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11-11-11

Not for another 1000 years will there be another date like today’s.  Six one’s all in a row.  Perfection. 

As amazing as that is, however, do you realize that not even in 10,000 years will there EVER be another day like today.  Never.  This is it.  At midnight, it will be gone. 

I have no elegant words about the magnitute of TODAY and NOW, so let me simply share some scriptures.  God says it so much better than I.

Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:13)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  (Hebrews 4:7)

For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.  (2 Corinthians 6:2)

For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.  (1 Thessalonnians 3:8)

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. (2 corinthians 5:16)

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. (2 Corinthians 8:11)

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.  (1 John 2:28)

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13;12)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.  (2 Peter 3:18)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  (Revelation 21:3)

Have a blessed TODAY — NOW— on 11-11-11.

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111 Degrees!

That’s what my thermometer read yesterday — in the shade!  111 degrees!  Add this Southern humidity to that temperature and it’s almost unbearable for this 50+ old woman. 

I remember as a young girl the heat had little effect on me.  I played outside all summer long.   I remember when we got our first air conditioner: a window unit. (Note “a” window unit; just one for the entire house!)  My grandmother had only an attic fan and, to me, her house was very pleasant.  As a teenager I played softball in 100+ degree weather — and loved it! 

I didn’t understand why people complained so much about the heat and humidity.  Then my family moved to warm-and-sunny South Carolina, then to hot-but-dry Texas, and now back home to hot-and-humid Louisiana.  Man!  This heat is unbearable!  What happened?  Well, I got older, acclimated to a different climate, and spoiled to central air conditioning!

How easily we acclimate to our surroundings — at home, at work, at church, in the community. We like things to be cool and so we become tolerant of the opinions of others, to the practices of our peers, to the tickling-ear sermons at church. And we become intolerant of anything that might make the temperature rise like speaking up on social issues, confronting sinful behaviors, and cut-to-the-quick sermons.  We prefer 68-degree “normal” to 111-degree heat!

That’s called being “lukewarm.”  And according to Revelation 3:16,  lukewarm devotion makes God vomit!  (That’s a literal translation, by the way.) Christ even tells the lukewarm church of Laodicea that He would prefer them cold to lukewarm!  Lukewarm Christians have done more harm to the kingdom of God than even the coldest of atheists.  Lukewarmers make people feel safe in their sin, even secure in their lostness.  And one of the most often heard excuses for not becoming a part of the Church is, “It’s full of hypocrites!”  (Translation: “It’s full of lukewarmers!”)

In Romans 12:11, Paul encourages believers,

“Never be lacking in zeal,
but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” 

The Greek word for fervor is zeo, meaning “to be hot” — like boiling liquid or glowing solids.  Serve the Lord with a red-hot love, with a fiery passion, with a boiling zeal, and with a glowing life.  Don’t be cool and apathetic, acclimating to the world and all it’s sin.  Turn on the heat by speaking up for Truth and living out the Word of God!  Add some humidity to your atmosphere — the water of the Spirit of life!  Let it pour forth from you like searing steam, making it hard for the lost to breathe!  Set them on fire with the Truth!

Let this piercing summer heat remind you to keep up your spiritual fervor as you serve the Lord.  Come on!  Turn your devotion up to 111-degrees! 

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Tornadoes of Eternal Change

I’m watching the news tonight as yet another night of tornadoes rips across the southern plains.  With devastation two weeks ago in Tuscaloosa, AL, two days ago in Joplin, MO, this afternoon in Oklahoma City, and tonight in Dallas, TX — and possibly Joplin again! — homes are destroyed, family members lost or dead, lives changed — forever. 

We all watch and cry with the victims.  It makes no sense.  I just can’t imagine it: one moment you’re sitting at the lying in bed or driving home from work and the next you’re being pulled out of a pile of rubble.  Then the questions erupt: What happened?  How did it happen?  Why did it happen?  God, what’s going on?

It just so happens (of course, nothing really “just happens”) that I am reading — for the 3rd time — Chuck Swindoll’s book Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance.  Job has lost all of his possessions, all his means of income, all his hired help, all the comforts of living well, and then “…another messenger came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead…'” (Job 1:18-19).  Many theologians believe the “mighty wind” was a twister.  Yes, Job had travelled down the same road where these victims are traveling tonight.  And Job responded with worship, without blaming God for any wrongdoing.  Amazing.

I’ve read the first chapter of the book of Job a hundred times and it never ceases to amaze me.  He lost everything, yet he never blamed God or aske, “Why me?”  I might have gotten to the worship — eventually — but I would have probably passed through all the stages of grief first, taking each one very slowly.

Swindoll notes four principles that emerge in this first chapter of Job — four principles that are difficult to understand but nonetheless true.  The victims of the tornadoes will probably not want to read these right now.  They will eventually, after they grieve.  But each one of us could stand being reminded of these — now, before a “tornado of eternal change”  strikes our lives.

Principle One:  There is an enemy we encounter we cannot see…but he is real.   Just because Satan is invisible to the human eye does not mean he is not real.  And he is a formidable, relentless foe.  He deceives; he accuses; he torments; he tempts; he destroys.  Whatever it takes to bring you down, he’ll try it.  But remember, dear believers, that greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world.  You have power over him.

Principle Two: There are trials we endure we do not deserve, but they are permitted.  God is, indeed, sovereign over all the universe and over everything that happens within it.  He either causes, prevents, or allows.  Which one He chooses is totally His call.  Therefore, nothing comes into your life that has not passed through His will.   “In the mystery of God’s unfathomable will, we can never explain or fully understand.  Do not try to grasp each thread of His profound plan.  if you resist my counsel here, you’ll become increasingly more confused, ultimately resentful, and finally bitter.  At that point, Satan will have won the day.”  Accept what comes; endure it; win the day.

Principle Three:  There is a plan we explore we will not understand, but it is best.  Though each piece of God’s plan may not seem fair or pleasant, it works toward God’s ultimate purpose and is, therefore, good.  Corrie ten Boom once compared God’s plan to a tapestry.  We see only the small section that is our life and we view it from the underside.  All we see is threads running in all different directions, with knots, tangles, and frayed strings.  But God sees the whole tapestry — and from the top where all the threads make a beautiful design.  Trust the Designer.

Principle Four: There are consequences we experience we could not anticipate, but they are necessary.  Chances are you’re going through something right now that is unfair, something you don’t deserve.  Perhaps you’ve complained — or whined — to God, tossing up all kinds of questions to Him.  “Trust me here.  What has happened is a necessary part of your spiritual growth.  Yes, necessary.”  For it will shape you and hone you to be who and what God wants you to be — and for a purpose.  Be soft clay in the Potter’s hands and let Him have His way. 

Tornadoes of eternal change come in many forms and they come to each and every one of us.  Though they spring up out of nowhere, they should not surprise us for they are a part of life.  Though we may not deserve them, we must endure them.  Though we may not understand them, we must realize they have purpose.  Though we may want to run as fast and as far away from them as we can, we should embrace them as opportunities to see God work, to grow in His image, and to bring Him glory. 

“There is no pit so deep but that He is not deeper still.”

Corrie ten Boom

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“Lord, I’m done!”

Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” But, O how physical and emotional are the effects of this spiritual battle!  How many times have I run to my mentor, “Mrs. Wisdom,” pouring out my weak and weary heart to her?   

 “You’re on the front lines, Donna,” my mentor would often say.  “You must expect enemy attack when you openly serve the Lord.”  And so I trudged on.  But how much longer can I fight?

 ~ ~ ~

How long, O Lord?  How long?  I’m so tired.  I’m battle-weary.  The enemy is too strong and too crafty.  I’ve got nothing left.  I could handle him when he came at me personally.  I could handle him when he attacked my marriage.  I could handle him when he began to go after my children, but all three? My “pride of life” has taken such a fall that I hardly know him anymore.  My “joy of life” has dimmed and continues to struggle on.  And my “spice of life” is being poured out, searching and seeking everywhere but not for You.  My heart is shattered.  It’s more than I can bear.

 The desire to study your Word is waning.  And how can I go on teaching and writing when I’m so empty and fatigued?  Let me hide on the pew Sunday mornings like most do and forget the rest. Let me get an outside job and use the well-worn “I can’t because I work” excuse – at least for a little while.  I’m done, Lord.  I can’t fight anymore.

 Job?  Yes, Lord, I remember my friend Job – the suffering, righteous man to whom I’ve turned so many times before.  Yes, Father, I will look at him once again…

 ~ ~ ~

 Yes, Father, I see.  Like Job, I have lost financially, lost what few luxuries I had and, in a way, lost my children.  But there is still hope, isn’t there?  As long as there is breath in their lungs and in mine, there is still hope!  I cannot – I will not – let Satan win.  Because also like Job…

 

I know that my Redeemer lives,
   and that in the end he will stand upon my grave.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
   yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
   with my own eyes—I, and not another.
   How my heart yearns within me![1]

 

I will see you, God!  I will stand before my Redeemer! My heart years within me…

…yearns to be confident before You and not shrink away.[2]

…yearns to receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom.[3]

…yearns to endure in You that I might reign with You.[4]

…yearns to hear You say, “Well done…Come and share your Master’s happiness!”[5]

Praise You, my Father, the Rock on which I stand and the Arms into which I fall!  Blessed be Your name!  You and You alone are my strength!  So…

 

Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
   Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
   the LORD will be my light.[6] 

 

(You hear me, Satan?  I’m not giving up – I’m getting up!  And God is with me!)

 

[1] Job 19:25-27

[2] 1 John 2:28

[3] 2 Peter 1:11

[4] 2 Timothy 2:11

[5] Matthew 25:21

[6] Micah 7:8

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

the new creation has come:

The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

 

It’s 11:11 on 1-1-11, so let me wish you a year of “ones”:

  • One focus:  God and God alone, the Almighty Creator of life
  • One hope:  Jesus Christ our Lord, the ONLY hope for the world
  • One breath:  the Holy Spirit of God, your strength and your guide
  • One desire:  to glorify God in your thoughts, words, and deeds
  • One dream:  to become the unique individual God created you to be
  • One response:  “Yes, Lord!”
  • One testimony:  “I was faithful to His calling upon my life.”
  • One vision:  the end of your life, when you stand face-to-face with your Lord
  • One evaluation:   “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

God bless you in the magnificent year that lies ahead of you!

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Footsteps in the Snow

Snow: it’s one of my favorite things!  Looking out my hotel window, I’m enjoying the beauty of a snow shower covering the ground in a thick, downy blanket.  As I watched, a man exited the hotel and walked to his car — slowly, carefully.  He took a bag from his car, turned, and reentered the hotel, leaving behind a line of tracks.  Looking down at his footprints in the snow, I recalled another snow storm years ago…

We lived in the Texas Panhandle, where snow blew in several times each winter — with the emphasis on “blew”!  (It’s a bit disconcerting to see snow fall sideways!)  One night a fairly big snow storm came through, dumping about eight inches of the beautiful white stuff.  I arose early, fixed a cup of hot cocoa, and sat down by my sliding glass doors.  Quiet solitude (blow).  Serene peace (sip).  Amazing God (mmmm).  Suddenly the phone broke the silence.

The caller was a harbinger of bad news.  The brother of one of my dear friends had died.  His death was a shock; he was only 53. I knew his sister, a Christian of strong faith, would be hurting.  Since she lived down the street from me, I donned my coat, hat, boots, and gloves and headed out.  Even in the sadness, the sight of the pristine snow was both breathtaking and inspiring. 

The snow was coming down quite heavily.  The neighborhood children had not yet emerged from their warm homes for snowball fights and snowman building, so the blanket of snow remained unwrinkled.  It was absolutely beautiful — a scene suited for a Christmas card!  When I got to the street, I saw a set of footprints in the snow.  Someone had passed this way only moments earlier.  I decided to walk in their tracks to keep from disturbing the snow any further. 

I finally arrived at the home of my friend and found her, of course, quite disturbed by her brother’s sudden death.  She had many questions for God and we raised them honestly to Him.  We talked, cried, and prayed.   When I knew it was time to leave, I began putting back on my winter garb.

“Why don’t you let me drive you home?” my friend asked.

“Oh, no!  I love to walk in the snow.  It’s one of my favorite things.  It’s so quiet and serene.  And, so far, the snow is undisturbed and pristine.  I love that!”

“But it’s pretty deep snow.  Isn’t it a bit hard to walk in?”

“Not really.  I saw a set of footprints in the snow, so I just walked in the steps of someone who had gone before me.  It was eas–”

I turned around quickly and looked at my friend. We stared at each other for a moment as a tear welled up in her eye.  We smiled at each other and I turned to leave. No words were necessary.  We knew what each heart was thinking and we left it there, one heart speaking to another.

What did we know?  That no situation in life exists where Someone hasn’t gone before us, marking out a path for us to follow.  Jesus knew the pain of losing a loved one.  Joseph, His earthly father, died while Jesus dwelt in flesh.  And even though Jesus knew He’d see His earthly father again, I’m sure His flesh hurt and His heart broke as He watched His mother grieve. 

My friend knew Who to go to for strength and compassion.  It was Jesus, the Great Shepherd who goes out before His sheep and marks out the way for them.  Jesus understood.  He knew her name and He knew her pain.  He would comfort her.  He would strengthen her.  He would give her peace.  All she needed to do was to walk in the footsteps of the One who had gone before.  And she did.

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;

he rises to show you compassion…

How gracious he will be when you cry for help!

As soon as he hears, he will answer you…

Whether you turn to the right or to the left,

your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,

“This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30:18-21

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There’s Blood on My Door!

My heart had a door,

            With lintel and post,

A rug on the floor

            But no “welcome” to boast.

 

My door was so neat –

            Everything just right –

The outside, so sweet;

            The inside, not quite.

 

“Self reliant am I,”

            My heart used to say.

But that was a lie

            I found out one day.

 

My door I kept locked,

            And me locked within,

Till one day “He” knocked

            And I let Him in.

 

He sat down to eat –

            He sat down with me!

And I fell at His feet.

            I had to!  You see…

 

He died for my sin

            My life to redeem;

For my “next of kin”*

            Loves to extreme!

 

Now blood’s on my door

            For I have been bought –

Right there on the floor

            Where grace marks the spot!

 

The Lamb paid my debt

            I ran up in pride;

And without regret

            He made me His Bride.

 

So, Death, pass me over;

            For there’s blood on my door!

My enslavement is over

            And I’m His evermore!

 

*In Hebrew, a Kinsman Redeemer refers the closest relative, or “next of kin,” who was to redeem the widow and/or land of a deceased kinsman or to redeem the kinsman from slavery.  Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer.  He became a flesh-and-blood brother for the purpose of redeeming His kin from the slavery of sin.
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I Know But Can’t No

I’m drowning — again!  Can someone throw me a line?  Better yet, can someone take that line and sew my mouth shut?  I mean to say “no”; I think to say “no”; I start to say “no” and “yes” comes out!  I think I’ve been abducted by aliens!

Not really.  I know the truth: I’m a wimp.  For someone like me who loves to serve the Lord and hates to be left out of anything, saying “no” requires great strength.  But I’ve got to learn.   I’ve got to discipline myself to pray before I say either “yes” or “no.”  I mean, I know that God has called me to work for Him, but I also know that I don’t corner the market on the gifts of teaching and service.  I know that by saying “yes,” I am standing in the way of the person God is actually calling to do the job.  I know that one of the greatest tools Satan uses against us is busyness and its resulting fatigue.  I know but I just can’t “no”!

How do they do it?  You know who I’m talking about.  Those people who are asked again and again to help in the ministry of the Church, yet they repeatedly say “no” and simply pew-sit each Sunday.  Checked off.  Spiritual duty done.  They don’t have a “no” problem.  “No, I don’t want to come to discipleship class.”  “No, I don’t have time to join a WMU group.”  “No, I’m not called to help with extended session.”  No this; no that; no, no, no.  Don’t they know —

Oh, wait a minute…  I’m beginning to get it.  I know but have a “no” problem; they “no” but have a know problem.  Hmmm…let me ruminate on this a minute.

I know what Paul teaches us about serving God:

  • “…Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
  • “…you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does…” (Ephesians 6:8).
  • “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Read those verses carefully.  Know your labor for the Lord is not in vain.  Know the Lord will reward you for the good you do.  Know that whatever you do you are actually working for the Lord, so you know you’ll receive an inheritance for your service.  Wow!  Wonderful truths to know and keep in your heart! 

To “no” or not to “no” — that is my question.  The answer?  Well, I know I need to “no” more often but it’s hard to “no” when you know what I know?  You know?

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I’m in the Resurrection Business!

Well, maybe not exactly.  Let me explain.

Early in July, I was looking at my calendar and realized that after I returned on August 2 from a business trip, I had absolutely no work left on my 2010 calendar.  I began to worry because, with all the battles we’re fighting at this point in our lives, my husband and I really need my extra income.  (Not to mention the fact that I’ve grown quite fond of eating!)  I immediately took my worry to God; He immediately reminded me of a prayer I prayed back in April. 

In my April 15 post entitled “Has Anyone Seen God Lately?” I wrote about a list of 5 Impossible Things that God wanted me to do.  I mentioned that I faltered on the 5th one so God did it for me.  Well, that didn’t exactly pan out like I thought.  You see, the 5th item was, “Quit URS” (my current job), but I just could not give up that paycheck.  Then my manager — the only person who uses my contract services — left the company.  I thought God had worked it all out because “no manager” meant “no work” for me — or so I thought. 

Rather than BUST, my job went BOOM!  May, June, and July were filled with more work than I’d had in a long while.  I thought, “Oh, no.  God is not going to do this for me.  Apparently He wants me to take the step — no the leap! — of faith, quit my job, and then He’ll do the impossible and provide for me.”  I thought about quitting; I prayed about quitting; I talked about quitting; but I couldn’t quit.

After a couple of weeks, I fell to my knees and confessed, “See, God? I just can’t do it. My flesh is too strong and my faith is too weak.  I know that You can do all things, but I can’t.  I just can’t quit this job that pays me so well at this time when we need it so badly.  Father, I don’t mean to be disobedient but if you want me to quit this job, then I need You to do it.  For me, it’s impossible.” 

As I sat there that hot July day, looking at my empty calendar and remembering the prayer I had prayed, I marveled at how completely God had done it for me.  The BOOM had finally turned to BUST.  When I say I had no work, I mean I had NO work:  no business trip to take, no training to present, no projects to complete, and, thus, not even emails to answer.  I looked up to heaven and said, “Okay, Lord, now what?  I’m trusting you to come through as You always have.  Show me how we are going to make it without this job.” 

My friends, within 1 hour after I prayed that prayer, the phone rang.  It was my nephew.  “Aunt Donna, how would you like to go to work with me?”

Well, to make a long story short, I am now fitting heart patients with the LifeVest (a wearable defibrilllator) while they await heart surgery.  Over 400 patients have been resuscitated by the vest this year alone!  I’ll be working with people at a very critical time in their lives and helping to calm their fears.  And, I won’t be traveling  so that I can spend more time working on my writing ministry.

When I hung up the phone, I thought, “Hey, I’m in the resurrection business!  I’m helping revive tired, physical hearts back into life-giving action and helping revive tired, spiritual hearts back into wholehearted devotion!” 

Yes, I know: Only God is truly in the resurrection business.   But I’m so grateful to my awesome Father for hearing the honest heart cry from his scared little child.  He heard my confession and moved on my behalf.  From my heart to Yours, Father, I love you!

For God is greater than our hearts,
and he knows everything. 

1 John 3:20b

(PS: Please forgive my lack of writing.  I have been snowed under trying to make the transition from one job to another.  Right now, I have 2 jobs vying for my time along with my personal life that’s pretty active right now, too.  Hopefully, things will calm down soon!  After a month of silence, thank you for returning!)