Hard Work & Good Fruit

I'm sitting here this morning with sore muscles. We have spent the past 3 days preparing our building for new carpeting - completing painting projects, pulling staples and tack strips from the floor, etc. We have more to do, but have been really blessed with the friends who have joined with us in the effort, and I have observed several things from the experience.

First, friends are awesome. Friends you didn't even know you had, even better!

Second, those who embrace the camaraderie of such efforts seem happier than those who don't. These people have jobs and lives outside of what we are doing at the building, yet they are there, smiling, laughing, enjoying being a part of what is changing. Of course, we all can have days when work just seems like work, but how much more satisfying to enjoy what you are doing, and what a blessing to enjoy those you are working with! I had some great conversations with people while I worked, and got to pray for some as well.

Third, children are able to work hard, and they can do so with enjoyment! I watched 5 children, ages 9-14 spend the last few days doing hard, tedious, necessary work, and they found the joy in it. Let us be like little children.

Fourth, my husband rocks.

Fifth, I learned a little bit more about why I am working this hard. When our leadership said "Yes, this is the way we will go" in January, when they gave their commitment to the vision we are running in, I bought in wholeheartedly, and I'm not looking back. I see something that goes beyond the "reality" around me. I see the future, I have expectancy, I see ahead to what God is doing. When we started the renovations on our building, I gave myself to it because I believe what God has said and I am committed to be here for the long haul - and the changes need to be done.

Sixth, my husband rocks. Did I say that already?

I gotta get ready to go - the carpet installers come today....the fruit of our labor is coming. First the natural, then the spiritual....

Fools, Liars, & Lazy People

I learned a couple of things from Proverbs 26 this morning. As bad as it is to be a fool - and they don't paint a pretty picture here - it is worse to be lazy! V.12 says "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." V. 16 continues, "The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly". Ouch! I also found it interesting that in the first 12 verses' discussion of a fool, there is, in v. 2, a verse about curses. "Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight". I love this verse because I have always taken comfort that curses can't touch me if I don't open the door for them. What I hadn't considered was how my "foolishness" can be one of those doors! What kind of foolishness? Well, the proverb lists: being wise in my own eyes (have done that before); repeats his folly (yep, have done that before too). God help us all.

The end of the Proverb describes one who hates as a liar/deceiver. I had never thought about how deceit can go hand in hand with hating. Hate is such a strong word, a horrible word. Perhaps it means simply this: when we lie, we are hiding the truth of who we are, that we don't love - ourselves, others, a situation. Hate is me-focused. Love is other-focused. Lying, hating, are all about "me". Hate does not care for the truth, it hides from it, just as lying does.

But love....love believes and hopes and advertises the good. It looks for the truth and proclaims it, puts it on display. And I'm not talking about our versions of the truth, but The Truth. We would do well to weigh our 'truth' against the full weight of the Word of God.

Here's some truth: God loves us all. Christ died and rose again because that love was greater than anything we have done wrong, and He continues to desire relationship with each and every one of us. Maybe if we all focused on that Truth, sharing that Truth, living in that Truth, the world would be a better, more joyful, content place.

Let's not get distracted - let's try to truly live in The Truth.

The Challenge: Love Without Expectation

Love without expectation. I read that phrase this last week, and I was challenged by how often I, we, love with expectation. We give love when everything is how we want it to be, we withhold love when our expectations are not met. I was challenged in my own heart with scenarios where I've been let down by this one or that one, where expectations have not been met or have been disregarded (seemingly so casually - which I don't get. I'm so hard-wired to keep my commitments...). Sometimes my disappointment is on behalf of others (which technically would be called "picking up an offense" which is none of my business). Do I withhold love in these situations because I am disappointed in them? Or do I love without expectation?

God loves ME without expectation. Until I grasp that, it is hard for me to do the same. This is a continual work in progress for me. However, I do it naturally with my children. I love them no matter what. There are things they do which may cause me not to trust them or like them temporarily, but I never stop deeply caring for and loving them. I can't fathom that. Can I love others the same way?

With God, when I accept His love without expectation, I am then free to be. To be who I am, to do what I do. That's where my actions, my work, my effort can flow freely, without expectation, but with expectancy. Expectancy of the end result. Expectancy of the joy it will bring. Expectancy of the satisfaction my contribution will make. Expectancy of a job well done. Expectancy of the love that will be felt. Expectancy of the "this is my daughter in whom I am well pleased".

When I feel disappointed or let down, I will love anyway. I will believe the best. This will be a challenge. When I feel irritated or upset, I will ask myself, "Is it because of some expectation I had?" and I will let go and love anyway.

This doesn't let people off the hook for what they do wrong, but it lets me off the hook for suffering from their sin. Whoa. When I am angry when others fail in what is expected, I am the one who suffers for their sin. I suffer enough with my own sin, why would I want to suffer with someone elses?

Let's try to live and love without expectation, but with expectancy. That sounds a whole lot happier way to live. [I have to admit, my nature is not yet perfected because I struggle with the thought "nothing will get done then", but I am trusting that true love begets true action, and that as I love truly, I will see the fruit of it in my life and in others]. In the meantime, I am going to receive true love, give true love, act in true love - the best that I can as I grow in love.

Up for the challenge?

The Kingdom and Power of God

I love how, in the Bible, David doesn't shy away from sharing his real feelings with us. In Psalm 22:1 he says, "Why are you so far from helping me?". Ever feel that way? But no matter what our circumstance looks like, no matter what we are feeling, we are given a key in the next verses for seeing a change happen.

(vv.3-4) But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted, and you delivered them."

Praise brings the presence of God into the midst of the situation. Charles Green calls it the "distinct manifestation of His rule. God enters!" This is not a temporary visit. When God is enthroned, He is planning on staying. He settles Himself in for relationship with us.

Jack Hayford says "The presence of God's Kingdom power is directly related to the practice of God's praise. The verb "enthroned" indicates that wherever God's people exalt His name, He is ready to manifest His Kingdom's power in the way most appropriate to the situation as His rule is invited to invade our setting".

His Kingdom come!

God's Kingdom is not mysterious or difficult--praise Him! See the reality of God's Kingdom enter into your life. Exalt the name of the Lord, lift Him up! God will be glorified.

These verses link together praise, trust and deliverance. These three work together to establish God's Kingdom in our situation. Put your trust in the Lord. Your praise reveals the trust you have in Him. Sing it, shout it, let it be heard!

God sovereignly chooses how He will manifest His Kingdom. [The Kingdom is at hand - look to see how God is revealing Himself in your life - He IS at work!] He will come as we praise Him [the Bible just said so!], so we trust Him and let Him show Himself as He chooses.

Sometimes we are dismayed because we want Him to come in a certain way or time - but trust the Lord - He is working to show His kingly authority in your life. God will be praised and magnifed! His victory in our lives sets us free from sin, torment and shame. His "kingliness" drives out the harasser. His light causes the darkness to flee. He is the King!

I am reminded of the calling Paul had as he was sent out to "open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me" (Acts 26:17-18). Praising the Lord is one of the ways that we can do this! As I practice a lifestyle of praising the Lord in every situation, I am bringing His delivering presence into the situation for me and those I am with. This is something I can do!

I will praise the Lord today, putting all my trust in Him, and He will deliver me, showing Himself strong to the praise of His glory!
Remember the Lord in all His goodness and trust in Him. Lift your voice in praise and watch Him work. Where He is, nothing can stay the same!

God Delights in Me

The Psalmist David had an amazing ability to declare what was going on in his life, the needs, emotions, failures, successes and victories, at the same time that he was declaring his utter dependency upon, and the sovereignty of, God.  It is at times challenging to read, to keep it all in context.  Psalm 18 is such a Psalm.

"He also brought me into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me." (vv.19-20).  I love this verse.  The Lord can DELIGHT in ME.  What an amazing thought!  And this brings comfort, hope, and security to me.  Think about how easy it is for us to delight in someone or something that we love.  It is the same with God - He loves us, and I'm sure it brings great joy to His heart to be able to delight in us.  I experience this with my children.  There are times when I truly delight in them, my love and enjoyment of them just seems to fill me up and run all over.

But not all the time.

Have you ever been in a relationship--or place of authority, as a parent, a teacher, a boss-- where you were not delighting in the one you are with?  Why?  What diminished the delight?  Have you ever been in a position where YOU have caused the delight to drain out of someone's eyes?  This is where I get uncomfortable.

See, I like to think about God delighting in me, unconditionally loving me.  Yet I don't like to think of it in conjunction with the rest of the verse, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me".  My immediate instinct here is for self-preservation, and I think "BUT, it's no longer by MY righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ that I am made acceptable.  What about the rich young ruler?  He tried so hard to do everything right, but in and of himself he couldn't make himself perfect.  See?  I can't earn God's love.  He loves me as I am".

Yes, God absolutely loves us as we are, in our imperfections.  (Thank you, Father!)  But love and delight are not the same thing.  I love my children.  Period.  That will never change.  But I do not always delight in them.  People are able to hurt us.  Disappoint us.  Let us down.  

So here's the deal.  "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect" (v.32).

Throughout this Psalm, David recounts all the works he has done, but he then continually brings it back to this, that it is in God alone that he is able to accomplish anything.  David is dependent upon the Lord for his rescue, his victory, his peace.  This was the key to God's delight in David.  It wasn't about what David did, but about God at work in David's life.

"YOU have also given me the shield of Your salvation; YOUR right hand has held me up, YOUR gentleness has made me great, YOU enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip."  (vv.35-36).

David's righteousness was not his own, it was in God.  Even before Christ, David knew where His help came from.  And the Lord delighted in him.

I like being the object of someone's delight.  When I see that delight shine through the eyes of those I love, I am richly blessed.  What greater joy could I have than to see that delight shining from the eyes of my Greatest Love?  

Your love, O Lord

reaches to the heavens

Your faithfulness

stretches to the sky

Your righteousness 

is like a mighty mountain

Your justice flows

like the oceans tide

I will lift my voice

and worship you my King

I will find my strength

in the shadow of Your wing

Do you need Rest?

Rest. It means to cease activity, take a break, take a nap...our definitions tend to be along those lines. I don't know about you, but I tend to swing from frenetic activity to "have-to-rest-or-I can't-continue" . When I am really busy and challenged, I sometimes feel guilty that I'm not resting enough- it is a command of God to rest one day a week after all - but how can I do that more? How can I rest when I am busy? So I was interested today when I saw a verse that mentioned rest in my Bible reading.

"Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory re joices;...." [who doesn't want more gladness and joy?]

..."my flesh also will REST IN HOPE." Wow.

Hope is the place of rest. When I have my hope right, I will have rest.

Okay, time for a Strongs Concordance definiton of hope:

betach, beh'-takh; from Hebrew 982 (batach); properly a place of refuge; abstract safety, both the fact (security) and the feeling (trust); often (adverb with or without preposition) safely :- assurance, boldly, (without) care (-less), confidence, hope, safe (-ly, -ty), secure, surely.

I just love the fact that hope here addresses not only the physical security that I have, but also the feeling of hope that I need for my wellbeing! The Amplified Bible says it this way,

"...my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety". THAT is what I'm talkin' about! I want to be a "confident dweller". To dwell confidently is to be in hope, is to be in a place of rest.

Psalm 16 continues in v.10-11, "For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures evermore."

Note that He will SHOW ME the path of life, but I am the one who chooses to walk in it. And it is such a good place to be in: a place where He is, where joy is, where pleasure is. THIS is the God that I hope in. This is He whom I can confidently dwell in, hope in, believe in, stay in. And in this, I find rest.

v.1, 8 "for in You I put my trust...I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved."

Natalie Grant sings a song about this:

I will stumble
I will fall down
but I will not be moved
I will make mistakes
I will face heartache
but I will not be moved
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved!

I have set the Lord always before me.
My flesh also will rest in hope.

I may still be busy, but I will hope and rest!

Psalm 14: 2,5

"The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

...for God is with the generation of the righteous."

What generation are we?

What generation am I living in?

I need to ENCOUNTER God in order to ENGAGE the culture that I live in. An EQUIPPED generation who has seen His face, who stand in His righteousness, bringing His light to a world darkened in its understanding.