What I learned today

2 Kings 4:1-7

In this section of scripture, Elijah has just been taken up to heaven and Elisha has received a double portion of Elijah’s Spirit. On his way to Samaria he comes across a widow who is being threatened by debt collectors to take her sons as slaves to pay off a debt her husband left. Elisha asks her, “what can I do to help you? What do you have in the house?” She answers, “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil”. Elisha instructs her to get multiple jars to her home, to go inside with her sons and shut the door and to fill the jars with the oil she had. She did and continued to fill jar after jar with the oil. Afterward when she told Elisha what happened, he told her to sell the oil to pay the debt and to live off the rest.

Lesson #1:
God doesn’t ask us to give what we don’t have, but He does ask for everything we do have. God can do absolutely anything with everything we have-even if it’s “little”. Just give it to Him and let Him do the rest. He doesn’t need our help, just your open hands. Give what you have. He is faithful to fill every empty jar of our lives. Release what isn’t yours to begin with and present it to the Lord. Jars will be filled and there will be excess.

2Kings 4:8-37

Elisha then went to Shunem. A wealthy woman was there and invited him in for a meal. After that he continued to stop there whenever he passed that way for a meal. Discerning that Elisha was a man of God, the woman and her husband then made a room for Elisha to rest in during his travels. Looking to show gratitude for her kindness, Elisha asks her what he can do for her (“Put in a word to the king or the commander of the army?”). Ultimately Elisha’s servant notes that the woman has no children and that her husband is up in age. Elisha tells her that she will have a son within the year. Of course, it happens and one day when the boy is in the field with his father he cried out about a headache and later died. The woman immediately tells her husband to get a servant and a donkey so she can go to the man of God. Her husband asks why (it’s not a new moon festival or a Sabbath), she says, “it will be alright”. She then comes to Gehiza, Elisha’s servant who asks if everything is ok. Again she says, “everything is fine”. But when she comes to Elisha, she falls to the ground before him and catches hold of his feet. She then says to him, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn’t I say, ‘Don’t deceive me and get my hopes up?

Lesson #2:

The woman had 2 opportunities to alert others to what had happened but she didn’t. Her husband wanted to know why the rush to see the man of God? It’s not a holiday, not a special event. She just says, “it will be alright”. Gehiza also asks and she says, “everything is fine”. She only begins to discuss the issue with Elijah-who to her was the only one who could do something to solve her problem.

Sometimes we have to be deliberate in the sharing of our "stuff". There is an old adage, “Misery loves company”. There are times when we just want someone to wallow with us and after a while, that can do more harm than good. Sometimes we want to tell everyone about our issues and look to them for advice instead of talking to, listening for and being obedient to the Lord. It’s tough when you know what you want to hear…and you know exactly who will say those words to you. I have found that while talking to friends can be comforting, the Lord is the ultimate comforter and the One who can make a difference in any situation!

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
  All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
  Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
  O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
  Everything to God in prayer!

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/789#ixzz2wPSv9PUl

...and yet He loves

I love when I read the Word and something jumps out at me that I can struggle with and talk to Daddy about. This morning it was a piece of scripture from the Gospels: John 12

The chapter opens with Mary, loving on Jesus and pouring out her expensive perfume. After she pours it out on Jesus’ feet, Judas Iscariot says, “Why was this perfume not sold for 300 denarii [a year’s wages for an ordinary workman] and that [money] given to the poor (the destitute)?  Now he did not say this because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief; and having the bag (the money box, the purse of the Twelve) he took for himself what was put into it [pilfering the collections]” John 12:5-6 AMP

Wait…I’d missed this the first hundred times. Judas was not only Jesus’ betrayer, but a thief besides? The Treasurer of the group was a thief?

But he literally WALKED with Jesus. He heard the Words of God directly from the mouth of Jesus…as in he could TOUCH Him physically, every day. How does that happen?

We are a true mess without the Lord. Without Him we are nothing. But I realize that even as Christians, we are still not worthy. We still don’t deserve Him. We still are nothing compared to a Holy God. We can do nothing right without Him. It’s almost like, “wait, wasn’t Lazarus a literal FOLLOWER of Christ?” Because when you accept Christ and follow Him, that’s when you behave as you should all the time, that’s when you do everything right, right?

We will never know what it means for a truly Holy God to love a people who know what to do and still do the opposite (we hear you Paul).  Who know what sin is and the damage it causes and still partake of it. As a believer, I have a new-found awe and appreciation for the Lord that loves me. Even as I follow Him, I am a mess and He loves me still.

Embodied in this flesh that is constantly rising up and demanding to have it’s way and our eventual submissions to it...just to shut it up. This wretched flesh that insists on being satisfied. Our Lord loves us even when He knows our horrible thoughts and our sinful actions. His faithfulness and love are not conditional. No, I will never know how much it cost to see my sin on the cross, and I will also never understand what it means for Love to love me. Everyday…an "impossible" feat to love such a sinful people and yet, He neither falters nor hesitates to do so.

Slow down, check your rear view, put on your indicator...

Sometimes I just need to put the car of life in park…just pull over and switch the gear. Just let the world swirl around me-because chances are, it’s not stopping…pause all the phone calls, pressure, demands on my time for just a second. The anxiety, the fear, the worry, the doubt…those are not from my Father. I need to take a second to step away and be still (and be reminded that He is God). I need to take hold of what He has given me. His peace, His guidance and direction. His discernment, boldness, patience and Truth. They are gifts that left unopened leave me vulnerable to the world’s madness-and muddy my perspective. I choose to take hold of each of these gifts today.

Putting on my indicator >>>>>>

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 and cowardly and unsettled.]

John 14:27(AMP)

The ax head...the iron one

2 Kings 6:1-7

“One day a group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small. Let’s go down to the Jordan River where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.”

“All right,” he told them, “go ahead.”

“Please come with us,” someone suggested

“I will,” he said. So he went with them.

When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir”! he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!”

“Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface. “Grab it,“ Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it.”

What is the big deal? It was an ax head. When I first read this I just didn’t get it. It was an ax head. After reading it over and over and thinking on it for a bit, I realized the following:

God is interested in EVERYthing. Not just the big things, but the small as well. Elisha could’ve moved on and told the prophet to get another one along the way. I know that God wants to be an integral part of my everyday life. Certainly not just “invited in” when things are difficult or I am in need. He wants it all. Even the ax heads.

The prophet cried out on behalf of someone else’s property. I think God responds most when our “cries” are directed outward. Not just about us but about and for others. Yes, it was “just” an ax head, but it was borrowed and I believe it was the prophet’s anguish over the borrowed item that led God to respond to his cry.

It was not lost on me that Elisha cut a STICK and threw it in the water. A STICK. The ax head was iron. I can just see him throwing a little twig in the water where that ax head sunk and watching that heavy piece of iron float to the top. He could’ve done it any other way. The Lord saw fit for Elisha to perform this miracle with a stick. I am reminded that God can do so much more than we think if we just give Him what we have and not put limitations on what we think He can/should do. Little is much in God’s Hands. Give it to Him.

Listen

1Kings 20:35-37 NLT

Meanwhile, the Lord instructed one of the group of prophets to say to another man, “Hit me!” But the man refused to hit the prophet. Then the prophet told him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me.” And when he had gone, a lion did attack and kill him.

When God speaks, listen.

There are lions.

#thatisall

One night at Prayer Meeting

I read a lot. I can appreciate a good book that takes me away from the constants of everyday life. I love to read for many reasons and it’s hard for me to specify a preferred genre. If someone tells me a book is really good, chances are I will at least attempt to read it.

The Bible is not a book.

Last night at prayer meeting, the Lord gave me a glimpse of something that for me was profound.

The Bible is not a book.

When I read books, I am reading about a person “over there”. Someone else’s life. I am learning about someone else’s experiences, how they handle their conflict, how they resolve it. I am only related to that person for a time during which I am allowed a sneak peek into their lives. We don’t know each other. We won’t engage with each other after the last page of the book. I may become attached to a character while I am reading the book, I might consider how I would solve a problem compared to how they did, I may even desire a life like theirs for a time. ..but when the book is over, it’s over.

The Bible is not a book.

I realized last night that the Jesus of the fish, the Jesus of the boat and the Jesus who freed the demon possessed man (John 6:5-20), are all mine. He is not just a character to be read about in a book, to be enjoyed for a time. He is the true, living God. He is a TODAY God. He is RIGHT NOW. The Bible is not a history book. It is life, it is NOW.

I am humbled that the God Who created the stars and put them in the sky knows who I am. He knows my thoughts before I think them, has the solution for my problems before I utter a prayer, He knows me through and through. But He doesn’t stop at simply “knowing” me. He speaks to me! He protects, directs, guides, comforts, defends, prays for, sings over, thinks about, covers, helps, provides for, heals, saves and loves ME! His love is active. He is doing all of this. Right now. Today.

The creator of the universe, of all things I know and see, of every good thing, has taken “time” to create a purpose and a plan for my life. MY life. Specifically. Mine. From beginning to end, He thought of me enough to create a plan…and it’s not a “I created that plan and now I am done” type of plan. My bible says “For I know the plans I HAVE for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV emphasis mine). That speaks of a current plan. While my life may change and my perspective may be different from time to time, the Lords plan to prosper me remain. But wait…don’t miss this…the creator of the universe created a plan for MY life (and YOURS!)

Selah (pause and calmly think of that).

The One Who parted the waters listens to me when I speak. When I pray, He listens. Wait…He doesn’t just listen, He acts on my behalf. He responds. That I can utter a word and not be struck down is amazing but the fact that He RESPONDS to something I say? That He DOES in response to my feeble words? Amazing.

The bible is truth. It is life. It is now. The awesomeness of that is too overwhelming for me to comprehend. The God we read about knows and loves us. Today, right now, He is loving you because His love doesn’t sit still. While our lives feel like chapters sometimes, this Truth goes on and on for eternity. There’s no book to close…

Amen.

I love you Lord
and I lift my voice
to worship you, oh my soul…rejoice
Take heart my King
in what You hear
let it be a sweet, sweet sound
in Your ear
Psalm 35:9 (Scriptural reference)

Say "hello" for me Pastor David!

I am moved by the life and devotion of David Wilkerson. When i heard of his untimely, sudden death, all i could think was, "gosh, what a way to live!". He loved his Father immensely and shared Him constantly. His words have been an encouragement for many over the years. While reviewing his blog (www.davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com), I came across the entry he posted the day before he met our Lord. It moved me and I think it will bless you.

May the constant, insatiable yearn of our hearts be to live lives pleasing unto God...not comfortable, not impressive, not happy...but pleasing unto the Lord. Thank You Lord for David Wilkerson's life. It is a reminder that ours is not promised and that only that which we do with eternal value matters...

Tuesday, April 26, 2011
WE ARE TESTED BY OUR FALLS AND FAILINGS, posted by David Wilkerson

I do not mean that Christians who fall back into old sins and turn back to the world are being tested. No, those believers face a shipwreck of faith.

But Peter warned, “Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:17). Peter is warning believers who are growing in holiness and are set on following the Lord.

Some of you may have taken a fall in spite of all the progress you’ve made with the Lord. If I asked you what caused your fall, you might answer, “Brother Dave, it was a fit of anger. I was provoked by my own family and I blew up. I can’t understand it. I thought I was becoming a little sweeter, a little more like Jesus. But somebody just pushed the wrong button and I lost it.” You may say, “I’m only human. How much am I supposed to take?”

It does not matter that you were provoked or even that you were in the right. The provoking simply proved you need deliverance. Scripture says, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor [fighting], and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice [grudges]” (Ephesians 4:31).

God is going to keep testing you until you say, “I’ve got a spirit in me that’s got to go.” You will see no growth in Christ, no peace at home or on the job, until you can say, “You’re right, Lord—take it out!”

If you’re being tested in this area, or any other area for that matter, you may be thinking, “I feel so unworthy. How much ground have I lost? Does the Lord still love me?”

Dear saint, if you have truly repented, you haven’t lost any ground whatsoever. God puts his loving arms around you and says, “I allowed that to happen so you would see what’s in your heart. But you’re making progress. You’ve said you want to walk with me, and I’m teaching you. I know what’s inside of you and I’ll allow you to be provoked until you get rid of it all.”

Are you being tested? If so, just pray: “Lord, you’ve put your finger on some areas in me. Pluck them out of my heart. Encourage me, Lord, that I’m not going backward—I’m going forward with you!

Amen...and Amen