Inspired by . . . Holiness over Happiness

"All these had married foreign women, and they dismissed them, together with their children." Ezra 10:44

This abrupt ending to the book of Ezra disturbs me every time I read it. It's so easy to set aside the sin that was committed and only imagine how these women and children must have felt. Our inclination, or at least mine, is to ignore the devastating effects of the sin that had been committed and romanticize these relationships that were so, seemly, casually destroyed.

Was Ezra really following God's will by breaking up these families and sending away all these women and children?

Surely God cared about them. Surely, He wanted them to be happy. Didn't He?

Time to reign in our emotions and look at the facts. First, marrying foreign women was a direct violation of God's command in Deuteronomy 7:3. God didn't need a reason for this "rule" but He had a good one. Foreign women meant foreign gods and God knew that if His chosen people mixed with people that worshipped false gods, they would soon worship them too. And that is exactly what happened. In fact, it is the very sin that made them exiles in the first place!

That's why Ezra's response when he learned about these offenses, was so great. (see Ezra 9)

Secondly, the work of righting this offense was not taken lightly or done rashly (10:13). The families were to be presented at a stated time before the leaders. If the women had been proselyted, they were not turned away. (consider Ruth, a Moabite woman who we find in the lineage of Christ!) It was the women who clung to their worthless idols and threatened to cause their husbands to stumble who were sent away.

Still, despite all this, there were certainly bruised and broken hearts. The issue was far from being resolved as we find it brought up again in both Nehemiah and Malachi.

We've all used the "God would want me to happy," card a time or two when trying to justify our less than obedient actions. Especially when society's moral code flies in the face of God's commands.

Does God want you to be happy? Absolutely. But never at the expense of our obedience.

"Happy are those whose lives are faultless, who live according to the law of the LORD. Happy are those who follow His commands, who obey Him with all their heart." (Psa 119:1-2)

True happiness comes from obedience to His commands.

Something that Hannah Hurnard once wrote, which I have written in my Bible, has been a great help to me:

"Love is beautiful, but it is also terrible - terrible in its determination to allow nothing blemished or unworthy to remain in the beloved."

This is what God's love for us is like, Beloved. This is why Aslan is not a tame lion.

That passage in Ezra still stings whenever I read it. But it reminds me that there is Someone who loves me enough to do the painful work of cleaning the wounds that the sin of this world inflicts upon my soul. The painful work of cleansing. And when the blood flows brightest it is not my blood at all . . . but His.

Shalom,

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Inspired by . . . a memory of obedience

Saturday marks the two-year anniversary of my dad's passing from this life fully into the next. I still can't think about that time without experiencing a raw, sort of tearing in my heart. But last September, on a quiet hillside in New England, a bit of healing was begun as we honored my dad by remembering his life.

Now when I think about my dad, I like to remember the days when he was strong, healthy and full of life. Much like he was in December 2005.

That time holds a special memory for me. One that has a lot to do with where my dad is today.

On a chilly Arizona night in a sparkling blue pool, my dad and I stood shivering after having acted out the symbolism behind the truth of Romans 6:1-18.

Neither of us was newly saved. But we were newly convicted.

Our church had recently hired a new pastor and one of the first things he did was to determine whether or not the believers in the church had been baptized - as adults.

Let me be clear, baptism does not save you. It is only by the shed blood of Jesus that you are saved. But scripture makes it pretty clear that publically professing Jesus as your Savior and being baptized is part of our obedient response when we believe in Him.

While it may have been my pastor who made me aware of my lack in this area, it wasn't my pastor who convicted me and made me want to do something about it.  The Holy Spirit through the scriptures did the work of conviction.

I can't speak for my dad but since I know he didn't like drawing attention to himself or swimming in December any more than I did, I have to assume that he was under the same conviction.

So what's my point? In part, I'm just sharing a special memory of me and my dad. More importantly, if you are a believer who has never publically professed your belief in Jesus and been baptized as an adult I encourage you to examine the scripture and to pray about taking this step of obedience in your own life.

For me, the experience remains a treasured memory of the past and a bright hope for the future.

Blessings,

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Inspired by . . . watch, wait, obey

Some of us will live, work, play and die in the same town in which we were born. Others of us will move once, maybe twice, in our lifetime. Still others will move often, maybe yearly, never really settling down until age makes the decision for us. 

Some of us are given our marching orders, while others of us choose when, where and how long to go or stay.

The Israelites didn't have that option. The book of Numbers records their travels from Egypt to the borders of the Promise Land. The very presence of God determined when they would stop, go or stay.

At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses. (Num 9:23)

They could see God's presence in the form of a cloud over the tabernacle. When the cloud lifted, that was their cue to pick up and move. When the cloud descended they were to stop and set up camp.

They never knew when the cloud would move. They had to watch, wait and obey. I can only imagine the grumbling. 

"This place is hot and we have to walk for miles to find water for the animals. Why can't we move on, already?"

"We've been walking for days. This looks like a peaceful valley, why can't we stop here?"

"Why do we have to move? I like it here. It's comfortable and shady, with plenty of water for the animals."

It must have seemed pointless at times. Moving to a place, painstakingly setting up the camp according to God's specific instructions. Only to take it all down and move again. But God had a purpose in all that He was doing with the Israelites. He was teaching them a way of living that would govern them for hundreds of years. He was slowly, but steadily moving them toward, and preparing them for, the Promise Land.

God's still doing the same for His children today. Right now, in your life, no matter where He's keeping you or sending you, you can be assured that He has a purpose.

We don't see God's physical presence like the Israelites did, but He has given us something better! Himself, His Holy Spirit, alive within us! And by His Spirit He leads us, just as He led the Israelites.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Rom 8:14)

God goes before us, and directs our steps.

It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (Deu 31:8)

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isa 30:21)

These are important truths to remember when we're tempted to grumble. I've been tempted to grumble a bit lately. My Dreamer and I recently made the decision to move out of our little cottage before our new home is ready to be built. It means we'll be displaced for a bit while we're waiting for the next temporary cottage to be available. But someone else needs the cottage more than we do. The decision wasn't a difficult one, but I'm finding it hard to let go.

You see, this cottage welcomed me and gave me a safe place to grieve during a very difficult time in my life. After another move I never expected. It was the first home for my Dreamer and I . . . it holds a special place in our hearts.

God's saying it's time to move. And just like the Israelites, He's moving us one step closer to the Promise Land.

I hope I've learned a lesson from the Israelites. They failed to trust God and ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. I want to be counted with those who trusted and obeyed.

Are you trusting God for your Promise Land?

Blessings,

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Inspired by . . . who should bury the dead

 

To another He said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead.

But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Luke 9:59-60

 

 

A hard teaching, is it not?

The words come to me as I stand crying over a batch of homemade brownies. I’m not crying over the brownies. Dad’s wooden spoon, worn to a silky sheen in spots from years of use, rests in my right hand. I forgot to shell the pecans . . . again. Dad always shelled the pecans for me.

 

***

Let us not think of Jesus as being harsh or disrespectful here. Scripture clearly teaches we are to honor our father and mother and be devoted at home. One of Jesus’ last acts before He died was to take care of His mother. {see John 19:25-27}

Jesus is reminding us of our human tendency to put worldly things first.  not if, but when God calls us to something, we should take care that we do not allow the affairs of this world to entangle us and so prevent us from obeying His call.

 

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits,

since his aim is to please the One who enlisted him. 2Ti 2:4

 

There are some who care more for the dead than they do for the living.  Grief and regret can be dangerous bedfellows.

While I don’t think I am guilty of this with respect to my grief and my dad’s memory, I would be foolish not to examine all areas of my life in the revealing light of these scriptures.

 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,

for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2Ti 3:16-17

***

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,

and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb 4:12

 

 

Yes, there is some piercing here. His breath, breathed out over my soul reveals places that have not been surrendered to Him. Is this not so with all of us?

Jesus says, “Follow Me.” and there are times I still say, “But, Lord.” instead of “Yes, Lord.”

But then He turns to get into the boat {Matt 8:23} and all my excuses turn to dust at the prospect of His departure.

You see, God’s will and word will be accomplished whether or not I obey. Jesus doesn’t need us to accomplish His will. He chooses us, invites us, to be a part of His story. He delights in blessing others through us and blessing us through others.

Because of His gift of free will we can choose to obey Him when He calls . . . or not.

 

As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Heb 3:15

 

 

So today, when He calls, which will we choose?

To bury the dead, or get in the boat?

 

Blessings,

 

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Inspired by . . . always near the cross: obedience

Continuing the series.

Love

Humility

Sacrifice

Obedience

Submission

Faith

Trust

 

I often ask myself, “Have I done one single thing today because He told me to do it?”

I’m ashamed to say the answer is more often no, than yes. We have all sorts of reasons for doing the things that we do, even the good things, but how often does our motivation come from obedience to His word - from a simply desire to please Him - to obey His command?

 

 

Knowing what God wants us to do is not hard. He has not kept His will a secret. He has carefully preserved not only His precepts, but the very words uttered from our Savior’s mouth!

 

The LORD has told us what is good.

What He requires of us is this: to do what is just,

to show constant love,

and to live in humble fellowship with our God. Mic 6:8

WWJD?

Open your Bible and therein you shall find the answer!

The law of the LORD is perfect; it gives new strength.

The commands of the LORD are trustworthy, giving wisdom to those who lack it.

The laws of the LORD are right, and those who obey them are happy.

The commands of the LORD are just and give understanding to the mind. Psa 19:7-8

 

Not only do we have His word, but as believers we have the Holy Spirit. A counselor to guide us and make clear the things of God.

 

We have not received this world's spirit; instead,

we have received the Spirit sent by God,

so that we may know all that God has given us. 1Co 2:12

 

 

The cross offends the disobedient. They do not desire it’s favor or acceptance. They scoff and turn away.

 

So then, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin. Jas 4:17

 

When presented with a choice, it is almost always easier not to obey. So how can we guard against this temptation?

 

How can young people keep their lives pure?

By obeying Your commands. With all my heart I try to serve You;

keep me from disobeying Your commandments.

I keep your law in my heart, so that I will not sin against You. Psa 119:9-11

 

God gives us everything we need to obey - and grace when we fail.

 

Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts.

Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way. Psa 139:23-24

 

Our desire to obey is like a fragrant oil, like the dew of Mt. Hermon falling on the ground beneath the cross.

 

 

  Forgive me, most gracious Lord and Father, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world.

Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the failure to show sympathy and

kindly help where I had the opportunity, but missed it; and enable me so to live that I may daily

do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow and add to the sum of human happiness.

Prayer to Do Good ~ F.B. Meyer England, 1847-1929

 

Blessings,

June

 

 

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Inspired by . . . Day 22: the JOY of Jesus

 

This post is part of a 31 day series on JOY

You may access all the past days by clicking here.

 

Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me,

that they may be one as We are.  John 17:11

 

 

Jesus’ greatest JOY was completing the work that His Father gave Him to do.

We will find our greatest JOY in the very same way; by completing the work our heavenly Father has given us to do.

And what is that work?

To be a saint, a walking, talking, living, practical epistle of what

God Almighty can do through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ—

one in identity with the faith of Jesus,

one in identity with the love of Jesus, one in identity with the Spirit of Jesus

until we are so one in Him that the high-priestly prayer

not only begins to be answered,

but is clearly manifest in its answering—

“that they may be one, even as We are.”

 

 

 

Yes, Beloved, you are called to a saint. It is a high calling, indeed. And yet, there is only one thing we need to do to achieve this calling.

Be obedient to the Holy Spirit.

Submit.

By allowing God to work in and through our lives, the work of the heavenly Father will be done. Then we shall receive the JOY that Jesus knew, and hear these words:

 

‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things,

I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

 

Blessings,

 

We talked about the specific work that God has given us to do on Day Sixteen

Quotations taken from Approved Unto God and Baffled to Fight Better, © Discovery House Publishers

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Inspired by . . . Day 21: JOY in obedience

 

This post is part of a 31 day series on JOY

You may access all the past days by clicking here.

 

 

I want you to know, my friends, that the things that have happened

to me have really helped the progress of the gospel.
As a result, the whole palace guard and all the others here

know that I am in prison because I am a servant of Christ.
And my being in prison has given most of the believers

more confidence in the Lord, so that they grow bolder all the

time to preach the message fearlessly. Phil 1:12-14

 

kk_monday and kk_waterfront18_totry

 

If you kept reading after the word obedience, I commend you! It’s a word that makes many of us uncomfortable, and in my experience, there is very little about it preached from the pulpit today.

Note: You may wish to {re} visit Day 13 and Day 15 because today’s thoughts really tie the two together.

As we read Paul’s words in Philippians, it’s important to remember that he wasn’t just imprisoned.  I think in our culture we may have a rather benign view of what prison can be. Paul had been flogged, beaten, shipwrecked and denied his freedom. Yet, he counted all JOY because the things that happened to him had served to progress the gospel.

True JOY can be found in adversity, but it’s not a result of ‘pulling up our bootstraps’ or ‘putting on our big-girl panties’ {insert your phrase of choice here} and pressing through. No, JOY in adversity comes when we are obedient to God’s will in our circumstances. You see, Paul had been forewarned about his fate. His journey was an act of obedience. You can read about it in Acts 21.

It’s not really about adversity at all. As I’ve shared in a previous post, some people have a harder time being obedient when things are going well. When it’s all roses with no thorns. Wasn’t that the prayer of the wise scribe in Sunday’s post? “Lest I be full, and deny Thee”

What brings God more JOY than anything else on earth?

The spirit of obedience gives more JOY to God than anything else on earth.

When the love of God is shed abroad in my heart (Romans 5:5),

I am possessed by the nature of God, and I know by my obedience that I love Him.

The best measure of a spiritual life is not its ecstasies, but its obedience.

 

Obedience in ALL things, of course. Not just when we face trials. Although we may need encouragement the most during those times; let us be careful not to deny Him in times of plenty. Let us never refuse to attend the banquet. {Colleen Mitchell wrote an inspiring piece on this parable last week!}

 

kk_monday (B&W)

 

What disasters have turned into

opportunities in your lifetime?

What JOYs would you have

missed had you not walked

with God through adversity?

 

Blessings,

 

 

Quotations taken from Conformed to His Image and Not Knowing Where, © Discovery House

#write31days

 

 

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Inspired by... a mother's heart

 

 

Open my eyes, Lord

I want to see Jesus.

To reach out and touch Him

To show that I love Him

 

As we sang this song in church yesterday, it struck me (profoundly) that we were. We were (are) seeing Jesus.

"Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 19:14)

We are seeing Him, glorified, through the actions of our Pastor and his wife who just received into their home two precious baby boys who they are fostering (to adopt). This is God's answer to literally thousands and thousands of prayers as they have sought God's will for their lives re: children.

We are seeing Him, glorified, through the actions of another "mother" in our church who is fostering a little girl. And who, through recent develops is seeking God's will to move forward with adoption of her and two of her siblings.

My Scripture and a Snapshot today honors these two mothers.

There are 32,000 children up for adoption in the state of Texas. Just.in.the.state.of.Texas!  I don't know about you, but when I stop looking at that as a statistic, a number on paper and think about the individual lives, thirty-two thousand children who haven't known the warmth of a mother's touch or the security of a father's arms, my heart breaks into 32,000 pieces.

When I focus on what God is doing in our church, my heart overflows with hope and thanksgiving. We're a small church, less than 100 attendees. Yet we are making a difference in three (possibly six) children's lives. These three precious babies are now in safe, stable homes and have a church family who will love and pray for them, for the rest of their lives.

Something to pray about: there are more than 32,000 churches just.in.the.state.of.Texas.

 

Open my ears, Lord

And help me to listen.

Open my eyes, Lord

I want to see Jesus.

 

I think it's important to be reminded at times that the issues that make the front page news on a regular basis are not necessarily the issues Jesus would care about if He walked the earth today.

He does walk the earth today. In the hearts of Believers.

What are we listening to? What are we caring about?

What are we doing about it?

I invite you to join me in opening my heart and ears to listen to what God is calling me to in my life and what He is calling you to in yours.

 

Blessings,

Credits: "Open My Eyes, Lord" by Robert Cull; texture used on photo: crackerjack, by Kim Klassen

 

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Inspired by... footprints

This verse from Psalm 77 speaks of the greatness of God. A few verses before it says, "The waters saw You, God, they saw You and writhed in anguish: the ocean was troubled at its depths." The ocean, that can toss our great ships around like a child's match stick toy, was troubled at its depths when it caught sight of God.

Can you imagine, this God that makes the oceans tremble...

Knows your name.

Think about the people who know your (full) name. Who are they? Friends, family, loved ones mostly, right? Those who care about you. Those who know you intimately.

Consider this, whether or not you know Him...

God knows you intimately.

Do you need some hope today?

Whatever you're facing, whatever you've done, or not done, or are going to do...

God is big enough.

And if you do know Him, consider this...

God is not finished writing your story.

We can be useful if we're willing to obey. It's never too late to walk by faith.

 

Is God speaking to your heart today?

No more excuses.

Walk.

 

Blessings,

 

 

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Inspired by... ducks and eagles

 

 

I just love this picture I found on line a while ago:

The sentiment expressed fits Aslan a.k.a Baby Kitty to a "T".  I have witnessed him face-off with the Does (and a 6pt buck) that frequent our backyard looking for water.

He thinks he's a lion.

I'm not like my Baby Kitty. I don't look in the mirror and see greatness, or success and achievement beyond myself. (In fact, I try to avoid looking in the mirror completely, but, that's another matter.)

At my church, I serve on staff in a lay-leader position of Family & Fellowship Servant Team Leader. Servant Leader may seem like an oxymoron to you, but that is what Jesus was and so the model fits nicely here.

Those of us on staff are reading and discussing John Maxwell's book, Leadership Gold.  This has been an uncomfortable study for me.

I don't see myself as a leader.

So what am I doing as a Servant Team Leader, you might ask. Well, honestly, that was a God thing. You know, those moments when God moves, you obey. When you come to yourself, the details are a bit sketchy and you're in a bit of a fog, but then, well, there you are and there is no turning back.

Again, it's funny how God works. Not.

I had just had the courage (the week before) to share with the group how this study is so glaringly confirming to me that I am so NOT a leader, when we come to the chapter:

Don't Send Your Ducks to Eagle School

(insert nervous laughter here)

As you can imagine, I wasn't eagerly reading ahead and had no idea this was the subject of the next chapter!

Mr. Maxwell is not comparing ducks to eagles, as in one is better than the other. His point is "Leadership is all about placing people in the right place so they can be successful."  It's a great chapter.

Unless your a duck sitting at the table with a bunch of eagles.

So, we finish discussing the chapter and my Pastor (bless him) says (something like):

"You're here because I see you as Eagles. Some of you may not see yourselves that way. Some of you may see yourselves as Ducks.

"The question is: what are you going to do about it. Decide a duck is a duck and you're going to remain a duck?

"Or see yourself as I see you and rise to the challenge?"

God will sometimes speak so clearly to you through another person.

(Usually, you'll know when it's happening because you will suddenly feel extremely uncomfortable!)

Pastor did not look at me once when he spoke thus. (I know, because my eyes were riveted to his the entire time.) And if you understand anything at all about me from what I've just shared, you'll realize I am not one to rise to a challenge, simply because a challenge is given.

However, I deeply respect this man and do not want to disappoint him. And, as a leader himself, it is his job to "always challenge people to move out of their comfort zone, but never out of their strength zone."

As a result, I have been pondering and praying about what he said. You know what I realized?

In every job I've ever had, I applied for a "duck" position (behind the scenes, servant, service type positions) and within 2 months (sometimes less) of being hired I was promoted to an (unsought) "eagle" position.

Every time.

Clearly, others see something in me that I do.not.see.in.myself.

And that's okay.
Perhaps that's how God keeps me humble. (and, oh, how I need to be humble(d)!)

Whatever the reason, here is what I believe to be true (for me):

How I see myself doesn't matter nearly as much as how God sees me.

His message, this time, is pretty clear.

He wants me to soar.

 

What about you?

Does how you see yourself line up with how others see you?

How God sees you?

Are you thriving?

 

Blessings,

 

PS Don't think there isn't a bit of "wobble in my wing", but where God calls, He equips. When I am weak, He is strong. I'm nothing without Him and can do nothing without Him. (just so we're clear on that)

Galatians 2:20

Note: ironically the font used above is called Socially Awkward (ha-ha!). Kim Klassen's canvas magic texture gives the sky a lovely denim feel – love it!

 

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