You Think You’ve Got It Bad?

In this life, we come across unpleasant situations. We get sick, hurt, and sad. Horrible things happen to us. Unexpected crises surface. Sometimes it feels as though it couldn’t possibly get any worse and there is nothing that could make things any better. We are frozen. Distraught. Terrified.

Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do.

So what happens when God is telling us to do the one thing we dread more than anything else. In the thoughts of Jonah, ‘Don’t send me there, Lord.’ In the heart of Hosea, ‘Any woman but her, Lord.’ In the pleas of Jeremiah, ‘Don’t have me say those words, Lord.’ In the whines of the disciples, ‘Don’t make me love them, Lord.’

Have you ever heard of Ananias?

In the book of Acts, Luke was continuing his narrative about the life of Jesus. Christ had already been resurrected from the dead and carried off to Heaven to be with God for a time. The followers of Jesus had already received the gift of the Holy Spirit and the number of believers was multiplying greatly.

Stephen had recently been stoned to death after giving a captivating sermon about the Israelites.

Philip was obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit and running around like crazy sharing the truths of God and baptizing new believers.

With the growing numbers of believers, came a growing opposition.

Saul witnessed the stoning of Stephen and was thrilled by it. Soon after, he became well known for his attack on believers. The Bible actually says that the persecution of believers was so great that they fled to other places and became missionaries wherever they traveled.

Right before we get to Ananias, Saul got warrants allowing him to arrest all the believers ministering in Damascus.

The believers in Damascus knew all about Saul. He was a threat. He was dangerous. Coming face to face with him meant prison, abuse, or even death.

So when God told Ananias to seek out Saul, his obvious response mirrored, ‘Come again?’

Buried in the middle of Acts chapter 9, the situation unfolded like this:

‘”Master, you can’t be serious. Everybody’s talking about this man and the terrible things he’s been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he’s shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us.” But the Master said, “Don’t argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to Gentiles and kings and Jews. And now I’m about to show him what he’s in for-the hard suffering that goes with this job.” So Ananias went and found the house, placed his hands on blind Saul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes-he could see again! He got to his feet, was baptized and sat down with them to a hearty meal but then went right to work, wasting no time, preaching in the meeting places that this Jesus was the Son of God.’” (The Message Translation)

Jesus told Ananias to go to the place where Saul was staying in Damascus. Not only that, Jesus wanted Ananias to pray for Saul. To heal Saul. The same Saul who held the men’s coats while they stoned Stephen to death. The same Saul that was known for his persecution of believers. That Saul. Ananias was to place his hands on that man. Show love and mercy to that man. The enemy. The very name believers fled from. Saul massacred believers at every opportunity and Jesus chose him. Picked him out of all the other people on the entire planet to be his representative. God wanted to use him. God had a plan for his life.

The biggest persecutor of believers became one of the biggest advocates of Christ.

His life was changed.

Ananias obeyed.

How could we possibly love our enemies?

Jesus loved us.

What does the story of Ananias speak to you?

When Maintenance Comes Calling

Due to my minimal work schedule, I am typically the roommate at home whenever maintenance comes a calling. Based on my growing log of experience with these atypical, seemingly unexpected encounters, I have accumulated some thoughts on the matter.

1. Even when you are given a time frame, the knock still manages to take you off guard. (Knock you off the couch, make you jump six inches in the air, send you searching for a robe, hoodie, coat… anything at all…)

2. If you aren’t given a time frame, you will inevitably be in the shower or half-dressed. Every time. Without fail. Uncanny really.

3. If you’ve been forewarned, you put life on hold while you wait… and the hours drag by. Who wants to be reorganizing a closet, cooking a meal, cleaning the kitchen, in the middle of a painting or amazing idea, in the middle of a phone call, watching a movie you’ve never seen, or engrossed in a captivating book when maintenance decides to show up?

4. Part of you expects a killer from the pages of Stephen King to show up at your doorstep… and you wish someone… anyone… you know wasn’t working at normal people time.

5. There is a 50% chance the person on the other side of the door is going to be insanely attractive. The other 50% is composed of quirky, funny individuals that seem like they would be cool to hang out with… and intimidating people that could take down an NFL superstar with one step.

One of these such burly guys was working on the washer/dryer when his phone went off. What did I hear reverberating from the apartment walls? “Isn’t she lovely… Isn’t she wonderful…” Yup. And he talked all mushy wushy too. It was so hard not to laugh. This rough around the edges guy was somebody’s Macdaddy.

6. If you don’t know they are coming, they will come at the most inopportune time possible. Just picture the most inconvenient time of your entire day and imagine a complete stranger roaming around your apartment while you proceed.

7. I have never had a maintenance visit that wasn’t awkward. I’m not sure how to make this better. Especially if it isn’t expected… sometimes you have to make rash decisions before beating their key to the lock.

8. I feel like there is a protocol to follow when maintenance comes. I, personally, do not know what this protocol is. Do you offer them water? Carry on small talk? Sit in the same room to babysit?

9.Sometimes it’s a mob of individuals mimicking the men in spacesuits that invaded Elliot’s home in ET. This actually happened to me. I was home, sick on the couch, and an entire group of people barged in before I could make it to the door. They then divided and conquered while doing some type of inspection of the entire apartment. Confused? As am I.

10.  When you aren’t home, something isn’t right when you show up. Lights are left on. Doors are left open. Random crap is strewn about on the floor… the animals are in hiding. You are left wondering, ‘what went down up in here?’

I’m not sure what the best code of conduct is when maintenance surfaces. I have, however, formulated a happy default when I have a heads-up that someone will be intruding into my routine to make unhappy things better.

I like sprawling out on the living room couch with a book, laptop, cell phone, and a television series I’ve seen frequently. I read until they get there, then switch to dearly loved television sitcoms and catching up on my internet usage and social media intake after they arrive. The phone? Something worth sharing always happens when maintenance comes over. These encounters provide some of my most hilarious stories.

What is the most awkward encounter you’ve had with maintenance?

The Car Doctor

Over the years, I have accumulated a hefty medical file proving my vast experiences on the patient end of the medical field. While medical procedures continue to be unnerving at times, even to the point of tears, and visiting a doctor’s office still makes my nose krinkle with distaste, I unhappily know a thing or two about this stuff. Not from training, education, or odd hobbies, but from first hand experience.

I have a bachelor’s degree and stand two courses, a disgustingly long paper and some practicum hours away from a master’s in clinical psychology. After seven years of higher education, I have some experience, training and a peculiar enjoyment from being on the helping side of the psychology field.

I recognize the signals. I spot the chain of thinking. I see through the screening. I understand the protocol.

So when I come to the doctor’s office, I come prepared. I come with organized, topical lists. I have descriptive details of symptoms. I note times. Record changes. Mention anything that falls outside of normal routine. I come with a general idea as to the area of concern, and if anyone I know has suffered something similar, I come with background information from family history and general notions of what the new ailment may be. I do research beforehand so I already have a general idea of what questions to expect. I do what I can to get an answer as quickly and accurately as possible. I don’t just spring in absentmindedly and expect the doctors to poke and prod at me, coming to a conclusion, without my assistance.

Within a week’s time, I have undergone lots of blood work, two ultrasounds, a cat scan, and a test too vomit worthy to talk about on this blog. Next week they are putting me under for two and a half hours so they can shove a tube down my esophagus and (hopefully) come up with some answers for the uncomfortable pain I have been experiencing that does not fall within my diagnosis of fibromyalgia (or any other previous diagnoses).

So when I sat in a waiting room on Monday afternoon, waiting for my car to have it’s annual check up, I couldn’t help but smile at the unfolding situation and unexpected dash of irony. The car doctor stood behind a counter. A young, chipper girl stood on the other side with her apparent boyfriend leaning on her shoulder. ‘What seems to be the problem?’ [Insert vague answer with hopeful attempts to lead down a road ending with a conclusion and affordable solution]. The car doctor then asked more pointed questions, which led to more descriptive vague responses peppered with frequent pauses and ‘ummms.’

As a periodic driver, I almost always know when my car is ‘sick,’ I almost never know what is wrong. I rarely understand the severity. However, I know when something isn’t working right. I can imitate sounds and log my memory for answers to unexpected questions all I want, but I feel just as helpless by the end of the interrogation that I did at the beginning. Sometimes I end up taking the car to the car doctor. I do my limited part then they go in and do a thorough check up. They look and listen for certain things. They fix noticeable problems and I hope they took care of it and made my car all better.

A similar thing happens with my plants and my turtles. I know when they don’t look right. I know when they are acting strangely. I know when something is ‘off.’ I can tell when they are ‘sick.’ So I explain what I’ve noticed to the plant doctor (my mother) and to the turtle doctor (the reptile guy at a local pet store that recently went out of business-I’ll cross that bridge when I get there). Then I hope this triggers something they know about plants or turtles so I can make them all better.

This also happens with anything involving technology-but that is a post for a different day.

The main difference when I find myself face to face with a human doctor is I can explain to them first hand what is going on. If they ask a question, it isn’t difficult to answer because I typically know the answer from experience. Sometimes I have to think back a bit, but the answer is always in there somewhere. I also have 100% ‘no’ answers that cut entire branches from the decision tree and help narrow the focus of their search.I always know when something is wrong, but rarely know what that something is. I explain the best I can and hope they do what needs to be done to whip up an educated, proven answer and an efficiently effective way for making it better without making things worse or just differently bad.

Sometimes it would be nice if my car had inherited a little bit of “Herbie” from somewhere, my plants had a touch of “Alice in Wonderland’ (my first thought was “Little Shop of Horrors” but that is going down a far worse road), and my turtles had a little bit of Disney magic and a touch of “Doctor Doolittle” floating around in their system. It would also be helpful if the signals my body threw around were a tad more decipherable from time to time. With diseases like mine there is a fine line between an emergency situation and a typical day.

We learn as we go.

I grow to understand what my diagnosed body needs. I learn when to call one of my three nurses. I become more familiar with when an appointment or emergency visit needs to be made. I recognize the protocol when previous issues resurface.

I drove my first car for around eight years. Before she finally bit the dust, I had come to a pretty accurate idea of when she needed help and what type of issue it was. I’ve had my new car for about a year. The education process has started all over.While the cars are the same species, they are completely different vehicles.

I’ve had plants that died. I’ve had plants that have been revived. I have four plants that I have finally learned how to keep alive. They’ve had some close calls, but I’m learning what they need to thrive. When they need to be pruned. When they need more light. When they are parched. I just adore them. I get so excited about baby shoots that sprout up.

I’ve lost pets throughout the years. My most difficult battle was with the frogs I raised from tadpoles. Once they became frogs, they became difficult to care for effectively. I was unprepared. I read. I did research. I asked others. I learned from mistakes. I lost a few along the way, but I had learned what my frogs needed in captivity to survive. Then a bad case of the ‘ick’ hit unexpectedly and left only one survivor. I gave that little froggie away and hoped for the best. I couldn’t bear to lose another froglet.

I’ve had accidents with my two turtles. They’ve been dropped, lost, and stuck. They’ve eaten unhealthy food. They’ve eaten too much. They haven’t exercised enough. They didn’t have the right lighting. While they are both turtles, they each need different things. They have completely different personalities. It took time to understand how to give them the best care I could provide.

I’ve pushed my body too hard. Sometimes I haven’t allowed it enough activity. I’ve slacked on giving it the sleep it needs. Sometimes I eat foods I’m not supposed to. There are medications I absolutely refuse to take. I don’t socialize as much as I used to. Sometimes I don’t act out of fear. I have to take things one step at a time. Learn what’s ok and what’s not. Realize what I can handle. I’m learning what works and what doesn’t work.

Being diagnosed with a disease is like learning how to drive a new car, prune a new plant, or raise a new pet. There are general guidelines. Pointers. Experiences of others. Books. Research. Directions from experts to follow. Encouragement from people facing similar plights.

I learn as I go.

All the things we do and don’t do give us experience. Accumulate knowledge. Push us further on our paths.

Life isn’t a predictable, tightly scheduled journey.

Sometimes we really make a mess of things.

We do the best with what we’ve got.

We all learn as we go.

What are you learning?

Don’t Forget Me

We seek truth. We desire to give our all to Jesus. To be an acceptable sacrifice of life to Him. To search Him out before we do anything else.

God longs for us to live in peace.

We have good intentions, but get stuck worrying about details and situations we can’t control. Sometimes we are so busy and focused on other things that we miss answers to prayer surrounding us every day. We forget that God’s army of angels is always surrounding us, obeying His every desire. Yet we get so caught up with life that we forget about Jesus. We forget our purpose. We lose sight of where God is leading us. We get heavy hearts. Our lives become overburdened. We fall to the wayside in this fight.

We forget what Christ did for us. We forget the cost of our freedom. We lose the urgency to share the truth of that freedom with others. We let our zeal fade away. We stop seeking God. We quit learning the truth of His Word. We stop being inclusive. We become jaded and bitter. We forget the miracles flowing from God’s Story, from testimonies, from our own life history. We forget the truth. Guidance. Our greatest weapon in the Words of God through Scripture. We forget the future promised to us. We lose sight of the task at hand. We forget where we were when Christ found us. We forget from what we were delivered.

We stop sharing our lives. We quit at the first sign of resistance. We become weak. We forget that God seeks us out, fights for us, and has the power to approach us in any way imaginable, even beyond what we can fathom. We get set in our ways. We become stubborn, close minded, and hardhearted. We walk away from the best we’ve ever known then we wake up and can’t figure out what went wrong, why God left us. Who we’ve become. Why our life has become what it has. We realize that the little choices we made along the way left us deceived. We let sin creep in. We become closed to the ways of God. We ignore the prompting of God. We choose our own way. We live lives of disobedience.

We forget the lost. We forget struggling believers. We let our lights fade away. We forget our salvation. What it means to be saved and live a new life. We step out as weak, powerless victims. We don’t stand strong in faith, battle in prayer, or speak God’s promises over our life. We bow to fear and walk in the chains that are no longer locked and tied because we have been freed. We forget our power over the devil. We forget the gifts of the Spirit. We forget the protection of the righteous. We forget the power to heal the sick. We forget the authority inherent in the name of Jesus.

We forget Jesus isn’t physically absent forever. We forget He has not forgotten us. We forget He is preparing a place for us. That He will return. That we will all stand accountable for the lives we live. We forget Jesus is our intercessor. We forget we don’t stand alone. We forget we have all that we need. That Jesus will use those that stand willing to obey and believe. He will use those willing to answer His call. Moment by moment, day by day, we allow ourselves to forget the blood of Jesus. We forget the darkness of that tragically beautiful day. We forget our story.

The passage for Day 21 of the 40 Day Bible Challenge was Mark 16:1-20, when Jesus was resurrected the dead.

Lord, please forgive us for not honoring the Sabbath. Forgive us for failing to glorify Christ in our body. For worrying and fretting over things that need to be done and things we can’t handle on our own. For not seeking Christ in our lives. For our disbelief. For failing to obey Your call. Please forgive us for not viewing Scripture as sacred. For failing to live lives of repentance. For disobedience. Forgive us for not caring for the lost. For not strengthening and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ. For not embracing Your promises and blessings. Forgive us for not stepping out boldly in faith. For living as weak victims and not powerful victors in You. For having a peppered belief of Scripture and not a firm belief in Scripture as a whole. Forgive us for not embracing the power offered to us. For failing to preach Your Message through our lives. Forgive us for not allowing God to work in and through us. For not allowing Him to use us to bless others.

Thank You, Lord, that angels truly exist. Thank You that Jesus rose from the dead. That God still loves and accepts us when we make mistakes and return to Him with open hearts. Thank You that Jesus taught the truth. Thank You that Scripture is sacred. That we will embrace eternal life. That salvation is ours. That Jesus freed us from demons. Thank You that Jesus can reach us anywhere and in any way. Thank You for the promise that if we believe and are baptized we will be saved. Help us to remember that unbelief leads to condemnation. Thank You that believers have the power to cast out demons in Jesus’ name, speak in new languages, handle snakes, drink poisons, and heal the sick. Thank You that Jesus is in Heaven with You. Think You that Jesus will work through us and confirm our living testimony with miracles.

Father, please take our unbelief, disobedience, and unwillingness to serve when You call and remove them far from us. Take our worry and our attempts to plan everything ourselves and fill them with a dependence and trust in You. Replace our tendency to live as though angels and miracles don’t exist and replace them with expectant faith. Heal our closed minds, hearts, and eyes. Open them anew to Your truth. Remove our apathy, the temptation to take our beliefs lightly and the delaying of our obedience and make us clean. Remove our lack of reverence for Scripture, inattentiveness to the testimony of others and selfishness. Take away our lack of faith and our doubt of Your providence when You call.

Lord, help us to embrace Your gift of peace and learn how to cherish a life of calm relief in all things. Help us share our insights with other believers, even those who seem to be journeying backward on their walk with You, for they are the ones who need to hear Your insights most of all. Give us the courage to share Your salvation message with the lost you place in our lives. Help us to share even in the face of disbelief, doubt, and discouragement.

May we seek the Lord like the women at the tomb, share our testimony and the message of salvation like those women, the two followers on the road and the eleven disciples. Thank You, for their examples in our lives.

Jesus, what would you have us do? Please appear to us and be near to us, for we seek you. Take all of our worries and concerns for we trust You to provide for us in all things. Help us to see You at work around us. Open our eyes to recognize Your wondrous works. Help us to recognize that Your angels surround us always. Bless us with the experience of a deep, overwhelming peace from Your presence. Help us to understand the crucifixion and resurrection through Your eyes. Help us to model our lives in awe of those powerful truths. Bless us with the fervor to share our testimony openly to those who need to hear it. Help us to live out forgiveness and grace for believers who fall away, and encouragement to the struggling, just as You reach out for us to draw us near to You. Open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts to see Your truth in the Scriptures. Stir up in us a spirit of obedience so we may follow Your will for our lives. Give us strength to proclaim Your salvation to the lost. Bless us with deliverance from sin and bondage. Grant an unwavering faith in us and our believing brothers and sisters in Christ. Place within us a sense of urgency to obey Your will, save the lost, and live righteously. Give us freedom from stubbornness and pride. Bless us with wisdom and discernment to see Your truths. Give us a deeper understanding and appreciation for the power in Your name. Instill in us the courage and strength to cast out demons, to speak to the nations, to handle threats unharmed, to trust in your protection from dangers and to heal the sick in Your name. Lord, speak to us. Help us to hear You. Help us to know You. Help us to remember You always and who You are in all mercy, love, and holiness. Please work in and through us. Let us be a blessing to all we come across. Bless others through our lives, Lord.

Protect us from worrying rather than standing in prayers of faith. Keep us from excluding those who fall away. Save us from unbelief. Rescue us from stubbornness. Keep us from refusing to listen to the testimony of others and seeking out Your truth. Prevent us from secluding the Gospel Message. Deliver us from the temptation to not act in Jesus’ name. Keep us from living lives of fear and using fear as an excuse. Protect us from living lives of unforgiveness. Keep us from not allowing ourselves to be a channel for You and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thank You that Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins. Thank You that angels truly exist all around us. Help us to remember that angels can appear to be like us. Thank You that Jesus rose from the dead and conquered death, sin and all evil. Thank You that Jesus paved the way for us. Thank You that we are truly and completely forgiven. Thank You so much, Lord, that You welcome us back with open arms when we fall away and make mistakes in our walk with You. Thank You that Jesus spoke the truth. Thank You that You will will work through us if we believe and obey. That the truth of Scripture saves, is reliable, Holy, and has the power to change those who read and hear it. Thank You that Jesus saw, respected and loved those despised by society. Help us remember that the irrational is not easy to accept. Thank You that Jesus can use any means to get our attention and speak to us. Help us remember our mission is to save the lost through Christ, and we are to share what we know with others. Thank You that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. Help us to remember that those who don’t believe will be condemned. Thank You that as believers we can cast out demons, speak in new languages, handle dangerous situations, be exposed to threatening circumstances unharmed, and heal the sick in Jesus’ name. Help us to remember the power we have in You. Thank You that Jesus is in Heaven with You. Thank You that You will work through us and use miracles to verify our obedient acts as needed.

Jesus, thank You for the sacrifice You gave to us, and providing for us in all things.Thank You that Your angels look after us. Thank You that Your resurrection conquered death, sin, and the evil in our lives and in this world. Thank You for forgiveness for all of our sins. For taking us back when we wander away. That Scripture is true. That Jesus always and forever speaks the truth. Thank You for the obedience of believers. That Your words never fail. For eternal life. Thank You for a love that overcomes all judgement and prejudice. Thank You for everyone who has believed Your truth. Thank You for seeking us out and appearing to us. That scripture and salvation spread throughout the entire world. For miraculous powers. For divine protection. For  power over demons and sickness. For the ability to speak to other nations and heal the sick. That You are preparing a place for us in Heaven. That You will come back for us. That You are our advocate and intercessor before God. That you are working in and through us. Thank You for verifying the truth You speak through us to others.

Thank You for remembering us.

Help us to remember You.

What did Mark 16:1-20 speak to you?

Faded Urgency

We skim over the unexplainable natural events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus, missing their majesty and glory. We forget what it must have been for Jesus to step down from all the glory of Heaven to live among sinners in a fallen, sinful world. How it was to see and know all things, to look into the evil and hateful hearts of men knowing they would kill Him, knowing He would be betrayed, seeing wounded hearts and broken souls while restraining, knowing it wasn’t time. To live in our midst and see and understand how sinful and imperfect we were, yet loving us anyway, enjoying time with us anyway, dying for us anyway.

We fail to study the scriptures, we fail to know the words of God. We live for ourselves, forgetting we are not our own, forgetting what Jesus did, forgetting what God expects. We expect and desire the wrong things out of ignorance and rebellion. We fall into lifestyles of not caring, of rejecting our greatest gift through our lifestyles every day, our choices, our thoughts, our actions. We don’t know what is expected of us. We don’t  understand what is promised to us. We choose lives of slavery instead of freedom. We fail to live lives of worship. We abandon Jesus as Lord.

We forget to live each day with the awesome wonder that our Savior is truly the Son of God. We aren’t in tune with God’s Word so we expect the wrong things. We look in the wrong places. We fail to come to God with our whole hearts. We forget the events and application of the crucifixion. We lose our reverence. We walk away from our revelation and fall into lives of  apathy. We forget what it was to first believe. We lose our zeal. We fall into lifestyles of tolerance and sin. We abandon lives of worship. We fall in step with the world and lose sight of Heaven. We forget our purpose. We fail to remember the lost. We refuse to listen to God. We demand miracles while refusing to see wha God is trying to show us. Where He is trying to lead us. We lose our urgency.

The passage for Day 20 of the 40 Day Bible Challenge was Mark 15:33-39, when Jesus was crucified.

Lord, forgive us when we turn our backs on You, and when we live lives of unbelief. Forgive us for not seeing who Christ really is. Forgive us for being hungry for miraculous signs and wonders and missing the gifts of Your works all around us. Forgive us for not fully acknowledging the sacrifice of Christ. Forgive us for forgetting what He did for us when He hung dying on the cross. Forgive us for failing to come to the foot of the cross. Forgive us for failing to come before the Holy of Holies. For losing the significance of Jesus being the only Son of God. For losing our sense of wonder. For losing our ruthless obedience. For losing our lives of worship. Forgive us for living as though we deserve all things. Forgive us for abandoning humility. Forgive us for forgetting who we are and living our lives as though they were our own.

Thank You, Lord, that Jesus will never abandon us. Thank You that we are pure, blameless, and brand new creations. Thank you that we stand completely forgiven of all our sins because of the sacrifice You gave. Thank You that we are able to come before the Holy God. That we can enter into the Holy of Holies. Thank You that we are heirs with the true Son of God.

God, take our lack of desire to gain knowledge and understanding about the miracle and tragedy of the crucifixion and replace it with a deep hunger for You. Take the temptation to listen to our own rationale and desires and replace it with the heart and desires of You. Erase the banner of pride we live beneath and bless us with a spirit of humility. Take our ungratefulness, selfishness, and our ignorance to the holiness and mercy of You and remind us of who we are in You. Erase our unrighteousness, apathy, and unbelief. Take away our lack of reverence, appreciation, and love, replacing us with You. Making us worthy of You. Molding us into the image of You.

Give us obedient hearts. Lead us down the path of repentance. Help us to call out to You in honesty in the midst of our trials. Open our eyes to know the truth of the Scriptures. Place in us an urgency for instant obedience. Restore our belief. Give us a heart of forgiveness. Lead us confidently before Your throne of mercy. Lead us humbly to the foot of the cross. Help us confess our beliefs with open hearts. Restore in us a spirit of reverence for Your glory and majesty.

Thank You for the belief of the soldier. Thank You for the obedience and forgiveness of Jesus on the cross. Thank You for His honest prayers to You. May you help us to follow their examples in our everyday lives.

Lord, please show us the sins we have committed. Reveal to us how our lives are separating us from You and making You turn away from us. Please give us a true understanding of Your Word. Please open our eyes and hearts to the beauty and fear of Your Truth. Place in us a heart of obedience and forgiveness. Restore to us trust, faith, and belief. Renew our desires to live lives of worship, obedience, reverence and confidence before You. Help us to approach Your throne with boldness. Help us to be strong witnesses for You. Let our lives be lives of testimony for You. Renew our belief in You and Your Holy Word.

God, help us to avoid the errors of ignorance and disbelief. Lead us away from a lack of faith. Deter us from living in silence before You. Keep us from turning our backs on You when we need you most. Lead us away from a lack of understanding of Scripture. Protect us from waiting for specific signs and miracles that we determined for ourselves. Lead us from not being open to the multitude of miracles around us and open our eyes. Protect us from falling into a lack of faith within our lives.

Thank You, that Jesus is the Son of God. That we are forgiven. That we don’t have to live in separation from You. Thank You that Jesus died to give us right standing before You.

Thank You for miracles. Thank you for unexplainable natural events. Thank You that no matter what, You control all things, even the mysteries of nature. Thank You for giving us Your Son as a living sacrifice to free us from bondage. Thank you that we can approach You in all things and You will always hear us. Thank you for the living Testimony of the Sciriptures. Thank you for restoring to us new life. Thank You for opening our hearts and eyes so that we may see Your truth. Thank you for the gift allowing us to be able to enjoy all of life.

Thank You for restoring in us our sense of urgency.

What does Mark 15:33-39 speak to you?

All That You Can

It is so easy to be critical, judgmental, and offended by things, people, and actions that seem contrary to what we believe to be true and right. It’s easy to forget that only God can judge the heart, and only God can fully understand each circumstance. It’s easy for us to form opinions and an understanding of others with the little morsel of information we have, and base all of our reactions and ideas of them off of that shred of potential truth.

We treat others according to our standards rather than based on the heart of God. We are quick to see the negative, spot the failures, and completely miss the blessings, miracles, and beauty. We have closed hearts and blind eyes to the heart and desires of God. Over time, we have lost our passion.

It can be hard for us to see others live lives for God with all that they have when we fail to live that called lifestyle ourselves. Some like to shrug it off and comment that these people must be ‘new Christians.’ You know, the ones that haven’t toned down to a human-sized level of Christianity yet. ‘Give them awhile’ they tell themselves, ‘the craze won’t last.’

The passage for Day 19 of the 40 Day Bible Challenge was Mark 14:3-9, when a woman anointed Jesus with perfume.

Lord forgive us for not giving you our best each day. Please forgive us for not acting boldly on our convictions and being worried about what others will think.Forgive us for our failure to act according to Your leading. Forgive us for being judgmental and critical. For taking offense with the actions and inactions of others, for listening to reason at the expense of listening to our hearts and Your voice. Forgive us for thinking in terms of rationality and not faith, and following the letter of the law at the expense of the heart of Your message. Forgive us for scolding others when you are the only one worthy to judge, for commenting on things we don’t understand, being close minded, having messed up priorities, and failing to see others and situations through Your eyes.

Thank you, Father, that you will defend us when we follow Your will for our lives. Thank You that You completely see our hearts. Thank you that we will always have opportunities to help the poor. Please help us to recognize the limited opportunities we have to minister to You and Your cause. Thank You for acknowledging our efforts and remembering all we do for You.

Please take our judgmental and critical attitudes and mold them to model after You. Take our hearts of resistance, and our tendencies to be easily offended and heal them and make them whole again so we are able to follow Your heart more clearly. Take those times when we are tempted to ignore Your voice, and when we are tempted to put our opinions and understanding above the actions of others and remind us of your desires for our lives. Please take our refusal to listen to Your voice and erase it from our lives, fill it instead with a hunger and passion for You.

God, help us to obey Your will as you instruct us not to harass others in the ways they choose to worship You (absent of sin) and live their lives before You as they follow Your unique will for their lives. Help us to stop being critical of others. Help us to minister to You first and foremost with our lives, then turn to aide the poor and needy among us.

Thank you for the example of the woman who anointed Jesus with such a lavish gift before the coming days of his crucifixion and burial. May we have her heart and passion to serve you at all costs.

Lord bless us with wisdom and discernment. Open our eyes and hearts to see You and understand Your ways. Open up our minds and arms to embrace and love those you place within our lives. Give us accepting spirits so we can resemble You as we walk through our everyday lives. Show us how we can minister to you with lives that are pleasing and honorable to You. Bless us with Your understanding. Place in our hearts a desire to help the poor and to serve others. Place in us a passion to do all we can to honor You and live our lives for You.

Help us to avoid judgmental and critical attitudes toward others. Protect us from being easily offended and acting out in response to anger and hurt. Protect us from living bitter, selfish lives.

Thank You, Lord, that we will be honored and remembered for what we give and how we serve. Thank You for recognizing our sacrifices. While obeying Your direction for our lives and honoring Your desires for our lifestyles may not be understood by others, You will always help us and provide for us. Help us to remember that our opportunities to serve others will be more prevalent than the opportunities to minister to You. Help us to have appropriate priorities according to Your will. Help us to remember that reaching out to others is a way to reach out to You.

Thank You, God, for accepting our gifts and sacrifices offered from pure hearts. Thank You for understanding and loving us, even when no one else does, and even when we don’t deserve it. Thank you for defending and protecting us when we act according to Your will. Thank you for remembering us.

What does Mark 14:3-9 speak to you?

Rising Above

It can be such a struggle to release feelings of anger, hurt, and resentment when that very act of freedom feels like we are abandoning control. When wronged and mistreated by others, when those we care for and those we feel we’ve never treated badly hurt us or lash out, we are left with the pieces. It is incredibly difficult to forget what happened, move on, and react lovingly to these people. It’s hard to react in love when all we face is hatred.  Sometimes it takes a long time to heal. Sometimes it feels impossible to forgive.

Yet Jesus died for us when we were unworthy of sacrifice. God chose us when we were covered in sin. We are all sinners. We are all imperfect.

God will heal us completely if we open up our wounded lives and allow Him to come in and rebuild what has been broken. God is all we need. He will equip us and work in our hearts to help us have a forgiving heart and live a life of love.

The ones we need to forgive are the ones most in need of Jesus, of love, and of forgiveness. Especially when they don’t seem worthy to receive it.

It’s tempting to make it about us because we’re hurting, when God truly wants to use us as His bridge into their lives. There is nothing more powerful than undeserved love. God will heal our hearts. We can plant a seed that allows God to work in the lives of those who hurt us. It’s hard to acknowledge when we’re hurting that God’s purpose is bigger than ourselves, but if we completely trust Him in our lives, we can know without wavering that He will never let us fall.

Today is Day 18 of the 40 Day Bible Challenge and the verse is Mark 11:25, when Jesus teaches that we must forgive in order to be forgiven.

Lord please forgive us for the unforgiveness, bitterness, and grudges that we hold hostage in our hearts.

Thank you for the promise you have given us that You will forgive us of the sins we have committed against You, others, and ourselves.

Please free us from the spirits of unforgiveness, stubborness, pride, bitterness, pettiness and resentment we have allowed to take root in our lives and captivate our hearts, minds, thoughts, words and actions.

Lord, help us to obey your commands to forgive those who have wronged us in any way and to keep ourselves from holding grudges against those who have hurt us.

Thank you for the ultimate example of forgiveness we have in Jesus. As He hung dying on the cross, he prayed for His persecutors, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” Lord we hold unforgiveness in our lives for events shallow in comparison to what You did to rescue us from bondage.

Jesus, please mold in us a forgiving, merciful, compassionate and loving heart that mirrors You in every way.

Help us to avoid living lives of unforgiveness and falling into the trap  of not letting go of the wrongs and hurts that we accumulate throughout this life.

God, You promise that you will forgive us if we forgive others. We need your forgiveness multiple times every day, because we slip up, fall, and make mistakes as we try to live lives that please you. We long to be obedient and pleasing to you. We desire to be Your light of love to an aching world. Please help us to overcome the barriers that keep us from forgiving others. Teach us how to live a life of forgiveness, mercy, and grace.

Thank You, Father, for forgiveness, for the gift of Jesus, Your one and only Son, for our personal salvation, for the promise of eternity, and for the blessing of the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us in the midst of our struggles to do what is right in Your sight. Thank You for loving us in spite of our imperfections.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

What does Mark 11:25 speak to you?

Letting Go

Humans are sentimental creatures. We also tend to be petty, selfish, and greedy. It comes with the territory of being imperfect beings.

It can be hard to think about letting go of things we have that embellish sentimental value, that we feel like we need, that are beneficial to us, that we actually use, and that we quite simply enjoy.

It is important to remind ourselves that when God leads us to abandon those things we hold close to our hearts (or grasp tightly in our hands), that His will is greater. He promises to bless us abundantly. Good will come from the journey. He has our best at heart. He sees the big picture. And most importantly, we need to trust Him in every area of our lives for Him to complete His perfect work in us.

The passage for day 17 of the 40 Day Bible Challenge was Mark 10:17-31, when Jesus met the rich young man.

Lord, please forgive us when we are living lives filled with selfishness, when we are captivated by greed, and when we turn the other way and make excuses instead of helping those in need. Please forgive us when we refuse to abandon all we are and all we have for You and Your will.

Thank you for the promise you give to us that we will accumulate treasure in Heaven when we give of what you blessed us with on Earth. Thank you that everything is possible with You. We are incapable of any good in this life absent of You. Thank you for assuring we will receive 100 times in return for what we give up for You. Thank you that we are worthy enough to be called to persecution in Your name and for Your cause. Thank you that those looked down upon on earth will be lifted up in Heaven. Thank you for the blessing of an eternal life surrounded by You.

Lord please work in our lives and create in us a genuine spirit of obedience so we can wholeheartedly follow after You. Please purge us of all greed, selfishness, and the overpowering need to be in control. Please fill us instead with love, compassion, and a heart molded after Yours.

Help us to be worthy of the calling You have laid before us to be holy and blameless in Your sight. Please guide and lead us into paths of righteousness. Help us to honor the commands you have bestowed on us as we desire to keep ourselves from murder, adultery, stealing, testifying falsely, cheating and falling into the snare of the Devil. Help us to honor the parents you have blessed us with, put You first in all things, give to those in need, and follow Jesus with all of our hearts. Please help us as we strive not to become attached to our possessions to the detriment of our relationship with You and those You have placed in our lives.

Father, thank you for the examples of noble living you have given us through Peter and the other disciples of Jesus. We pray that you help us to learn from their mistakes and model our lives after their strengths in You.

Please instill in us obedient hearts, the ability to see the needs of those around us, lives overflowing with compassion, the strength to do the right thing even when it hurts, the wisdom to follow proper priorities, the power to stand strong in the face of persecution, and the desire to please You rather than people.

Please protect us from a love of possessions that overpowers our love for Your will and our concern for others.

Lord, You call Your people to keep Your commandments, place You first in our lives,  and help those in need. God, You are our only way to salvation. You bless Your children abundantly. Your way defies the rules of reality. Even though You tell us that Your followers will be persecuted in this life, You promise to be with us and protect us every moment of out lives. Lord, we thank you for all of these glorious blessings.

Thank you for your precious gift of salvation. Thank you that You follow a higher and greater standard than the one of this world. Thank you for the chance to follow Jesus, be a member of Your holy family, and heirs to royalty. Thank you for help in the difficult moments of life. Thank you for blessings in the midst of persecution. Thank you for the promise of eternal life.

In Your name we pray.

Amen.

What does Mark 10:17-31 speak to you?

 

A Servant Heart

We need to be peaceable with those around us. Not bickering or arguing, but building up and encouraging. Not speaking out from a place of defense, anger, pain or hurt. Transforming selfish ambition into a servant heart. The heart of Christ.

Today is Day 16 of the 40 Day Bible Challenge and the passage is Mark 9:33-35, where the disciples debated who is the greatest in God’s Kingdom.

Lord, please forgive us those times when we bicker and fight with others, and when we act out of our own selfish ambition, self-glorification and pride.

Thank you for the promise that the last here on earth will be first in Your Kingdom. Thank you for not operating according to the world’s standards, but rather out of mercy, love and forgiveness.

Help us to transform our attitudes of bitterness, jealousy, pride, and selfishness into attitudes that are pleasing and worthy of you.

Give us the wisdom and strength we need to put others before ourselves and serve those around us with Your love and mercy this day and in the days to come.

Thank You, Lord, for being a living example for us to follow in our pursuit to live holy and blameless lives before God.

Please give us hearts overflowing with the desire to love others, teach us how to see others through God’s eyes, instill within us a servant heart, fill us with humbleness, contentment and joy. Use us as an outpouring of your marvelous grace.

Help us to avoid falling into the trap of serving ourselves above all else and ignoring the needs and struggles of those around us.

Thank you for choosing us and calling us to be servants as you are a servant for us. Thank you for the promise of having a place in your Kingdom. Thank you that being lowly and rejected on earth leads to eternal blessings and a glorious place in Heaven with you.

Thank you, Father, that you don’t forget the things that go unnoticed. You see our mistreatment. You know the burdens we bear and see the tears we cry. When Jesus comes for us, He will make all things right. We will take our place as royalty in Your Kingdom. We are eternally grateful. We love you, Lord.

In Jesus holy name.

Amen

We must be servants to be recognized as leadership potential.

We must give up our own desires for the good of others.

We must guard our hearts and fight against an argumentative spirit and wanting to be the ones with the power and control, to be the ones over all else, the best, and number one in comparison to everyone else.

We must strive to be more like Jesus and allow Him to transform our lives into the people he destined us to be.

What does Mark 9:33-35 speak to you?

Pursuing God’s Will

Yesterday marked the beginning of week three in the 40 Day Bible Challenge. With a new week came a new approach to studying scripture. I know I say this every week, but I think I like this week even better than the last. This approach is very convicting and poses the challenge to live out God’s word through a life of obedience. It digs deep into scripture and stirs your soul toward spiritual growth.

One verse that was discussed while learning the new approach was James 4:17, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”

Rick Warren talked about the dangers of Bible study. He discussed how deeper knowledge brings greater responsibility. The more we learn about God and His will for our lives, the more that is expected of us.

He reminded the listeners that the goal of Bible study is to become more like Christ and in order to that we must change. We simply cannot change if we aren’t applying what we learn from God’s word to our daily lives.

This week’s method is called Probe It. With the scripture we read each day, we use the acronym SPACEPETS to answer questions about what we’ve read.

S=Is there a sin to confess?
P=Is there a promise to claim?
A=Is there an attitude to change?
C=Is there a command to obey?
E=Is there an example to follow?
P=Is there a prayer to pray?
E=Is there an error to avoid?
T=Is there a truth to believe?
S=Is there something to praise God for?

The passage for Day 15 of the 40 Day Bible Challenge is Mark 8:34-38, when Jesus taught about taking up your cross.

We need to combat selfish motives and intentions. We need to stand up for Christ always. This also means not shirking away from talking about Jesus, not just refusing to deny Him point blank. We must give glory to God always and praise him for all things. Without Christ, we would have nothing.

We need to share our thoughts and insights of God in conversation when they appear rather than pushing them down and giving an alternative explanation for our life. Not saying anything is no different than not speaking the truth.

Lord, please forgive us for allowing selfishness to take root in our lives and control our thoughts and actions. Please forgive us for those times when we value the opinion of people over Your will for our lives. Please forgive us for living for and serving other people rather than you.

Thank you that Your word promises that with surrender comes salvation. Thank you for the promise that Jesus will return to bring us home to be with You for all eternity.

Please work in our hearts and minds. Help us to change our attitudes of desiring control and being timid with Your holy Word and our knowledge of You. Please make us to be more like You.

Help us to repent of our selfish thoughts and lifestyles. Guide and encourage us so we are able to carry our crosses and follow Your will for our lives. Help us to follow you with all that we are. Give us the courage and boldness to stand strong and live lives unashamed of You.

Thank you Lord for being a living example of how we should strive to live our lives.

Help us to be unashamed, to be willing to abandon everything for You as you lead us to. Help us to mirror You in our thoughts, words and actions moment by moment and day by day.

Help us to avoid hanging onto our worldly lifestyles at the expense of destroying our souls. Help us to stand boldly and without fear for You and Your holy Word. Despite what challenges threaten to overtake us, for You are our protector and shield.

Thank you for the invitation to follow You completely. Thank you for salvation and redemption when we didn’t deserve such a blessing and honor. Above all thank you for coming back for us to bring us to the place you’ve prepared for us.

In Jesus precious name.

Amen.

Our souls are worth more than all else.

God’s Kingdom is greater than anything in this world has to offer.

What does Mark 8:34-38 speak to you?