Don’t be Deceived

The disciples had gathered around Jesus and were asking him, “Tell us when will these things be (the last days)? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of this age?”

Jesus’ first words were, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”  That’s his first words? They were asking what the days would look like (thinking they’d experience them). And Jesus says, “Don’t be deceived.”?

I thought I better look up the Greek word here. What is deception in this context? It means to be led away from the right way, to be led away from truth, to be seduced.  Wow.  

The enemy isn’t going to come to seduce us with horns and a pitchfork. Hell use what looks beautiful, alluring, and enticing to lead us away from truth. At the beginning, it may just be a little step away from truth—and even sound like truth. But the enemy’s intent is to destroy us with lies. 

It’s imperative to be hypervigilant with truth today. The Word of God IS truth! If you’re not reading the Bible, you won’t know the truth. You have nothing to compare with what you’re hearing. You’re already set up for failure. 

Stay alert!  Jesus’ first words when talking about these days was, “Don’t be deceived.” He knew we’d be bombarded with lies, half-truths, and near-truths. He knew that it would be hard to avoid deception. And his desire is that we finish well.  

Don’t be deceived. 

Five Smooth Stones

There’s a GIANT!!!  

Are you facing a giant in your life? Or maybe, like me, there’s a giant assigned to your family to intimidate, threaten, control, bully, distract, destroy—and who screams in terrorizing fear. Its intent is to stop you and your family from fulfilling God’s good plan. That’s the giant I’m facing.  

I’m ready to fight, aren't you? I’ve picked up five smooth stones and I’m armed with my slingshot. I’ve had to shake off fear and now I’ve taken my first step in faith. Faith is the critical component to this battle. 

The stones? The Word of God—that’s my weapon. I chose five smooth stones that are familiar to me and seem to pertain to my family. They are well-worn because they’ve been used for thousands of generations. Ephesians 6:17 says we speak the Word and the Spirit wields it. I don’t even have to be an accurate marksman—thank goodness!

I’m facing this giant who has defied the name of the MOST HIGH GOD!!!  Of course, this enemy wants to destroy me and my family—but it’s because of Who we represent! It’s not even really about me. It’s about God Almighty.  

I step out in faith (NOT fear!). I tell this giant that he has defied the MOST HIGH GOD! I put the Word in my slingshot and let it fly! I speak and read the Word that God has given me into the atmosphere. I aim high. Did you realize what I’m actually doing? I’m shooting JESUS!  He IS the Word! I don’t have to be a marksman because I’m shooting Jesus, who is all power—more powerful than dynamite! The Spirit then wields the Word I’ve released perfectly. All I have to do is show up in faith with my five smooth stones and release them. God takes over from there. 

I’m putting an end to this reign of terror through faith and the Word of God…and the power of the Most High God. 

When Ministry is Hard

Is ministry hard at times? You better believe it! I believe it will get harder and harder as Jesus’ return draws closer.  II Timothy 3 tells us what to expect—people who love themselves and money, there will be those who are unthankful and unholy, traitors, those who love the world more than God, etc., etc. The problem is most of us don’t take God at His Word. We take a new church thinking, “This is IT! People will love and follow us, we’ll thrive as a congregation, and expand the kingdom of God.” We fail to remember pastors like Paul. The kingdom of God WILL expand—but it will most likely happen at the hands of trials, conflict, and persecution. 

In II Timothy 4, Paul asks Timothy to come to him. He’s reached the end of his ministry and life and is in PRISON. He tells Timothy that his helper, Demas, has forsaken him because he loved the world more than God. He warns Timothy to beware of Alexander the coppersmith who did him harm and will do the same to him. He says no one stood with him at his defense—he was completely forsaken. 

But…Paul then tells Timothy that God stood with him and strengthened him that the gospel might be fully preached to the Gentiles. He goes on to declare that God will deliver him from every evil work (which appeared imminent) and preserve him for the heavenly kingdom. 

Did you catch it? Paul was warning Timothy of clear and present danger as a minister of the gospel. It’s always had its challenges, difficulties, and dangers. But by his example, he was telling Timothy it was all worth it to spread the gospel. His strength was God. His focus was the end goal of the kingdom of heaven.  

It’s so easy to make our difficulties our focus! But there is absolutely nothing new under the sun. Satan has always and will always fight the kingdom of God and the spread of the gospel. The question is…where will we find our strength? What will be our focus? 

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:2 NLT

Jesus and the Money Changers

On Monday, after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple.  When he got there, he began driving out the money changers and animals with a whip. They were THIEVES. As Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers and money went flying, he declared,  “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

I’ll be honest, this story always confused me. Hang with me a minute…when you understand that WE are now the temple of God it begins to make more sense. Think of the temple in three parts—outer court, holy place, and holy of holies. Our outer court is our body. Our holy place is our soul—our mind, will, and emotions. Our holy of holies is our spirit. If we’ve received Christ as our savior, our spirit is sealed by the Spirit of God. Satan then doesn’t have access to our spirit. But…he and his demons can attack our bodies and our souls—our mind, will, and emotions. 

We are the temple—and are to be houses of prayer. Satan hates that! So he steals, kills, and destroys. Do you think Jesus gets angry when Satan steals from us? YES! He created us for praise, for fellowship, for delight. He is enraged when Satan tries to distort God’s purpose for us!!

Like Jesus, I’ve been so angry lately!!  Lives are being shattered and destroyed by the enemy! Satan steals our purpose. He kills hope. He destroys our perception of God or His will for us. He lies! He tells us God has abandoned us—that He can’t use us. He makes us think we’re all alone or that we’re the only ones who’ve messed up so bad that God won’t forgive us. He wants us to quit worshipping. So maybe fibromyalgia or cancer will keep us from worshipping. He wants to destroy fellowship between us and God so he consumes our time and emotions with marital problems, prodigal children, or money problems. He hates God’s delight so he has us focusing on everyone else’s problems—consumed with them. 

What’s the solution? Pray—you are a house of prayer! Pour out your heart to God. Reconnect with Him. Restore fellowship with Him. Read the Word. Listen to what He wants to say to you—He delights in you! Delight in HIM! Bring yourself (body, soul, and spirit) back to God’s purpose for your life. He knows who you are and what He has planned for you. He wants to delight you. Come back. Jesus will throw out those thieving money changers—just stand back!!

Trauma

Have you experienced trauma lately? It could be evacuating from a fire or losing everything in a fire. It could be the loss of health or the loss of a loved one. It could be losing a job. Trauma usually involves a loss of some kind. 

My sister reminded me of these verses this week:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

REST is interpreted as “to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover or collect his strength.”  When is the last time you did that? Our bodies respond to trauma in negative ways. When we’re yoked to Jesus, He stops for rest. Have you kept going when He stopped? Do you have vacation or sick days accumulated because you won’t stop? What about after a traumatic event? Have you permitted yourself to cease from labor? I recognize in the stress of the moment, you may not have time to rest yet…but when that moment is over, do you allow for rest? If you don’t, you may be going from one trauma to another without recovery. God knows you need rest!!  Stay yoked to Him. He stops. He rests. Learn from Him. 

Anapauō: “Cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover or collect his strength.”

Disaster Fire Relief

Disaster Fire Relief

Having worked disaster relief before, these are some things I’ve learned.  

People helping with things like clothing will get overwhelmed with the sorting.  Their energy would be better served if you either take new t-shirts, jeans, boots, tennis shoes, underwear and socks in packages which are clearly marked. Or…put gently used clothing in ziplock bags with sizes.  Please don’t overwhelm volunteers with items which are useless to those working the fires or recovering from great losses. 

Fireworkers will need work gloves, goggles, chapstick, eye drops, beef jerky, granola bars, nut bars, Gatorade early on. Eventually, homeowners will need tools like hammers, shovels, axes. Ranchers will need feed for animals. 

Homeowners will eventually need everything you need to set up a home—furniture, blankets, pots & pans, dishes, silverware, glassware. 

Find a church or benevolence ministry which has become a donation center and volunteer time and money. As you know of homeowners who have lost everything, set up accounts to help them. (Please note that certain funding apps take a large percentage of money). 

Pray with people Hug people. Minister with time, money, and what you have. Bring your gifts in an organized manner. And love big!  Emergencies always bring out the very best in Texans!!!

Being Fashioned

But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.

Isaiah 64:8

God has been fashioning you since you were in your mother’s womb. As I look at examples of God’s creations in the Bible, I’m thinking the process is our story—not the promise, the great moment, or the ending—it’s the process.  

For instance, let’s look at David.

1. Anointed as the next king while a young shepherd

2. David kills Goliath

3. Plays music for King Saul (don’t you imagine he and his father thought this was the pathway to king?)

4. David becomes King Saul’s son-in-law

5. King Saul sought to kill David—for years

6. David ran and hid with his mighty men

7. David becomes king

Which step(s) would you leave out? If we left out steps 2-6, David would have been a different kind of king. He might never have become a “man after God’s own heart” without the process. And isn’t that the most important thing?

A potter:

1. Kneads the clay

2. Potter knows the design

3. The potter fashions the clay at the wheel with pressure and water

4. If there is failure, the potter remakes the clay 

5. The finished piece dries and is scraped

6. The dried greenware is fired after glazing

7. The pottery is glazed again

It’s all about the process.