Journey 4/15/08

This week I've been thinking about a lot of things and have posted a couple of entires about those thoughts, so in my Journey I just wanted to share a quote that I found to be impacting.

“To evangelize a person is to say to him or her: you, too, are loved by God in the Lord Jesus. And not only to say it but to really think it and relate it to the man or woman so they can sense it. This is what it means to announce the Good News. But that becomes possible only by offering the person your friendship; a friendship that is real, unselfish, without condescension, full of confidence and profound esteem.”

Brennan Manning

Journey 4-2-08

Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke him to anger. 2 Kings 23:25-26

This past weekend I was at a conference where one of the topics was unmet expectations. During one of the sessions someone pointed out how we often have formulas that we expect God to abide by: A + B will surely equal C.

I was thinking of that statement as I read about Josiah. Josiah did all the right things. When the book of the law was found he wholeheartedly set out to follow all of its instructions. He renewed the covenant and cleansed the land. Wouldn’t it be expected then that God would respond in kind sending revival throughout the nation and establishing Judah? But the LORD’s anger was not turned away. God had a plan that included punishment of sin and also future redemption that included the removal of the nation of Judah.

So often we are surprised by God’s unexpected plans. We pour our lives out in obedience, serving as He has called us and often deep inside we expect to see something like Obedience + Sacrifice = A Mighty Movement of God (A church planted, a revival occurring, the ones we are serving turning to the Lord finding salvation of revival, etc). Yet, as C.S. Lewis often illustrated in his Narnia chronicles “He is not a tame lion.” God’s ways are above us. God is wild and free and ruler of all. He does not abide by our formulas, but blazes His own path of love, redemption and restoration in His own way.

Now Josiah had advanced knowledge of this situation through the prophetess Huldah. He knew that all his efforts and the results of his obedience would only last for his lifetime. I stopped and thought of that for a moment. Josiah was faithful even though he, not only had no promise of success, but when he had the assurance that what he was working toward would not last. Can I be as faithful when I don’t see God moving? Can I trust God’s long term plan when He moves outside of my carefully constructed formulas? When the formula doesn’t add up and the people are not yet restored, I want to still follow hard after the Lord Jesus.

Josiah may not have enabled the long term restoration and renewal of Judah, but his life still stands as a testimony of wholehearted obedience. I want my life to reflect the same, a testimony to the faithfulness of God in my lifetime.

Journey update 3-21-08
I’m home in Hungary and back to my updates…

(Ahaziah, King of Judah ) He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the LORD. 2 Kings 8:27a

(King of Israel ) The LORD said to Jehu. “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes”….Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the LORD, God of Israel , with all his heart. 2 Kings 10:30a, 31a

(King of Judah ) Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 2 Kings 12:2

(Jehoahaz, King of Israel ) He did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat. 2 Kings 13:2a

(Jehoash, King of Israel ) He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam. 2 Kings 13:11a

(Amaziah, King of Judah ) He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. 2 Kings 14:3

I’ve been reading in 2 Kings recently and I was reminded again of how the Lord sums up the entire lives and the reign of the kings by such simple words.

He did evil.
He did what was right.

All of the choices, all of the decisions, all of the years of living are summed up in these statements. I find it interesting also, that these statements are also followed with insights for our enlightenment.

He walked in the ways of.
He was not careful.
He did as he was instructed.
He followed after.
He did not turn away.
He followed the example of.

These statements remind me to be careful of what my influences are. What example am I following? Am I walking in the footsteps of Christ? Am I careful to do what is right?

I wonder how my life will be summed up. I know that there is one statement that is sure. I know that I can expect to hear something along the lines of, “She chose well. She received the gift of life in my Son and her sins are covered by the blood of the Lamb. She is a child of mine.”

That in itself is an amazing thing! But beyond that, I wonder how my life’s epitaph will continue. May I live so as to hear “Well done, you have done what is right in my eyes.”

Journey 2-19-08

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Cor. 13:12

This verse came to mind this week as I was contemplating several things. The part that stood out was that I am, even now, fully known. It is only me who is waiting to know fully; God already sees clearly both who I am and who I will be. From time to time I am surprised to discover new things about myself. I sometimes think that I know myself pretty well, until God shines His light on some area to challenge me to grow or repent or stop clinging to my own ideas and step out in faith. It is both comforting and challenging to remember that God knows me inside and out. And yet, He loves me completely. That is truly amazing.

Journey 2-11-08

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out they said, “Five – and two fish.” Mark 6:38

“Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.” Exodus 4:1-2

I’ve really been blessed by the sermons the last couple of weeks at church. Last week Pastor Phil preached on how God can take what you have and make it into something that you never could, for his glory. Two examples of this were the feeding of the five thousand and Moses.

In Mark we see that Jesus challenged the disciples to find out what they had. Then, when they brought Jesus what they had, he took five ordinary loaves of bread and two fish and made it into a meal to feed five thousand men plus women and children. God took what was offered and made something extraordinary out of it.

In Exodus we see God teaching the same lesson to Moses. He asked Moses what it was that he had. A simple wooden staff was not much to look at, but in God’s hands it could become a snake or turn the waters to blood.

It is an encouraging thing to remember that God can do extraordinary things with a simple offering of what we have. If we offer ourselves, our very lives to Jesus, then He can make something amazing out of it, something that we never could bring about on our own.

Journey, 1-24-08

Fear and Faith

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, thought the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea.” Psalm 46:1-3

“And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” Matthew 13:58

Two of the things I have been thinking about lately are fear and faith. Last night the pastor preached on Psalm 46. He talked about how God is our refuge and we have no need to fear. The area of fear that caught my attention was fear spawned by uncertainty. I have a million questions along the lines of “what’s next God?” and though God does not let me in on the details of his plan I have no need to fear. As the rest of Psalm 46 tells us, we win in the end. If the victory is guaranteed then what do we have to be afraid about? Pastor Phil went on to talk about verse 6 and how God’s voice melts the earth. It is a pretty amazing picture of the God who is our refuge. Since the power of his voice alone is able to melt the very earth we stand on what in the world do we have to fear?

In contrast to that is the verse in Matthew 13 that I noticed last Sunday. The people of Jesus’ hometown missed out on the power of the Messiah because of their lack of faith. May it never be said of me that I missed out on the work that God could have done in and through me because I doubt and lack faith. Instead let me ask Him to give me the faith that I lack, while removing the fears that I can’t seem to shake.

As I ponder these contrasts it is a reminder that I, once again, need to take God out of the box that I so often mentally push him into and remember just how GREAT He really is.

Journey, an update 1-7-08

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:4-8

The turning of the calendar to a new year is always an opportunity for reflection. In the past year I encountered trials and blessings, sorrow and joys. Life’s lessons do not generally come easily. One of the things that I have found over and over again in my walk with God is that the closer He draws me to His amazing and holy presence, the more I realize what a sinful creature I am at the very core of my being. I think that especially now that I find myself out of my “comfort zone” I often see deeper into my true nature than I ever have the opportunity to see when life is easier. Praise God, He is SO FAITHFUL and he continues to mold me into the woman that He would have me to be.

In light of these reflections I couldn’t help but be stopped speechless by the reminder of Ephesians 1. I am holy and blameless in God’s sight, because of the blood. Though I am constantly humbled by my shortcomings and drawn to my knees by my weaknesses, God doesn’t see my failures or my sins. He sees me holy and blameless. He sees me through the blood: a reflection of His glorious Son.

Yesterday I heard a David Crowder song that I wasn’t familiar with. These are the words that caught my attention and reflected so beautifully the message of Ephesians 1.

“You make everything glorious

and i am Yours

what does that make me?"

So today I am reveling in the reminder that God sees me not as I am but as I will be. He sees His finished work in me. What an amazing realization to take into the New Year!

Journey 12-5-07

“Then he said to the man “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.” Matt. 12:13

You ever get the feeling that your pastor has been spying on your life? Now I know that he is just preaching through the book of Matthew but the last two weeks the messages have been tailor made for this very point in my life. Last week the message was on rest. This week the message was on the mercy of God and approaching God with our weaknesses. Here is a VERY brief abbreviation of the point that hit home for me.

Jesus knew that the Pharisees were seeking to accuse him. Did he care that it was a trap? No! Jesus was merciful above all! He cared about this man when the religious leaders only saw him as a pawn. What about this man with the shriveled hand? How did he feel suddenly being put on the spotlight in a showdown between Jesus and the Pharisees? Did he try to hide his weakness? Was he too embarrassed to make his hand a public spectacle? No. He allowed his own weakness to become center stage while looking to Jesus.

It is important that we as believers don’t put on masks and pretend that we have it all together. We are redeemed but still being transformed. We must be real and honest so that the world around us can truly see the mercy of Christ at work in us, for the Lord tells us that “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness*.” So then we can each boast all the more gladly about our weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on us and so that all may see that He deserves the glory.

*2 Corinthians 12:9b

Journey, 11-23-07

“O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength…Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. Psalm 21:1a, 6

I had three Thanksgiving Day celebrations this year. We held a celebration for the English club students in Pécel, another for the English program attendees in Petőfibánya and yet another for our team on the actual holiday. So, I’ve taken more time than usually to think of all of things that I am thankful for. The list is long but the things that made it to the very top are the Word of God and the Presence of God, the Holy Spirit living within me. As the Psalmist says: “Eternal blessings.”

I love how God speaks directly to my soul every time I open the Word. No matter if I am sad or weary or frustrated, He encourages me with His truth and comforts me with His presence. And when I am happy, then He makes my joy overflow by reminding me of the great and precious promises of His Word.

What a wonderful gift! Give thanks to the LORD, His love endures forever…