Control

Jesus had been scourged and then brought before Pilate. Pilate was actually afraid and asked, “Where are you from?” Jesus didn’t answer. Pilate then responded with, “Don’t you know I have the power to release you…or crucify you?!” Jesus spoke and said, “You have no power except what God gives you!”

I waltz through life thinking I’m in control—until I’m faced with an overwhelming situation and realize I’m not—and never really had control.  My life is to be an expression of God’s life through me. He wants the world to see what HE can do—not what I can do. Left to my own, I create messes. He creates order which brings victory!

I’m not saying we can’t do good things. We’re made in the image of God and are Christ-bearers. But we are so limited. Our vision is limited. Our strength is limited. Our knowledge is limited. Our wisdom is limited.

Why don’t we trust God more? He has everything in His hands. He knows the beginning from the end. He has all wisdom and all power! And yet we rely on our limited strength. It’s familiar. It’s what we can see and touch!

LET GO and trust God. I know it feels scary. But you never really had control. It’s an illusion. Satan gives you the illusion of control and power so you won’t depend on God!  He fears what God can—and WILL do through you.  

“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,”  Ephesians 3:20 AMP

What Just Happened?

Judas and a contingent of soldiers came to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. I love how John describes the scene in John 18. Jesus knew what was about to happen…and he stepped forward. Jesus stepped INTO the Father’s plan for his life. He stepped FORWARD. 

Jesus asked who they were seeking and they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus responded with, “I AM.”  Now the New King James says that Jesus said, “I am He.” But when you look up these words in the Greek, it says, “I AM.”  Remember what God told Moses to tell Pharoah when he went to ask for the release of Israel?  He said, “Tell him I AM WHO I AM sent you.” Jesus was declaring at this moment who he was!  I AM!

Now this is the exciting part! When Jesus declared who he was, it says they all fell backwards! I picture them being like a run of dominoes falling all over each other! What just happened? Was it the atoms in their bodies responding to the voice of the One who created them? Was it God displaying His authority? Was it Jesus declaring he didn’t have to die—but he was choosing to die for our sins?

I don’t know. It’s one small verse tucked away in John…and we’re left wondering, “What just happened?!?” Jesus stepped forward while his captors fell backwards. They were never in control.  

Eternity

Eternal death began the moment you were born physically. Because the first man, Adam, sinned, we were then all subsequently born into sin. Romans 5:12 says death spread to all men because of Adam’s choice. So eternal death begins the moment you are born physically. Everyone will reach a point of understanding the truth that we’re a sinner and need a savior. Do NOTHING…and you will die and go to hell.  

But…if you recognize you are a sinner and realize that Jesus, the Son of God, lived a perfect life without sin and died on the cross, taking the sins of the world upon Himself, you’re faced with a choice! Your eternity depends upon that choice.  Do nothing and you have an eternity of DEATH and torment. Choose to believe Jesus’ death was for you and you ask for His forgiveness and choose to follow Him—and eternal LIFE begins at that moment.  

YES!!  Eternal LIFE begins when you repent and give your life, your allegiance, to Jesus!  Eternal life begins here on earth! And what is eternal life? What will we be doing now and in heaven? According to Jesus’ last prayer for His followers in John 17, eternal life is knowing God the Father and God the Son. He wants to reveal Himself to us. We will never know the depths of God—but we should be trying—even now! As we begin to plumb the depths of who God is, faith expands, relationship is built, and intimacy grows. We will never know all of the expanses of God—David says He is unsearchable. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t search. It just means we’ll never come to an end of knowing Who He is.  

Eternal life begins at the point of salvation. Knowing God is our ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment. 

Truth Cards

Are you in a crisis? Maybe you’ve been there a long time! It could be with parents who constantly put you down, a marriage where you’re verbally abused, a prodigal son or daughter dealing with addictions, or a crisis of faith where you no longer know what is true. Or maybe there’s no crisis—you just need truth! 

I want to make a suggestion. Go and buy a package of 3x5 cards. On each card, write a truth from the Word of God. It may be as simple as “God loves me! John 3:16.” Each card should contain one truth that God says about you. You will have to open your Bible and search it to do this exercise—which is exactly where you will find TRUTH!  God’s Word IS truth and He wants you to know truth!  John 17:17 says we are sanctified (set apart from profane things) by truth. 

After you are armed with dozens of truth cards, begin reading them daily. It takes WEEKS of reading these cards out loud before your mind begins to believe them. Put them on your mirror, in your car, in your kitchen—wherever you will see them every day. Read them out loud so your soul (mind, will, and emotions) and spirit hear them and begin to believe them. 

Satan wants nothing more than to fill your mind with lies. He’s been doing it since you were a small child. It’s time to fill your mind with TRUTH!  “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free!” John 8:32. You can’t imagine the kind of freedom that moves in when you fixate on truth. Chains will fall off!

Truth cards are a simple tool to transform and renew your mind and bring you to that place of freedom. Make truth cards with your children—give them a jumpstart to freedom! 

In My Name

Kaye Smith is my friend. If I were to ask her to do something—knowing she COULD do it—what would that be? Well…I could ask her to write her name  mirror image. She’s left-handed and amazes people with that skill. I would ask her to make a cheesecake—because she makes the very best! I would ask her which wildflowers to plant together because she has beautiful gardens. I would go to her with ALL of my medical questions because she’s the best diagnostician I know!

What would I NOT ask of her? I wouldn’t ask her how to repair my car. I wouldn’t ask her about mountain climbing…and she knows nothing about building a roller coaster. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that she wouldn’t help me rob a bank! That would be unthinkable to her. 

Jesus told us in John 16:23 to ask anything in His name. The Hebrew means to ask in “the name used for everything that name covers.” I know what Kaye’s name covers—and what it doesn’t.  What does Jesus’ name cover? He owns everything and is over everything. What does it not cover? Anything illegal to His name—sin or selfishness.  

Kaye is a beautiful friend and is willing to help anyone who calls on her. Everyone who knows her knows her strengths and we’ve all called on her for some pretty amazing help. 

How much more can Jesus do?! Ask in His name…and all that His name covers.  

Abide

Just as these grapes won’t grow unless they’re attached to the vine, we won’t grow if we’re not attached to Jesus. In fact, John 15 says, “He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing.”

Think about that! If we’re not attached to Jesus with His life flowing through us, WE CAN DO NOTHING! (Not even one thing, according to the Greek.) In fact, Jesus said if we don’t abide in Him, we’re like a dead branch that’s cast into the fire. And if we DO bear fruit, He prunes us so that we’ll bear more fruit. Come to think of it—those hard things that happen in our lives may not be Satan attacking us.  It may be God using His pruning shears on us for a very good purpose—to create more fruit. 

We can do NOTHING apart from Jesus…but then He tells us that if we abide in Him and His words abide in us, we can ask for whatever we desire and it will be done for us. WOW! His desires become our desires. 

The Greek for “abide” means to remain, dwell, sojourn with, tarry, continue with, to wait for, to endure, to continue to be present, to last. Stay with Jesus. Stay in His Word. Walk with Him and remain with Him. Don’t leave! 

And then ask and it will be done. I love what the Greek says about this. It will come into existence, it will appear in history, it will come upon the stage!

There’s so much power and LIFE in abiding and asking!!

God is Greater

Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure. He’d told them that the Holy Spirit would come and teach them all things and that He wouldn’t leave them as orphans—He’d be back. And then He told them to ask the Father anything in His name, He would do it. And then He says this: “If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.”

I read that verse and wondered what it means that the Father is greater than Jesus. I asked the Holy Spirit to teach me. Blue Letter Bible says greater means greater. Jesus and the Holy Spirit both submit to the Father. Jesus said he only did what He saw the Father doing. The Holy Spirit said he brings messages from the Father and not on His own authority.  

I was driving to the grocery store this morning and was complaining to God about a situation that affects me. I’d gotten to a place of forgiveness and letting go, and God spoke to my heart, “My plan is greater than your plan. I am greater than you.” I actually started laughing!  The Holy Spirit has a powerful and quick way of teaching!!

God is good and only does good. God is greater. His plan is greater. Thank You, God!!

Dust

In John 13, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. Peter, believing it’s too servile a task for Jesus to be doing, exclaims, “You will never wash my feet!”  Jesus responds with, “If you don’t let me wash your feet, you will have no part with me.”  So Peter responds with, “Then wash my head and hands, too!” Jesus says, “He who is bathed, needs only his feet washed—not his whole body.”

I believe Jesus uses this as a metaphor for what happens to us as we walk through the world. When we accept God’s gift of salvation, our “whole body” is cleansed. We’re saved for all of eternity!  We are His and He will never leave us. But then our “feet” get dirty from walking in this world which is dominated by sin. Our spirit is saved and made new…but we still walk in the flesh. We still sin. And we need God’s forgiveness—and the forgiveness of others. That’s why Jesus told his disciples that they must wash one another’s feet. Forgive one another.  

Dust is so interesting. Genesis 2:7 says man was made from dust.  The Hebrew word is āpār which means dry earth, dust, ashes, mortar. So man’s flesh, his body, was made or built from dust. Man also creates dust when he sins (flesh).  Genesis 3:14 says that because the serpent (Satan) caused man to sin, he was cursed. He would now eat dust for the rest of his days.  Some scholars believe that through the years, the serpent has eaten so much dust that he has grown exponentially and has become the dragon in Revelation 12:9.  

Let’s not give the serpent dust to eat. Let’s keep our hearts pure and forgive one another quickly. Let’s wash one another’s feet.  

Hearing God

Twenty-nine years ago, Peter Lord came to our church and taught on “hearing God.” At the time, the Baptist leadership had asked him not to speak about it publicly—just to small groups. I’m sure they were afraid of the topic. So Peter complied and offered to teach a group of open-minded young people at First Baptist Church Borger how to hear God. I was more open than I’d ever been and eagerly approached him after the service.  I told him, “I know I’m not young (I was 40), but I really want to learn!”

He took us through a simple exercise of asking God questions and then listening to that still, small voice in our hearts for the answer. It was transformational in my life. 

But back up a few years…I had gone through a time of examining many old teachings and belief systems I had held—asking God to reveal truth about each of them. It had been a painful process. So I wasn’t inclined to just accept anyone’s teaching without comparing it to scripture. I was careful. So I began the process of examining this teaching of “hearing God.”

Some of the scripture that God led me to were these:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.“ John 10:27

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”

Isaiah 30:21

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-14

This last passage convinced me that we SHOULD hear God’s voice (or the Spirit’s voice—He & God are one!). Some of the functions of the Holy Spirit are to teach us, guide us, counsel us, and help us. We must HEAR him for those things to happen. 

**IMPORTANT NOTE: What the Spirit speaks to our hearts will never contradict what the Word of God says. Satan imitates everything God does. He will speak to you and try to deceive you.  You MUST be a student of the Word of God to know the difference. Always examine whose voice you’re hearing.  

How do you hear God’s voice? As you read the Bible, ask the Spirit to teach you. Your eyes will be opened to truth. Very often, one verse will “jump out” at you and you can stop and ask the Spirit to give you understanding. And then listen. You won’t hear an audible voice (although some have)—but a voice in your heart or mind. It takes practice. (I often compare knowing God’s voice to learning to differentiate Andy [my husband] & Phil’s voices. They are identical twins with identical voices. But after being married almost 50 years, I can easily tell them apart because I’ve spent so much time with Andy.) I practice hearing God’s voice the same way—with repetition. I usually journal my conversations with God. 

There are times when you need a specific answer which may not be in the Bible. For instance: Do I move to Pampa or Borger? You’ll find principles in the Bible (such as God will light your path). But this is when hearing God’s voice is so helpful. The verse above in Isaiah says God will tell us to turn right or left. Trust that He wants you to KNOW!

One other thing…you WILL mess up!!  I’ve messed up over and over. But God doesn’t beat us up for trying and failing!!  He’s a gentle Father. He wants you to hear His voice. Just like you didn’t spank your child for falling when he was learning to walk!  Oh no!  You cheered his successes!  God will do the same for you.  Admit to God, “I messed up.” And then get up and brush yourself off and listen again. Satan very much wants to stop this process. He knows the power that comes from you hearing God’s voice.  

Ask God questions and then listen. Be still.  You can’t rush God…just like you can’t rush a new and budding relationship with a potential spouse. The fun is in the time you spend together getting to know one another.  God’s greatest desire is to fellowship with you. He may have put you in a place of questions so you’ll come to Him for answers. He delights to spend time with you. He wants to do more than give you directions. He wants to tell you the secrets of His heart!

Be still…and listen!

Secret Disciples

There have been secret disciples since Jesus was alive! Jesus even talked about them in John 12. There were rulers who believed in Him, but didn’t confess Him…because they feared man more than God. They were afraid they’d be kicked out of the synagogue if they followed Jesus openly. He said, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness.”

There are still secret disciples in 2025. There are people who believe Jesus is the Son of God but want to follow at a distance. They’re afraid that if they publicly affirm Jesus as their savior, they might lose their marriage, their job, their country club golfing buddies, their roadtripping/shopping girlfriends, a seat at the dinner table, or their standing in the community. They fear man more than God. 

Jesus didn’t ask us to be secret disciples. He went on to say, “I speak whatever the Father has told me to speak.” That’s the kind of disciple He desires. Bold ones. Those who will speak truth openly. Those who spend time with the Father, know His heart, and share His message. 

To be a bold disciple takes fearing God more than men. 

Take Me to Ephraim

Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead and the Pharisees were plotting to seize Him and kill Him. So Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews but retreated with His disciples from Bethany to Ephraim (which means “double fruitfulness.”).   

How long were they there? Maybe up to six weeks. What did they do there? I’m just guessing…but I bet they did some of these things:

•Played games and laughed their heads off! They’d come from a very stressful situation and needed a stress reliever. Sometimes we forget they were very human and had fun together. Laughter is good medicine. 

•Sang & prayed. They wanted to hear the Father. They NEEDED to hear the Father. And they met God as they worshiped Him. 

•Rested. Things had been very intense. The time for ministry was over. Their bodies, minds, and emotions were spent. They needed deep rest.  

•Embraced privacy. They needed alone time. People had clamored for their attention for three years. These were Jesus’ final days and He wanted to spend this time investing in His disciples.  It was a time of intimacy. 

I don’t think God tells us what they did during those six weeks for a reason. It was their time alone with Jesus, meeting their specific needs. 

Have you been through a stressful season? Ask God to take you to Ephraim. 

What if Prison is the Best?

Paul was in prison for living boldly and sharing the gospel. Don’t you imagine he chafed at being stuck in prison—when he could be doing so much more on the outside?  He was human with very human feelings, so I imagine he wrestled with being stuck in prison. His desire was to expand the kingdom of God! So he did what he could—he wrote to believers in the churches he’d established to comfort, instruct, and encourage them. 

Have you ever been there? You want so badly to be a part of what God is doing—but you feel stuck. You’re in a lifeless place fighting battles you never wanted to be a part of. Or you’re confined to home when you want to be out doing! You may be in a dead-end job with no hope for the future. You are taking care of toddlers and trying to stay ahead of the chaos. We’ve all been there in one way or another.  

What if prison is exactly where God wants us? (Or those lifeless-feeling places). Maybe there’s something God has for us there.  I don’t know that Paul knew he was writing the New Testament…but he had time to write and pray. So that’s what he did. He was sharing the good news of Jesus from his prison cell. He asked the churches to pray that God would open a door for him to speak. He just didn’t know that’s what God was doing all along. Maybe Paul was in prison so he would have time to write! He just had no idea he was also writing to you and me—thousands of years later. 

Apparently, God’s BEST plan was prison. I don’t think Paul had a clue all that God was doing in that prison cell.

Blood in the Water

Lysa Terkeurst says demons smell unforgiveness like a shark smells blood in the water. I think that is very descriptive—and true. 

Unforgiveness affects our spirits, our minds, our emotions, and our bodies…which means it affects our entire being. She goes on to say that God’s forgiveness flows to us and we must cooperate with God and forgive those who’ve hurt us. When we forgive, we symbolically take our hands off of our offender’s throat.

I can’t promise that when you forgive your offender that everything will magically be ok. They may never forgive YOU! But they are responsible for their own choices—and you can’t make those choices for them. But you can pave the way for future relationship by forgiving them and releasing them of your anger or any retaliation. The prodigal’s father stood at the gate waiting for his son to come home with forgiveness in his heart—even though that son had wasted his entire inheritance on sinful living. Interestingly, the prodigal's brother refused to forgive him. The father encouraged the brother to forgive and reminded him that all that he owned was his. He refused to forgive. That unforgiveness didn’t keep the prodigal and his father from enjoying a party to celebrate the prodigal’s homecoming! They apparently continued life without the unforgiving brother—even though he was invited in. God says, “If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18). I think the prodigal’s story sets a precedence in how to handle every aspect of forgiveness or unforgiveness.

FORGIVENESS 

•Repent

•Forgive & Receive 

•Restored Relationship

UNFORGIVENESS

•Encourage forgiveness with an invitation to relationship

•Be prepared to do life without that person.   

Don’t entice the demons with unforgiveness. Forgiveness will set YOU free!

The Start-up of a New Kingdom

This morning as I read Luke 21 and Jesus’ words about the cost of discipleship, my mind went to the men who founded America.  Those who were in the beginning phases of establishing a new “kingdom,” paid a heavy price that most of us don’t understand.   

Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence to establish the nation of the United States of America. The start-up of a new government was expensive and most either gave all they had to start our government or lost their wealth for supporting the cause. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Many lost family members because of leading this worthy cause; it was clearly divisive.  There were threats to their lives or the lives of their families from those who opposed them. To start a new nation was costly.  

The same was true for the twelve disciples involved in spreading the news of the new kingdom that Jesus came to establish. Of the twelve, ten were martyred.  Judas hung himself and John probably died of natural causes—but only after being miraculously rescued after being thrown in a cauldron of boiling oil, according to Tertullian. The disciples gave up possessions and homes to follow Jesus. They had to prioritize him over their families. It was costly to be a disciple.  

We’ve forgotten the price that was paid for the establishment of a “new kingdom.” Now we walk around with expectations of what we’re owed. People in leadership look to make a profit off of their positions instead of investing all they have.  We no longer count the cost—we impose the cost on those under us.  

We should examine why our founding fathers and the disciples were willing to pay such a high price. 

Freedom always comes at a price. 

Occupying

Jesus told a parable of a man who had 10 servants and gave them each 10 minas (money) and told them, “Occupy until I come.” When he came back, he asked for an accounting. One man gained double, another 1 1/2, but another hid his money. Reward (or rebuke) was given according to their profit (or lack thereof). 

Jesus was making the point to His disciples that they were to occupy, to carry on kingdom business, until He returns.  

What has God given to you? What has He put in your hands? Money, talent, carpentry skills, accounting, nursing, car repair, parenting, preaching? Do that for the kingdom. The important thing is to KNOW what’s in your hand and expand it for God. 

So many times we hide our gifts because we’re afraid to use them, afraid we’ll be critiqued, or afraid we’re doing it wrong. And sometimes we wait for the BIG thing because we think our gifts are too unimportant.  

For two years, I’ve felt sidelined in kingdom work. All I knew to do was what was right in front of me. So I’ve been a friend to a woman walking through something very hard. And I’ve written prayer journals. I’ve sent one to everyone in my family and to friends—and still writing. These may seem like a small thing—but they’re filled with power! I’ve asked God to unleash His power through each prayer I prayed. 

Don’t wait on the big thing! What if each small thing IS the big thing? Don’t stand in front of Jesus and say, “I hid it. I was afraid.” Do the thing right in front of you! Give God more than He gave you.  

Furnished and Prepared

Have you ever had one of those days when you just feel compelled to get things done—and you’re not even sure what’s driving you? I have. And as I was cooking or cleaning, I’d be thinking, “This makes no sense!” But then someone would show up on my doorstep, and I’d realize God was the Great Orchestrator.  

I was reading Mark 14 and verse 15 jumped out at me. Jesus had told two of his disciples to go into the city and follow a man carrying water (highly unusual since women did that job) and ask the master, “Where is the room for the Passover?” And verse 15 says, “Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared, there make ready for me.”

The master of the house had already prepared the room—without knowing why. Don’t you know everything fell into place in his mind when he was asked where the room was?

When you feel compelled to clean, decorate, cook, fill the car up with gas, get the children dressed, or any number of things…just do it! You might be preparing for Jesus.  

Tipping Point

Mark tells us about the tipping point for the disciples. It’s the story in Mark 14 of the woman who anointed Jesus’ head with oil, preparing him for his burial. Arguably, the event had nothing to do with them (which is a lesson we should learn from). As Jesus pointed out, her act of love would be told throughout time.  

What is a tipping point? It’s an event—or crisis—usually following many smaller events, which creates a response from us. When the scales are tipped, we’ll either fall into the arms of God…or Satan. It’s a choice. We always have a choice.  

Judas was the keeper of the purse for the group. He’d been pilfering money from said purse. So we know money was on his mind. This event made him indignant that a huge amount of money had been “wasted.” So when Jesus rebuked him instead of the woman and the scales were tipped…he chose Satan.  He ran to the chief priests to betray Jesus.  

You may have had a crisis moment lately. We all have them. The scales have been tipped. Whose arms will you fall into? Will you embrace Truth or the lie? If Judas could stand before you today, he’d plead with you to choose Jesus.  

Twirling

When was the last time you woke up and did a little twirl over your day? Psalm 118:24 says, This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.” 

To rejoice means to twirl! It’s waking up and knowing God has prepared this day just for you. It’s EXPECTING Him in your day. Even though hard things may come, it’s completely understanding God is your Fortress, your Defender, your Shield, the Wing that covers you, your Hope, your Strength—and oh, so much more!!

To “be glad” doesn’t just mean that I will be glad—it means I will brighten someone else’s day as well. It’s me looking for divine opportunities to invest God’s goodness in others.  

GOD has made this day!  It’s like no other. Will you twirl?

Seven Years

Tomorrow will be 7 years since Liz Dietz went to heaven. This morning, I read back through every post I made about her journey on FB and cried—remembering the hard and the sweet. I clearly remember the day Andy & I took her to a doctor’s appointment in Amarillo and stopped at her favorite restaurant, Olive Garden. She ordered food and then decided she’d wait in the car. I knew in that moment I’d be moving in with her and caring for her. Andy & I talked about it over that meal. That was in January. I moved in the next day  She died May 4.  

Liz had vulva cancer. It’s an ugly, horrible cancer and is very painful. It was so hard to keep her pain-free. I can remember ministering to her and she’d say, “I never thought my daughter-in-law would have to do this!” I’d say, “Me neither!” And we’d both laugh. 

You may not know this, but Liz and I had a difficult relationship. I married the first twin—and it was hard for her to let go. Plus I was fighting for acceptance—in every wrong way, I’m sure. Her cancer journey was healing for both of us. She finally knew I loved her and she thanked me often. It was also hard. I kept asking God (as I’d sit at the nursing home with her for hours), “Are you sure this is what I need to be doing??” It was monotonous. But God knew that the consistency of my presence would speak love to Liz. 

A couple of moments stand out to me. One was when every door closed to keep her in the nursing home. We had to take her home. I shut down emotionally and mentally. I was also exhausted physically.  I had worked for weeks with the help of my sister-in-law, Amy (an estate lawyer), to keep her in the nursing home—but bureaucratic red tape kept it from happening.  We had no idea how long she’d live at that point, and all I could see was caring for her all by myself for an extended period of time. (That never happened throughout the journey. Family always jumped in to help! But I couldn’t see that in the moment through the fog of exhaustion and disappointment.). I was completely overwhelmed. 

The other moment was while she was still in the nursing home. Liz did NOT want to die. She had a hard time letting go of everything here. She was asleep one day and I stood over her and said, “Let go, in Jesus’ name!” About the third time I said it, she woke up and had heard me.  😳🤣. She looked me dead in the eye and said, “I will. But you have to pick up the baton and carry it.”  I assured her I would. What baton was that? I knew immediately—the baton of sharing Christ and praying for the family. Those were the two things we knew her for most!

Two nights before she died, I was sleeping in her room to be near in case she needed me and she talked to people in heaven all night long. She’d been talking to her sister, Beverly, and her husband, Bob. And she said, “I’m coming!  Just give me a minute!”   🤣 

We talk about Liz a lot. One of our favorite things she’d say was a long drawn-out, “Welllllllll, honey!”  It was kind of like a southern, “Bless your heart!” But if she didn’t agree with you, you’d just get a, “Welllllll…” 

Liz loved the Lord and she loved people!! She led many people to Christ and discipled them. Seven years have flown by. I’m so grateful we finished well with our relationship. And I think she’d be pleased to know the majority of her family are carrying the baton!

*This photo is my favorite of her. Ricky Garzon had come to her room and played his guitar and led us in worship. Liz was worshiping.

Control

We try to control things, don’t we?  We want a good outcome and think if we control things, it will be better. We try to control spouses, children, circumstances, employees, systems, and basically anything that touches our lives. We want things (or people) the way we want them. 

Is there anywhere that God gives us that kind of control?  I can’t find it. You might say, “But we’re to submit to one another—and children are to submit to parents.” Isn’t submission a choice of that other person? We’re certainly to train our children and teach them to obey—and sometimes that involves consequences. Discipling children is teaching them to obey God by learning to obey you. (I wish I’d used the term “discipling” in my head instead of “disciplining” when raising my children. That one switch-up makes a lot of difference in how you train your children!)

My point is the only thing God tells us to control is ourselves. Self-control. And the interesting thing is—it’s a fruit of the Spirit! WE CAN’T EVEN CONTROL OURSELVES WITHOUT THE HELP OF GOD!! Self-control is an outcome of abiding in the Spirit. 

Our eyes focus on everything and everyone around us. God intends for us to look upward. Why do we feel out of control and start grabbing at people and circumstances, trying to control outcomes? Because our focus may be on the bad behavior of others. We’ve forgotten God is in control. Fear has moved in where faith should reside. We need to walk in faith and abide in the Spirit and give Him complete control of us. 

And then—pray our hearts out for those we want to control. 

Grace of God

Do you know what’s going on in the lives of your church members? Do you need to be shaken a bit so the doors of your heart open wider to those around you? Is God calling you to invest in others? Order this book today!!

I spoke at a women’s retreat this past Saturday. A woman came up to me afterwards and unassumingly told me she’d written a book and handed it to me. It was a short encounter. But boy—was God making a powerful impact!

I came home and read her book. Her story has shaken me. I won’t spoil the story for you—but just let me say, “You may have a child sitting in your church who is being abused. You may have a woman who is about to step over the edge mentally and emotionally and doesn’t know where to turn. You are most assuredly surrounded by needs!”  We can “play church”…or we can roll up our sleeves and help those God has brought to us. God always uses a two-edged scalpel—one side to help those in trouble and the other side to teach the helpers. 

I remember the first time God asked me to help someone. I told the woman in crisis, “I don’t have all the answers—but God does! I can walk with you and pray with you and we can let God teach us.”   That’s all you need to know to help others. In fact, in Cathy’s book, you’ll see that the people who ministered to her most just sat with her quietly. 

Again…read the book. And raise your hand and tell God, “Pick me!” Let’s do more than sit in church and rub shoulders with people. Let’s partner with God and help others come out of the darkness and into God’s great and marvelous light!

Change…or Growth?

A couple of days ago, God spoke this to my heart, “Change is inevitable; growth is optional.” You see, everything changes!! It may not be a good change…but it changes. It’s the way of the world. Change happens every day, every hour, every minute. You have to choose to grow! You choose spiritual, mental, and emotional growth. There comes a time when your mother no longer feeds you and you become accountable for your own nourishment. 

Years ago, I asked a Lamaze coach what happens to a baby who stays in the womb too long. Know what she said? It decomposes.  That’s also the way of the world. When something quits growing, it begins to decompose. That’s change! Even weeds that aren’t fed begin to wither. 

We have a choice. Will we grow in Christ? Or will we neglect the most important growth process there is? You feed yourself spiritually by reading your Bible and opening your spirit to the Spirit of God and talking with Him. True growth doesn’t happen just by listening to preachers—although that’s helpful.  It’s opening your Bible and asking the Spirit to teach you. He will!

You’re either growing or decomposing.  There’s no middle ground. Jesus is the Bread of Life! Feast on Him and you’ll grow!

What do I Get?

“What do I GET?” Isn’t that the question we begin asking at a very young age? We do something to please others—or win a game—and we want a prize! My sister and her five-year-old grandson, Truett, were here this past weekend.  He’d gotten a new indoor golf set and couldn’t wait to show me how good he was at getting a hole-in-one! As he was lining up his shot, he told me, “I get to wash dishes!!” He’d won an earlier game…and the prize his grandmother gave him was getting to wash dishes after dinner!  (Don’t laugh too hard—washing dishes is one of his favorite things to do!)

God tells us in Matthew 6 not to do things just to get a reward. Oh! There will be a reward if done in the right way—but it will come from the Father and not from men. Don’t pray just to get man’s attention. Don’t give and blare a horn so everyone notices. Don’t fast and look haggard just so men think you are pious. The only reward you receive when you do things to get noticed by men is the notice of men. There’s no reward from God. But when we focus on the kingdom of God and do these things to please Him, HE will reward us! It may not be an immediate reward—it may not even be given until we are in heaven. But we are to serve to please God and God alone. 

Mom and dad came to pick Truett up yesterday. After hearing about his hole-in-one and the prize of washing dishes, his dad told him if he could get another hole-in-one, he could mop the floor when he got home! My guess is Truett will eventually learn not to trust the reward of men. 

 

Who was Joseph?

If I were to ask you, “Who was Joseph in Matthew 1 & 2?” What would you say? How would you describe him?

•Would you say he was engaged to Mary?

•Would you say he was a descendant of David?

•What about a disappointed fiancè?

•How about a just or righteous man?

He was all of those things. He came from a pedigreed line of ancestors—sinners, all of them. But it was the Who’s Who of Israel!

What makes Joseph stand out? Righteousness and obedience. This righteous and just man didn’t want to humiliate Mary when he found out she was pregnant—so he was going to dissolve their engagement quietly. Until…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and explained Mary was pregnant with God’s Son and he shouldn’t be afraid to marry her. In fact, he was told to name the baby Jesus—for He would save His people from their sin. Remember that long line of pedigreed ancestors? They needed saving! But so did he and Mary. So do we. 

What did Joseph do? He obeyed instantly. He took Mary as his wife—but he didn’t have sex with her until after Jesus was born. I’m sure God instructed him to abstain from sex so there would be no question of whose Son this was! But then again…maybe Joseph just had that kind of integrity to guard what was God’s. Did you know sex was a huge stumbling block among his ancestors? Maybe Joseph purposed in his heart to be different; he chose to honor God. 

If I were to ask a group of those who know us best, who would they say we are? Have we overcome a familiar family sin? Are we humble and selfless?  Obedient? Righteous? Wise?

Mary & Joseph weren’t perfect. But their heart was after God. And when He asked them to be a part of His story? They said, “YES!” He’s asking us the same question, “Will you be a part of My story?”

What would you say?

Miraculous Details

I was reading Matthew 1-2 this morning, and I decided to write down every miraculous detail that happened in Jesus’ life as a baby. Here they are:

1. Mary, a virgin became pregnant with Jesus, God’s Son. 

2. An angel of the Lord told Joseph not to be afraid to marry Mary—she was pregnant with God’s Son and his name was to be Jesus. 

3. Wise Men followed a star to Bethlehem. 

4. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of Bethlehem, Egypt, & Nazareth. 

5. The star led the Wise Men to Jesus. 

6. Gifts of provision were given to Jesus. 

7. Wise Men were warned in a dream not to go to Herod. 

8. Joseph was warned in a dream to go to Egypt. 

9. Jesus’ life was spared in the destruction of male babies. 

10. Joseph was told in a dream to go to Israel because Herod had died. 

11. Joseph was warned in a dream to go to Galilee. 

God orchestrated Jesus’ life with great detail. He was God’s Son, after all! But so are you—if you’ve chosen to be adopted by God. He’s orchestrating your life with the same kind of miraculous detail—even if you’re not aware of it! Do you think it’s an accident that you live where you do? That you have THIS job? Are going to THIS school? Are married to THIS person? God’s been orchestrating details for your favor since you were born. YES!! We all live in the miraculous. He knows how to work with every choice you make—and turn it for your good. Be still today and look for the miraculous. Write down what you see. I think you’ll be amazed!

100% Right!!

We think we’re 100% right all of the time, don’t we? We may even scoff at those who disagree with us. But…are we? I mean, what are the odds that we are 100% right ALL OF THE TIME?? It’s impossible. I think we might be surprised at God’s assessment of the correct percentage. 

So why do we insist that we are right? I think it’s pretty obvious. Pride. We want to prove we know what we’re talking about! We don’t like being challenged. We assume our character or our integrity is being attacked. We might even dig in our heels for a good fight if we’re corrected. I’m guessing most of the things we argue over on a day-to-day basis have nothing to do with the Word of God—which is the one truth on which we should be unshakable. But the interesting thing is we’re probably wrong on a lot of our interpretation of the Bible!

What would God have us do?

•Listen to the other person with an open heart and open mind. We might learn a new perspective and it might bring understanding. 

•Let it go. Most of the things we argue over aren’t even worth the debate—and we’re probably not going to change the other person’s mind. We need to learn to hold our tongue. 

•Examine ourselves. Why do we want to “win” so badly? Confess the sin of pride. 

•Submit to God. He tells us to avoid useless debates. 

•Honor our brother. Relationships are more important than being right. 

I hope to get this down before I die!

“he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.”

I Timothy 6:4-6

Community

This morning, I was remembering the way things were in my childhood. We had so much community! Our neighborhood was a hive of activity in the evenings. The adults would sit outside in their lawn chairs while we kids played games all over the neighborhood. My parents had deep friendships and my mom was very hospitable. We had friends and family over to our home all the time. The adults also played 42 and would have game nights at each other’s homes. I grew up with community. 

After I married Andy, we developed community everywhere we went. We’d invite friends over for a meal—or the guys would play long hours of the game Risk. As we grew spiritually, we met with friends to Praise and Pray. Our kids remember P&P as a profound time of community. It was deep and meaningful. And we grew more and more in love with God. 

Why do we need community? Because life is hard and because God told us we would need it! It’s where you find friends, fellowship, fun, and faith. I don’t know that I consciously thought about wanting community—I just had a deep need for friendships.  (I also had the example of my mom’s hospitality!) I know that I could call any of the friends I’ve had community with in a time of trouble—and they’d be right there to help! Those are deep relationships. 

In Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” One of the Hebrew meanings of “life” is “community!”  There is LIFE in community!!  Ask anyone who has had deep and meaningful relationships where their lives are intertwined with others. They’ll confirm it is LIFE.  

How do you build community? Invite a family over for a meal. Ask if they like to play games you enjoy. One group of ladies I knew all had desperate needs—so they met to pray. Community grew out of that. Sit outside in your neighborhood with extra chairs around you and a cooler of drinks to share. As neighbors come out, invite them to come sit. Be curious. Ask about their lives. Go to church and get involved—community will grow if you invest yourself. And…don’t let a cluttered house stop you!!

Is it risky to get involved in community? Maybe. You have to be vulnerable to open your lives and home. But I’d tell you the payoff of investing in one another’s lives is HUGE!! Our culture has become isolated and people are suffering mentally and spiritually because of it. It’s time to swing the doors of our homes and lives open to show our children how to live in community!!

Choose LIFE!  Choose COMMUNITY!

Babylon

Did you know the city of Babylon will be rebuilt? Saddam Hussein began the rebuilding in his lifetime—and the USA even contributed $700,000 towards it (and we all know that probably means even more). It will be rebuilt—and become the world’s greatest city of commerce. The Bible tells us this in Revelation 17 & 18. 

Every time I read Revelation 18:12-13, I shudder. It describes the merchandise that the great city of Babylon sells. Things like pearls, scarlet, and ivory. But it ends with: THE BODY & SOULS OF MEN (meaning men, women, & children)!! 

How corrupt, debased, and contemptible! Honestly, the picture which comes to my mind is Epstein Island. Can you imagine the horror of a small child you love submitted to such debauchery, lewdness—and sin? No wonder their souls are sold. They have to shut down to survive. 

Babylon will be destroyed again in one hour. God will repay her double according to her works. The foul land will become the habitation of demons. Kings, businessmen, and ship captains will weep over its destruction—which is completely disgusting to me.  

Men, women, and children should not be for sale—either in online photos or physically—bodies and souls. God is very serious about this detestable behavior. The great city of Babylon will be destroyed in one hour because of it. I imagine there’s a level of hell reserved for those who propagate this abominable sin. 

People should not be for sale. Ever. Period. And they wouldn’t be…if people quit buying. 

Phenomenon

Have you ever seen so many strange phenomena in the sky as there are right now? I could have posted 100 photos like these—all taken from Facebook and from all over the world. Most of these are screenshots from

videos. Many are natural phenomenon like the red sprites…but the fact that they’re appearing so often and all over the world makes it newsworthy. I’m taking notice. Why? Because God said signs and wonders would appear in the skies in the last days. 

Keep looking up! You’ll see more and more strange phenomenon. And soon?  Jesus!

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” 

Luke 21:25-28

A Heart that Says “Yes” to God

Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of His Son. The angel, Gabriel, came to Mary and told her God’s plan…but gave Mary the choice of whether to step into this significant role. I know God doesn’t tell us everything about the future, but I believe somehow Mary understood the cost of this decision. And her acceptance of the plan almost cost her marriage to Joseph—until an angel shared the truth with him. It certainly cost her reputation.  Can’t you imagine the wagging tongues in Nazareth? 

Mary endured a lot of pain as the mother of God’s Son:

•Gossip about her pregnancy

•Disbelief of Joseph

•Conflict between her children (the perfect son vs. the not-so-perfect children)

•The persecution of Jesus’ ministry and disbelief by many—including spiritual leaders

•Watching her son’s torture and crucifixion

But God also sent her a lot of encouragement:

•The encouragement of Elizabeth

•The shepherds hearing the angels proclaim Jesus’ birth

•Simeon declaring the arrival of the Messiah

•Anna declaring the arrival of redemption

•God speaking to Joseph in dreams

•The wise men worshiping Jesus

•Being a part of the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry

•The miracles

Mary was a normal human being. I think we see this in Mark 3. Jesus’ brothers and Mary came to where Jesus was. They (at least the brothers) had decided Jesus was out of his mind! As a mom, have you ever been caught in the middle of your children’s conflict? Our normal response is to “fix it!” I think Mary had come for that very reason. When Jesus was told his mother and brothers were outside, he said, “Who are my mother and my brothers? It’s those who hear the word of God and do it!” In that moment, He was saying everyone has a choice to say “yes” and follow him—even His mother and brothers. We know Mary chose to follow Him—she was a part of His ministry. But it wasn’t until after His resurrection that his brothers saw the truth and followed Jesus!

Mary was just like you and me. She was a sinner in need of a savior. The difference is that she was miraculously pregnant and gave birth to her redeemer. I like what Jack Hayford says, “Mary’s miracle is intended to be ours. We can all be pregnant with the promise of God.”

Have you said “Yes” to following Jesus? What promise has God given you? Did you know that every promise of God is filled with its own inherent power to explode into our circumstances? It is! God wants to take you on the journey of a lifetime—it may be full of highs and lows like Mary’s. But I think, at the end, your heart will be full of thanksgiving for how the hard things made you grow—and full of wonder and praise over each fulfilled promise of God. 

Anxious

Every time we pack a bag, Bear gets anxious. His big questions is, “Will I get to go??” And then when I begin packing his things, he gets so excited! The morning of the big trip, he watches to see if I fill his water bottle. When I do, he begins running in circles and then from one end of the house to the other, looking for a way of escape to make sure he gets in the car! He doesn’t begin to settle down until he’s about 30 minutes into the trip and has had a drink from his water bottle.  His anxiety spikes again as he begins to figure out where we’re going.  Call me crazy—but he knows! At least he knows if it’s Tulsa, Dallas, or Red River where three of our kids live. He recognizes their neighborhoods and begins yelping—wanting out of the car!!

Yesterday, as I watched his anxiety all over again, I began to see myself. I get anxious when God has me at a full-on stop! Has He forgotten me? Am I going to get to go into the world and affect His kingdom? Why am I still at home? And when I see movement, I wonder, “Is this it? Am I going to get to go? Can I share the love and good news of Jesus with the world? Or is everyone else going—and I’m left home again? As God picks up MY things and begins preparing them, I’m about to jump off rhe charts with excitement!  It’s for me! It’s for ME!!! 

Sometimes the better part of our walk with Christ is being still. But oh, how I chafe at being still. I should be content with spending intimate time with God. But I’m a doer—I love the action. And I don’t want to be left out on what God is DOING!!! I know each season is important. You’d think I’d have it down by now—but I don’t.  

I’m just like Bear—anxious to not be left behind!!

Choose Life!

This week, my sister sent a verse to me. We’d never caught one part of this verse: 

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you that today I have set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Oh, that you would choose life; that you and your children might live!“ Deuteronomy 30:19

Your choices never just affect you—any choice! There’s always a ripple effect. It will touch the lives of your family, your friends, your church—and on and on.  But the choice of what you do with God is the most serious choice. This chapter says that if you choose to love God and obey His commandments you will have life and blessing. If you choose to serve yourself or any other idol, you will experience death (forever) and cursing.  

The point I’d missed is that when you choose life…you’re choosing life for your children also. I know you’ve seen it. You’ve seen a family who just seems to be full of life! They’re not perfect—but they just stand out. And then you’ve seen those families and you worry about the physical and emotional safety of the children. The first set of parents chose life. The second chose death—and they’re passing it on to their kids. Every single person (including your children) have a choice. But how much easier is it for them to choose God when they’ve had your example of choosing God?  

Know the stakes when you choose. You’re choosing God—or Satan. You’re choosing life—or death. You’re choosing blessing—or cursing. And your choices will be passed to your descendants. Your choices have an eternal consequence.  

Love Your Brother

Can you imagine a man killing his brother just because his own heart is evil and his brothers’ is righteous? That’s the only reason Cain murdered Abel. And that murderous spirit seems to be growing. In fact, God tells us not to be surprised when the world hates us. 

God tells us over and over in I John that it becomes manifestly clear who His sons are—those who live righteous lives and those who love their brother. 

There are several things John tells us about someone who loves his brother:

•He practices righteousness.  

•He has passed from death to life. 

•He loves others because God loves him. 

•He’s willing to lay down his life for his brother. 

•He meets the needs of his brother with compassion. 

•He loves in deed and in truth.  

•God’s love abides in him and has been perfected in him.  

Conversely, if we say we love God and don’t love our brother, God says we’re a liar. He also says we’re living in death and have a murderous spirit—and no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 

God finishes up by commanding us to love our brother. We’re COMMANDED to love our brother! Why? Loving our brother through thick and thin is evidence of a changed life. Sometimes it takes humility and grace to love our brother. Sometimes it takes tolerance and overlooking his faults. (We can’t change him…but we can love him). Sometimes, it’s just obedience because God commanded us to love him. And…how can we love the world if we don’t even love our brother?

Don’t let Satan fill your mind with murderous thoughts about your brother. Satan is, after all, the Accuser of the Brethren. Pursue your brother with love. Ask God what would say “love” to your brother. And then do it! Don’t just tell your brother you love him and then walk away feeling good about yourself. God says to love him “in deed and in truth.” Work at it. Labor over it. DO something to show your love. And do it in truth. Do it without pretense. Mean it…from the heart.  

Love. Your. Brother. 

Prowling Lion

Prowling Lion

There are some things we can learn from the physical world and apply in the spiritual world. When you face a prowling lion, here are things you should do:

•Do not run: Running triggers a lion’s predatory instinct to chase and attack. 

•Maintain eye contact: This shows the lion you are aware of its presence and are not a typical prey animal. 

•Make noise: Shout loudly, clap your hands, or wave your arms to appear threatening. 

•Back away slowly: If possible, back away slowly while maintaining eye contact. 

•Appear big: Stand upright, raise your arms, puff out your chest to appear larger than you are. 

•If it charges: Stand your ground, and try to intimidate it with loud noises and aggressive behavior. 

If Satan prowls, don’t run!!!  Stand firm. Humble yourself before God—but resist the devil. Make loud noises in prayer. Cry out to God! Make yourself BIG! You have authority over this enemy. Look him in the eye and stare him down. And stand firm again. 

This lion is on the loose and trying to intimidate, bully, control, manipulate, attack, steal your name and integrity, kill your church, and destroy your marriage. We CAN’T run from him!!!  If we do, he attacks and wins. We have to face him, look him in the eye, and defeat him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. We can and should declare the Word of God and pray. We must stand in faith. 

God tells us over and over to “Stand firm.” So…let’s STAND FIRM!!

The Darling of Heaven

Have you ever paid attention to these words in “Worthy is the Lamb?” 

High and lifted up

Jesus Son of God
The Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

As we sang this song this past Sunday, it hit me! The Darling of Heaven was crucified. Jesus. The favored Son. The Beloved Son. All of heaven knew how loved He was, and yet…they don’t hate us! He died because of US and our sin. The angels in heaven knew His assignment was to restore US to the Father! You would think if the favored child had to die for us, the angels of heaven would hate us. You’d think the Father would be grieved. Instead…we’re loved. We’re blessed. We’re accepted. We’re favored. We’re CHOSEN! All of heaven watched the Darling of Heaven as He was crucified. They knew it was the Father’s will. And then as Jesus rose from the grave, they CHEERED! They knew God’s plan and path for us to come to heaven was complete. How can we not choose the Darling of Heaven?

Submit and Resist

How many times do we get this backwards? We resist God and submit to the devil. 

To submit is to get in military order, to obey, to submit to one’s control, to yield. God is KING. But He gives us the choice whether we come under His authority and His command. We don’t have to—He’ll let us control. But everything will be completely out of order. 

To resist is to set oneself against, to oppose, withstand. We have to oppose Satan and his plan. This is an active duty. It may be as simple as saying, “No!” But it may be as involved as going into a season of prayer and fasting and quoting scripture out loud (giving the Spirit a sword to wield). 

When we take control, we are submitting to the enemy and resisting God. Stop and think about it. When YOU want control, you are resisting God—and submitting to the devil, who is the ultimate resister of God. Chaos will reign. But when we come under God’s authority and fight the enemy, we draw near to God and He races to us—like a magnet being attracted to metal. The battle may still rage, but we know we are protected and loved. We know God is in control and He is a fierce Warrior…and a benevolent King. He will come to you. He will guard and protect you. 

We have a choice. There WILL be submission—either to God or the enemy. There’s no middle ground. And there WILL be resisting. We just have a choice whom we’ll resist. It’s bigger than just order or chaos. It’s a matter of allegiance.  

Goodness

When someone is a bully or is hateful—or just plain MEAN—don’t we want God to send fire from heaven to consume them? Or at the very least, pack them off to Siberia where they can’t touch us any more?!? I may be more tolerant if it happens to me than if it happens to someone close to me. I can become a mama bear when you hurt someone I love!

There’s a verse that won’t leave my mind—it’s been rolling around in there for days.  Romans 2:4 says,  “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” It’s God’s GOODNESS that causes people to repent. I believe most people expect God’s wrath. So what is their reaction when God moves in with goodness and kindness? It stuns them. They’re faced with a loving God who offers repentance. And they have a choice to make. 

I want to be like that, don’t you??  God tells us to “love our enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 is pretty straightforward, isn’t it? But it’s not what our flesh wants to do…at all. It’s only by the Spirit of God that we can be good—goodness is a fruit of the Spirit. We CAN’T offer true goodness on our own. So maybe God’s goodness, by His Spirit, comes through us!

The bottom line is this: do we want people to find Jesus? Do we want to see hearts repent? Do we want lives completely changed? Families changed? Churches changed? Towns changed? Then offer God’s goodness when you’re wronged…it’s what leads to repentance.  

Fasting for the First Time

It was probably 35 years ago. I hadn’t grown up knowing about fasting. I mean, I’d heard of Esther telling Mordecai to call the Jewish people to a fast before she went before King Ahasuerus to save their lives. But I’d never known anyone who fasted and talked about it. But I was desperate. Our finances were a mess. We were in over our heads with no way out. Looking back, I’m sure I talked about it all the time with our friends. In fact, a friend later asked why I hadn’t gotten a job. I don’t know. My theology was way off about women working. Plus, I was out to prove a family could live on one income while a mom stayed home. So there was pride, too.  

So I decided to fast and pray about our finances. I chose a 7-day no-food fast. The first couple of days were a little difficult—but that third day was a killer!  I later learned that’s the day all the toxins leave your body. I had a headache that wouldn’t quit! I certainly didn’t do much praying that day. But that fourth day? It’s like everything came into focus. I was spending time with God, listening, watching, waiting. And at the end of that seventh day, I was sad to break my fast. But I did.  

My finances didn’t change immediately…but I did. Later, a friend told me her husband asked, “What happened to Becky? She seems so peaceful!”  I guess I’d quit talking about my finances. I’d gotten a new perspective—God was in control all along. And He knew the way out of our mess. It was also the beginning of my changing theology. I began to see the Word through God’s lens of love and grace.  

Everything didn’t change at once. But everything changed. And, I believe fasting is what set things in motion. Since then, I’ve done other fasts. I’ve done a Daniel fast consisting of vegetables, fruit, and water. I’ve done a social media fast by turning it all off.  The goal of the fast is to bring your pressing, immediate needs before a God who loves you and cares about every detail of your life. He wants to hear your concerns. He wants you to get a perspective of Who He is and what He can do. He wants you to see His great power!! And He wants you to get out of the way. 

Fasting may not change your circumstances immediately (and it may!)…but I can promise it will change you. It may even save a nation.