Consider it Joy - Called to the Storm

One thing that catches me off guard is James 1. I think when we view it and consider it in the midst of a hardship, it could cause bitterness to rise up. It could cause us to question God, or even to say you want nothing to do with Him. But if we truly believe His word is true, and we truly strive to see the pieces of it fall into place in our lives, we need to take James 1 with the package:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sister, whenever you face trials of many kinds," - James 1:2

As I have walked the line of unknowns, trials, tests, burdens, feeling like a burden all my life, (don't we all feel like we walk this line?) I find this verse intriguing. And over the last several years it has actually been the one that pops into my head most on any given day. That is why I have considered this to be my next "series" in this blog, and furthermore, the topic most likely to become my book someday, as it is one that continues to affect all of us. So without further ado...

Last week was a hard week for the Ruhlig bank account. I get text alerts when our bank account is low and I woke up every morning to a "warning" that we were at $4.91 all week. Talk about anxiety every morning. Sunday - Thursday. The best part is we didn't touch it. The number stayed above 0 all week despite auto bills and forgotten checks. That happens occasionally for us. We end up diving into reserves in the freezer and living on Ramen Noodles, but we always come out the other side. I can't say we're always proud of those moments, but it's a reality we fall into from time to time when the license plates ended up costing way more than we thought, or the gas to get to the appointment was a little unexpected, or that appliance/car/sink/house broke again, or there was a gift to pitch in for and shame didn't allow us to say "can't right now". The bills were paid, but we didn't go nuts last week. Sometimes we're short because of unexpected things, sometimes because we simply didn't think ahead well enough, but we try to learn each time. This is just one of those trials in life we occasionally face that we keep trying to grow from and plan better for. Sometimes inevitable, other times we just make a dumb choice and get forgetful about an expense. 

We can learn from our trials, whether we bring them upon ourselves or not. 

Aside from considering trials joys in James 1:2, the next thing we have to notice is that word "whenever". This insinuate they will happen to all of us. If you're living life, breathing air, dealing with other humans, failing body parts, and fickle finances, trials are gonna happen, y'all. This series is going to get personal because truth is we all deal with storms. So what if I challenge your thinking a little bit today in stating that perhaps the trials we are facing are ones we may be "called" to? Hang with me a second. 

Every single one of us comes with a unique set of gifts, skills, achievements, etc. But every single one of us also comes with brokenness, failures, struggles, weaknesses, etc. Am I depressing you yet? Keep with me. 

So with this reasoning, we can't help but know that our trials, hardships, struggles, etc. are brought about by our own set of unique traits. Some seem unfair and never asked for. Some we bring upon ourselves when we make terrible decisions. Either way, they are considered our trials. But our trials make us who we are. And later on as we continue to talk about them in this series, I'll point out just how we can respond in healthy and not so healthy ways, but consider today that whether you brought upon the hardships you face this very moment yourself, or if they are ones you never asked for, perhaps there is a reason. 

Perhaps you are called to the trials you face. Let me say it a different way...

Perhaps you are meant to face this storm for a reason much greater than you. 

Because down the road, perhaps years from now, someone else will face it too, and need you to show them they will make it through. 

Because down the road, perhaps years from now, you will look back and be able to see so clearly how God's hand was all over you in the midst of that storm, and that realization itself brings about a powerful feeling that your God is so incredibly sovereign. 

Because down the road, perhaps years from now, you will see the reason, even if now you can't. Even if you don't see it until you're standing face to face with your Creator. 

What if we started owning our trials? Not intentionally sinning and falling into the trials of our choices, but what if we took our terrible situations and look for the Real, Powerful, Silver Lining that is actually the Light of our Savior? This may sound naive if you are walking the difficult road of something hard right now, but trust me here. Trust HIM here. What if you are called to be at rock bottom? Not to be tormented, but to actually see Who the Rock is? Because I think as humans, we will search every tangible option we can before reaching out in faith to the only One Who can actually be Our Rock. 

"You call me out upon the waters, the great unknown where feet may fail..." - Oceans (Hillsong)

What if it is true He does call us out into the waves and wind where we have no idea what's going to happen? Aren't these the best times to grow though? For me, those were oddly the golden times of growth, and I pray that they continue to be times of growth with every twist, turn, frustration, and annoyance of the storms I face. I pray I can draw close to Him in the midst of current storms and future storms, because that is the position I need to take to live up to the calling of my storms. May we fulfill the calling well. 

Read:

Mark 14:22-33, James 1:2-4

Ask:

When was a time you felt rock bottom? Do you recall feeling God's presence in that time?

How might we be called to a storm in life? 

What happens when we try to walk through a storm by our own power or other peoples' power? What happens when we actually reach out to God's power?

Fill the Gaps - Security Breach

I'm probably one of the most insecure people I know, which is ironic because I work with Jr. High girls. I'm just going to be honest and say I think they are more secure in who they are than I am half the time. Maybe that's why I identify with that group of people best...? Insecurity means a lack of confidence. Uncertainty about oneself. Questioning of your worth and place in this world. But security is not found in anything that can change.

We try to find security in relationships. Singles scramble to keep any prospect in their lives just so they feel secure in marriage. Not a good place to find security.

We try to find security in careers. Feeling a sense of accomplishment and worth in a place that we know won't always be there. Not a good place to find security.

We try to find security in power, beauty, money, people, things...all horrible things to find security in.

Find a security in the One Who says He will never leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6) That will never change, no matter how much you do. When we find security in Christ, nothing else will matter in 100 years. If you truly put your trust in Him and your life in His hands, you have nothing to worry about.

Ruth didn't try to squeeze God into her plans, but she followed the urging from God to go with her mother in law, to a place where no way ever would she find a future, just because of her origin. Ruth simply went about every day life, working to provide for Naomi and herself and God saw her heart and provided not only a living, but a man who honored Him and found favor in Ruth because of her lovely character and diligence. Ruth didn't show insecurity, she showed faithfulness and trust in a God she was just meeting. It is incredible to see how faithfulness wipes away insecurity.

I love the words to Lauren Daigle's song, You Say. It speaks volumes of how we should view security in Christ alone. If you haven't heard it, check it out here!
But the premise of the song is that we fight voices that say we're not enough, we are not loved, we are not worthy, but God says just the opposite of those things, and we should believe that what He says is true.

Insecurity will not only destroy you, it will destroy your relationships. Insecurity will place standards on people around you, mostly on your spouse or significant other, that they can't fill. Only God can fill them. The problem here is that you are trying to find security in humans, not God. The same goes for church. Church is a funny line because it is God's, but it is ran by imperfect humans. Many, many, many times people storm out, throw fits, or rant about how awful a church is because it didn't give them what they needed when they needed it. Again, where is the security here?

Insecurity in your career will leave you on mountaintops that will quickly tumble down into valleys, leaving you wondering why you're not happy. They you'll be scrambling back up the mountaintop again only to find yourself exhausted after each run, and depressed when you tumble back down.

Remember what God thinks of you and ask Him to reveal to you repeatedly the truth He has for you and about you. Insecurity creeps up from every direction - social media is a biggie, but God's Word is filled with love for you. See the things of this world, the circumstances of this life, and the accomplishments of your abilities as vapors that will be gone in the blink of an eye. See God's security as the eternal, secure picture that you should cling to hardest.

Scripture to Read:
Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:8

Questions to Ponder:
How does knowing that God is the same always encourage you?
What sorts of things are you putting security in that are leaving you frustrated and depressed?
How can you take steps today to remind yourself of what God thinks of you, so you can get out of the cycle of temporary securities?

Fill the Gap - Stop Waiting, Start Serving

I keep wanting to write a book. I have no idea what it would be about or what it would entail, but I know I want to...someday. I keep wanting to travel more. The list I have to visit is long, and expensive, but I know I want to go see places in this world that are beautiful. I hear this theme over and over again from people. They want to have kids but they want the right career first. They want to travel, but they want a spouse first. They want to serve in the church, but they want to find time first. Let me be the first person (or the 100th) to say that waiting isn't the answer. Life passes quickly, and if you don't follow through with God's prodding when it comes, you might miss it. We have a God of second chances, but not necessarily a God of second opportunities.

Ruth, having moved to Judah with her mother in law heeded an opportunity and stepped out in risk to see what kind of life God may have for her now, knowing full well that a husband may not be in that picture. But she chose a land where God was worshiped, not another god. We read a parable by Jesus in Matthew 25 about 3 servants who are given their master's wealth to keep safe while he is away. The first servant gets 5 bags of gold to be entrusted with and returns to his master 5 more bags when he returns. The second servant gets 2 bags of gold and returns 2 more for his master. And the final servant is entrusted with 1 bag and returns the same bag, gaining no more to his master. The master is infuriated with this servant, saying he did nothing to further his wealth. Jesus uses this parable to challenge us to use what we have to further His kingdom.

We can sit on our hands and wait for "the right moment" or we can get up now and go. We have all been given an ability, words, gifts, desires, goals for a reason. God wants us to stop waiting around for us to have more money, find Mr. or Mrs. Right, land the right career, find the time, and just jump. Consider the valuable bags of gold you have been given, whether in something as simple as a smile and warm welcoming spirit, to words just longing to seep out onto a page in a book. Now is the time. Sign up to volunteer. Write the book. Go on the trip.

We build our character best in Christ when we are actively participating in His work. In order to fill the gaps in your life and know what He is calling you to do, well...you have to do something. I used to fear doing things. I want to believe that this is why I never went away to college, but stuck around locally. It worked out and ultimately, God's plan happened here, but I often wonder what that life would have been like. I feared a new place. I feared people. I still fear people sometimes. I got to a point though, where I found myself at home in serving our students - Jr. and Sr. High ladies specifically. I found a love for playing guitar and joined the praise team - talk about a step for me! I tapped into my love of traveling and joined a mission team to the Dominican Republic and since have been tied there with connections and more trips. I was able to find my place in God's plan and find where I belonged, whether or not I had a man next to me. Eventually, obviously, the man came along, but not because I was pining alone in my bedroom for him. I made a life for Jesus first, allowing Him to show me the gifts He put in me and use them to find my place for His glory. If the man never would have come, nothing would have changed in my heart in terms of serving the Lord, but now I serve alongside my guy and we challenge each other to tap into those gifts.

Start living. Stop waiting. Find what you can do NOW to be an active participant in God's plan, desiring first to expand His kingdom before trying to fill the voids of your heart. A quote I love  by Reggie Joiner is the following:

"Don't wait until you feel like it to do something. Do something in order to feel like it."

Serving God will give you a whole new, enriched energy and sense of belonging in this world with purpose. A purpose that far exceeds anything we can cook up for ourselves! Ruth went after it. And we will get to see more of her story as we plug away at this series more. God blessed her for her faithfulness in mighty ways, and He wants to use you to do awesome things for His glory too! Just get over the gaps you feel and fill them with His plans for you.

Scripture to Read:
Ruth 2:1-3, Matthew 25:14-30

Questions to Ponder:
How did Ruth take a risk and serve God by taking care of her mother in law?
What are some things God has put on your heart to do? How do you know they are His desires?
What are you going to do in order to serve God and furthering His kingdom rather than waiting for "the right time"?

Agape Love - Protects

When I became a mother, something changed. Not only the fact that I had a colicky, screaming baby in the house, but the fact that my instincts became more...is "fierce" a strong enough word? I gained a mama-bear drive that hasn't yet left to this day, as we look ahead to her turning five. I hear that never goes away and that one day when she's a teenager, it will drive her crazy. But the day she came home and told me a kid wasn't nice to her at school stirred up all sorts of emotions for me. Mama-bear wanted to go give that kid a piece of my mind, but mama-bear also just wanted to hold my daughter and let her know the kids who aren't nice to her shouldn't matter in her life. How do we embrace this agape trait of protection?

Protect others. We can agape people by protecting them when they can be/should be protected. There is a lot to be said when someone says "I've got your back." It shows innumerable amounts of love to that person. Not only does the person feel like they have a place to belong, but they also have people to do life with. How do we protect people? Consider a few things:

By taking your own blame. When you are in question, and you know you've screwed up, don't throw anyone under the bus, but yourself. Nothing says I devalue you more than blaming someone that was not at fault for your mistake.

By standing up for them. This not only goes for the injustices of the world, like human trafficking and slavery, but this is important in our everyday exchanges. If someone is gossiping about someone, stick up for the person they are gossiping about. I'm sure if there was dirt going around about you, you would want the same dousing going on for the rumors flying around. Even if you know the rumors are true, they are not warranted without the person there.

By providing to the ones you committed to. If you are wearing a wedding ring, you better be protecting the one who gave you that ring. If you gave someone a wedding ring, you better be protecting the one you gave it to. If you brought a child into this world, you better be providing for that child in every aspect they need provision for, even in faith.

By respecting them. The word "respect" is one that gets thrown around a lot by people today, even by people who don't show it. However, we lose sight of the fact that God loves even the ones who don't love Him, and we are called to love them too. This may look like not taken advantage of another person. They may look like seeing potential in someone even if you don't agree with what they are doing now. This may look like allowing opinions to be just opinions, not reasons to hate each other.

1 Peter 2:13-17
"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor." 
By protecting their faith or potential faith.

We see the examples of when Jesus protected others, even when everyone was thinking the person was wrong. Zacchaeus, the woman caught in adultery, the woman who spilled the perfume on His feet. Jesus displayed a protection over people that was so incredible and surprising.

Respect yourself. As God's chosen masterpiece, you need to look at the potential He sees in you. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. If you really stop and consider yourself for a moment, you could see all the pieces God put together in you to bring about something much bigger than what is going on in your life today. If it's one thing I'm learned through the storms and waves of this life, it is those storms actually made me prepared for what was ahead. God wants you to remember how treasured you are in His eyes. The plans He has for you are great, but you need to look past the negative feelings you have for yourself today. Don't allow anyone to take advantage of you or your gifts - your God-given, delicately planned out gifts.

Agape always protects. Some versions say Love (agape) bears all things. When we really dig to the roots of what this is saying, we'll find that love covers or roofs, placing protection over. Or it covers in silence - not as an accomplice, but as a protector for one with faults. In other words, it doesn't walk around boasting about someone's short comings. How are you protecting others and yourself?

Scripture to Read:
1 Peter 2:13-17, Ephesians 2:10

Questions to Ponder:
What is one of the traits of respecting others you would like to work on?
Why should be respect others? How is this a way of "protecting"?
How do you need to protect yourself? Why is it important to do so?

Teachings of Jesus - The Lost Son

There is a deep love for (in my opinion) junky cars among males, and some females I know in our community. I can't even grasp how someone can tow a "hunk of junk" (again, my opinion) and find value in it. Maybe it's been in a wreck, or rusted out so bad that there's hardly anything left, or it's missing so many pieces. But every August, I drive around and see the "hunks of junk" sitting in peoples' yards, in places they show them off, with derby painting and signs on them, ready to go out and battle at our county fair. I also see restored vehicles that are no where near what they were, and I am blown away by the work put in. It's incredible how people can take those "hunks of junk" and actually make it a beautiful, moving, purposeful vehicle again. These vehicles had been given purpose again.

It's something to be considered. No matter how far we have fallen into a pile of purposeless life, squandering our lives and finding ourselves bound for the dead end of life, we can remember that we have a God Who will restore us, giving us life once again. In fact, Jesus shares a story about this.

How much disrespect was there displayed when a son asks his father to give him is inheritance before his father has passed? Never is there more love than when a father actually gives it to him. Jesus uses the story of the lost son in Luke 15 to display His love for us. Even though we are selfish people, wanting to gain all we can for our own purposes, Jesus is always waiting, like that father to take us back. There is much to be learned from this little story, that holds great meaning:

We all choose to run away sometimes. I don't think there is a single person living that has obeyed, followed and trusted God 100% of the time. We have all at one point said, Lord, give me what's mine and we ran the other way. Maybe we don't ever give our talents, resources and credits to God. Maybe we claim our own fames before giving God any credit for getting us there. Whatever it is, we fall and will fall at some point.

It takes rock bottom to "come to our senses". As we read about the lost son, at the bottom of life, working with the pigs after burning through his money, that was when he realized he had chosen completely wrong. Sometimes we need to be at the absolute bottom of our lives to realize we need to step back and chose differently.

The Father is always watching for us. "While he was still a long ways off, the father saw him and was filled with compassion for him." No matter how deep we are in life, or how far we have placed ourselves away from God, He is always watching, waiting, and ready for us to come back. Don't ever think you are too far away to go back, or that you have to get cleaned up completely before you go back. Simply know you need Him and you need to change. Let Him do His perfect work in you.

We may become bitter of someone else's gain. The older brother completely missed the point, as we often do in this story. We can do everything right and know we'll earn because of it in the end, but unless we actually have a heart change and appreciate the love of our Father, we will lose out in the main celebration. The goal is to seek and bring home the lost, not work on our own means.

Where do you relate with this story? Perhaps you are a father, waiting for a loved one to come to their senses. Or you have been the lost son, squandering all you have been given from God for your own gain, at the bottom of life. Or your the eldest brother, doing you, waiting until you get your piece without a heart for the mission. Where ever you are, find hope today. The Heavenly Father is waiting patiently for your return, to restore you and give you purpose again. 

Scripture to Read:
Luke 15, Ephesians 2:8-9

Questions to Ponder:
Where you do you relate in the story? Why?
How does Ephesians 2:8-9 tie into this story? What about from the eldest brother's perspective?
How do you view salvation? Something you have to work for or something done for you?

Teachings of Jesus - Talents

I just love seeing a collaboration of gifts play out for a bigger picture. Church is an example of this, as people step up to share their various talents, from a smiling face at a door greeting, to rocking babies in the nursery, to singing in worship. It is truly something heavenly when people can use their piece to provide a means of testimony, no matter how big or small they feel their talent is. Working at camp was another example that I enjoyed seeing played out. I just loved seeing and getting to know everyone and what made them tick. I would never touch a skateboard, but we had guys (and gals) that could rock those things. And everyone of them carries a story with their talents and gifts. How they came to love this thing. How they came to use it for Jesus. How they grew from it. It's just awesome.

As Jesus shares in Matthew 25:14-30, a parable about how to give back through the resources He gives us, we can't help but cringe a little reading that story. The truth of the matter is, all of what we have has been given to us from God. He gives to us based on how well we use what we have to further His purpose, and that is Kingdom expansion. There are some things we need to take note of here, however:

Using our gifts and talents takes work on our part. If you notice in this reading, the servants who had a return on their talents were the ones who went out and did something to earn more. They doubled their starting amount and the master was pleased with how they had worked with it. The one servant, however did nothing. Yes, he kept it safe, as he justified in the passage, but he also brought nothing out of it to help his master.

The master also gave his servants a different amount of gold each. He knew what each one was capable of. Perhaps the first servant had proved before many times that he was reliable and would do what he was supposed to with his gold, thus the master trusted him with more. On the flip side, the last servant didn't get as much because he really didn't do anything with what was given to him, defeating the whole purpose of being handed a bag of gold in the first place. As we place this principal with what we have been given, would you say you are the first servant, doing what you can to use your gifts wisely to fulfill your master's purpose and mission? Or are you considered the 3rd servant, trusted with little and returning with little? This is a hard pill to swallow, but a necessary one if you truly want to grow in the mission.

Finally, we see that we work for Christ. Nothing else in this world matters, but furthering His Kingdom. That is our mission. We do that through our gifts, our talents, our resources, our love for people. He has given us what we need to accomplish this in the unique ways He created us. We can use our gifts for our own, selfish purposes, or we can do it for an eternity of good on behalf of something greater than ourselves. You will be held accountable and God will give you what you can be trusted with. How you use it is up to you.

Scripture to Read:
Matthew 25:14-30; Ephesians 2:10

Questions to Ponder:
What are some gifts, talents, resources that God has given to you?
How are you using these things for His good?
How does Ephesians 2:10 tie into this concept?

Day 128: Unique Puzzle Pieces

Day 128
Judges 13-15; 1 Corinthians 12

There is no such thing as "ordinary" when you are working as a child of God. He calls each of us here on this earth for a reason and He uses us and the gifts He gives us to help carry out something intricate and incredible for Him. Today, we'll read the front end of Samson's story, as well as look at how we are to be used as a part of a greater picture.

The way that Samson came about is very similar to the way Isaac, John the Baptist and Jesus came about. Parents who couldn't have children. An angel appearing. Restrictions or requirements that set them apart. Samson was to be someone great to the history of the Israelites and he was a very unique and gifted individual.

Like any other person, however, Samson had his downfalls. He was a wild at heart sort of man who sought revenge in harsh ways, and was overcome by the spirit of the Lord on many occasions. And like any other person, he got tired, worn out, and depressed after coming off a high. Despite his downfalls and revenge tactics, God used him to rule over Israel for years. This proves that God gives us all different strengths and skills. He gifts us with passions and things that "make us tick". Samson was a unique piece of the puzzle that God used to carry out the rest of history for the Israelites. As a child of God, you are also a piece of the puzzle. Though what you do today may not come to fruition or make sense until after you are gone, it meant something if God commanded it. Don't make sense of the things God calls you to do, but do them, trusting that God will use it in the puzzle He is creating.

You are probably fairly familiar with the passage out of 1 Corinthians today. Just like Samson, you are blessed with a certain strength. God wants to use your passions, skills, gifts, and even your weaknesses to carry out His plan. We are all a part of one body of Christ, working together to carry out the mission set for us. How are you doing with your part of the team? How do you feel when someone else gets the praise for the work you helped with? Are you able to be a team player without letting your selfish ambitions get in the way?

Even though you may be good at some things, you are not good at others. You need others on the team to make it a well-rounded team. This way, you are able to face different situations more often. A team of 1 is not a team. But a team that works together as one is a great team. Work to see the gifts that others possess and bring them in on your team. Consider your weaknesses and who you can rely on to help you when you need a skill you don't have. Don't allow selfishness and pride to tear your team apart. You are working for the King and He deserves the best team working with Him.

We all have a unique skill set. God will use your strengths, gifts, skills, passions, and even your weaknesses on His team. Be sure to keep your heart in check as you work with others, so you don't fall into the temptation of selfishness or pride. Rather than always seeking the applause, allow others to have the credit. Most importantly, point that credit right back up to God, as it was Him Who gave you these gifts in the first place.

Day 118: Work to Be Done

Day 118
Joshua 13-15; 1 Corinthians 2

We get tired of the work before us at times. We may feel old, or sick, or just simply drained of life because of the things we're doing for the cause of Christ. We may feel inadequate and like we're not ready, so the work should go to someone else. We may just need a kick in the pants to remind us of Who we are looking to and Who we are working for. Today, let's consider these concepts of continual work for the Lord.

Joshua was getting older, and there was still much to be done. There was tedious work to be done in dividing the land among the people of Israel and even more fights to be won. Even in old age, God still uses you to complete His work. I think we go through seasons of life where we feel like we just can't continue in ministry (if you're a Christian, you are in ministry). It can be tough when you are in ill health or feel inadequate, but God will still use you in some capacity to carry out what He needs done to bless those around you. Simply sharing your story and reflecting with others is a big part of sharing the love God has for us with others.

Caleb's faithfulness this far to the Lord paid off. Caleb wasn't faithful for his own benefit, but because he believed in the mission God had called him to. Joshua was the same, and God rewarded both of them by delivering them to the Promised Land. Joshua even fulfilled a promise to Caleb in granting him his share of land 45 years from the time God promise it to him through the Lord. These men were sold out, faithful to God and they showed it, no matter how old they became and how old the promises became. Can you honestly say that you are still willing to do ministry, even if it does become tedious and hard, until your last breath?

On the flip side, our lack of maturity can keep us from truly doing the work Christ called us to. In 1 Corinthians, we read about how the people stumbled on leadership agreements, jealousy, quarreling, disunity, and deception. They are tripping over the wisdom of the world rather than wisdom of the Lord. Yet, there is much work to be done that requires God's wisdom, unity, camaraderie, and knowing Who gets the glory. It's God, every time - in case you didn't know. Stop stumbling and do some work for the Lord. Stop looking at the people around you, judging them, comparing yourself to them, and start looking up and comparing yourself to Him. There is work to be done.

Today, I want to leave you with this poem by Jill Briscoe:

Shaken, drained, discouraged, sickly
Tired and troubled and depressed, 
Glad the time of serving over,
Now I’ll go home and rest.

Hot and humid was the weather
Sad and needy was the crowd, 
Feeling I had done my duty,
Earned the time of rest allowed. 

Soon I could return to family
"Yes," tomorrow I’d be gone, 
Sitting in the last hot meeting,
I tuned in to what went on.

Listened to my husband preaching,
My, it was a great last talk, 
All about the call of Jesus,
All about our life’s “faith walk.” 

Stuart opened up the Scriptures
Talked of Jesus’ pain and loss, 
How He who was our great sin bearer,
Bore our guilt upon His cross.

What a great word for the students!
Hoped “they’d” listened, yield their hearts, 
They were young, their lives before them,
Now their turn to do their part.

Time for prayers of dedication,
I was tired, so late at night,
Shut my eyes and wished it over,
When a picture sprang to sight!

Saw a cross alone, discarded
Lain at rest against a wall, 
Who’d lain down such holy symbol?
Who’d abandoned life’s “faith call”? 

Then a voice so dear – familiar,
Asked a question – pierced me through, 
Who is it that you’re expecting
Carrying it home for you?

How could I lay down that crossbeam?
How to think that no one saw? 
Who did I expect to lift it,
Carry it to heaven’s door? 

"Jesus, Jesus, please forgive me,
Carried Thou your cross for me, 
All the way to hell to save us,
Help me carry mine for Thee!"

"I’m no hero – special woman
Just a lady, old and gray, 
But my cross, Lord, I will carry,
Home, Lord, home, Lord – ALL THE WAY!"

Spoke His voice so quiet – but clearly then:
"All the way home, Jill; all the way, all the way home!"

Jill Briscoe © 2012 

Day 112: Leading a Legacy

Day 112
Deuteronomy 32-34; Mark 14:32-72

There are many things that go into the lives we leave here on this earth. We can live our lives trying to fill it with everything we have ever wanted or wanted to do, which always brings temporary happiness, and we leave it all behind. Or, we can live our lives trying to fill hearts with Christ and what He can do to grant everyone eternal happiness. When trying to find your own happiness, you may actually stumble into Christ, and realize He is the ultimate, eternal happiness you need.

Moses goes out, continuing to spread wholeheartedly the words of the Lord to the people he's leaving behind. You can truly see how Moses' heart beats for the people and more for His God as he obeys and shares what God wants him to. He is truly a leader for the memory books who brought the people into freedom from Egypt, and continued to push them past the struggles and doubts they had as they went. We recall how frustrating Moses' journey with the people was at times, but as we wrap up Deuteronomy, we read the words of the Lord and the words Moses shares about the tribes.

The people respected Moses, and being a respectable leader is huge in sharing the ultimate legacy of Christ. While Moses didn't get to enter into the Promised Land, he humbly handed over his leadership to Joshua, who was chosen by the Lord. It's interesting to reflect back on Moses' life and see the kind of leader he was formed into as the journey progressed. A man who was too afraid to go and demand the people be set free by Pharaoh, now a man who wrapped up his life with speeches and eloquent words from the Lord to the people to continue this legacy for generations.

What kind of leader is God forming you to be? Even if you are reluctant to lead, you are leading someone in someway. The question will be if it is in a way that is holy, or a way that seeks temporary fulfillment from a world that can never offer you eternity. Watch how you lead and who you lead.

As Jesus nears His crucifixion in Mark, we read about how even the disciples were weak in standing by Him. These leaders that Christ had worked side by side with for months were now fleeing the scene when things got rocky. However, just because the disciples fled, we know that Peter still becomes a key leader in the foundation of the Church. He denies Christ, as predicted, but that is not his fate.

Have you felt like you have fallen away from Christ, or even denied Him? There is still hope. Peter was redeemed and lived to serve His Lord after he was frozen in sin and fear. Don't ever feel like hope is lost for you. You can still make an impact and you can still be redeemed if you have a heart that seeks the Lord and longs to do His work.

Christ Himself was willing to go to the bitter suffering on a cross for us. He prayed to His Father if it were HIS will let it be done. I think we hesitate to follow the will of God, even in the simplest of forms, because we are either too fearful, or we wouldn't believe God would make us do something so crazy. We need to be open to His leading and His will, no matter how scary it may seem. When He calls us to it, we know we're taken care of, because it is His will. Christ took the biggest risk and conquered death for us. If we take a risk for God, you never know the ripples it could cause around you. Think of the big picture and allow God to start small with you.

We may start out rocky in our lives of leading for Christ. Moses was afraid he couldn't speak. Peter denied Christ. But God used both of these men to do amazing things for Him. You don't need to be qualified to lead; in fact, you are a leader in some way right now. Someone is looking to you and watching what you do - especially if you claim to be a Christian. Take a step out and allow Christ to work through you in amazing ways. Lead with a legacy that seeks His will and His bigger plan, rather than you desires and the here and now agenda you carry.

Day 87: Comparison Trap

Day 87
Numbers 12-13; 2 Thessalonians 3

Comparison can be the root of many problems in our lives. It brings on pride, gossip, jealousy, misguidance, laziness, distraction, and other various issues. We can choose to put our eyes on what everyone around us has, or how God uses everyone around us and be jealous, or we can remember what He has done for us and thank Him for all He has given us.

I think we all believe to an extent that God has spoken through us. But do you sense the tension of pride in that statement? We may get a little jealous when God has used others in great ways. When we start comparing ourselves and the work we have done to others around us, we set aside Christ and His work. We actually hinder Him from working through us because of our pride. As I read of the situation with Miriam and Aaron play out, I can't help but cringe because I have been that person. The one who looked around me, rather than up and started comparing, then getting jealous, then getting eaten from the inside out with it. The unhealthy place comparing and jealousy puts you is a hard return to what God had intended, and time is lost on your comparison trap. When you can finally let that go, however, and allow your eyes to rest only on Christ, there is something freeing about it.

The pride of ourselves stems from this. When we are prideful, we think way too much of ourselves. This is the opposite of humility, which is something God looks highly upon as a character trait, as we can see from the interaction with Moses, Miriam, and Aaron. Moses' humility stemmed from an ongoing, growing relationship with God. How are you aligning yourself to be a more humble person? That being thinking of yourself less?

Comparison also leads to thinking we're not good enough. As the people scouted out the land they were to receive, they saw the giants there, and figured they couldn't defeat them. The only four that had faith were Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua. If you can recall, however, God has pulled these people out of some sticky situations before. It was obvious the people weren't looking up at God, but ahead at their problems. Rather than always looking directly at the giants in front of you, comparing them to your capabilities and knowledge, look up and remember where God has brought you. Remember the big problems He worked you through before, and remember that faith doesn't make sense.

When we compare our lives to the lives in this world around us, we can easily set our focus to our world, rather than to Christ. Paul lays out some specific instructions to the people of Thessalonica, that may contradict the people around them and their actions and values. This is tough. In a world of freedom and its own definition of it, it is hard to remember the true freedom that comes from Christ alone. We need to work on comparing what we have to those around us in this world. What the world values isn't what we as Christ-followers are to value. Even what some believers value aren't what we are to value. Paul warns us to avoid lazy believers, or those who refuse to work for their keep. Don't fall into the ideals of life, but run with the path God put you on.

What life are you comparing yours to? Whose face do you think of when you begin to doubt who you are and what Christ is capable of in your life? Turn that face into that of Christ and His power in your life. He has been so faithful to you so far- don't forget that as you look at other places to compare. Allow Him to become your center, in being thankful to Him for everything you have and are. He is our standard to live by. No one and nothing else deserves that spot.

Day 82: Purpose Benefits

Day 82

Numbers 4-5; 1 Thessalonians 4

There is something to having purpose and carrying it out wholeheartedly that causes great joy in life. Having purpose in doing the Lord's work is an even deeper form of joy that can only come from Him. As we read today, purpose and obedience to God's calling on your life has great benefits. 

As we continue to read how God organized the people in Numbers, we begin to see how they moved forward as one to carry out the work God put before them. Their lives centered around Him and the were careful to do the work God called them to do. There is a little foreshadowing here to the church today. God has placed skills, gifts, talents, passions and experiences in our lives to carry out His work. Are you merely a spectator in the church, or are you a team player in moving the body forward? 

Coming from someone who works in the church, I can tell you right now that no job is too small. There are pieces, big and small, that come together to do work God lays before us. Simply shaking a hand on a Sunday morning can ripple great first impressions across a person's heart as to this whole "church thing". Don't overlook your purpose and calling within the church. If you are a Christ-follower, there is a role you need to be in. 

Purpose also combats sin and temptation. I firmly believe that if we are truly focused on Christ and the roles He's put us in, we will combat the temptations in our lives with more conviction. We will still stumble, but getting back up will be easier if we know Who we're running to. The church in Thessalonica had Paul worried as he feared they would be tempted by what was around them. However, he learned differently when Timothy reported back, and he was full of joy. Not only were the people thriving against temptation, but they were thriving in their purpose in being the church.

Discovering our purpose in God's plan is huge. Not only does it help you combat temptations in your life, but you gain an immense amount of joy in all circumstances. Serving Christ through the church is a calling if you are a Christ-follower, as we see foreshadowed in Numbers and carried out in Paul's letters. Are you serving in the church, or are you merely a spectator? Allow the gifts, talents, skills, and experiences that God has placed in your life to serve Him.