So I woke up at 3:11am this morning & felt prompted to get out of bed & read my Bible. I immediately went to 2 Kings 2 which is where Elijah is taken up to heaven & Elisha's solo ministry begins.
Now I personally know why I am suppose to be studying the ministry of Elijah & Elisha now so it was not surprising to me why I ended up reading this. What did surprise me is some things that I haven't "caught" before when reading the same passages such as 2 Kings 2:23-24 NLT which states: "Elisha left Jericho & went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking & making fun of him. "Go away, baldy!" they chanted. "Go away baldy!" Elisha turned around & looked at them, & he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods & mauled forty-two of them."
I don't know about you but I thought that was just plain weird! Then I read my footnote for those two verses & it helped put things into perspective for me. This comes from the Life Application Study Bible, NLT.
"This group of boys was from Bethel, the religious center of idolatry in the northern kingdom, & they probably were warning Elisha not to speak against their immorality as Elijah had done. They were not merely teasing Elisha about his baldness, but showing severe disrespect for Elisha's message & God's power. They may have also jeered because of their disbelief in the chariot of fire that had taken Elijah. When Elisha cursed them, he did not call out the bears himself. God sent them as a judgement for their callous unbelief.
These young men mocked God's messenger & paid for it with their lives. Making fun of religious leaders has been a popular sport through the ages. To take a stand for God is to be different from the world & vunerable to verbal abuse. When we are cynical & sarcastic toward religious leaders, we are in danger of mocking not just the person but also the spiritual message. While we are not to condone the sin that some leaders commit, we need to pray for them, not laugh at them. True leaders, those who follow God, need to be heard with respect & encouraged in their ministry."
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Keep the small stuff small...
How Easy to Judge!
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. Romans 14:5
Recommended Reading: Romans 14:1-13
When Charles E. Fuller helped pioneer the ministry of radio evangelism in the 1920s, a fellow clergyman denounced him. Satan is the prince of the power of the air, said the man; so how can Christians have anything to do with the airwaves? Furthermore, claimed the critic, radio would "give one preacher too much prominence," would be too "costly," and would develop a "stay-at-home" attitude among believers.
How easy it often is to judge! We'd have a less critical spirit and fewer "church fights" if we better understood Romans 14. Here the apostle Paul tells us that while we must be adamant about the fundamental truths of the Christian faith, we should have maturity when it comes to non-essential matters. The Bible's rule is: "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind" (Romans 14:5). After all, Paul asked bluntly, "Who are you to judge another's servant?" (verse 4).
Our core beliefs are unshakable and unchanging. But on secondary issues, there's greater liberty for a variety of opinions. Think about this: If we all agree on everything, we double our chances of being wrong.
"If two people agree about everything, one of them is unnecessary."Ruth Bell Graham
After I read the above devotion by Dr. David Jeremiah I was thinking about some of the petty things that people in the church argue or disagree about. Things like if you sit too much, stand too much, too much up & down, wearing hats, dressing up, dressing down, if SS is before or after church, the list goes on & on. I mean seriously, in the "big picture of things" does it really matter? Hopefully many of you will say, "No" they don't & we shouldn't get hung up on those things, but unfortunately it is often things like these that divide the church.
Then I thought about this outside of the church. Think about the small things at home that really get to us like a spouse or child not closing cabinet doors, leaving towels on the floor, not putting shoes away, the list goes on & on. Truth is, these things don't really "matter" in our relationships or how that person provides & takes care of the family, or if the child grows up to be a teacher, nurse, or engineer. If you are a type A, anal person like myself, it is no easy task not to take those things to heart even though deep down I know it really doesn't matter. So I need to remind myself to look at the person & their good qualities, not the mess or disorganization & be very thankful to God for allowing them to be a part of my life.
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. Romans 14:5
Recommended Reading: Romans 14:1-13
When Charles E. Fuller helped pioneer the ministry of radio evangelism in the 1920s, a fellow clergyman denounced him. Satan is the prince of the power of the air, said the man; so how can Christians have anything to do with the airwaves? Furthermore, claimed the critic, radio would "give one preacher too much prominence," would be too "costly," and would develop a "stay-at-home" attitude among believers.
How easy it often is to judge! We'd have a less critical spirit and fewer "church fights" if we better understood Romans 14. Here the apostle Paul tells us that while we must be adamant about the fundamental truths of the Christian faith, we should have maturity when it comes to non-essential matters. The Bible's rule is: "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind" (Romans 14:5). After all, Paul asked bluntly, "Who are you to judge another's servant?" (verse 4).
Our core beliefs are unshakable and unchanging. But on secondary issues, there's greater liberty for a variety of opinions. Think about this: If we all agree on everything, we double our chances of being wrong.
"If two people agree about everything, one of them is unnecessary."Ruth Bell Graham
After I read the above devotion by Dr. David Jeremiah I was thinking about some of the petty things that people in the church argue or disagree about. Things like if you sit too much, stand too much, too much up & down, wearing hats, dressing up, dressing down, if SS is before or after church, the list goes on & on. I mean seriously, in the "big picture of things" does it really matter? Hopefully many of you will say, "No" they don't & we shouldn't get hung up on those things, but unfortunately it is often things like these that divide the church.
Then I thought about this outside of the church. Think about the small things at home that really get to us like a spouse or child not closing cabinet doors, leaving towels on the floor, not putting shoes away, the list goes on & on. Truth is, these things don't really "matter" in our relationships or how that person provides & takes care of the family, or if the child grows up to be a teacher, nurse, or engineer. If you are a type A, anal person like myself, it is no easy task not to take those things to heart even though deep down I know it really doesn't matter. So I need to remind myself to look at the person & their good qualities, not the mess or disorganization & be very thankful to God for allowing them to be a part of my life.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Encourage One Another...
I don't know about you but I can't seem to get enough encouragement these days. It seems every where you turn there is someone trying to bring you down by discouragement. Unfortunately, I had a vivid reminder of that this week when I was at the local swimming pool. Two women, who obviously didn't have anything better to do, thought it would be fun to loudly & profusely verbally attack me & my parenting skills in public. I have never met these women before...and I hope that I don't run into them again anytime soon. We shouldn't have to deal with nonsense like that. There are enough challenges in life, we don't need random, mean people adding to them. Today's devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah really spoke to me about encouragement. Not just to my family & friends, but to strangers on the street. I hope it blesses you as it has blessed me. Be encouraged & encouraging today! {{{HUGS}}}
Hidden Messages
"Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works." Hebrews 10:24
Recommended Reading: Hebrews 12:1-3
Recently a famous cereal company started wrapping their rice treats in writable wrapping paper. As parents pack lunches for their youngsters (or wives for their husbands), they can now use a permanent marker to jot a little note: I love you! Have a good day! Hugs and kisses!
The new wrappers prompted a Canadian group to survey how many parents actually add little personal notes to their children's lunch bags. Researchers found that while children desperately need encouragement at school, over half of Canadian parents never send notes along with their children's sandwiches.
While it was a great idea to utilize the writable packaging, we can't wait for cereal companies to remind us to be affirmers. There are countless little ways every day to boost your child, your spouse, your friend, and even a total stranger. It's up to us to begin cheering one another now. Why not think of a way you can snap, crackle, and pop with encouragement for someone today.
"We need to encourage one another to fix our eyes on the risen Jesus and thus to stir each other up toward love and good deeds." Iain M. Duguid
Hidden Messages
"Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works." Hebrews 10:24
Recommended Reading: Hebrews 12:1-3
Recently a famous cereal company started wrapping their rice treats in writable wrapping paper. As parents pack lunches for their youngsters (or wives for their husbands), they can now use a permanent marker to jot a little note: I love you! Have a good day! Hugs and kisses!
The new wrappers prompted a Canadian group to survey how many parents actually add little personal notes to their children's lunch bags. Researchers found that while children desperately need encouragement at school, over half of Canadian parents never send notes along with their children's sandwiches.
While it was a great idea to utilize the writable packaging, we can't wait for cereal companies to remind us to be affirmers. There are countless little ways every day to boost your child, your spouse, your friend, and even a total stranger. It's up to us to begin cheering one another now. Why not think of a way you can snap, crackle, and pop with encouragement for someone today.
"We need to encourage one another to fix our eyes on the risen Jesus and thus to stir each other up toward love and good deeds." Iain M. Duguid
Monday, June 27, 2011
Mercy & Grace
Mercy withholds the knife from the heart of Isaac.
Grace provides a ram in the thicket.
Genesis 22:11-14
Mercy runs to forgive the prodigal.
Grace throws a party with a robe, a ring, & a fatted calf.
Luke 15:20-24
Mercy hears the cry of the thief on the cross.
Grace promises paradise that very day.
Luke 23:39-43
Mercy converts Paul on the road to Damascus.
Grace calls him to be the great apostle.
Acts 9:1-6, 17
Mercy closes the door to hell.
Grace opens the door to heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-9
and the diiference between mercy & grace is this
Mercy witholds from us what we deserve.
Grace gives us what we do not deserve.
Romans 5:20
written by Turning Point Ministries
Grace provides a ram in the thicket.
Genesis 22:11-14
Mercy runs to forgive the prodigal.
Grace throws a party with a robe, a ring, & a fatted calf.
Luke 15:20-24
Mercy hears the cry of the thief on the cross.
Grace promises paradise that very day.
Luke 23:39-43
Mercy converts Paul on the road to Damascus.
Grace calls him to be the great apostle.
Acts 9:1-6, 17
Mercy closes the door to hell.
Grace opens the door to heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-9
and the diiference between mercy & grace is this
Mercy witholds from us what we deserve.
Grace gives us what we do not deserve.
Romans 5:20
written by Turning Point Ministries
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Moldy Life...
I have been allergic to mold for as long as I can remember. And I'm not talking just a little allergic...I'm talking very, yucky sick allergic. Recently I found out that I have been healed of being allergic to 3 pages of allergens except for mold. I was thrilled to get the news...especially regarding the food allergens!
However, one of my biggest threats still remains...mold. I try to avoid it as much as I can but unfortunately it's pretty much everywhere to some degree...just like sin. Everyday I seek God's mercies anew. I try not to sin but fall short in one way or another. I try not to get sick from other people's "mold" or sin but sometimes it's unavoidable.
So what can I do? I can seek the Lord every day in prayer & in His Word. I can daily put on the "Full Armor of God" found in Ephesians 6:10-18. I can surround myself with sincere Christians who daily seek to know & do God's will. I can live in the power of the Holy Spirit.
"So be careful how you live. Do not be like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Do not act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Do not be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms & hymns & spiritual songs among yourselves, & making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:15-20
However, one of my biggest threats still remains...mold. I try to avoid it as much as I can but unfortunately it's pretty much everywhere to some degree...just like sin. Everyday I seek God's mercies anew. I try not to sin but fall short in one way or another. I try not to get sick from other people's "mold" or sin but sometimes it's unavoidable.
So what can I do? I can seek the Lord every day in prayer & in His Word. I can daily put on the "Full Armor of God" found in Ephesians 6:10-18. I can surround myself with sincere Christians who daily seek to know & do God's will. I can live in the power of the Holy Spirit.
"So be careful how you live. Do not be like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Do not act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Do not be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms & hymns & spiritual songs among yourselves, & making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:15-20
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Be kind and merciful...
I don't know about you but I get really tired from time to time. Not just physically tired, but emotionally, mentally, & spiritually tired. I get tired of doing good & not always seeing the results from it that I want to see. Sometimes I just get tired of "keep keeping on." This devotion today from Dr. David Jeremiah really spoke to me of that. We are to not grow weary of doing good & showing God's mercy to others.
Sowing Seeds of Kindness
"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:9-10
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 3:8-9
Good deeds have a way of coming back to bless us. John Wooden, the great basketball coach who passed away last summer at the age of 99, was admired for the inspirational influence he left on players and fans alike. His life was shaped by a seven-point creed. He often passed it along to others, explaining that his father had given him this bit of advice upon his graduation from grammar school.
Be true to yourself. Make each day your masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
When we are kind to others and practice a merciful attitude, we become recipients of mercy ourselves. Just as the sower reaps the crop he has sown, so do merciful people reap what has been planted in the lives of others.
Don't get tired of doing good!
"Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be grateful. Conceit is self-given; be careful." John Wooden
Sowing Seeds of Kindness
"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:9-10
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 3:8-9
Good deeds have a way of coming back to bless us. John Wooden, the great basketball coach who passed away last summer at the age of 99, was admired for the inspirational influence he left on players and fans alike. His life was shaped by a seven-point creed. He often passed it along to others, explaining that his father had given him this bit of advice upon his graduation from grammar school.
Be true to yourself. Make each day your masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
When we are kind to others and practice a merciful attitude, we become recipients of mercy ourselves. Just as the sower reaps the crop he has sown, so do merciful people reap what has been planted in the lives of others.
Don't get tired of doing good!
"Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be grateful. Conceit is self-given; be careful." John Wooden
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Inner Struggle...
A lot of people have asked me lately if we have decided if & when we are going to Africa. As I reflect on my answer, I realize how smug & superficial it is. It goes something like this, "No, not yet. Randy has been praying about it & feels the Lord is calling him to draw closer to his wife & children right now & not to go to Africa. I however, feel that we are still suppose to go & that we are both suppose to be working on things right now to help prepare us to go. But the bottom line is that it's Randy's ultimate decision because he is the head of the household & he's the one who will be held accountable for the decision."
Although I believe all that to be true, I have been using it as an excuse, possibly even an "escape." Because as much as I want to do God's will, as much as I listen to the Chris Tomlin song every day & sing, "Where you go, I'll go, Where you stay, I'll stay, When you move, I'll move, I will follow you. Who you love, I'll love, How you serve, I'll serve, If this life I lose, I will follow you. I will follow you." I am really looking for an escape clause to keep living the comfortable life I am living. Is that what I should be doing? Of course not...and there lies the inner struggle. Knowing what I should be doing. Does that mean I try to by pass my husband's authority?...absolutely not! But it doesn't mean that I just sit around with my feet kicked up & eat bon bons all day either. I need to live each day purposeful for the Lord. I need to pray that HIS will be done. I need to pray that Randy, my children, & I will be READY when He calls us to do the next major thing He calls us to do. I need to stop listening to the lies of the devil, the "well intentioned" comments of people, & focus on Jesus. The following devotion gave me "the kick in the pants" that I have needed. I pray that it inspires you to get "moving" for the Lord as well.
5 Minutes with K.P. – Choosing Not to Return
By gfa316
After we are saved and begin our relationship with God, we learn that our journey with Him has just started. We discover every day that the ordinary components of life—relationships, emotional security, accomplishments, our profession or position, financial stability or even our cultural or national heritage—can hinder us from fully giving our lives for His purposes and growing closer to Him. One by one, God calls us to walk away from these things.
Abraham, Moses and Joseph—all those in the “cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us—were also called to walk away from their “normal” lives (see Hebrews 11:4–12:1). Let us see how they responded:
All these people . . . admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13–16, niv).
The “opportunity to return”—what a significant phrase this is!
It is a challenge to follow His call to walk away from these things—but it is an even greater challenge to realize we always have the chance to turn around, to go back to a life that is more comfortable.
Our Enemy, the devil, knows this, and he works hard to persuade us to do so. Let us look at what he uses to try to make us return:
Material things. Demas, one of Paul’s co-workers, had this problem. This man traveled so many miles with Paul and shared hardships with him; he could have become another Timothy, but Paul says of him, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10). We will face financial struggles of some sort, have friends who are better off than we are, and feel the need to do something to improve our lives or take better care of our families. The devil will use this. It’s a strong pull, but we must make the decision: Life or death, we will not return.
The fear of the unknown. The children of Israel suffered under terrible slavery in Egypt. Yet after God led them out and did mighty acts on their behalf, they longed to return, remembering the leeks and the garlic. What happened? They were afraid of what would happen to them in an unfamiliar land filled with giants. We, too, face unknowns; what we must remember is that God is bigger than the giants, our problems and our fears.
Losing our focus and vision. Paul’s earthly journey was marked by his passion to know the Lord intimately. He said he counted everything as a loss compared to knowing Christ (see Philippians 3:8). Those in the cloud of witnesses had one thing on their mind—their desire to be in heaven with the Lord. Our aim is the Lord Himself. Hebrews says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2, niv).
And out of that pursuit of Him, who first loved us, comes a heart to reach the lost. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (see Luke 19:10). And as we grow to know Him more, what is important to Him becomes important to us. Out of Paul’s pursuit of the Lord came an undying passion for the lost. He was constrained by his love for Christ to live a life of incredible suffering, from which many heard the Good News (see 2 Corinthians 5:13–14, kjv).
Paul kept his focus and was able to say near the end of his life, “I have finished the race” (2 Timothy 4:7). You and I will stay faithful to continue on this journey as long as we keep the end in mind. Don’t let the devil use day-to-day discouragements to take you off course.
Spiritual deception. So many Christians lose sight of God’s call when they become ensnared in self-focus and introspection—all in the name of godliness, deeper life and devotion.
Only one theme runs through the entire Bible: Christ, the Savior of the world. The Old Testament promises the coming of the Redeemer. The four Gospels narrate the fulfillment of Old Testament promises through Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection, thus completing the work of redemption. The book of Acts is the account of those who knew Jesus as Lord as they went about preaching the Good News of Christ throughout the whole world. The Epistles instruct believers on living and demonstrating Christ’s life to the world. And the book of Revelation is the final chapter in which we, the redeemed, will meet at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and will be with Him forever and ever.
Knowing Christ and walking intimately with Him will produce a love and passion for the lost world. In more than 40 years of serving the Lord, I have found that the more I get to know the Lord, the more concern I have for the lost. It is no longer about the need, but it is for the Lord’s sake. If our so-called “deeper life” doesn’t have this result, it is a counterfeit and a distraction.
So as we face the pull of this world and the pressure from the devil to walk away from God’s call, let us remember that we are on earth for only a short time. We are strangers and aliens to this world. We only have a visa for this life, but our passport is from another country.
The men and women of Hebrews chose not to return to their earthly country because they recognized that God’s work went beyond time and space. Their true country was a heavenly one. May the Lord find us, too, focused on what is real and authentic—beyond circumstances, what we feel, what others say or what the Enemy throws at us. And if He were to write another chapter like Hebrews 11, may He use your name and mine as examples there for others to follow.
This world is not our home—let us journey toward that eternal city.
Destined to Soar © 2009 by K.P. Yohannan
If you would like more information about Gospel for Asia, please visit their website. www.gfa.org
Although I believe all that to be true, I have been using it as an excuse, possibly even an "escape." Because as much as I want to do God's will, as much as I listen to the Chris Tomlin song every day & sing, "Where you go, I'll go, Where you stay, I'll stay, When you move, I'll move, I will follow you. Who you love, I'll love, How you serve, I'll serve, If this life I lose, I will follow you. I will follow you." I am really looking for an escape clause to keep living the comfortable life I am living. Is that what I should be doing? Of course not...and there lies the inner struggle. Knowing what I should be doing. Does that mean I try to by pass my husband's authority?...absolutely not! But it doesn't mean that I just sit around with my feet kicked up & eat bon bons all day either. I need to live each day purposeful for the Lord. I need to pray that HIS will be done. I need to pray that Randy, my children, & I will be READY when He calls us to do the next major thing He calls us to do. I need to stop listening to the lies of the devil, the "well intentioned" comments of people, & focus on Jesus. The following devotion gave me "the kick in the pants" that I have needed. I pray that it inspires you to get "moving" for the Lord as well.
5 Minutes with K.P. – Choosing Not to Return
By gfa316
After we are saved and begin our relationship with God, we learn that our journey with Him has just started. We discover every day that the ordinary components of life—relationships, emotional security, accomplishments, our profession or position, financial stability or even our cultural or national heritage—can hinder us from fully giving our lives for His purposes and growing closer to Him. One by one, God calls us to walk away from these things.
Abraham, Moses and Joseph—all those in the “cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us—were also called to walk away from their “normal” lives (see Hebrews 11:4–12:1). Let us see how they responded:
All these people . . . admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13–16, niv).
The “opportunity to return”—what a significant phrase this is!
It is a challenge to follow His call to walk away from these things—but it is an even greater challenge to realize we always have the chance to turn around, to go back to a life that is more comfortable.
Our Enemy, the devil, knows this, and he works hard to persuade us to do so. Let us look at what he uses to try to make us return:
Material things. Demas, one of Paul’s co-workers, had this problem. This man traveled so many miles with Paul and shared hardships with him; he could have become another Timothy, but Paul says of him, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10). We will face financial struggles of some sort, have friends who are better off than we are, and feel the need to do something to improve our lives or take better care of our families. The devil will use this. It’s a strong pull, but we must make the decision: Life or death, we will not return.
The fear of the unknown. The children of Israel suffered under terrible slavery in Egypt. Yet after God led them out and did mighty acts on their behalf, they longed to return, remembering the leeks and the garlic. What happened? They were afraid of what would happen to them in an unfamiliar land filled with giants. We, too, face unknowns; what we must remember is that God is bigger than the giants, our problems and our fears.
Losing our focus and vision. Paul’s earthly journey was marked by his passion to know the Lord intimately. He said he counted everything as a loss compared to knowing Christ (see Philippians 3:8). Those in the cloud of witnesses had one thing on their mind—their desire to be in heaven with the Lord. Our aim is the Lord Himself. Hebrews says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2, niv).
And out of that pursuit of Him, who first loved us, comes a heart to reach the lost. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (see Luke 19:10). And as we grow to know Him more, what is important to Him becomes important to us. Out of Paul’s pursuit of the Lord came an undying passion for the lost. He was constrained by his love for Christ to live a life of incredible suffering, from which many heard the Good News (see 2 Corinthians 5:13–14, kjv).
Paul kept his focus and was able to say near the end of his life, “I have finished the race” (2 Timothy 4:7). You and I will stay faithful to continue on this journey as long as we keep the end in mind. Don’t let the devil use day-to-day discouragements to take you off course.
Spiritual deception. So many Christians lose sight of God’s call when they become ensnared in self-focus and introspection—all in the name of godliness, deeper life and devotion.
Only one theme runs through the entire Bible: Christ, the Savior of the world. The Old Testament promises the coming of the Redeemer. The four Gospels narrate the fulfillment of Old Testament promises through Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection, thus completing the work of redemption. The book of Acts is the account of those who knew Jesus as Lord as they went about preaching the Good News of Christ throughout the whole world. The Epistles instruct believers on living and demonstrating Christ’s life to the world. And the book of Revelation is the final chapter in which we, the redeemed, will meet at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and will be with Him forever and ever.
Knowing Christ and walking intimately with Him will produce a love and passion for the lost world. In more than 40 years of serving the Lord, I have found that the more I get to know the Lord, the more concern I have for the lost. It is no longer about the need, but it is for the Lord’s sake. If our so-called “deeper life” doesn’t have this result, it is a counterfeit and a distraction.
So as we face the pull of this world and the pressure from the devil to walk away from God’s call, let us remember that we are on earth for only a short time. We are strangers and aliens to this world. We only have a visa for this life, but our passport is from another country.
The men and women of Hebrews chose not to return to their earthly country because they recognized that God’s work went beyond time and space. Their true country was a heavenly one. May the Lord find us, too, focused on what is real and authentic—beyond circumstances, what we feel, what others say or what the Enemy throws at us. And if He were to write another chapter like Hebrews 11, may He use your name and mine as examples there for others to follow.
This world is not our home—let us journey toward that eternal city.
Destined to Soar © 2009 by K.P. Yohannan
If you would like more information about Gospel for Asia, please visit their website. www.gfa.org
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
BusyNESS to the point of craziNESS...
How many times in the past week have you spoke to someone & you asked them, "How are you?" and their response was, "Okay...we've just been so busy." I can't even count how many times I've heard that type of response in the past week let alone the past month. It's almost to the point where you know that is going to be the response & you don't even want to ask, "How are you?" because that's the only response you get. You hear all about what the person or family has been doing...as in how many activities they have done in a day...not how the person or people are actually doing mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.
I have notice that even I have used the "busy" reponse a few times in the past month because we have been doing more things...and you know what....I don't like it. I know I may be an "alien" for saying this but it's true. It's not that me or my family is lazy. We just don't think that being a family consists of attending 100 activities a week. And no...activities are not bad...but like with everything else in life...balance is key. We should have enough time available to just "be" with our family members & friends & be available to help someone in need. It's hard to do that if you're just running from one activity to the next all day long 7 days a week.
The following devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah reflects on this more.
Love Is Spelled T-i-m-e
"By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him."
Song of Solomon 3:1
Recommended Reading
John 13:34-35
A couple decades ago, Christian publishers released waves of books on marriage, family, and childrearing from a biblical perspective. Many of them countered a popular cultural notion that championed quality of time over quantity of time in relationships. Not so, Christian authors said: Quantity of time spent in relationships is just as important as quality of time, if not more so. Love, some suggested, could be spelled t-i-m-e.
It won't come as a surprise to modern married couples that the first spat in the marriage of King Solomon and his Shulamite bride was over the issue of time. Shulamith expected Solomon home at a certain hour and he showed up in the middle of the night. And Shulamith was too offended to get up and let him in. They patched things up in due course, but the tension they experienced is a warning to anyone in any relationship: There is no substitute for time spent together. Whether in marriage, childrearing, a relationship with God, or just good friends, growth and intimacy grow over time.
Consider your relationships today: Are you giving the people you love the time they deserve?
"We have been too busy chopping wood to take time out to sharpen the ax." Vance Havner
I have notice that even I have used the "busy" reponse a few times in the past month because we have been doing more things...and you know what....I don't like it. I know I may be an "alien" for saying this but it's true. It's not that me or my family is lazy. We just don't think that being a family consists of attending 100 activities a week. And no...activities are not bad...but like with everything else in life...balance is key. We should have enough time available to just "be" with our family members & friends & be available to help someone in need. It's hard to do that if you're just running from one activity to the next all day long 7 days a week.
The following devotion from Dr. David Jeremiah reflects on this more.
Love Is Spelled T-i-m-e
"By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him."
Song of Solomon 3:1
Recommended Reading
John 13:34-35
A couple decades ago, Christian publishers released waves of books on marriage, family, and childrearing from a biblical perspective. Many of them countered a popular cultural notion that championed quality of time over quantity of time in relationships. Not so, Christian authors said: Quantity of time spent in relationships is just as important as quality of time, if not more so. Love, some suggested, could be spelled t-i-m-e.
It won't come as a surprise to modern married couples that the first spat in the marriage of King Solomon and his Shulamite bride was over the issue of time. Shulamith expected Solomon home at a certain hour and he showed up in the middle of the night. And Shulamith was too offended to get up and let him in. They patched things up in due course, but the tension they experienced is a warning to anyone in any relationship: There is no substitute for time spent together. Whether in marriage, childrearing, a relationship with God, or just good friends, growth and intimacy grow over time.
Consider your relationships today: Are you giving the people you love the time they deserve?
"We have been too busy chopping wood to take time out to sharpen the ax." Vance Havner
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Busted...again!
So I was standing in a local Women of Joy conference last weekend praising the Lord when I heard him say, "You're not talking." I'm thinking what? I talk all the time! Well, maybe not, all the time, but enough! Then I heard God clearly say (yes, Anna & Jordyn...on my purple phone :o), "You haven't been telling people about me or what I have done in your life & what I want to do in their lives. You need to start writing again." And of course my response was, "You know I love to write God, but I've been a little short on time these days." Needless to say, He wasn't impressed by that.
Right now writing is probably the best way for me to "talk" to people about the things God wants me to say. Sometimes I can go a whole day without talking to anyone but my husband, my children, & their bus drivers. And it's not because I'm antisocial. If you know me at all, you know that I am the exact opposite. It just happens to be the season of life that I am in right now. Most of my "work" happens in my home or in my van which limits my face to face time with people. I am not complaining, in fact, I think this is just training for the next "season" in my life, but it still doesn't excuse me from sharing God's love & hope with others. So I will be blogging more. I hope to post at least twice a week. So stay tuned...the "talker" is back! :o)
Right now writing is probably the best way for me to "talk" to people about the things God wants me to say. Sometimes I can go a whole day without talking to anyone but my husband, my children, & their bus drivers. And it's not because I'm antisocial. If you know me at all, you know that I am the exact opposite. It just happens to be the season of life that I am in right now. Most of my "work" happens in my home or in my van which limits my face to face time with people. I am not complaining, in fact, I think this is just training for the next "season" in my life, but it still doesn't excuse me from sharing God's love & hope with others. So I will be blogging more. I hope to post at least twice a week. So stay tuned...the "talker" is back! :o)
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Getting ready to get ready...
Well, I really wanted to get to my blog in Jan. & post so I could get on a roll of posting at least once a month but it didn't happen. Not that I didn't have oodles & oddles of things to say because I do & I know that some of you are very "patiently" waiting for my Christmas miracle post, but I have had a lot of "processing" to do. Now that I have had time to ponder & process, I am ready to write. However, there is something I have to do first before I can write about it here. I plan to do that this week so I am very close to getting ready to get ready to write the post that a lot of you have been waiting for. Thanks so much for being patient! :o)
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