Shhhh! Don’t tell but I have snuck away from our moving sale to write down a couple of thoughts. J Bright and early this morning, which is what happens when you let your husband put the ad in the paper….”You started it at 7:00?!?”, people began to amble through the rows of things that began in my driveway and carried on through the main level of my home. At least half of everything we own had been set out to sell, not having made the cut of what was worth the truck or trailer space in our upcoming move. There are a couple of things that are sobering about this whole process. The first one is how much STUFF a family can accumulate that when it comes right down to it is not needed. The second one is how freeing it is to be rid of all of the excess.

It has set my mind to thinking about my inner life as well. How much “stuff” do I hold unto that I don’t need and would actually be quite freeing to be rid of? My inner “stuff sifting” has found a lot that can go! Worry, fear, anger, disappointment, bitterness. Who needs them? Not me! It’s time to clean up.

I’m reminded of a blog I wrote a couple of years ago……

2/18/09 Sweating the Small Stuff

Various - of diverse kinds; unlike; different. James 1:2 says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds". Peter uses the same word in I Peter 1:6 when he says, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials".

Most of us have faced some pretty big trials in our lives. We have lost a loved one, faced a bad report from the doctor, or maybe not known where the money was going to come from to feed our family their next meal. Not all trials are big trials and that is a reason to be thankful. Don't you find, though, that the small trials can really mess you up in your day to day walk with the Lord? When a big trial comes generally our first response is to turn to the Lord. We KNOW we cannot handle those on our own. Small trials tend to sneak up on us. They are often just the daily aggravations of life: unmet expectations, cranky kids, a broken down car, an overflowing washing machine, or a person going too slow when we are in a hurry. Sometimes, ladies, things that would not bother us at all, depending on what time of the month it is, can really affect our state of mind.

I have had one of those weeks! Did you see the movie "The Incredibles"? (If you haven't, you must, it's one of my all time favorites!) At one point in the movie Mr. Incredible, who obviously has super-human strength, is captured. The thing that brings him to his knees is not a huge powerful thing in and of itself. He gets hit with a small ball of black...for lack of a better word, blob. He keeps running but then more of these black blobs land on him and before you know it he is taken down. This week my small aggravations have been like those black blobs. You know, one or two and I can keep going, keep doing my devotions, and living my life. Before I knew it though I was bogged down; dry devotions, and no joy. "Yikes", I thought, "What happened?" What happened is that I had not turned to Him in the little things. I certainly had not "counted it all joy" with James or "rejoiced" with Peter.

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us". Remember chapter 11 of Hebrews is where we are given examples of saints who have gone before us excising great faith. I love that it doesn't just say to lay aside the sin. Yes, sin does hinder the running of the race of faith but the author of Hebrews also tells us to lay aside "every weight". These weights are the things other than sin that cling to us and hinder us in our race. So I have to lay these aside, this is an action. I must make the conscious decision to lay these things aside so that I can run my race and bring glory to my Savior.



I gotta go….think I’ve been found out! 

This week I am kind of sad as I conclude my study of Philippians with the ladies at our church. I love this letter of Paul…it overflows with joy, contentment, reliance on God’s power, resting in His peace, and unity. I love it because I really want those things in my life….joy, contentment, power, peace, and unity….who doesn’t? I have no idea how many times I’ve read Philippians. I know I’ve done several studies on it and heard many great sermons preached on it. Sometimes I have come away thinking to myself, “Boy, I sure do wish I could have all those things like Paul.” A very simple truth has gripped my soul this week. It’s simple and yet I think it’s a bit profound….If I want to have what Paul had, I have to live how Paul lived. Wow….insert slap on forehead here!

I found this truth in a quote from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. “The secret of power is to discover and to learn from the New Testament what is possible for us in Christ. What I have to do is go to Christ. I must spend my time with Him. I must meditate upon Him, I must get to know Him. That was Paul’s ambition – ‘That I might know Him.’ I must maintain my contact and communion with Christ and I must concentrate on knowing Him.  What else? I must do exactly what He tells me. I must avoid things that would hamper. If in the midst of persecution we want to feel as Paul felt, we must live as Paul lived. I must do what He tells me both to do and not to do. I must read the Bible, I must exercise, I must practice the Christian life, I must live a Christian life in all its fullness.”

Simple, right? Well, yes and no…..simple to read and understand but a lifetime of persevering faith to live out. How badly do we really want what Paul had….we say we really want it but so often the way we spend our time and money prove otherwise. But I know this….if we get a taste of it….that joy, contentment, power, peace, and unity, nothing else will ever satisfy!

Oh dear Lord, help me to want what only You can give. Help me to want so much that I live the life you saved me to live!

Most of us are familiar with word association games. I say grass, you might say green. I say bird, you might say fly. I say cotton, you might say fluffy. If we played a Bible version I could say Samson, you would probably say strong. I say Solomon, you would probably say wise. I say the book of Genesis, you might say beginning. What would you say if I said the book of Revelation? Some things that pop into my mind are: the end, tribulation, worship, and confusing. Did any of you say hope or encouragement? Those words would not have made my list before my study this week.

Revelation was written to the seven churches in Asia Minor. Persecution had begun for them and it was getting ready to get worse. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle John writes to these churches where he had been ministering.

Revelation, first and foremost is the revealing of Jesus Christ. How encouraging to see Christ revealed as:

The risen, glorified Son of God ministering among the churches
The faithful witness
The firstborn from the dead
The ruler over the kings of the earth
The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End
The One who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty
The First and Last
The Son of Man
The One who was dead, but now is alive forevermore
The Son of God
The One who is holy and true
The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God
The Lion of the tribe of Judah
The Lamb in heaven with authority to open the title deed to the earth
The Lamb on the throne
The Messiah who will reign forever
The Word of God
The majestic King of kings and Lord of lords, returning in glorious splendor to conquer His foes
The Root and the Off-spring of David
The Bright and Morning Star

Each one of these reveals a part of Christ’s character and as we allow these to wash over our weary souls we cannot help but to be encouraged in the sure hope of Him. Also throughout the book of Revelation we see God in sovereign control of every event in human history. It may seem like evil always prevails, and certainly the reading of this book reveals some pretty scary stuff that is going to happen to those who have rejected Christ. However, for those of us who are His, great peace can be found in God’s sovereign power.

When my daughter was little she had understood enough of a sermon about the tribulation to make her curious about what was going to happen someday. I was struggling to give her a ‘six year-old version’ of things to come. She stopped me mid-sentence and said, “Mom, do we win in the end?” That one I could answer! “Yes, we win in the end!”

I hope you took and passed the “pop quiz” in I John that we talked about in last week’s blog. Because if you did, and you know that you know that you will spend eternity in Heaven, Revelation is a very encouraging and hope inspiring book indeed.

WE WIN IN THE END!!

Have you enjoyed a book or series of books so much that you didn't want it to end? The Mitford series by Jan Karon was like that for me. Fortuneately, when that series ended the author started a new one with the same main characters. But that series only has one more book scheduled to be published and already I dread seeing it end. 

II Timothy is the last book Paul wrote and I feel sad when I read it. He writes with even more urgency than in I Timothy which we talked about in my last blog. He reminises about the tears Timothy shed at their last parting and tells his son in the faith how much he longs to see him. He entreats Timothy to fan the flames of faith in his life, and to be bold. Paul wants Timothy to step up into the gap that will be left when he is gone. Can you imagine how intimidating it would be to try and fill Paul's shoes. Like mentioned in last week's post, Timothy is a pretty timid guy and his mentor is in prison, suffering for his faith.....an alarming propostition indeed! 

The whole book is filled with encouragement and instruction for this young man facing an overwhelming future. Toward the end of the book Paul talks about facing the end of his life with a view to the future, not just his future but also Timothy's and all believers. 

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (4:6-8 ESV) 

His life is ending as he as lived each day since his conversion, as an offering to the Lord. He knew his death was near and while we may not know when ours is coming we can be certain that we too will one day face it. He had fought the fight and with God's strength he had fought it well. Paul had run a long and difficult race but what joy he had in knowing that there was a finish line with a prize awaiting. Paul had been faithful. In this letter he implores Timothy to follow his example, that goes for us too. The best part is that if we are born again into God's family we can know that we too will one day receive the "crown of righteousness." 

Knowing that his time is short, Paul urges Timothy to come to him quickly, hopefully before winter. He asks him to bring his coat, and Mark who can help him in minstry. I shed tears as I read this and thought about Paul in a cold cell, bound in chains, writing this last letter, passing the baton to his beloved spiritual child. But I rejoice when I think about him entering the presence of his Savior. The One who we read about him longing to see in so many of his letters. 

We don't know if Timothy made it to Rome in time to see Paul. But we do know that whether he did or not, they did have a wonderful reunion in Heaven. And that's a reunion that I am looking forward to attending!

"....the more the flesh is wasted by affliction, so much the more is the spirit strengthened by inward grace." --Thomas a' Kempis
This past Sunday morning a dear friend of mine and our church was ushered into the ultimate worship service when Jesus took her home to be with Him. Karen valiantly fought cancer for over two years. As her body grew weaker, it was evident to all that the grace of God in her life grew stronger.
We were so blessed to have known Karen for these past few years. During that time, and as I have sat and visited with others who knew and loved her, I have seen the fruit of a life lived with a steadfast faith and love for her Savior.
Over time it began to look like God was going to heal her by giving her a new body in Heaven rather than physical healing here on earth. When she talked about this she would say, "Its a win-win for me." Her faith was a strong anchor.
Karen's life exhibited what the apostle Paul prayed for the believers in Thessalonica when he said,
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. (II Thessalonians 3:5 ESV)
The love of God was so evident to all those around her and was grounded in the steadfastness of Christ's love for her!
Karen was a good person and Karen is in heaven. But Karen is not in heaven because she was good. Karen is in heaven simply because she knew and acknowledged that her goodness was of no value and she put her trust in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. She rested in faith that Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life! I am completely sure that if she could talk to us today it would be to plead with everyone to be sure that they have put their faith in Jesus as she did!
While we mourn the loss of our dear sister and friend, we have joy in knowing that she is with her precious Savior and she has experienced the ultimate healing. Boy, will it be great to see her smiling face when we join her in heaven!
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. (II Corinthians 4:16-17 ESV)
I encourage all of you to join me in spending some time this week meditating on the, "eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison!"