Thursday, November 13, 2008

Cool Connections and Deeper Questions

Things are still going well! I continue to do what I am supposed to do—thank You, Lord, for Your strength and faithfulness—and as a result Tom and I are doing very well. Here is another one of my favorite Power of a Praying Wife prayers:

Lord, I lay all my expectations at Your cross. I release my husband from the burden of fulfilling me in areas where I should be looking to You. Help me to accept him the way he is and not try to change him. I realize that in some ways he may never change, but at the same time, I release him to change in ways I never thought he could. I leave any changing that needs to be done in Your hands, fully accepting that neither of us is perfect and never will be. Only You, Lord, are perfect, and I look to You to perfect us. May we be “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)

Since I tend to be a “fixer,” this prayer is always a good reminder of who the real changer and fixer is—and that I should look to my Lord and Savior to fulfill me instead of my husband. Easier said than done! Thank You, Lord, for Your strength, guidance, and direction.

God has been doing some “cool connections” lately. Last Friday, Tom and I went to a Mexican restaurant before the Truth Project meeting, and just after we sat down, some friends walked in! We were able to visit and share a meal with them—a wonderful surprise blessing. Then tonight, since my group wasn’t meeting, Tom and I decided to step out for a little while to give M and L some time together. We ended up at a coffee shop we had never been to before, and one of A’s old school friends was working there! He was able to chat with us between customers. Another sweet connection the Lord arranged.

Speaking of M and L, we’ve been having some great conversations with M lately. On Tuesday night, after finishing a late conference call, he sat down with us for a while. Tom and I were reading a thought-provoking piece called Do You Know What Really Annoys Me About God? by Dr. Barry Chant, and we read some of it aloud to him. That opened up a meaningful discussion. M asked questions about what we were doing and why, and even shared some of his own thoughts. He said we wouldn’t believe how many people have been asking him about us! Apparently, our mutual friends are curious about where we’ve been staying and what we’re doing. He admitted that people seem more nervous about bringing it up than he feels about answering. It turned into such a good exchange, and we were able to lay hands on him and pray since he’s been experiencing some unusual physical issues.

Then tonight, while making dinner, we had another honest conversation—this one about parenting, the mistakes we made with our kids, and the importance of asking their forgiveness. Again, it was real and life-giving. Thank You, Jesus, for opening these doors.

Another area God has been stretching us in is how we think about salvation. We’ve been questioning some of the religious filters we grew up with. Tom has been digging deeply into the Scriptures, especially around the question: “Teacher, what must I do to be saved?” For years, we were taught that saying the “sinner’s prayer” was the key to salvation. But when you actually read the New Testament, no one prays that prayer!

I used to believe “once saved, always saved,” but not anymore. As I read passages written to believers about being “cut off and thrown into the fire” (John 15), or excluded from the wedding banquet, I realized: this is serious. Romans 10:9–10, the verse often used for the sinner’s prayer, was also written to believers—something I had never considered before.

I still don’t claim to fully understand, but the Lord keeps bringing me back to this: it’s all about the heart. I prayed the sinner’s prayer years ago, and God has been transforming me ever since. But I’ve also seen people pray that same prayer and later fall away—just like the parable of the sower describes. Only God knows the heart. He’ll use whatever He can, even TV evangelists, to draw people to Himself. But we must keep “straining ahead” and continue believing in Him. It’s a lifelong action—we don’t “arrive” until heaven.

Here’s an excerpt from another document Tom found—Eternal Security? by Tim Warner—that really resonated with me:

Now, some might assume this means one can never depart from God. But this is not true. Many passages indicate true Christians can be lost. How? Through UNBELIEF. One must believe the gospel in order to be saved, and one must continue to believe the gospel to continue “in Christ.” It is as simple as that. Works don't play any part in initial “believing,” nor do they play a part in your continued “believing.” It is initially by faith, and it continues to be by faith throughout the Christian life.

I thought that was really good!

Overall, our days continue to be full—meeting with people, attending gatherings, and seeking to pursue the Lord in our personal walk, staying obedient to what He asks each day. What a great life this is. And as always, He proves faithful, providing for us day by day.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Trusting God’s Limitless Resources

This morning’s Small Straws in a Soft Wind by Marsha Burns really caught my attention:

You are in a time of unexpected and rapid change as I move you into the next phase of life experience. This is a fast track, and how you respond to this time of transition will determine its level of difficulty. The most beneficial response is to maintain flexibility and to go with the flow and to roll with the punches. If you resist change or try to maintain status quo, circumstances will only become more chaotic and challenging. Now is the time to deliberately relax and be at peace by putting your trust in Me, says the Lord.

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
(Psalm 9:9–10)

When I first read this, my thought was, “I knew I should be looking over my shoulder—things have been going so well lately!” But as I meditated on it further, I realized that we should always “maintain flexibility and go with the flow and roll with the punches.” And really, “how you respond to this time of transition will determine its level of difficulty” is always true. Life with the Lord is always a fast track!

Lord, help me to rest more deeply in You, to relax in Your peace, and to grow in flexibility as You lead me down the path You’ve chosen.

The Lord has also been convicting me about pride. Recently, He revealed an area I hadn’t recognized. Normally, I am very disciplined with eating, working out, scheduling my time, and staying organized. Without even realizing it, I would compare myself to others who weren’t as disciplined and judge them—even if only in my thoughts. But lately, I haven’t been doing so well in those areas (something I’ve already mentioned before). And the Lord showed me that it was never my strength that kept me disciplined, but Christ in me. He allowed my ability to waver so I could see clearly: it is Him alone who gives strength and determination.

Thank You, Lord, for revealing my pride and for showing me the truth—that it is You in me who is my strength. Please forgive my judgment of others; that role belongs to You alone. Now, I am learning to ask Him for the strength I need, instead of relying on myself.

Today, I met with a friend I hadn’t talked with in over a year. In one short hour, I tried to summarize all that God has been doing in our lives—almost impossible! Like many others, she asked, “Why don’t you get your nonprofit or license, do fundraisers, or go through the church system so you can get paid for what you’re doing?”

It probably seems so unusual, even confusing, that we’re not pursuing the “normal” paths most Christians would. But God has called us to something different. He wants us to look to Him alone for provision. I know myself well enough to recognize that if support came from a church, a fundraiser, or a person, I would start looking to those sources instead of to God. He is teaching us to trust Him at a level we could not reach otherwise. I don’t know the full reason yet, but I do know His plan is perfect.

And honestly, there are blessings in it too. For example, we aren’t affected by the economy, layoffs, the stock market, or gas prices. I remember telling Tom, when gas was at its highest, how grateful I was that we weren’t relying on a “limited paycheck” but on God’s limitless resources. He is not impacted by this world’s economy. No matter how high food or gas prices go, He will continue to provide everything we need. Thank You, Father, that Your provision is not limited, restricted, or shaken by the events of this world.

It was a full day today—working out in the rain (thankfully it wasn’t too cold), three back-to-back meetings, and then an evening of prayer and worship at D and LB’s house. The Spirit’s presence was very sweet, and it was such a gift to simply rest in the Lord together.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Snowflakes, Prayer, and Fellowship

Wow—it’s snowing! ❄️ I looked out the window just now and couldn’t believe it. Earlier, on my way home from lunch, I drove through some light flurries, but by the time I reached home, it had stopped. I guess the snow caught up with me after all. How fun!

Last night Tom and I had dinner with some dear friends, and what a blessing it was to reconnect. The Lord has called them out of the “institutional church” as well, and we shared stories of what God is doing in our lives. I love when the Lord’s mark on people is so clear. It’s evident He has beautiful plans for this couple, and I’m eager to watch His work unfold in them.

Lately, Tom and I have been revisiting some of the things we’ve been taught—especially around prayer. When and how are we supposed to pray? Jesus taught His disciples to pray like this:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

But I can’t help but feel there’s more depth here than meets the eye. I believe we can never pray too much—no matter the situation. Prayer should always be led by the Spirit, with our hearts tuned toward His guidance.

Tom struggles with avoiding “law” and “religion” in this area, which is a good reminder. Sometimes if he doesn’t know what to pray, he simply remains silent—and perhaps that is the Spirit’s leading for that moment. After all, if our words are for show or obligation, then it isn’t prayer at all.

Tom also raised another question: why are we going to all these groups? What’s their purpose? What are they really accomplishing? It’s so easy to do things because we feel like we “should” or because “everyone else is doing it.” But what does Scripture say?

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” —Acts 2:46

“After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.” —Acts 16:40

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” —Acts 1:14

“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” —Acts 2:42

Interestingly, right after Tom and I had this conversation, I received an email from AB through Simple Church that confirmed it all:

“Koinonia is a Greek word that occurs 20 times in the Bible. Its primary meaning is fellowship, sharing in common, communion. The first occurrence is Acts 2:42: ‘They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’ Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement.”

When I look at the groups we attend, I’d say yes—we share teaching, fellowship, encouragement, and meals. But prayer seems to be the weakest link. Too often, we allow so little time that it becomes quick and cursory. The truth is, we don’t really know how to wait on the Lord. Silence makes us uncomfortable, and we want instant gratification. But prayer isn’t a “drive-thru” service. It requires patience, stillness, and listening.

Lord, teach us how to wait on You. Help us to be patient and comfortable in silence as we seek Your voice with our whole hearts. Remove religious filters and worldly influence, and show us what true prayer looks like to You.

A couple of weeks ago, one of my molars began to hurt. I had started chewing ice again (since I was out of iron pills), and I feared I had damaged one of my fillings. But I soon realized the pain was coming from a crowned tooth—and it was getting worse every day. I suspected infection, so Tom and I prayed for healing. Within a day or two, the pain disappeared completely. The infection was gone! Hallelujah! Thank You, Lord, for caring even about our teeth.

Thanksgiving will look different this year. M and L will be out of town and offered their home if we want to host. So, it seems A and C will join us for Thanksgiving Day, and then we’ll celebrate with R and E on Sunday. I am so sad that we can’t all be together. E and A are not able to reconcile their differences so they are not comfortable being around each other… Or actually it is R and C that have the issues but it is A and E that are being affected. My heart is so hurt over the division in our family. Lord, I pray for your healing touch in your mighty and powerful name!

The Lord recently brought another woman into my life who is struggling with her husband’s pornography addiction. Thank You, Lord, for orchestrating these divine connections. Please give me wisdom, discernment, and Your heart to minister to her with compassion and truth.

We met this last Sunday at K and P’s house for breakfast and fellowship. It was pretty nice. Since this was the first time of getting together it was more of a “social” gathering than anything else. A and CB joined us so I guess they just wanted to get caught up with everyone. I was hoping to get into the word and prayer but I guess it was not to be. Maybe next time…?

And today, T asked us to house-sit during Thanksgiving week. That should be interesting since we are already house-sitting for M and L—we may have to “divide and conquer.” 😊

Friday, November 21, 2008

Trusting the Prepared Places

I have been thinking about how weird it is to not be “worried” or struggling with anything lately. Things seem to have just settled into a “normal routine”… but when I think about our life, nothing about it is normal! Then again, I guess it depends on your definition of normal too. :)

Tom and I have been doing very well the last week or two. He seems to be more at peace with things lately. We were talking the other day about the fact that he hasn’t been worried about where we will go when we need to leave this house in December. He attributes that to two things: the first being a revelation he got the last Friday night we were at BA’s group.

BA went around and prayed for everyone in the Spirit, and Tom said that when Bill touched his chest the scripture that popped into his mind was John 14:1-2:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

Tom said he knew that this scripture meant that Jesus was preparing a place in heaven for us, but he also felt like the Lord was saying that He has even prepared each place that we will be staying while on this journey.

The fact that God knew before we were born where we would be living during this time—and that He has already made preparations for it—had a huge impact on Tom! It gave him peace and confidence, knowing that all the places and provisions have already been made.

The second thing that has brought him comfort and peace is the history of God’s faithfulness. The Lord has come through for us every single time, and we have never been left out in the “cold.” This reminder has strengthened Tom’s confidence, and it’s been so nice having a stress-free husband lately. I pray that this continues in Jesus’ name!

The weather has gotten really cold! Tom said it was snowing again this morning, but it didn’t last long and it didn’t stick. I am curious what this winter is going to be like. Meanwhile, the economy continues to suffer—the auto industry is now looking for a bailout, the stock market is dropping rapidly, yet strangely, gas prices are also falling. We paid $1.87 the last time we filled up… thank you, Jesus! :)

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Thankful for His Faithfulness

This has been a busy week so far! Saturday we watched the kids while E and R went Christmas shopping. M wasn’t feeling well, so it was a little more difficult than usual, and I was pretty pooped by the end of the day! When we got back to M and L’s, they had invited some other friends over for dinner—people we hadn’t seen in about five years. It was wonderful to reconnect and catch up. They do pre-marriage and marriage counseling at their church, so we were able to share and discuss similar ministry experiences.

Sunday we went to church to celebrate a friend’s brother’s baptism. It was so awesome! Watching his progress from “searching” to “finding” to “proclaiming” his faith was wonderful. I know the Lord has amazing plans for that young man. The worship time was great, and baptisms always move me deeply. It was also a joy to see everyone at church again and reconnect.

Afterward, we went to K and S’s for a Thanksgiving feast and wonderful fellowship. H and N were there too, and we were so excited to see them since they haven’t been able to make it to the Acts Bible study the last couple of times. They mentioned wanting to open their home for a Bible study and asked if we’d be interested in joining them. I think that would be awesome! We’ll pray that the Lord leads and directs this new endeavor.

Later we went to R and E’s and hung out with the family. They got a Wii game unit for Christmas (a little early!), so we’ve been having fun playing with it with the kids.

Yesterday I helped H paint her laundry room. It was challenging since the room was so small and crowded with the washer and dryer, making it hard to maneuver around everything. Even though it was a small space, we still didn’t finish. One more coat is needed, but we’ll have to wait until she gets back from her trip to California for the holiday.

That evening I met with my friends and former co-workers for dinner—our quarterly get-together to catch up. I shared with them an experience I had when we first moved in with M and L. I remember feeling uncomfortable since they live so close to others we know—one person in particular. One day I even avoided her when I saw her, surprised by my own feelings. I realized I felt shame and embarrassment over what she might think of me and our circumstances, which is unusual for me since I’m normally unashamed and open about where God has us.

As I talked it out with my friends, I came to understand that what I was really feeling was the result of being hurt and betrayed. I had shared our situation with this person, and she responded with encouragement and prayer support—or so I thought. But when Tom and I later met with the pastor, his reaction showed me she had said something different to him. That discovery hurt and disappointed me. I thought our friendship was strong enough for honesty. But now that I’ve identified what was going on, I can forgive her, face her with confidence, and not carry shame or embarrassment. Thank You, Jesus, for helping me work this out!

Today I’ll cook for G and F, and later we’re meeting with another couple to talk about a group they feel God leading them to start. I want to see if the Lord might be inviting us to join, so I look forward to hearing more about where He’s leading them.

We start house-sitting for T on Wednesday, so we’ll spend the night there and then come back over here to begin Thanksgiving preparations. M and L’s son will be staying home, and their oldest surprised them by driving down from Texas—he’ll be here through Thanksgiving. Not sure yet what their other son will be doing, but I’ll just make dinner and see who shows up!

Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness. I am thankful for who You are and what You have done for me. Nothing else matters—just Your love and Your sacrifice for my sins so that I can be called a child of God. My heart is so full of joy—Your joy—for the life You’ve given me. Help me, Lord, to always be thankful and to give You all the glory, honor, and praise for who I am and the life You’ve given me. In Jesus’ name.

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” —Galatians 6:14

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Focusing on the Cross

This morning I was reading an article by Ron McGatlin on the “Organic Organization” of the church, and it reminded me of our meeting last night. The article described God’s natural order as opposed to man-made structure and organization without the Holy Spirit. When God is the author of something, it is very orderly, naturally organic, and smooth in its functioning.

During our discussion with the couple last night, he shared that he had opened his home to the Simple Church and other people he had only connected with online. Their last meeting was “interesting,” with a snag or two as some personalities clashed. There were good things that happened, and God was glorified in the end, but there were also awkward moments they had to work through. It made me reflect on the groups we attend and how they function, especially since most of them are filled with people we already know and have relationships with.

We started going to those groups because of those relationships, knowing we would be among familiar people. In contrast, this couple didn’t know most of the people walking into their home—only one was previously familiar. Their connection to the others was simply through the internet.

As I thought about it, I considered the biblical example. From what I can see, when people were saved in the early church, often their whole families came to faith. They would tell their neighbors and friends, and sometimes entire communities were converted. These people already had relationships, and families typically lived close together. People didn’t move away often because travel was difficult, so they remained in the same area most of their lives.

That meant they already knew the “off-beat” personalities in their midst and how to handle them. The “organic” side of it was that families and neighborhoods were saved—sometimes all at once, sometimes gradually—and then they met together with relationships already established. They knew one another’s struggles and could comfortably share needs and prayer requests.

What this couple is attempting to do is a bit more difficult because everyone is starting from scratch, but certainly not impossible with God. He can do all things and works in all situations. I think this was an insight the Lord gave me as I reflected on their situation.

Today Tom and W went hiking at Raven’s Rock. I was going to go along, but I was so tired I knew I couldn’t handle another full day. I slept in until almost 11:00 (I was supposed to get up at 7:00!). I’ve been feeling a little under the weather these last couple of days, so I wanted to be well-rested before diving into Thanksgiving preparations. Last night we stopped to pick up the turkey so it would have time to thaw, but I hadn’t yet made my list of all the other things we’d need. I was far too tired at 10:30 to even think about it! So today I’ve been able to search online for recipes and make my list. Now I feel rested and ready for the days ahead.

November 26

The Focal Point of Spiritual Power

Galatians 6:14 – “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

If you want to know the power of God (that is, the resurrection life of Jesus) in your human flesh, you must dwell on the tragedy of God. Break away from your personal concern over your own spiritual condition, and with a completely open spirit consider the tragedy of God. Instantly the power of God will be in you. "Look to Me . . ." (Isa_45:22). Pay attention to the external Source and the internal power will be there. We lose power because we don't focus on the right thing. The effect of the Cross is salvation, sanctification, healing, etc., but we are not to preach any of these. We are to preach "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1Co_2:2). The proclaiming of Jesus will do its own work. Concentrate on God's focal point in your preaching, and even if your listeners seem to pay it no attention, they will never be the same again. If I share my own words, they are of no more importance than your words are to me. But if we share the truth of God with one another, we will encounter it again and again. We have to focus on the great point of spiritual power --- the Cross. If we stay in contact with that center of power, its energy is released in our lives. In holiness movements and spiritual experience meetings, the focus tends to be put not on the Cross of Christ but on the effects of the Cross.

The feebleness of the church is being criticized today, and the criticism is justified. One reason for the feebleness is that there has not been this focus on the true center of spiritual power. We have not dwelt enough on the tragedy of Calvary or on the meaning of redemption.

This was a good reminder. I don’t think we focus on the “tragedy” of God very much—if I’m honest, I’m not even sure I fully understand what that means! Should we focus on that instead of the “victory” of Christ? I know balance is important. So, Lord, help me focus on You alone and let You direct my gaze, because if I try to decide on my own, I’ll get it wrong.