Joy in Pain

 

  Joy in Pain

“Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.” Isaiah 53:4-5

Joy and pain aren’t two words that really go together. Even recently I had some pain that I had before but hadn’t had in a long time. The last time I had experienced this flare of pain I was prayed over all day long to see that pain disappear like it never existed. It has come back but not as intense as the last time but still that ever present pain that won’t go away has returned. If I sit in it that is when I notice I will become consumed. Weighed down. It can be so heavy. It can feel like it will never end. This time the pain is occurring in my face. A nerve that goes down the right side of my face has become inflamed. I picture MS sometimes as something that needs to remain calm. And this nerve in my face seems to be angry. It can throb and shoot all the way from my lower jaw into the top of my head. It can be still when I am asleep and then wake up to feel like it has been set on fire. A constant burning pain that won’t let go. Jesus is in the pain.

I believe in healing and have received those prayers of healing to never see something again. But I am learning sometimes we get taken back to those places we never thought. Sometimes it seems the prayers don’t seem to touch what is happening within me. The prayers have been many and even my prayers of knowing He has all the Authority and yet it still remains. What He is doing in the quiet is still being learned. 

I woke up this morning to come have my quiet time and that pain was there. Even before opening my Bible I started praising God. Praising Him for the outcome of healing me. Praising Him because He is in control even when the thing is still there. Praising Him because I know He is my Healer even when that full healing hasn’t come yet. 

Prayer is a weapon. Sometimes praying is not in the things we can see but in the unseen. I am really quick to pray over someone but not so quick when I need those prayers for myself. It is much easier to ask over a text than face to face. I sat with my small group last night in a lot of pain. Not just pain but something that was occurring within that pain. Almost stunned to the point of, “God don’t you hear me?” and it was then I asked them to pray over me. Words such as comfort, two or more, repair stood out and afterwards that pain increased. As I left I said one more thing to someone I have grown to love, “If this doesn’t stop I won’t be able to do choir for Easter.” It was there she began to pray those prayers of thanking God for the healing. The confidence she had is the same I have had in my bold prayers as I walked away. I woke up this morning to begin to pray those same prayers. Knowing in the pain Jesus was right there next to me. 

Jesus is in the suffering. Because Jesus is our Joy. The things that don’t make sense are the exact covering and protection he promises. That unseen of believing that healing will come. And praise the Lord my pain went from a ten to a three as I sat here a few hours later from that time spent with the Lord. 

Jesus,

Thank you for carrying our pains. Enduring the cross means for us that you meet us in all of it. Pain is because we are alive. Pain isn’t easy and never will be but we can know that healing comes from knowing you more through it. I can’t imagine my life without knowing you as my Healer. Thank you for being the Shepherd and Overseer of my soul. My soul rejoices in you alone King Jesus. 

Amen

Made Alive

                       

  Made Alive

“But God, who is rich is mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in our trespasses. You are saved by grace.” Ephesians 2:4-6

What is your but God in your life? Maybe you don’t even recognize that yet like I didn’t for many years.

I love that but God. Even seeing that word “dead” in this Scripture can illuminate so many reminders for me. That is what His Word does. Each morning I meet with God. It is usually reading a chapter or a few verses, something I do along with many other people. But I was hearing on a podcast about before that happens to ask, “Holy Spirit show me what you want me to see. Learning that the Old and Testament are both woven in a way that reveals the heart of God has been something that has changed when I approach my daily time. And then one of them said they, “Asked the Holy Spirit to show them the glory and goodness every time they met with God and read His Word. That simple sentence went down on a notecard as I read this daily Scripture I was given. I don’t stop and say that so many times. But even as they shared how the Living and Breathing Word was meant to help me and show me these things it stopped me in my tracks after reading this. The Holy Spirit is our Helper. 

But God when I was dead in my ways. But God when I refused to listen to Him. But God when I am still praying for those people that don’t know the Hope I have. But God was SO rich when I was not. But God saves me every single day because of His Mercy and Grace.

That word “dead” can do something within my spirit that can make me remember that feeling. Maybe that is what it was meant to do. Remember how you feel so we can then remember. 

Thank Him for your but God. I am going to stop and do the same. 

Jesus,

There aren’t enough words to say thank you. It is because of your obedience to die on a cross that we can live our made alive in Christ! Saved despite of our disobedience. Saved even knowing we are going to forget that tomorrow. Saved because God saw us and sees us and wants to each of to know that King of Love. Thank you King Jesus. 

Amen

Seeds of Love

Seeds of Love

“So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3: 7-9

He is working all things for our good. If my foundation isn’t built on Christ nothing I ever do in this life time will matter. I’ve been thinking about that more lately how we were made in a way that no matter what we believe if we don’t choose Jesus we will always want more. My life before my relationship left me longing and filling those places that was meant for God to never satisfy. I tried to fight that truth but always kept coming up empty. 

 I met a resident in prison Friday night and he wasn’t just coming for the first time he was coming with lots of questions.  We do get questions but this is more often during our small group time the time we gather with them to discuss the message and pray for them. It is our routine to come in a greet everyone and catch up with them but this guy had us sit down with him right away. I remember the look of desperation and expectancy on his face as he  asked, “Why do people say Jesus is the only way? Why is that the only Way?” He went on to tell us no one was really able to answer this for him. Then he began to share all the different understandings he had gathered over the many years he had been seeking to find an understanding. Some of what he had heard was familiar but other "religions" he talked about I hadn’t even heard of. He kept saying something he had heard in the Bible and I knew what he was saying wasn’t truth but somehow what he heard wasn’t going to be dismissed. I could see his frustration that no one could explain it to him. It was during that time my husband and I sat down with him and honestly I was looking for someone around that room more qualified to explain this but there wasn’t anyone that wasn’t already busy. After a simple prayer of, “Holy Spirit help me to help him to understand” I began to break it down as simple as I could. I could tell he was alot like me when I first started believe because the story of God’s plan for us doesn’t make sense. So in the simplest form I could give him I told him. God the Creator of Heaven and earth came down to earth as a baby. God in flesh. God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to live on earth to show us how we could live in a relationship with Him. Jesus was always the promise to save us from ourselves. Jesus died on the cross so we could live in a new way. The choice is ours who to follow. When we make that choice to follow Jesus we get a gift of the Holy Spirit that shows us how to live. My life before Jesus and my life after Jesus is different in a way I get to live with knowing I have the Holy Spirit as my Helper. I said, “You matter more to God than you will ever know and He loves you so much. And there is no other god that you have told me about that would die for you so you could life a new way. I wished I had more time but it was in that next moment a guard came to get him to go do something. I saw him come back in and this time he wasn’t sitting in the back where we had found him by himself he was sitting up front with some of the men who were leaders and led us in worship. I haven’t stopped praying for him that he will come back and he will know how much God has been running after him and that he would surrender his life to receive a personal Savior. Personal relationship with a Living God. The Holy Spirit living in us.

I tell you that story because opportunities are everywhere for us to share that simple message. The verse I shared above was from Paul a letter addressed to people that were confused on doctrinal and lifestyle issues it was Paul’s continued heart that pointed them back to Jesus. It wasn’t fancy speech it was Paul in the environment he was in taking those opportunities to meet them where they were. It was a message of grace being available and pointing them to Jesus because he is the only Truth, Way, and Life. Because the truth is we will build our lives on something in this life and nothing will ever satisfy other than God alone. It a choice what we build on but when we build our lives on something that is unshakable we see the character of Christ. The Rock that stands. The Love of God that others can know. 

That kind of love can transform this world. Love that reaches into hearts and pulls them into something they can’t grasp. 

What if we planted those seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and self control in this world? What could God grow within our hearts and the hearts around us?

Father,

All around us are opportunities for people to know you. Give us eyes to see those people and see them the way you do. Lead us and guide us as we go and give us a Heavenly focus. It is all so they can know you and experience the Peace you bring that can change everything. Thank you that you care that much about us that you would choose that King Jesus.

Amen

 

Gospel Truth

 

 Gospel Truth

“Now we have the treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 7-10

How can the words afflicted, crushed, perplexed, despair, abandoned be explained in a way of us receiving extraordinary power? 

Paul is an example to us of someone who just kept running his race to spread the love of God to a world that God was misrepresented. He knew what that meant to experience persecution, abandonment, despair, in more many ways than I will ever know. In that he learned what it meant for Christ to meet him in his weaknesses. It is in those weaknesses the power of God can provide a way of escape to endure. It is learning that in this fleshly body and mind I can find the power to move forward. Continually surrendering all of the things holding me back and forgetting my thoughts to allowing the His truth to replace mine. It is always in those areas of growing me God is showing me my weaknesses. I don't like that part of the process but know it is necessary. Conviction is waking up. Repentance is getting up. "Father, I am sorry for thinking I could do any of this on my own. Forgive me and help me in this weakness of putting myself in charge." You lead the way Holy Spirit..

Perfection isn’t needed or required. His power is made perfect in our weakness!

Treasure in a clay jar. Vessels to carry His Gospel truth for all mankind. Darkness to light made possible through our messy lives. Our weaknesses are displayed for others to see so that they can see the power of Jesus living in us. Jesus is the focus. 

What if we asked to reveal what that was and trusted His promise to provide? Tell Him. Ask Him. 

Father,

We matter more to you than we will ever understand. I want to bring you things of my doing and you don’t require that. You ask for an obedient heart.

You tell us the sacrifice pleasing to you is coming to you and asking. We don’t have it but know you do. Fill us to overflow with your Gospel Truth. Living out our lives with you Jesus is walking them out being renewed day after day. More of you and less us me.

Amen

Drain My Pride

 

  Drain My Pride

“Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who can know a person’s thoughts except the spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-11

I am my worst enemy. The closer I grow in my relationship to Jesus the more I recognize this in myself. I want to take my understanding and put that above the wisdom of God. I envy my mind and I boast in myself and that just never works out. This can come in many ways for me. Lately it has been taking in things around me such as Social Media and allowing that to take root in my mind. That is one that will always point me toward my circumstances and keep me being boastful in myself. It causes envy of what I see and looking at other things to fulfill me. And before I know it I have a restless anxious mindset once again. Right where the enemy of my mind wants me. Back to my old ways. Jesus came to bring us new ways.

What do we do with those things that can’t be changed within us like pride and boasting? 

I have to recognize them first. Sometimes this is quicker but sometimes it is that slow acknowledgement within my mind. That pride will make me think I need to do it and I forget that my Shepherd leads me. Boasting is another area that I will start to trust myself in. That word boast was something I used to dismiss because it always painted a puffed up person but the reality that too can slip in unnoticed until I realize once again I have put myself back on that throne of thinking I am in charge. And as I just heard this morning sin can’t be trained. I can’t train that boasting or pride to work in my favor. I will always fall short of my understanding and what I am lacking until I change and move forward. At the root level of these sins they will begin to plant something within my mind that will throw me off course faster than I ever intended to go. Repenting of my ways is life long learning to turn to Jesus. Knowing we could never fix our sin problem on our own, it is that continual offering of rinse and repeat all the days of our lives. 

My thoughts will always reveal my motives. The surrender acknowledges my weakness and where I need to repent. 

Father,

Here I am again thinking I can do this on my own. Wisdom will only come from you. Right thinking will always come from you. I acknowledge those areas of pride and boasting in my heart. I ask that you forgive me of those thoughts and move back towards your intentions. Empty me of my intentions, pride, boastfulness, and fill me with your motives. For I am conscious of my rebellion and my sin is always before me. Keep changing me to make me more like you King Jesus.

Amen

Anchor of our Soul

 Anchor of our Souls

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters in the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6: 19-20

What couldn’t be accomplished before Jesus became our High Priest was the fullness of the God living in us. The Spirit of God was still present and would come upon people to reveal His heart but it wasn’t the access we get today. The Living God living in us. Jesus was always the plan but God had to step into flesh on our behalf to become our Redeemer. Redemption is still the plan for all of mankind. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 The Creator of heaven and came down to earth to live among us. We are His greatest Creation. 

I love that picture of Jesus being that Anchor in the chaos. My soul can become so restless and He can hold me steady. Hebrews is a unique book in so many ways but one thing I have noticed is how it pulls from the Old Testament and even as they had heard this something would begin to click from something that had been taught to them. Jesus was always the promise but they kept wanting to go back to that old way of thinking before they could embrace the new way. I think that is another beautiful thing about the word of God and how it hits us in a fresh way as we encounter it during different times. Because in full transparency I just did an assignment on Hebrews and studied it and even came up with a short intro to each chapter and as I heard that word “anchor” this morning I couldn’t dismiss it. Studying the word of God and sitting with Him in verses has taught me to replace my old way of thinking. Because His Word is living and active words such as "Anchor" can plant a remembrance deep within our hearts and minds. It is the remembrance that can trigger things to reassure us when those times come because just as I had been in this chapter a little over 3 weeks ago once again it was hitting me in a new fresh way this morning. I will have people say, "You know where it all is in the Bible" and I don't a quick google search of that word led me to this verse. It was much more than God wanting to lead me back there it was because He wants me to understand that He is my Anchor. I will never remember the whole bible and I will always forget the context of the chapters like I did this one but when He leads us He will guide us. Ask Him when you run across something in the Bible. What could this mean God? For many years I thought it was about the knowledge and not knowing God as my first priority. It has always been about us understanding the heart of God and not knowing all the knowledge. Knowing Him is knowing His Word.

Father,

Your Word can cause a stillness in our hearts and minds holding firm to your Truth can anchor our souls. “For who can know the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2: 16 It is only when we allow you to lead us in Spirit and Truth we can know you King Jesus. Lead us and guide us and teach us to abide. We stand in you alone and glorify you in all we do and say.

Amen

Our Mission

 Our Mission

Where have my limitations turned into opportunities?

“God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world what is viewed as nothing to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one may boast in his presence. It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us- our righteousness, sanfification, and redemption in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:28-31

Paul is someone we have been reading about lately. He was commissioned by God to go and spread the gospel. This letter was for the Corinthian church they were experiencing things churches do today. Disagreements over leadership, misunderstandings, and Paul was reminding them, “God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  

The enemy will use whatever means he wants to get us distracted and thrown off course. 

I sat with my small group last night and we have all been talking about how to run our races for the Lord. Identifying what keeps us from moving forward. One friend shared a picture of herself running and all those things she was carrying and throwing them off as she ran. I know I want to carry things that weigh me down each day and God has been showing me more to let that go so He can carry them. But it is still that reminder of choosing the Word of God over our beliefs and feelings so we can continue to walk in victory and run the race He has for us. And if I am honest that word “walk” doesn’t sit well within my mind because as I have learned with MS walking will be one of those challenging things that lack distance and if I allow that it  can create limitations within my mind. 

I went walking today and thought I would try and increase the distance. That didn’t happen this time. It was that reminder I don’t care for the one of living in this body and how what I want and the body wants doesn’t matter. I walk IN the Light. Walking in the light isn’t me walking at all really. It is me being led by the Holy Spirit walking in ways that shows me until I throw off those things that don’t matter like pride, and boasting I am forgetting who lies ahead. The Joy of my Assurance is Jesus. So in reality that limitation is a good thing because I can know my boast is only in the Lord. 

Our mission hasn’t changed. Change can occur when we “see” it to be a reality. Our faith can direct us to victory in what we each have been called to. It is because of the unwavering faithfulness of God of the breakthrough we can live our lives in this present reality.

So what will I do with the limitations God has given me to give Him opportunities? 

What might He be asking you to do?  Ask Him. He is listening.