Resurrection Living

Hey Friends,

If you are stopping here for the first times coming from She Seeks-welcome! I want to continue our conversation from my She Seeks {inspirational entry} about stress in light of Easter and the Resurrection.

Stress is no fun and it robs us of the joy, peace, patience, hope and so much more that God promises us when we chose to follow Him. We don't have to live with the chains of our daily stress because when Jesus died on the cross, He took our pain, sins and even our stress to the grave with Him. I believe that Jesus sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane because He was literally feeling the pressure and recounting the past sins and future sins/ pain of EVERY single person who believed Him to be the Christ. On that cross, I believe that Jesus took on my personal stress and your personal stress. The emotional pain He felt had to be just as excruciating as that of the physical pain of crucifixion.

So, where does this leave us now? Three days later, on Easter morning, Jesus conquered death and rose to sit as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in Heaven. All of our stress, sin and pain were conquered. God doesn't promise that in this lifetime stress will cease to exist but rather, when we hand it all over to Him and lean on His strength, He can and will conquer our troubles.

Day to day, we must recognize Him as our Risen King Victorious. If we believe that He died and conquered death, why in the world wouldn't Jesus be able to conquer our everyday stress?

Take sometime right now to praise Jesus as YOUR King who cares about you and your stress. Nothing is too small or too big to bring before the King, the Risen Victorious King.

Matthew 28:5-10 (New International Version)

⁵The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Would you ever admit to duplicity? {no...not talking about the movie here!} Probably not, I would venture to say. Here is the definition, please take special note of the second definition:

Duplicity:noun:

1 : contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially : the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action
2 : the quality or state of being double or twofold

You know when you were in highschool and the biggest put down was to be called "two-faced?" That is basically what I am getting at. In America, this is a problem among Christians, we are "two-faced" and our lives are not reflective completely and wholeheartedly to what we say we believe. I was hit in my "two faced" forehead with this when I bounced the definition of duplicity off of Jeremiah 32:38-39:

They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them.

Please know that I am pointing my finger right back at myself with this post. But, I just want to challenge my fellow Christians to think about our lives. Do you compartmentalize your faith to just your Christian friends, Sunday morning or Wendesday night Life Groups? Here is some data from Pew Research that perfectly illustrates what I am talking about:

25% of Americans (in general) believe in Astrology while 23% of Christians do as well! (Pew Research)

Um...hello...do we see what is wrong with this picture?

You say you have conservative values...

But how did you vote in the last election (if you voted at all)?

You say want to live a pure and holy life as taught in the Bible and at church last sunday...

But, what do you fill your mind with while surfing the web or flipping the channels?

You say you believe in Jesus as your Savior...

But, is your life really changed by your beliefs?

Like I said, no condemnation here from me. These are some of the very things I have worked through in my own life. Did you notice in the verse above that God promises He will give us singleness of heart AND action? It is ours for the taking. period. I think this lifestyle of duplicity can be tiresome. Most of us know deep in our heart that our actions don't match up with what we profess and it slowly eats away at our conscience. God doesn't want us to live with this burden, but He does expect us to take the actions to live a whole hearted, sold out faith in Him. This takes work, trust me, I know. I have evaluated and re-evaluted my choices and actions over the years and I will continue to do so.

So for today, I encourage you to take time with the Lord asking Him to show you where you act "two-faced." He will not hit you over the head or wag a heavenly finger at your in condemnation, but He will show you where to start in your journey toward single-minded faith.

Stay tuned to more thoughts on this... about how our life of single minded focus benefits us and the people around us! {don't want to bogg you down to much in this one post! ha!}

Guilty Pleasures-Expanded

This is a devotion that ran on She Seeks a couple of weeks ago and below is the expanded version of it. Let me know what you think!

Can I please just start out with a confession?! I. heart. guilty. pleasures. PERIOD. I mean, don’t we all love to vegg in front of the T.V. after a long day at work and immerse ourselves in the lives of others on reality T.V.? Or, maybe you’re one of those who curls up in bed with Hershey Kisses and reads chic lit? Mine is a bit of both. I rarely miss an episode of my newest obsession, T.V. show Flash Forward. If I must miss it, you better believe it is DVRd. But, lately I have been intrigued by those Twilight books. Interested in what the fuss is all about, I rented the first movie of the wildly popular series. I really do see where all the craziness comes from over these books and movies: the characters are attractive, the storyline pulls you in and there are even a few interesting moral undertones: redemption and abstinence.

But in the midst of my evaluation of this hit movie, some verses in Titus came to mind and smacked me right out of my Hershey Kisses sugar rush.

Titus 2:11-14 (The Message)

“God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.”

The tie-in from this verse to Twilight is not subtle. Most of these vamp books and movies have a strong, dark, spiritual undertone. It can be dangerous when we fill our brains with darkness. This darkness can easily permeate into our heart and soul. No matter which way the vampire is portrayed as the protagonist (handsome and all...) he is still a vampire and the folklore still comes from dark spiritual practices. There is so much in the world around us that is evil, ugly and terribly dark and in creeps its way into my life so easily. Does this happen to you as well? The world of pop culture invites us to participate in viewing and reading many things that are fascinating. On top of “dark” things that creep into our lives, pop culture allures us with images of perfectly sculpted women with gorgeous clothes and hair blowing in the wind. A picture that even that beautiful model can’t live up to since the magazine editors photo shopped her picture into a person unrecognizable. It is no wonder that we all get caught up in the frenzy to keep up with the latest and greatest. What is important to remember that, whether it be dark vampires, or pristine models, the things of the present are ever fleeting and changing. I have personally worked on {keyword: worked on} remember my ever solid, never changing LORD. He fights the darkness, brings light into this world, AND He thinks that I am beautiful. (Psalm 45:11) I try to remember my Rock when I am tempted and swept up by the latest movie craze or fashion movement. It is not easy, those things of the world are so much fun, but in the end I know I have made the right decision when I choose to look away.

It is my conviction that it is a God given call to influence the world (ie. people around us in our workplace, school, at the gym, etc.) for good with out being influenced, ourselves. This is a hard thing to accomplish, I admit. I strive for awareness of pop culture around me so that I can call out good, moral themes and use them to point people back to the goodness and LIGHT of JESUS. Boy, this surely isn’t easy since I really do love my guilty pleasures. {wink, wink} When my friends speak around the water cooler at work about the latest Twilight movie, I do my best to take the conversation to the next level by asking their opinion about the underlying moral themes, etc. They usually find the question interesting and we have a great conversation. I don’t bombard them with my thoughts on vamps and the dark spiritual world, but I do engage them in a conversation that gets them thinking about what they spend their time on and if it is time well spent and valuable.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this and if you have an good advice on how to protect ourselves from invaluable things of the world as well as how you engage your friends around this topic. Lets take some time to encourage and challenge each other on how we choose to partake, or not partake, in the culture around us.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. This is not an attempt to bash the Twilight series, but rather to make us really evaluate what we are spending our time on and consuming our minds with. Let me know what you think in the comment section and lets get some good dialogue going!

Do you ponder?

Every year as I read the Christmas story narrated in Luke 2, I usually end up on verse 19 describing Mary treasuring these things and pondering them in her heart.

¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

I imagine Mary holding the newly swaddled Baby Jesus snuggled close to her as she contemplates the magnitude of Who she holds in her arms. Of course she is aware that she is holding the KING OF KINGS, a baby who will grow up and save the world; a tiny innocent infant who will carry that innocence His entire life. I wonder if she is questioning God as to why she, a lowly and poor woman from Nazareth, would raise Jesus, the Bread of Life? But, I am sure she takes the responsibility with upmost importance while she ponders the days, months and years ahead for sure to be filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, and GLORY beyond all comprehension.

We also have this grand responsibility when we know Jesus as our Savior, allow the Holy Spirit to guide, and worship our Father daily. By treasuring this up in our heart, let us not hide it deep within, either. This gift we have received in the form of a beautiful baby boy, Jesus, should be shared with everyone only after we truly ponder His magnificence and power. Then, when we grasp the enormity of WHO we Know intimately, let the world around you encounter Him, too! Treasuring and pondering are the forerunners of our proclaiming, worshiping and serving this Emmanuel, God with US. Take time to treasure and ponder your personal relationship with Him. Evaluate where you stand in your daily worship and service. But, don't stop there. When we have a thriving relationship with Christ, our heart should burst with the knowledge of WHO we know as we can not help put proclaim His glory.

Happy New Year!

Harking and Harolding

A familiar scene in the Nativity Story. Don't we always sing that traditional hymn about angels singing?

Luke 2:13-14

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

I often find myself wondering what a multitude of angels in worship to God really sounds like. Probably a sound like none we have heard here on this earth. Most likely louder than our ears can handle and our mind will comprehend. I must admit, I get a bit jealous that the angels get the sole job of worshiping God ALL THE TIME. Sounds like a stellar job description to me!

Something has occurred to me, though. God has ten thousands upon ten thousands of angels in constant worship of His glory. But...BUT...who does He most want to worship His glory? Y.O.U. and M.E. hmmmm...Maybe our best worship that we give to Him is more meaningful than the enormous sounds of that grand multitude?

That would make sense, right. I mean, He didn't send Jesus to this earth as a baby to later die on the cross for the angels. God did that for you and for me. When I look at it that way, I am less intimidated by the thought of worship and I am free to just pour it all out for the sake of giving glory to my KING. It blesses my heart that the God of the Universe wants my worship. Check out what the book, Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge, has to say about this.

"A woman's worship brings Jesus immense pleasure and deep ministry...Jesus desires you to pour out your love on him in extravagant worship that minister's to his heart." (Captivating, page 125)

I can bring immense pleasure to Jesus just by singing my off tune heart out! YOU can minister to His heart by praising Him with your whole life!

Next time you think your harking and harolding doesn't make a difference, do it anyway knowing that He is pleased with your worship.

Go Tell it On The Mountain

I would love for you to take a look at Luke 2:8-20...

It is so easy to gloss over the old, familiar passages in the Bible about the birth of Christ. Didn’t we learn all about the angels and the Shepherds during Nativity performances when we were younger?? Though you probably are very familiar with the story of the Shepherd’s encounter with the angels that one starry night in Bethlehem, take sometime to put yourself in their sandals and carry the Shepherd’s rod while you imagine what it would be like that one fateful night so long ago.

Take a few moments to imagine.

Feel the cool darkness of the night as you are tending the sheep just as you had the previous nights….



What are you talking about with your fellow Shepherds? Same old stuff, just a different night…



Are you weary of the job of being a “lowly Shepherd?”



Then, as the night sky blinds you with the glory of the Angels, how fast does your heart begin to beat? Maybe you fall to the ground in wonder…



Do you join in with the Angels singing, “Glory to God in the Highest…!”


Now…how quickly can you run back to Bethlehem to share the Good News? Are you even running or does it feel like your feet aren’t even touching the ground…?



~This kind of thing doesn’t always happen these days. How often do we experience angels singing and bright shining stars? However, you and I are now the bright shining stars who share the good news around the world about the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Just like the Shepherds did that first Noel, go…hurry…quickly… and enthusiastically tell others about your encounter with your LORD!

Luke 2:20 (ESV)
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them.

God Whispers

God whispers...does that sound weird to you? Sometimes we need a whisper in our heart, it makes us really listen to the quiet truths He wants us to know. Whispers make us lean in and try to hear a secret. But, God's whispers are not secrets-that is for sure. But still, whispers intrigue us and play to our nature of wanting to know something...well...intriguing.

God whispered to me this morning while sitting on the top deck over looking the Atlantic Ocean. Those of you who know me well, might be surprised that I jumped out of bed this early hour to go and meet with God. (I am NOT a morning person; I do NOT do my best thinking at 6am. In fact, most of my blogs are written in the late hours of the evening-get what I'm saying??) It must have been this invigorating sea breeze that kicked my mind in gear to tune in to His whisper.

Ephesians 3: 19 says:

And to know the LOVE of Christ that SURPASSES knowledge, that you may be filled with ALL the FULLNESS of GOD. (emphasis mine)

When we take time to breath in His glorious beauty and step outside of ourselves {our wants and needs} then we can rest in the knowledge that He has our wants and needs under control. Be filled with the fullness of God and realize that, though our requests are important to Him, they are just no big deal for Him. Rest in that truth.

Breath in that peace.

Listen to His whispers.

Be filled with the fullness of Him.

That fullness is sufficient.

That fullness is enough.

Anticipation

As I am typing these words, my heart is racing and I have this rush of overwhelming relief flowing through my body. This feeling is so powerful that I might just cry right now. What in the world am I so emotional about? My handsome husband is on his way home from Iraq and our family will be reunited. Can I just say, I LOVE MY MAN! Anticipation! I can hardly get a grip on the fact that we will be together again in a matter of weeks.

So, of course this got me thinking about looking forward towards the future. I am the type of girl who is always jumping ahead and enthusiastic about the next big project or event. When that time comes, I throw myself in feet first and never look back. Its just how I operate. Some people would say that I am too passionate or too "worked up" about what I get involved in. But, now that I think about it, this character trait is what makes me so overwhelmingly excited about my future in Heaven...with Jesus!

This world is not the end for those who make Christ their Lord and King. Does this scare you or thrill you? Don't hear me say that we are not to make the most of our time here on earth while loving and serving our LORD with all of our mind, soul and strength (Matthew 12:30) If the thought of "this earth is not the end" frightens you, I encourage you to search the scriptures and ask the LORD to show you a sliver of what HE has in store for you in the eternal.

I'm dreaming of the day when I will see my KING face to face. No doubt that my heart will be exploding and HIS glory will blow my mind.

Ephesians 3:20-21
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Oh, and did I mention that I LOVE MY MAN?! The fact that we will get to worship Jesus together in Heaven is just the most amazing thing!

Hugs from Jesus

The biggest thrill in my life right now is when my 11 month old hugs me tight. Lately, he grabs hold of some part of my body (legs, neck, arms) and grasps hard letting me know that he loves me. Oh this is such a wonderful feeling. When the crack of dawn (5:45am) rolls around and he is calling out for me to come get him, all is well once I walk into his room, pick him up and he squeezes me tight. Ooooh!

I have been thinking, that as a mother, this is such a precious feeling that I crave and desire. Then I started thinking about how much pleasure and joy the LORD must feel when we call out to Him early in the morning and cling tight to Him as He gets us going for the day. God made us for His pleasure and His glory and I have no doubt in my mind that He wants you to hug Him tight all day long!

But, also, think about this... The very God of the Universe is hugging you back! Does that blow your mind?

Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The way the LORD hugs you back is that He bestows upon you mercy, grace, strength, peace, joy and on and on. Its like a never ending embrace from your Lord.

Today, I needed a hug and I got one from my child. This warmed my heart to no end. But, even better, my LORD hugged my neck and filled my heart with exactly what I needed-His amazing love.

Quick Devotion, She Just Couldn't Leave

On this Easter morning, I am reflecting on how I would have handled my LORD Jesus dying on the cross right before my eyes. I can't imagine the agony His friends were going through, let alone the excruciating pain my Lord suffered. The passage in John about Mary Magdalene is something I think I can relate too.

Mary was so faithful to go and check on Jesus' grave. I imagine she just needed to be with her Lord, regardless of the situation. You see, Jesus was not only Mary's LORD, He was her friend, too. Mary had to make sure everything was right with her Friend's burial. John chapter 20 tells us that Mary went out there while it was still dark. How much do you want to bet that she didn't sleep at all the night before and just couldn't wait to go and check on Jesus. She must have been pretty distressed when she found the stone rolled away from the grave.

Then later at the end of the chapter when everyone had left, Mary couldn't tear herself away.

John 20:10-16
Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

There was no longer any reason to mourn! No longer any need to weep and relive the horrific events of three days prior. For, her LORD Jesus WAS ALIVE!! Everything He said He would do came to fruition and Mary was the first to witness it.

Jesus conquered death. What makes you think that He can't conquer your issues? Jesus defied everything they said He couldn't not do. Don't you think He can handle what ever you bring before Him?

I want to be like Mary. So close to Jesus that she couldn't wait to just check on Him. Because of Her need to be there, Mary was the first that Jesus revealed Himself to. I know Christ has things to reveal to each of us. We just need to make ourselves available and ready to hear His call.

Happy Easter! He is Risen!!

Quick Devotion-Don't Leave it for the Stones!

Oh how I love Easter season! The fact that Spring is in full bloom is very apropos for the celebration of our Resurrected King. Easter is a season of renewal and redemption, who wouldn't love that!

On this Palm Sunday, please read the following passage. I pray that you will be rejoicing and waving your "palms" right now in front of this computer screen!

Luke 19:38-40 (The Message)
37-38Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed: Blessed is he who comes, the king in God's name! All's well in heaven! Glory in the high places!
39Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!"
40But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."

Followers of this Glorious King-give Him praise boldly-don't shy back! The world around us tries to dumb down Easter and make it about candy and eggs, but we know it is a million times more than that. Proudly celebrate this holiday and exclaim to those around you why you are so full of joy (and its not just from that sugar rush!)

Don't leave it to the stones to shout for JOY! Give Him Praise!

Your sins are forgiven!

You are made new in Christ !

There is now no condemnation upon you-ever!

He reigns VICTORIOUS!

Hallelujah! AMEN!

White Knuckles part 2-Get a Grip!

The other day I posted about clinging so hard to Christ for strength that you had white knuckles. This concept really stuck with me and the Lord gave me more thoughts on this subject.

Get a Grip (this came from my lovely mom, by the way)
When you are gripping Christ so hard, there is no way that you are holding on to other things that might bind you and hold you back from that abundant life He promises in John 10:10. These things might be fear, anger, depression, obsession about body image, insecurity, addictions and so on. When we grip tightly to these binding things we, they don't let us go. It is hard to be free!
But, the only thing that frees us from that captivity is holding fast and firm to our Lord and Savior, Jesus. You can be free from all that junk and then be free to live the life that He planned for you.

How would you like to live a life that is full of joy, peace, fulfillment and hope. Do you have a dream that He has given you for your life? You are free to live that dream when you cling to Christ.

Take a look at Psalm 63:7-8 (The Message) in closing:
Because you've always stood up for me,
I'm free to run and play.
I hold on to you for dear life,
and you hold me steady as a post.

Hold on for DEAR LIFE! That LIFE is an exciting ride-don't miss out because you are clinging to the wrong things!

White Knuckles

As I was getting ready for work this morning a not-so-fun fleeting thought raced through my mind. I was a bit tired since I had been up since 5am with my bright sunshine of an 9 month old. It always seems like these not-so-fun thoughts come around when I am most vulnerable.

So, my mind wandered to the thoughts about getting through my husband's deployment and how September was a long way away. The thought then raced through my mind that I just wouldn't have a break from caring for my child until then. Would I grow weary? Would I be able to make it? I tried to catch my breath as a knot balled up in my stomach. The Lord then put a new thought into my head.

I was clinging hard to my Jesus' hand. I was holding so tight that my knuckles turned white. As I was holding His big, mighty hand, things seemed not so bad! What is it about this Jesus that I must cling so tightly to?

He is but a MIGHTY WARRIOR who will fight all of my battles for me and victoriously no less!
Revelation paints a picture of the End Times, but I think this image of Christ suits us just great as we visualized grasping tight to this mighty warrior, Jesus.

Revelation 19:11-16 (The Message)
Then I saw Heaven open wide—and oh! a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that's known only to himself. He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and he is addressed as "Word of God." The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen, follow him. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. On his robe and thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords.

Check that out: Faithful and True. Jesus is faithful to those who grasp His hand with all their might and His Truth of His Word will guide you along the straight path. This King of Kings is Sovereign-STRONG.

As I meditated on this image, my heart stopped palpitating. I realized that the very strength embodied by my Savior is in me, too.

Colossians 1:11-12
11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

So, here I am, hours after that not-so-fun thought and my heart just beats with joy and thanksgiving that this MIGHTY WARRIOR is also my Loving Savior who lets me hold His hand as tight as I need to. I am allowed these crazy, not-cool thoughts every now and then. But, I must grip even harder and come to reality that I have His glorious power and strength on my side.

LIVE IT OUT! application:
Is there an area where you need reassurance and strength. Hold on tight, as tight as you can until you have those glorious white knuckles. He will be your Mighty Warrior too!

Jesus, Fill My Cup

On this Valentine's Day I have been meditating on the concept of being satisfied. This is a quest of just about everyone, myself included. We have this need of our "cup" to be filled and often go to our spouse, friends or children to have that cup filled.

Here is the problem: no human can totally meet every need of ours. Our spiritual, emotional, physical and mental needs are so vast and so very complicated. Can anyone in our life really figure out how to fill that cup of ours in the very way we need them too? This is why we get frustrated with our husband or search for other ways to be fulfilled. Think about it, if that other person is trying to have their cup filled, there is no way on earth that they have enough "resources" to fill your cup too! I hope this makes since.

Here's the solution: Let JESUS fill your cup. Let Him meet your needs. Let Him give you the love, peace, joy, happiness and fulfillment that you crave. He is the only one who knows the very depths of your being. So, it makes since that He is the only one who can give you what you need, at the very moment you need it, in the amount that you need.

John 10:10 says, "...I have come that they may have life and have it ABUNDANTLY."

When we let Christ give us life abundantly, He fills our cup to overflowing. We have abundant love, joy, happiness, satisfaction and peace. Then, when our loved ones add to our cup, it is like icing on the cake. It is a joyous extra. It is like that extra whipped cream on your coffee. Because we don't depend on them to meet every need, when they do, it is such a blessing.

Whether you are married or single, take the burden off yourself and your loved ones to fill the cup. Let Christ give it to you in Abundance.

Let HIM be your Valentine EVERY day.

Quick Devotion-Legacy of Faith

Three verses in the book of Luke is all she got; just a quick mention. Anna, an elderly prophetess about 104 years old who never departed the temple. This kind of dedication should at least get her a whole chapter. But, no, just three meaningful verses in Luke chapter 2.

Luke 2:36-38
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Just to give you some context, this passage picks up right at the time that Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple for dedication as a infant.

There are three big takeaways from this short passage about Anna. First, take a look at the description of her in verse 36. Anna was a prophetess. She was not a fortune teller or a revelator, but rather, a dedicated woman of God who wholeheartedly proclaimed the word of God. Most likely, she sat at the temple teaching the people from the Old Testament and it was probably all from memory. This amazing woman hid the Word of the Lord in her heart so it was always at hand to proclaim to the worshipers at the temple.

As a woman of God, we too can be prophetesses. We can have an impact on our spouse, children, friends, coworkers when we hide the Word in our heart and have it ready at all times. We can confidently speak about Jesus and use His word to bring others closer to Him. What a great responsibility. But, this takes hard work as we study the Bible diligently just as Anna must have done all of those years.

Now, take a look at verse 37. Anna spent all of those years within the temple grounds dedicated to worshiping the Lord and waiting for her savior. I imagine that she didn't want to leave for fear that she would miss His coming. She didn't want to miss the big moment! So, she dedicated herself to waiting and worshiping in the presence of the Lord at the temple. We too can stay in the presence of the Lord, waiting for the coming of Christ. Through prayer, worship, Bible study, and a relationship, we are always in God's presence and power. Let us not get sidetracked and stop waiting. Let us always be dedicated to being in the LORD's presence.

Finally, it is amazing that Anna didn't let the things of the world get in the way of her worship. Because she was always in the temple, she was not tempted by earthly things that would take her away from total devotion to God. Rather, she spent her time in constant prayer and fasting. With this activity day in and day out, you can bet that she knew the LORD intimately. This is precisely why Anna just knew Jesus was the Messiah the moment she laid eyes on Him. We too can have an intimate relationship with Christ and know His work when we see it. We too can be devoted to Him, not letting the things outside the temple get in the way of our worship.

Let these few verses be an inspiration to you on LIVING OUT the Kingship of Christ. Anna is an example of a woman with total devotion, complete dedication, and commitment to proclaiming the Word of God. Because of this, Anna was rewarded by seeing Jesus face to face. How cool! One day, we will see Him face to face and be able to worship Him in all His glory. In the meantime, be dedicated to waiting in His presence, be devoted to prayer and worship and be committed to proclaiming His Word!

You are Chosen

I would love for you to click on this video and listen while you read this post:



Mary, the mother of Jesus. Chosen by God to give birth to our Savior. What kind of women is chosen for this job? Based on this scripture, we get an idea of what Mary's heart looked like to the Lord. Please read this passage, it is often refered to the Magnificat. I thought the version from The Message was quite interesting.

Luke 1:46-55 (The Message)

46-55And Mary said,

I'm bursting with God-news;
I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It's exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

I just love how this says, "I'm dancing the song of my Savior God." This is why Mary was chosen; she praised God with all her heart even in a strange situation. Think about it... an Angel vistited her and told her she (a virgin no less) would give birth to the LORD most high. And what was Mary's response? Praise you LORD!!!

Mary is the only woman to EVER carry out this MOST important job. She was chosen because of her character. But, you know what? We are chosen, too!

Chosen for what?

You and I are chosen to live our life to glorify God. We are chosen to lift Him up and make Him known to those around us. We are chosen to live in God's plan for us and to desire His presence in everything we do.

The Message also says in Ephesians 1:3-6
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

Does it blow your mind that God had YOU in mind as He created the vast universe around us? The next time you feel insignificant or ineffective remember this very fact and celebrate it like Mary did. God loves it when we celebrate Him!

So the final question is: What exactly am I chosen to do? I can't answer that for you because that is between you and God. I do know that, when you place all of your focus on celebrating God and loving Christ, He will guide you where He wants you to go. Its so exciting when you really know deep down in your heart that God has chosen you for something awesome. Embrace it, be grateful to God and praise Him always.

Merry Christmas!

Imagine

Revelation 1:12-16 (English Standard Version)
12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Can you imagine what it will be like to see Jesus face to face? Oh how glorious the sight will be. I don't think there are any real words to describe what He will be like! That is what is so exciting about it-we can imagine and let our mind meditate on seeing Him face to face for the first time!

Will you dance before Him?

David sure did!

2 Samuel 6:14-15 (New International Version)
14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

Notice how David danced with all his might! Oh, I hope to be so overjoyed to see Christ that I will dance my heart out.

Will you stand in pure awe and silence?

John actually fell to Jesus' feet at first sight of Him in all His splendor.

Revelation 1:17-18 (English Standard Version)
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Christ will be so glorious that we won't be able to comprehend His majesty. It will be like nothing we have seen on this earth. How amazing...

Will you sing Hallelujah?

Oh but the Angels come out in full force to praise Christ.

Revelation 15:2-3 NIV

They held harps given them by God 3and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.

That's another cool thing about seeing Jesus; we will get to sing with the angels!

LIVE IT OUT application:

As we celebrate Christmas the birth of that little baby boy who came to this earth to be our LORD and Savior so that one day we will not have to imagine what it will be like, but our eternal life in heaven will be a reality.

I challenge you to meditate on the verses above and think about what you will do when you see His glorious face before you. Please feel free to tell me by posting a comment on this blog entry, I would LOVE to hear your feedback...

Let us NOT shrink back

Most people know that I am a political junkie of sorts. My television is permanently programed to Fox News Channel and I listen to the whole gammet of conservative talk radio in the car. You better believe that this past election cycle really got my blood boiling! So much so that I have become very passionate about encouraging Christians to wake up and pay attention to the legislation that is brought forth in Washington.

Today I will spare you and not go into the nitty gritty of all my woes concerning this world we live in. However, I do encourage you to take a vested interest in what your congressmen are doing as it often affects our conservative, Christian values and more often than not in a negative way. And this is exactly why we must take a stand for Christ and make an impact for Him upon this world.

Why should we make the effort? Well, one answer is that Christ is coming soon and we want Him to find us living as salt and light of the earth.

I recently came across this passage in Hebrews and I can't get it off my mind:

Heb 1o:35-39
35Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back,my soul has no pleasure in him."
39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

I can't get over the phrase, in verse 37, "if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him..."
Oh man, I don't want to be found shrinking back! I just had to look up the Greek meaning of "shrinking back" It means just what you think it would, but the definition is worth taking a look at.
Draw back
Withdraw
hesitate

Do you ever find yourself withdrawing from your relationship to Christ and drawing closer to the worldly things that displease Him?

Do you ever hesitate in your faith and not believe God is the Almighty and can handle any of your circumstances? Moreover, do you question if God can handle the mess that is going on in our world?

Here's another angle, we are called as Christians to fight the good fight and not shrink back from our Biblical values. Wouldn't it be shameful if, on the day that Christ returns, you were found totally engrossed in things that do not "preserve your soul?" verse 39

But rather, let us take a stand for Christ. It will be tough, it will be tempting to draw back, you WILL need endurance. Rest assured that, your reward in heaven is much greater and glorious than anything this world can award you!

LIVE IT OUT application:
Take a moment to check out your favorite news source today a pay close attention to events in Washington D.C. that are undermining your Biblical values. Pray about that situation and ask God how you can take a stand and not shrink back!

I'm Back!

What a great day to worship! The weather was crystal clear and the leaves on the trees are bright fall colors.

At church they asked us to write on a piece of paper somthing that we are presently struggling with. We then put it in a basket and someone else randomly picked a piece and prayed for that person who wrote their struggle. I have to say that I really couldn't find a huge burden or a struggle to write down...

Doesn't this sound crazy that I couldn't find a thing? Even in the midst of the upheavel that has taken place in my house? Even when my husband is deployed (again!?) and I am left by myself to raise our five month old?

You would think that I would have a whole huge paragraph to write on that piece of paper...

The fact of the matter is that our Great God has lifted that burden off my shoulder.

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Before Greg left, we made the very conscious decision to lay this burden and fear of the unknown right before the Lord. We pray together every night, telling the Lord that we trust His will and that He will give us strength during this trial. Good things will come out of this deployment because "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

So, in the past two weeks, I have felt nothing but peace and comfort and convidence that God has our life right in the palm of His HUGE and VERY CAPABLE hand.

I know that the next year won't be easy, but I also know that when I grow weary the Lord never does Himself. When I need a nap, He never gets sleepy. When I get fussy, He is always in control and completly in charge. When my child gets fussy, God is there to give him peace. When I am taken aback, God is never surprised by any turn of events. Take a look at this verse from Isaiah and then click on the You Tube video-you will be blessed- I promise!

Isaiah 40:28-31 (New International Version)
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Lose the 'Tude

My sister used to say, "Lose the 'tude" whenever I had a sassy attitude or when we were fighting. She is always coming up with funny little quips to say and this one just poped into mind after reflecting on the past month.



Life is getting so much better in the Martin house. We have somewhat of a schedule with little Grayson and he is lighting up the home with his smiles, laughter and cooing. Don't get me wrong, there are still times when he raises the roof with crying, but mommy and daddy are figuring out what Grayson's crys mean so we can make him feel better.



About two weeks ago, I woke up one moring after a rough day previously and decided I would lose my attitude of anxiety and fear and proclaim that day to be a GREAT DAY. Its all your perspective.



Psalm 118 :24-29

24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.



Focus on vers 24 first. This is the day that the LORD has made. The Hebrew word for "made" in this verse means just what you would expect: to create. But, the word is also used in the context of the LORD's creative activity. The LORD not only created the entire universe, he also creates every single day! How should this change our attitude about our life? Our God is a loving and caring God, He only wants what is best for us. So, this means that He creatively fashions our day to be productive and prosperous for His ultimate glory.



Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.



What's the catch you might ask? There is no catch, but we just have to be willing to be in continuous conversation and fellowship with the Lord in order to know how He wants us to order our steps all day long. Not everyday will be easy, but we can find joy and hope every day in knowing that the Lord is good.



Now check out verse 27. The festal procession refers to the times that the Isrealites would make their way up to the temple duing their annual feasts. These were times of praise, thanksgiving and petitioning of the Lord. But, the emphasis was on praising God. I believe that if we order our day in line with God's will, we too join that procession of praise. Each one of us is on a journey and a procession, if you will. As a beleiver in Christ as LORD and saviour we are all on a journey towards our ultimate home in heaven. This earth is not our final destination, heaven is a reality-a glorious reality. So, as we make our way day by day in step with the LORD, we come one step closer to meeting our glorious God in heaven. Now that is somthing to rejoice about!!



Live it out application:

Tomorrow, wake up and say: This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. How do you think you would order your day differently with this in mind? Would you "lose the 'tude" after praying this verse?







I hope to teach Grayson to rejoice and be glad everyday!