Power Of A Moment

July 19, 2011 · 7:06 am

What Do You Know?: Part 2 (No Doubt)

As Christians, we have been given a simple choice: we either believe God as He has revealed Himself in His Word…or we don’t.

We either place our confidence in His promises…or we rely on our circumstances to tell us what is true.

We either trust that He is in full control and seated firmly on His throne…or we anxiously look all around us and allow ourselves to be swallowed by panic and fear.

At the end of the day, we either listen to the Enemy of our souls (Satan)…or we listen to the Lover of our souls (Jesus). We choose who will have the prominent voice.

If we choose doubt, we will never reach our full potential…and we will not please the God who went to the grave and beyond to rescue us from our hopeless condition.

Jesus is ultimately the Author of our stories…but it is up to us to submit to His pen.

He is an amazing Storyteller (after all, all of history is His Story). He has a part for you in mind that only you can play. He will marvelously fill in the blanks for each of our individual lives, but the Bible does give a broad character sketch of what a Christ follower should be:

*courageous

*bold

*gifted

*joyful, even in the face of suffering

*thankful

*fearless

*filled with peace

*full of godly wisdom

*defined by supernatural love for everyone

Does that list describe you? If so, you have chosen to believe that those things are true, regardless of whether or not you feel like they are.

In response to His disciple Thomas, who refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead, Jesus appeared to Him and said the following:

“…reach out your finger here and see My hands; and put out your hand and place it on My side. Do not be faithless and incredulous, but stop your unbelief and believe!“–John 20:27 (Amplified)

The original word for ‘faithless’ in the opening verse is apistos and it means: “unbelieving, not to be trusted, without trust in God.”

The original word for believe in this verse is pistos and it means: “faithful, one who trusts God’s promises, one who is convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead, one who has become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and Author of salvation.”

Based on this, imagine Jesus saying to you, “(Insert your name), do you realize that when you doubt My Word in any way, you are in essence saying that I cannot be trusted? I AM Truth. I cannot lie. I am always and eternally faithful to you and I desire your faithfulness to Me in return. You are faithful to Me when you believe what I say. I am your Savior. I can only do good to you. From this moment forward, stop doubting and believe.”

There is coming a day when faith will become sight and we will come face-to-face with Jesus.

When that moment comes, I guarantee that we will want to know that we used this brief time on earth to believe Him.

We are all human and we will all feel doubt. The real issue is what we do with our doubt. Do we let our doubt cloud our vision and drag us down into despair? Or…do we take our doubts straight to Jesus and tell Him all about them? Do we then we go to His Word and focus on verses that speak to God’s absolute rule and reign and truth?

Do we choose to hear the voice of Jesus say to us: “Stop doubting and believe!”

So, start today. Start small. Pick one promise from Scripture that applies to your situation and decided that you are going to believe it, regardless of what you can currently see. Ask Him to give you the strength to do it, especially when the going gets hard. He will honor your desire.

I have found that to be true in my life. I have stopped allowing circumstances to dictate how I feel, how I behave, and what I believe. I have countered my doubts with the eternal truth of God’s Word and in return, He has given me His peace. It has made all the difference.

Let this be the day that you fully begin to live the story that He is writing for you.

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July 18, 2011 · 5:27 am

What Do You Know?: Part I (Perfect Peace)

This summer, our pastor has been doing a series of sermons entitled: “What Do You Know?”

It has really had a powerful impact on me, so I decided to do a little series of my own on the blog by the same title. Each day will focus on one important aspect of something Jesus has been teaching me in recent weeks.

Pastor Steve began the series with the premise that as Christians, we all have a ton of head knowledge…but an important question must be answered: Has that head knowledge permeated our hearts so that it in turn affects our actions, how we live our day-to-day lives?

What do you know and what do you do with what you know?

This Christian life we live really IS meant to work! It is not just a nice theory or pious-sounding platitudes. True Christianity is a dynamic relationship with the living Christ. The same Jesus who walked the dusty roads of first century Israel is the same Jesus who walks with us today through the gift of the Holy Spirit (the very spirit of Jesus).

I like the way J.I. Packer puts it in his classic book, Knowing God: “…when the New Testament tells us that Jesus Christ is risen, one of the things it means is that the victim of Calvary is now, so to speak, loose and at large, so that any man anywhere can enjoy the same kind of relationship with Him as the disciples had in the days of His flesh. The only difference is that…His presence with the Christian is spiritual, not bodily and so invisible to our physical eyes…knowing Jesus still remains as definite a relation of personal discipleship as it was for the twelve when He was on earth. The Jesus who walks through the gospel story walks with Christians now and knowing Him involves going with Him, now as then.” –pp.33-34

Even a cursory read through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) will show that the lives of the twelve ordinary men who Jesus called to be His disciples had their lives turned utterly upside down. They went from living their day-to-day lives to seeing the dead raised to life, ferocious storms calmed by Jesus speaking a simple command, all manner of illnesses healed, miraculous provision, etc.

Most importantly, being with Jesus utterly transformed them, in the midst of incredibly tumultuous, fearful times.

They truly experienced life as it was meant to be lived: in the Presence of their Creator and Savior, enveloped in a tsunami of joy.

He will do the same for us.

We live in very scary times: economic crises, natural disasters, horrific crime, social unrest..not to mention the trials, heartaches and stresses of our individual lives…the list could go on and on.

What does the Bible say about how to handle times such as these?

Very simply, Jesus speaks peace to us.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord your God is the eternal Rock. —Isaiah 26:3-4, NLT

A look into the original language of this verse is very helpful.

The word for “keep” means: “to guard from danger, to watch over, to preserve, to observe, to guard with fidelity, to be kept close.”

The word for “perfect peace” means: ‘completeness, safety, tranquility, contentment, friendship with God.”

The word for “fixed” means: “to lean upon, to rest, to sustain, refresh, revive, support.”

Lastly, the word for “trust” means: “to have confidence, to be bold, to be secure, to feel safe.”

In light of these rich definitions, imagine coming to Jesus with all your cares and concerns, just pouring it all out. Then imagine Him taking your hands, looking you right in the eyes, and saying the following:

“(Insert your name here), “I’m glad you came to Me and shared all that is on your heart. I want you to know that I am guarding you from danger. I am watching over you, preserving your precious life. I am and always will be faithful to you. You are safe in My embrace. When you stay focused on Me (and not your circumstances), I will give you contentment and tranquility in the midst. I want you to lean on me and find rest. I will sustain you. I will refresh and revive your spirit. I am the One who upholds you, especially when you feel weakest. My will for you is that you have utmost confidence in Me and My ability to care for you. You can be bold because I walk with you. I am your Friend. Go through this day secure in the knowledge that you are loved with a perfect love. Know this: I am your Rock. No matter what else is shaking in your life, I am in full control, steady and unmovable. You are in a safe place.”

My head has known all that for a long time.

Now my heart knows it too.

And it is glorious.

Really, what is the alternative? Jesus desires to give us His unshakable peace…such a gracious and magnificent gift! Yet we would refuse what He freely offers so that we can hold on to our worry, allowing it to eat us alive?

I am done with that. I am choosing to accept His gift of peace.

I pray that you, too, will truly know His perfect peace today. It is yours for the taking if you are a Christ follower. All you have to do is ask Him for it.

“Peace I leave with you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated, cowardly, and unsettled).”–John 14:27 (Amplified version)

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July 15, 2011 · 10:02 pm

Weekend Moment: The Legacy of Fitness

My dad was a physical fitness nut.

He had his own home gym, spearheaded the building of a gym for fellow employees at work, took an enormous amount of vitamins and supplements everyday and played for his work softball team well into his later years.

From the time my brother and I were little, he encouraged us to stay in stay in good shape, forever extolling the many benefits of exercise. He was front and center (along with my mom, of course) at all our sporting events, cheering us on.

I have so many memories of walking with him at the park near my childhood home. He was always fully equipped with an odometer and a stopwatch because he had goals he wanted to reach.

I have passed this same love of fitness onto my kids. We have walked, hiked, biked, swam, etc. Both kids have qualified to win the Presidential Fitness award three times.

Even when he was two years old, Josh loved to run. He would tell me, “I need to run Mommy!”. So, we would walk to the cul-de-sac in our neighborhood and he would run around and around until he collapsed in the grass, happily tired. Today, he runs 5K’s and is a member of the track team.

I recently came across these photos from 2003, the year we moved to south Florida. Our plan had an exercise room and the kids and I went there nearly everyday. They would wait patiently while I worked out, then we would go swimming. I took these photos one morning when my mom was visiting. Josh was 7 and Julia was 5. The age of my mom will remain a secret. 🙂 :

Today:

I love that they know the joy of regular exercise and continually challenge themselves to reach new levels of fitness.

Just as I used to walk with my dad, my kids and I enjoy walking together as well, strengthening our bodies as well as our relationship.

My dad would be thrilled. His influence lives on.

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July 13, 2011 · 5:18 am

Straight Talk

“Get out of my car!!!”

A man’s angry voice cut through the summer evening as my brother and I approached his truck.

We had just walked out of the local Walmart to discover that a couple in the car parked next to us were in the midst of a heated argument.

The man’s voice was angry and loud; the woman’s voice was muted. I could hear the words “please” and “don’t do this.”

Suddenly her wallet, coupons, and keys were tossed out of the passenger window onto the pavement, followed by another harsh order to vacate the car.

I could see my brother tense up, his eyes focused like a laser on the man, ready to take action if he got physical.

Just as we finished loading our groceries into the truck, the man quickly backed out of his space and pealed out of the parking lot.

Left behind was a young woman with tears streaming down her face, long hair blowing in the breeze, eyes following the car as it turned the corner and disappeared over the hill.

She then kneeled down to retrieve her scattered belongings.

“Are you all right?” I asked quietly. Before I could bend to help, she had gathered everything up and held it all against her chest.

She nodded.

“Are you sure?”

She practically whispered, “Yes.”

“Can we give you a ride somewhere?”

“No.” The smallest of smiles…embarrassed, full of sadness, tentative. “Thank you. I’m fine.”

She turned to walk away, dialing her cell phone.

Shortly thereafter, she met up with others and got into the car but not without first looking back in the direction where her boyfriend had driven away.

Her face haunted me as my brother and I pulled into Burger King for a quick dinner. While he ordered the food, I sat looking out the window, praying for this young lady.

Why do women put up with men like that? Men who are cruel and willing to humiliate them in public, leaving them alone among strangers as darkness approaches?

A man like that is not worth her tears or another second of her life.

I was very blessed to be raised in a home where I was taught that I was treasured and valuable. Before Dr. Phil famously coined the phrase, my parents basically told me the same thing: “You teach people how to treat you.”

My dad, especially, was always very frank with me about what boys had on their minds and the importance of my role in relationships with them.

“You never let any boy or man disrespect you,” I can still hear him telling me. “If that happens, you move on. A guy like that will drag you down every time and you don’t need that in your life.”

He provided me with examples of warning signs and red flags that I would need to be aware of . Since he was a wise and realistic man, he would always tell me that if I was ever in a situation where I was in over my head, I could call him anytime of the day or night and he would come and get me, no matter what.

He encouraged me never to settle, that a good man was worth the wait, even if it took a long time (and given the fact that I didn’t get married until I was 27, I would say that I took his advice! 🙂 ).

One of his favorite sayings was, “It’s better to be single and happy than married and miserable.”

He told me that a secure man would not be threatened by a strong woman.

He made sure I was not naive and above all, he wanted me to love smart.

I am absolutely certain that because I had a father who cared enough to tell me the truth that I was saved from a lot of heartache.

As a result of my dad’s straight talk, I was one tough cookie. My trust was not easily given…it was earned. I didn’t put up with nonsense and wasn’t easily flattered by pretty words.

I am not saying that I could never have found myself in the place that this young lady was in tonight…we’re all human, after all. However, I will be eternally grateful that I had parents who took the time to teach me that I possessed great worth and dignity since I was created in the image of God.

My husband and I are raising our daughter the same way. Sometimes I can almost hear my dad’s voice as I find myself saying the exact same things to Julia that he said to me.

Above all, we teach her that she has a Savior who loves her with a love that is both fierce and tender, as well as pure and eternal.

Jesus has no dark side.

Her ultimate worth is found in Christ alone.

I am going to pray that the young lady I met tonight will come to know that too.

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July 12, 2011 · 6:13 am

Summer Snapshots

“…And it is summer, glorious, deep-toned summer

The very crown of nature’s changing year

When all her surging life is at its full.”

—excerpt from “Summer” by Amy Lowell

Summer 2011 is racing by.

I am treasuring every single moment.

It is a season of glorious abundance…

Even the aftermath of a storm can be beautiful…

There are invitations to play:

Favorite restaurants to visit…

Sweet treats to consume…

The exquisite promise of new life…

Summer sports…

Time for daydreaming by the lake with friends from school…

Lazy beach days…

Summer is a veritable feast for the senses.

Soak it all in.

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July 11, 2011 · 6:08 am

His Treasure

As I have mentioned before, the ladies at our church are doing Beth Moore’s “The Inheritance” as our summer study and it is fantastic.

It is based on Ps. 16:5-6: “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”

We have been learning that God has an inheritance far beyond anything we can imagine waiting for His people…the biggest and most important of which is HIMSELF. He IS “our very great reward” (Genesis 15:1)

Last week, Beth taught something that was absolutely breathtaking and astonishingly true: just as He is our inheritance…we are HIS!!!

She referenced three Scriptures in particular:

The Lord’s portion is His people.–Deuteronomy 32:9

The Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of His own inheritance, as you are to this day.—Deuteronomy 4:20

And a New Testament reference: …”…by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones).” –Ephesians 1:18

The notes in my study Bible say the following: ” The inheritance here is not the Christian’s inheritance, but God’s. This indicates how precious His people are to God. They are, so to speak, what He looks forward to enjoying forever.”

Let this knowledge settle deep into your heart today: You are His beautiful inheritance! He will enjoy you forever, just as you will enjoy Him.

What a glorious destiny!

Now to Him who is able to keep you without stumbling, slipping, or falling and to present you unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation (with unspeakable, ecstatic delight)—to the one and only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, splendor, majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time now and forever…Jude 24-25

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July 9, 2011 · 7:52 am

Weekend Moment: An Explosion of Color

Earlier this week, I drove by the local nursery and on their sign someone had written: “Visit Us and Experience An Explosion Of Color!” Just past the sign were rows upon rows of flowers of every hue. It was a beautiful sight and a reminder of just how glorious the season of summer can be.

So, for this Weekend Moment, I decided to display my own “explosion of color” from my part of the world. Enjoy and celebrate summer where you are today!

ski slopes in the summertime

“I walk without flinching through the burning cathedral of the summer.” –Violette Leduc

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July 7, 2011 · 5:38 am

Glorious Theater

“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—-every, every minute?” –Thornton Wilder, Our Town

I recently discovered a blog written by a young woman with an extraordinary story.

She has a severe auto-immune disease that attacks all of her joints, as well as her spine and her neck and lives in constant pain. She is permanently confined to the home and due to the fact that she is also allergic to almost everything, she cannot even open the windows of her condo.

Just imagine.

But don’t pity her. Her attitude is absolutely amazing, as evidenced by the following: “Bottom line, people, I am filled with joy. I am blessed because I take nothing for granted. I love what I have instead of yearning for what I lack. I choose to be happy and I am. It really is that simple, people. Start everyday by being thankful and celebrate your life.”

Well said.

I could not get this lady out of my mind as I went about my day.

My thoughts turned back to 2005 when I had to have back surgery. I was in tremendous pain beginning in January of that year and it took until June to obtain a proper diagnosis. The surgery was scheduled for a month and a half afterward. I was on heavy medication just to be able to function and my world became very small. It consisted of being in my bedroom and going to church one night a week. That was it.

I will never forget the sheer exhilaration I felt the first time I was able to go out after the long recovery from surgery. My family and I went to CiCi’s Pizza for dinner and I could not stop smiling.

I was out! With people! Able to walk without pain! I was healthy!

I loved every second of that evening…the fact that it was all so wonderfully ordinary was beautiful.

That time forever changed me. I rarely take anything for granted anymore, especially not my health.

Yet, no matter how we try, sometimes it is easy to forget how blessed we truly are. Reading this woman’s blog caused me to see my life through new eyes. To know that I have the freedom to walk out my front door is amazingly liberating. I can feel the grass under my feet, the sun on my skin, the breeze blow through my hair. I can get in my car and go to the store…or take a hike…or visit a friend…or attend Thursday night ladies Bible study at my church.

The day I discovered this blog was a busy one. My son and I went to gym early that morning (he is training for the 5K’s he will be running this summer while I am just trying to keep this 46 year old body of mine in decent shape!). As I worked out, I rejoiced in the fact that all of my limbs work, that I can see and hear, that I am pain-free, that my heart and lungs are strong.

Later that afternoon, my daughter had volleyball camp at the beach. I drank it all in…there was so much beauty everywhere I looked:

The inside of our favorite ice cream parlor

Josh reading a book under a shady tree at the beach

I took so much joy in watching my girl jump, spike, and serve, her red hair highlighted by the sun and the sound of her laughter mixing with that of her teammates and coach. Thank You, Lord, for the sheer gift of healthy children.

That evening, Josh had a concert in the park. It was a beautiful summer night and there was so much to see:

My wedding rings glittering in the evening sun

The band’s joyous music filled the summer air, transforming an ordinary Wednesday evening into a celebration… and my soul sang.

John Calvin once described nature as God’s “glorious theater.” I couldn’t agree more.

So today, as you go about your day…rejoice that you have the freedom to leave your home. Open your eyes to the beauty that is all around you. Choose to focus on what you have rather than what you don’t. Celebrate the big and little joys. Live!

“Just as every day brims with Your beauty, my mouth brims with praise.” —Ps. 71:8 (The Message version)

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July 6, 2011 · 5:54 am

The One and Only

If you ever feel like you are insignificant, consider these timeless truths about the One who loved you so much that He would rather die than live without you…

JESUS

His thoughts about you cannot be numbered (Ps. 139:17-18)

He is near to you when you call to Him (Ps. 145:18)

He holds you by your right hand (Ps. 73:23)

He gives you a new song (Ps. 40:3)

He removes your sins as far as the East is from the West (Ps. 103:12)

He daily bears your burdens. (Ps. 68:19)

He sees you and He listens to your prayers (I Peter 3:12)

When you seek Him, He promises that you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13)

He is able to perform miracles in your life (Ps. 77:14)

He helps you when you are weak (Romans 8:26)

He prays for you. (John 17)

He protects you. (Colossians 3:3)

He gives you wisdom (James 1:5)

He gives you rest (Matthew 11:28)

He is your Stronghold in times of trouble (Psalm 9:9-10)

He gives you peace (John 14:27)

He rejoices over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)

He is your Refuge (Ps. 62:1-2)

He gives you strength (Ps. 18:32)

He rescues you from your enemies (Ps. 18:17)

He will show you the way to go (Ps. 32:7-8)

He delivers you from all your fears (Ps. 34:4)

He is close to you when you are broken-hearted and crushed in spirit (Ps. 34:18)

One day, He will personally take you into Glory (Ps. 73:24)

He carries you in His arms, close to His heart (Isaiah 40:11)

When you cry for help, He will say, “Here I am.” (Isaiah 58:9)

You are safe in Him. No one can snatch you out of His hand (John 10:28)

He does not condemn you (Romans 8:1)

He loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3)

Dear one, these are not just words; they are the timeless, eternal truths.

Decide to believe them.

Embrace His matchless, magnificent love for you today.

Embrace Him.

He is so worthy.

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. –John 1:14

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July 4, 2011 · 11:13 pm

Independence Day 2011

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” —excerpt from the Declaration of Independence.

This Fourth of July, our family celebrated with two fireworks celebrations, three concerts (two were performed by a band our son is in called New Horizons and the other was our church’s worship team, who gave a concert on the front lawn of our church which is right along Main Street). We saw fantastic fireworks, ate burgers, funnel cakes and ice cream, and laughed with friends.

My favorite moment occurred right before the fireworks event we attended on July 3rd when 7000 Americans, who had gathered beneath the shadow of the mountains to celebrate our nation’s birthday, stood to their feet and sang the national anthem in one strong, mighty, and joyous voice.

It was magnificent.

When the fireworks had ended and the smoke had cleared, Lee Greenwood’s classic song “God Bless The USA” rang through the hills as we all headed back to our homes. It was the perfect way to end the celebration.

Above all, we cherished the fact that we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave…