holding onto our pain) mistakenly thinking we’re the ones who are “free”. Unforgiveness keeps an eye on the past offense, refusing to let it go when we think we can somehow gain control of our emotional pain by holding onto the keys of their prison cell (their sin against us). The moment I read what God wrote to this woman was the moment I (too) was set free.

Thought to live by: Unforgiveness locks us in our own prison. Give God the keys and let Him be the “jailer” who sets you free.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Blindfolded faith

The most vulnerable anyone can ever feel is when they are completely subjected to the care, guidance and dependency upon another person. Add a “blindfold” to that equation and you have complete faith. In reality, no one ever (really) wants to trust anyone that much; it just seems ridiculous and unnecessary. However…..faith requires it.

“Because He loved me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high. Because he has known My name.” Psalm 91:14 (NAS)

While it is important to know why we believe what we believe, the dissecting of it can become our “faith”. How sad to think that the only reason I trust someone is because I’ve fully examined them to my satisfaction. My personal faith has never been based upon my ability to fully understand/comprehend God but to trust Him with what I know and accept what I cannot comprehend. Maybe that’s why my personal relationship with Him has never wavered.

Thought to live by: Do you know God because you can comprehend Him or because you trust Him?

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Shield-proof; the power of protection

When our son Bradley was two years old, he ran away from home. Not very far, just down the street. I’ll never forget the helpless feeling that came over me as I ran up and down the street looking for him, along with a steady stream of neighbors, shouting his name and praying aloud. My first thought was to ask God for His protection over Bradley and for his safe return. The scene of the latter is one I’ll never forget; a neighbor carrying Bradley in her arms with our Labrador Retriever, Suzy, walking by her side. The woman shared how she discovered Bradley in her back yard, just a few houses down from our home, only after noticing the black dog watching over him, not allowing him out of her sight.

“For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91: 11-12

Because of God’s great love for us, He will use anything He chooses to protect us; even a black lab. However, we must have a personal relationship with God to benefit from that protection. I shudder to think of what the possibilities might have been had I not been a praying mom. Even though bad things happen to Godly people, I thank God for the provision He makes through His “shield of protection” and I accept His ways above my own.

Thought to live by: God provides the shield; we provide the response.

Monday, October 3, 2011

GIANT promises

When put to the test, what you believe will rise to the surface. Take for example David, who was a mere shepherd boy in the eyes of his brother Eliab, had the boldness of faith to believe that he could actually do something out of everyone else’s reach. With boldness, David had the nerve to ask what the “promises” were should the Israelites slay Goliath. Eliab’s response to David was not only condescending, it attempted to besmirch David’s character. However, David knew that God was with him and instead of being defeated by his brother’s mere words, David had the boldness to trust God’s anointing on his life as he prepared for the battle.

“The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37 NIV)

David’s faith was founded in his relationship with God, who always kept his promises. Can you only imagine the first time David experienced “fear” when he faced his first bear? How about the first time a lion approached him, don’t you think he had ample reason to be concerned? But God…..who kept His faithful hand upon David’s youthful shoulder…..kept him safe. When our faith is GIANT so are God’s promises to us.

Thought to live by: The greater the test the greater the testimony.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Windshields

I’ve always wanted to say “thanks” to the person who invented the “windshield”. Can we only imagine what driving down the highway would feel like, less the windshield? Before the windshield was introduced as a must have in 1904, goggles were used to protect the driver from the oncoming elements. Think about that for a minute…..goggles are your only defense against whatever may be coming at you?

“His faithfulness is a shield and a bulwark”. (Psalm 91:4 NIV)

When we stand against our “foes” in life, God doesn’t hand us a pair of goggles and wish us luck; He covers our lives like a “shield and a bulwark”. A “bulwark” is a solid exterior wall built as fortification, placed around us for our defense. Not only does God shield us, deflecting what comes directly at us, but He puts a protective wall around us, deflecting the enemy from every angle in our lives. Who would want to drive down the street with just a windshield (no car body, just a shield)? No one. Who would want to walk through this life without the protection of God, found through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, shielding their lives from every angle? I can’t imagine that anyone would, but some do, facing the storms in their lives wondering why they feel so vulnerable and under attack. If you have found yourself needing a “shield and a bulwark” turn to Christ, in whom you will find both peace and protection in your life, today.

Thought to live by: A personal relationship with Christ places God’s protection around my life.