Good Friday-Saving Faith

I truly miss blogging on a regular basis...it stinks not having internet in my apartment and not having the chance to sit down and reflect on scripture and God's path for my life like this.  I have learned to really enjoy the challenge of blogging for the purpose of sharing my faith and strengthening others.

I wanted to blog today on my day off and on account of it being Good Friday...but a lot has happened in the last month that I am having a hard time picking what to write on...but my heart has really be pierced with this topic, and I believe that it will rub off into all areas of our lives (including the recent debates that are being publicized EVERYWHERE!!)  If you don't see how, ask God to reveal it to you, because I do believe that this applies to all our future endeavors and it will guide us in all our choices in life, including these fine areas where we don't know how to respond. 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me."

Matthew 16:24 NLT

Faith versus Saving Faith 

Fan verses Follower

Orpah versus Ruth  (yes, it's another Ruth reference)

Read the first chapter of Ruth, and look at Orpah.  In summary, this girl is very sincere and compassionate toward the widowed Naomi.  It says in this chapter that both Ruth AND Orpah clung to Naomi and wanted to join her back to the Promised land.  Now, after Naomi's pessimistic approach to the idea, Orpah departed and Ruth stuck on.  I never looked at this comparison in this manner, and I want to bring this to your attention through Ruth and Orpah. 

Orpah had faith, Ruth had saving faith.  Why? Orpah was a good person....she loved Naomi.  She did the right things, had the best intentions, truly cared for Naomi.  But she didn't have the saving faith in God to make the sacrifice to really follow where her heart was going like Ruth did.  To give you a brief context, what Ruth did was not only loving, but dangerous for herself.  She was an outcast.  She was a single woman with no secure male in her life to protect her in a foreign land.  She was giving up her comfort land to not only follow Naomi and care for her, but she put away her old ways and struggles to go into an unknown territory to pursue a God that would later give her blessing beyond her wildest dreams (at the time, she had no idea what God was going to do for her).  

Orpah did not have this faith.  She did not give up her life.  She did not like the idea of not knowing what would happen to her.  It wasn't because she didn't love Naomi that much, I bet she loved Naomi just as much as Ruth did.  The difference was in the faith in God.  It's scary, but I want you all to hear this...just because you are a good person does not mean you are going to be with Jesus.

My verse above speaks just that to us today.  It is the difference between Faith and Saving Faith.  My friends, some of you love Jesus....but do you really LOVE Jesus?  Are you like Orpah, who cared enough to latch on, but when it gets hard you run back to comfort?  Now I am not perfect, and I have my doubts as well...and thank God that He is gracious to forgive me and give me second and third chances....I don't know your heart and I am not writing this to accuse anyone.  You can point fingers right back at me, in fact I encourage you to so I may grow more. 

But here is how I know I have saving faith...when I look at the Cross today, I don't just see an obligation that I meet once a year.  I am reminded how Jesus gave up the perfect to live with the imperfect.  I see how Jesus endured 33 years, being tempted in every way, and not falling once into sin.  I see how Jesus submitted to the Father's will and provided the narrow way for me.  I see how ultimate sorrow and ultimate joy come together.  I see power and glory of God.  I see the sign of victory.  And seeing these things change how I live. 

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

2 Corinthians 5:17

Jesus did not die to save us from Hell.  He died to save us from Sin.  He died to save us from ourselves...here and now.  It begins here.  It begins now.  Not later after we die.  When you look at the Cross, is it your ticket to Heaven, or your Saving Grace?  Let the Cross save you and change you today.  Because if you don't, you will be dissappointed.   

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."  

Matthew 7:21

This Easter, I pray that you just don't see a routine and obligation.  I pray you don't just hear the story again.  I pray that you don't settle with where you are in life.  I truly pray that you will put away all selfish desires and run toward the Cross, broken and aware of your neediness for a Savior now and every day.  

I love you all. 

What is Your Moab?

For those of you that know me, I really enjoy looking through the book of Ruth.  It is short, but in those 4 chapters I feel that I hear something new and fresh every time I dig into it.

A good friend sent me a link to a sermon series by a man named Ed Moore, so I will not take credit for most of this wisdom...however there is something that he didn't touch on that spoke to me while I listened to him speak.

First though, I want to ask you all a question:  What is your Moab?

If you don't know the story behind Ruth, don't only read through it, but also read through Judges.  The context of Ruth is better explained through the continuous roller coaster that the Israelites go through.

To give you a brief summary of where I am coming from with this, the book of Ruth starts off with a man named Elimelech.  (meaning "God is my King"...I know...Ironic...you will see why).  Elimelech disobeys God by leaving the Promised Land for "greener pastures".  Verses 1-4 explains the progression of him and his families intentions:

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,

At first, they sojourned...meaning it was a little jaunt, intending to come back.  They were dipping their feet into Moab.  Then, they remained there.  And THEN they lived there. 

If/When you search through Judges, you will see a common phrase that pops up regularly: "And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord."  Another way to look at this is "They did what was right in their own eyes."  Elimelech led his family into Moab, because in his own eyes he thought it was right.  He intended to travel there briefly because the grass was greener.  However, we see he not only stayed in Moab, but his family decided to live there and establish connections with Moab.  

I will give you a representation here....The promised land (which Elimelech left) represents God.  Elimelech and Naomi represent us, in my opinion.  We tend to find greener pastures away from God, and what goes from an innocent testing of the waters may turn into a full commitment to something pulling us from God.  I am reminded of the phrase "Sin will take you farther than you want to go."   

So, I will challenge you all to think of what your Moab is.  Pray about it.  When God reveals it to you, escape from it.  Flee to the Promised Land.  Elimelech may have been looking out for his family and wanting the best for them, but he failed to understand that the best thing for them was God and to stay in the Promised Land, no matter the circumstance.  

Times get tough, but don't stray from God friends.  Stay in Him.  It truly is the best place to be, no matter what it looks like in our eyes.  Remember, we are still clouded and can't see as God sees.  That's why we need to trust.  

I love you all. 

Lent/Community

Ash Wednesday was yesterday, which means the 40 days of Lent begins until Easter.  As many of you know, this is a time where some Christians give up something for these 40 days.  Many times it is some sort of food, like pop or candy…maybe running through the fast food line between shifts.  

For me last year, I took away something and then I added something else to my routine for these 40 days.  This year, I want to post this to be held accountable.  As hard as it is, I see that my biggest struggle where I am is making unnecessary purchases on impulse.  So, my thing I am going to give up, is spending money that I didn’t plan to spend (if I can help it).  This does not include necessities like gas, rent, etc.  Instead, these are those times where I have the impulse to drive through McDonalds cause I don’t want to cook, or shop for clothes that I don’t need.  This also means I only get what I planned to go out and get and keep myself from adding anything else to my cart.  By doing this, I hope to give more to my church and live more on necessity rather than want.

In turn, I am going to use my SendOutCards subscription and challenge myself to send out one card of encouragement every day.  Here is why my heart set on this: 

It is crucial that we don’t live in a vacuum.  

John 17 hints at how Jesus desires us to be one in spirit

The writer of Hebrews exhorts his readers in Hebrews 3 to live in community

I know that I get prideful, thinking I can live this life alone without anyone helping me.  But the reality is, I need you guys.  I REALLY need you guys.  I need you to tell me how I am doing.  I need you to be honest and real with me.  I NEED you to encourage me, and tell me I am doing all right.  I need your love.  I don’t always admit it, but I know I need you.  And you need me.  I want to know how I can help you. 

Jesus wants this of us.  He desires it because in our unity in spirit, he is shown to be the authoritative and beloved Son of God.  Our changed and joined lives is a witness of who Jesus is and his purpose for living among us.  

Satan doesn’t want it…in fact it is very easy for Satan to creep in discouragement and bitterness among communities…and we don’t even realize it.  How many times have you heard someone around you say something that offended you…and they didn’t realize it did?  Do you just brush it off most of the time?  We wish we could, but many times those innocent offenses build up and create this hardness in our hearts toward that person.  We don’t mean to be offensive, or disrespectful…but that’s how it sounds, comes off…that’s how it is received.  The more it happens, the more people shut off to us.   And what stinks is we are either to scared or too prideful to approach it and abolish it at the core.  

So when we approach each other in love and encouragement, approach each other in honesty.  And friends, your hearts may be innocent, but please watch how you say the things you say.  I know I speak with a tone that can pierce someone’s heart and completely offend them without meaning to.  I see and overhear people talk about offenses behind backs, but never approach the person themselves.  We all do it.  I am guilty of it too.  Satan smirks as he slowly watches the close, loving community drift apart, and when we aren’t in community, we are more vulnerable to attacks from the evil one.  

Hold fast.  Take heart.  It’s hard, but I pray that God can continually show me what my roles in my communities are.  I am not perfect, and often find myself hiding alone and refusing to show anyone my deepest vulnerable states.  

Let us pray like Jesus did, and seek that community so that the Son may be glorified and the evil one unable to penetrate.  

I love you all, and Happy Valentine’s Day. 

Mime Prayer

I've gone through more of John 17, and the last few nights I have come across a few verses that I want to share.  It has given me not only a way to pray, but it is perfect timing for how I can pray for my friends who are giving their time and energy for a production that my church is putting on for Easter.

Jesus shares an attitude in his prayer for his followers that I want to have developed more in me, and I want to focus especially on those that are sharing in the ministry of our church mime production.  I love all of you and wanted you to know I was praying for each of you individually and a whole.

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

 Jesus has given us a great opportunity to present his Truth.  He has for years, and this year isn't any different.  Jesus prayed to not take us from this world, but to protect us from the evil one.  I pray that my focus isn't to be so quick to leave this sinful place, but to be protected from the evil one while I am still among temptation and trials.  We are still here, may our thoughts and prayers be more on the fight now rather than fleeing to our final destination with Jesus.  We don't fight alone, but when we are called to fight let's stand our ground knowing who is on our side.  We are still here on earth...let's give it everything while we are still called to do so.  

Jesus has won, and he is on our side.  He prayed for us to be filled with truth, and he says "your word is truth."  Be in the Bible.  Study, spend time with God.  Pray continuously.  Spend time with each other and encourage each other.  Seek the good in everything.  This is truly what Jesus wanted of our lives, because this is what he prayed for us before the cross.  Jesus has given us what we need, and we know that not everyone will accept that in us...and that's okay.  We are sent by God into the world, and Jesus is praying for us.  We should be praying for each other in this same manner.  

I wanted you to know that I am praying for you all like this.  We are not of the world, but called to spread the word in it.  We need to pray for protection from the evil one while we are still here.  Be in the word...I pray you find delight in it as you dig more into the characters you will be portraying to the community.  

You guys are all great, and I am so thankful for the encouragement you are to me.  Sorry this post is more seclusive to a group of people, but I really wanted to let you all know how much I appreciate you and want you to be encouraged through the words of Jesus.  

I love you all. 

Even Though He Knows

I want to point out something in my readings that I found very amazing...it won't take long, but I hope you find this encouraging.

Matthew 10:1-4
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Oh boy, another list of names...let's just skip it...we get it.  Jesus calls disciples.  Sounds good!

Wait...what???  (REFER TO VERSE 4)

Judas Iscariot...who betrayed him....

Jesus calls a man, who is going to turn his back on Jesus...and Jesus knew it. 

If Jesus can call Judas as a disciple and consider him as close as a brother, and love him consistently...EVEN THOUGH he knew what Judas was going to do to him...how much will he love us and be consistently in love with us!  How much will he use us and call us to do great things! 

Psalm 139 says over and over again how much God knows us...He knows our deepest thoughts, most inner feelings...we can't hide anything from God.  This is amazing...yet so scary because every wicked thing that dwells in our hearts, God sees.  Every shameful sin, every idol we hold higher than God, God knows.

Judas would hold money higher than Jesus, but Jesus called him anyway.  Your past is no excuse to be used by God today.  Your future is no excuse.  Jesus calls your regardless.  He already knows...and he still wants you despite it.  How awesome is that?? 

I love you all.  May this bring you encouragement today. 

Laborers for the Harvest

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.  And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and ever affliction.”   

~Matt. 9:37-10:1~

Do you realize how many people around you are lost?  They may seem like they have it all together, but deep down to the core they are seeking something.  They are searching, finding answers to their existence.  Some find it, and walk the narrow path.  Others bounce around from path to path to find what truly satisfies them.  

Many keep bouncing, waiting for their answers. 

The world is full of these people, ready to hear the Gospel.  Knowing that something is out there, but they don’t know who, what, where, or how. 

That’s where you come in.

Early in Jesus ministry, he acknowledges that there aren’t enough people “working the fields.”  Now granted, he didn’t even call his disciples yet, or had just done so.  The workers were truly few….but how much more does this apply to us today! 

I am so encouraged to pray this prayer and see the workers being developed.  It is so neat to see what kind of workers there are in the world.  

Some yield the tool of mercy, showing the enormous amount of love toward those that have much less in life. 

Some yield the tool of service, giving their time and energy to be selfless and reach as many as they can through the outreach. 

Some yield the tool of teaching, spreading knowledge and insight on the Word.

Whatever your tool is, you are being used in the Lord’s harvest.  But like many tools, you don’t leave it stored in a shed during the most valuable part of the season.  You use it.  You don’t pray for workers and then wait to see what God does.  Let’s follow Jesus’ example:

He acknowledged the need for workers, and then he called his disciples and gave them authority in the ministry.  He sought out workers.  Jesus knew God would provide the workers, so he went looking for them.  He called them.  We are called to pray for workers, but then to seek them out and work in the harvest. 

Don’t sit idle.  Trust God by doing something about it today.  

Take Heart

It has been a while since I’ve been able to sit and write on this blog.  I am hoping to not wait as long for the next times.  

As I go through Matthew in my quiet times, I recently came across a familiar phrase that the ESV translation uses in Chapter 9: Take heart.

Many of you have heard me discuss this, and most of you have rolled your eyes and offered your input on the situation.  I had wanted to get a tattoo to represent this very thing.  It is inspired by John 16:33 when Jesus says “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart!  I have overcome the world.” 

This verse has spoken huge messages to me, and the words “take heart” has been my motto while I work at the nursing home, pray over hard issues in my life, and struggle to find the right words to say to a friend that is needing some guidance in my days.  

So, when reading in Matthew 9 where I see Jesus saying “take heart” my attention magnifies. 

Verse 2, in speaking to a paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”

Verse 22, in speaking to the bleeding woman, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”

Take heart…It signifies a turning point in our emotions.  We sit in a pile of doubt, or fears, or struggles and feel suffocated by the waves of reality.  Take heart…it’s time to get out of it.   Take heart, let me show you the light and hidden truths to hold on to in your moments of despair: 

Your child is sick, but take heart! I am the great physician.

Your loved one is dead, but take heart! I have been and am still there.

Your father is never a part of your life, but take heart!  You are my child forever.

Your life is full of consuming sins, but take heart!  I have overcome them all. 

Your reflection of your appearance does not satisfy you, but take heart!  I delight over you with singing. 

Take heart…where in your lives do you need to hear God say “Take heart?”   Many times these are hidden blessings within the muck of life.  It’s easy to sit and look at the surface of our world, but if you dig deep beneath the surface and see the treasure hidden under it all, sometimes it’s in the form of a “take heart.”  A change in heart.  An uplifting truth to bring us closer to God. 

Satan doesn’t want us to find these “take heart” moments.  He will try to keep us in those waves that distract us and tear us down, but it’s through the grace of God and power in the Holy Spirit that we stand a chance against those forces. 

A good friend of mine had quickly departed on a rigorous and physically draining trip for a few months, but before he left I texted him a verse that I felt led to share with him: 

Isaiah 40:28-29

“Have you not known?  Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint, and to him who has not might he increases strength.  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  

His response to the verse I have kept on my phone because it is a great reminder for me, and I am sure he wouldn’t mind me sharing it with you all, “Thank you, for me the verse will be manifested physically.  For you spiritually, remember we are engaged in war at all times.”  

What wise truth.  We are constantly fighting, constantly wrestling with our flesh.  Some days we really have to push ourselves to love and praise God.  We really have a heavy load that keeps us from seeing the beauty of Christ.  But take heart…I have overcome the world. 

Our fighting is not in vain, and even though we appear to lose at times, God comes to wipe away the competition.  How awesome to have that on our side!  For those that love God, we have that hope.  We can look Satan in the face and remind him of his fate, because we are not part of that!  We are on the stomping side that will live in eternity with Jesus. 

So friends, take heart.  God is there.  Jesus has won, and the Holy Spirit as our guide will get us through it towards victory.  

As always, my brothers and sisters, I love you all. 

~Philippians 1:3-11~