A Kind Heart

I love it when I see an act of kindness expressed through someones life that I don't even know... we have all been there at times.  Sometimes it is just a small gesture but it makes a great impression on our lives.  I can think of countless times that a form of kindness has been shown to me. One of those times was a day that I was very emotional and completely exhausted.  I had stayed awake with my mother all night holding her hand.... Somehow, I knew this would be our last night together.  I could not let go... I wanted to hold her hand until Jesus took it.  I did not want her to die alone.  As the early morning light began to filter into her room, I watched in awe as her facial expressions changed and she saw something I had never seen before.  I believe it was Jesus reaching for her hand.  As He took it,  I let go.  I believe she could also see heaven in the background.  It was fascinating to watch her looking back and forth with eyes that were crystal clear and not the cloudiness of death.  

Later, after my brothers and sisters gathered together and we  said our good byes to our Mother, we left to go to a restaurant to eat.  I was still very emotional, yet quiet in my thoughts.  This may sound very simple... but a stranger opened the restaurant door for me.  Maybe it was just knowing that I had released my Mother to walk through the gates of heaven and seeing the door open that brought on a flood of emotion.  But, his act of kindness blessed me.  

Another time, was when  we had moved to another state.  I did not know anyone except the realtor.  He came highly recommended  through the Bible College that we were to attend. He had been very kind to us and throughout the whole transition, continually went beyond what I had seen in other Realtors.  He had taken care of every request that we had asked of him and had the house professionally cleaned and fumigated by the time we moved in.  There was a lingering smell in the house the day we moved in and he stopped by to see how everything was coming along.  He noticed the fumigation smell and said he thought we would be alright to sleep there that night.  My husband had left us and drove back to our previous home to get more of our things.  So, it was just  my six year old daughter, a friend and myself that was at the new house.  Around midnight, there was a knock on the door.  Standing there was, our realtor and his wife.  He said he had gotten into bed but could not sleep for thinking of us.  He  and his wife insisted we come to their  house for the night.  We slept well that night and had a delicious breakfast the next morning.  I will long remember his kindness... we were strangers, yet he took us in and cared for us.

Jesus talks about that kind of love... He demonstrated kindness over and over again in the Bible.  Who knows, maybe some kindness you have shown to someone will be remembered for years to come and make an impact on their life.  I believe kindness, is often, sometimes a step towards leading a person to Jesus.  Most people read what we do... more than what we say.

"The Lord is full of loving-favor and pity, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness." Psalm 145:8

Grace, Peace and Fellowship

Confessions: I am not a bible teacher, scholar or theologian...however, I will give you a peak into where my heart is at as I have been studying God's word...I invite you to respond or dialogue with me from this passage.

I have been camping out the last few days in Galatians....looking at different verses, pondering them, asking God to teach me and speak to me.

Fourteen years after Paul had met with the disciples the first time, he met with them again and shared with them what God had been teaching him and laying on his heart...and although his ministry was different from theirs...they extended to him the right hand of fellowship...or their blessing as we would probably say today. (Chapter 2:1-10)

I have been thinking about grace and peace and fellowship. Sometimes it is hard for us to accept things that look different to us. Paul says in verse 9 that when Peter, James and John acknowledged the grace that had been given to him through the Lord working in his life that they gave the right hand of fellowship to him and Barnabas to continue in the ministry that God had given them.

I can only imagine how protective of the gospel the original disciples were...Paul's background was sketchy enough. He and Barnabas were going against everything that was culturally accepted in that day...but they perceived by the Holy Spirit the same grace that had been given them and they blessed them.....even though, they did not agree on everything.

Grace and Peace and Fellowship.....

Oh, I think our view of the Lord can be so small. He loves to surprise us with the unexpected.

The people of Israel were expecting their King to arrive in royal majesty and power to save them from their enemies....Jesus showed up as a helpless baby, poor and common, and taught that they should love their enemies. The disciples were a ragamuffin band of fishermen and social misfits....God used them to change the world. Paul...the most unlikely person to follow Jesus...a religious fanatic, persecutor and hater of christians was transformed by the grace of Christ and became one of the greatest teachers of all time.

Just thinking about that, gives me hope and confidence when I look at my own life and the grace God has given through all of my mistakes and short comings.

May the Lord open my eyes and heart with more grace to see the unexpected and see Him at work among us....even when things look different from what I'm used to.

This is a crazy time in my life right now. Nothing is familiar to me. My family has moved and we are in an area where we don't know anyone or even the area. The only time anything feels safe and secure is when my husband is around. I tried a new church on Sunday and that was very strange to me not seeing the familiar faces or my "spot" where I sat each Sunday. I am starting to feel like my house is now my home but I step outside and I am reminded that I am in unfamiliar territory. I don't have any friends in town that I can phone up and get together with. I don't have any family around that I can just drop in to at the drop of a pin. Everything and everyone are miles away from me. With all this "chaos" around me, I am forgetting things as my life is not in routine. My planner doesn't sit in the familiar spot. I can't seem to keep any days straight as to which day of the week is which. I feel in some ways that I am falling apart but I know it's just the changes around me that are making me out of sorts.

Even though everything around me changes, I am thankful that Jesus never does. His love for me never changes. He is as constant as the sun. I am comforted that Jesus knows me and loves me for who I am. I might be scared to meet new people and step out of my comfort zone but Jesus knows everything about me, even the number of hairs on my head.

A couple years ago in church this amazing video called "The Father's Love Letter" was shown to us and today as I drove through the majestic mountains and everything felt strange and unfamiliar, I thought of this letter.... God's love letter to me...

You can watch it on the video or read it below: http://www.fathersloveletter.com/video.html

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me.John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish youwith all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I lovedthat I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father.Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love your Dad, Almighty God

May you be comforted as I am that no matter what happens around you, God will always be there... waiting to embrace you.

Thank you Jesus that you love me for who I am and that you are the only thing in my life that I know is familiar. I feel lost at times without the earthly possessions and surroundings being in the places I need them to be to feel safe and secure. Thank you that you are my safety and my refuge. Thank you that you have always been and will always be my Father. Amen

Turning Reality into Experience

(Sorry everyone, I forgot what I was doing and published this today (Sunday) instead of on Tuesday. I apologize to my other blogging sisters for messing up the schedule! - Satisfied)

Just wanted to say a little more about the reality/experience thing I talked about last week. Hopefully, this will be a practical thing that is just one more way of bringing the truth from our heads into our hearts, as they say.

I'll start with an example of a song we often sing at church: Be the Centre. The words go something like this:

Jesus be the centre
Be my source, be my light
Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus

Jesus, be the centre
Be my hope, be my song
Jesus

Jesus be my vision
Be my path, be my guide
Jesus

As we sing this song the way it is written, we are praying for these things to be our experience, which is what we want. What I want us to recognize is that the things that we are asking for in this song are already reality. When I sing this song, (and many songs like it) I change the words to reflect the reality of what is already true. For example again:

Jesus you're the centre
You're my source, You're my light
Jesus

You're the fire in my heart
You're the wind in these sails
You're the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus

Jesus, You're the centre
You're my hope, You're my song
Jesus

Jesus You're my vision
You're my path, You're my guide
Jesus

In this way, by acknowledging what is already true, my thinking is changed to believe it and my experience will begin to reflect it. If all we do is pray for experience without recognizing reality as it already exists, we may never acknowledge that what we've been praying for IS our experience.

David did this in his praying. Psalm 31:2-3

Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me! (experience)
For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me. (Reality)

Try praying in both these ways and see what happens in you. I think you'll find it makes a difference. It has, and still does, for me.

Armed with Attitude

As I write today, I'm kind of piggy-backing on what was written by the other writers of Soul Kitchen this week.

I was reading 1 Chronicles 12 about the men listed "armed for battle who came to David at Hebron." vs 23

I was intrigued by how these warriors were described. The list included these descriptions:
carrying shield and spear
armed for battle
ready for battle
brave warriors
switched allegiance to David
called by name to come
understood the times and knew what Israel should do
experienced soldiers prepared for battle
undivided loyalty
armed with every type of weapon

What about us today, as those called by God for the praise of His glory? What is our battle? How are we to prepare for battle? We are well aware of the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6. When I read 1 Chronicles 12, however, it made me think of Peter encouraging to "arm yourself also with the same attitude" as Christ.

1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

We are to arm ourselves with the attitude Christ had. Christ embraced suffering, entrusting Himself to God. Peter talks a lot about the suffering of believers in the chapters preceding these verses. We need to be aware of an important point here - especially considering our culture advocating entitlement and personal rights - suffering will come and we should not be surprised when we suffer and experience trials. We shouldn't be surprised in the least, actually.

Yet we are. So, when we are wronged, when we are hurt, when bad things happen, we're not prepared. And we react...in all kinds of ways.

That's where being armed with attitude comes in. Not attitude as the world promotes, because we know where that leads us... and it's not victory. It's not glory, and it certainly doesn't result in peace.

But being prepared -being armed - with the attitude that Christ suffered in His body and we will too, along with a deep knowing that we belong to a loving and merciful God... well, that will lead in a totally different direction. We will not live the rest of our earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (vs 2)

It may look like what happened when Pilgrim's Heart was armed with this attitude. As she wrote in yesterday's blog, "I'm not saying I did not feel pain at times because this was a lifetime pattern for her, but, when I placed her in His hands and gave up the control I wanted, God gave me peace.

I continued to love my Mama through times of feeling unloved, unwanted, and uncared for. Had I taken to heart all of the cruel things she said to me and walked out of her life, she would not be in the kingdom today. God gave me the power and love to keep going back."

Thank you Pilgrim's Heart for that beautiful example of entrusting yourself to God in the midst of continual suffering. How thrilling that through your love and sharing your heart with her, your mom was eventually able to receive God's love too.

Sisters,
In the battle... prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13

"The Green-eyed Monster"

There are few people that I have ever felt jealous of that lead to  a lasting jealousy.  I have on occasion felt a slight, jealousy of my children's attentions towards someone else, but it never lasted very long.  I had always told them that jealousy is a "green-eyed monster."  I have seen it destroy people's lives and take away their joy for years.

David was a good example of how to deal with jealousy.  Saul was deeply jealous of him but he continued to honor and love Saul even though Saul continually sought to take his life.

I remember a time when I was jealous for my mother's love.  I saw her doting on my sister and my brother.  The "green-eyed monster" would show it's ugly face... reminding me of how unimportant I was.   My Mom did not hide her favoritism.  With seven brothers and sisters, we all knew who were the special ones.  Here is where I get excited!  It caused me to seek the Lord, eventually releasing her to Him , as He enabled me to keep loving her in spite of her cruel treatment at times.  In the end, God rewarded my letting go. I'm not saying I did not feel pain at times because this was a lifetime pattern for her, but, when I placed her in His hands and gave up the control I wanted, God gave me peace.  

I continued to love my Mama through times of feeling unloved, unwanted and uncared for.  Had I taken to heart all of the cruel things she said to me and walked out of her life, she would not be in the kingdom today.  God gave me the power and love to keep going back.  

I cannot emphasize enough the power of God in our lives when we allow Him to take control.  That is why it is so important to remain close to Him in our daily walk.  It is not just the "green-eyed monster" that sneaks up on us... discontentment comes in many forms.  

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

"Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."  

1 Peter 5:6-9

We are so reminded of what jealousy can do in our lives if we allow it to gain control of our thoughts.  Most of us have lived with it at some time or another.  Basically it is "rotting to our bones."  Proverbs 14:30 tells us,  "A heart that has peace is life to the body, but wrong desires are like the wasting away of the bones."

The Bible tells us to rest in the Lord... to wait for Him... May we seek to do that as we  fight against the fiery darts of the enemy, standing firm in our relationship with Jesus.  

To Forgive Again

If there is one common issue that I seem to work through in my life over and over it is forgiveness. I don't have millions of grievances. It just seems that sometimes my hurts or offense runs deeper in my life than I thought it did...and Jesus, in his great love for me brings it up to the surface so that He can heal me and cut the chain that unforgiveness holds on me so that I can be free.

I have been reminded lately of some old wounds from my past. I have felt like I shouldn't go back there in my mind, because I didn't want to dig up anything long since buried. However, I have asked Jesus to walk with me back there to some of those memories and speak into my heart and mind his truth and healing and forgiveness.

You see...I believe Jesus was with me when I experienced those hurts...and He helped me at the time to forgive to the best of my ability...but because there are some things in my life that He has revealed to me concerning those hurts that are still affecting my life today, I believe He wants to take me there again to heal my heart on a deeper level.

I love Jesus for that. He cares for our hearts on every level. He brings us back to things when we are ready. Jesus knows how to love your heart like no other. He Knows Forgiveness.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

PS: Happy Canada Day! Thank you Jesus that we live in a free country.