G.P.S.

Direction: A place that I am going. 
Today as I drive home from Atlanta from Josh's airborne graduation, I can't help but think about direction. the G.P.S. calls out directions "Turn left on I-85 in 1.5 miles" And I willingly obey if I don't she calls out "Recalculating" and she follows up with another set of directives. It makes life easier. But outside of my road trip, how do I know which turn to take and when to make it. I need my G.P.S. of life. God's Purpose for Success. Psalm 20:4 "May God give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." I have to conclude that from this verse that God does want me a success. That's reassuring at this juncture of my life. I feel like I have no plan and I am not a success. But God does promise to guide us to be an everlasting G.P.S. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye" Psalm   32:8 I'm also reassured through the fact that God will teach me and He will also give me the skills needed to succeed. "May the God of peace equip you with everything good that you may do His will, through Christ Jesus, to whom be glory forever and ever." Hebrews 13:20-21 God has given me the free will to choose any direction I want, but as I turn closer to His direction and His will then I will be more equipped to be a success in my life. Proverbs 3:5-6 has been quoted so often among Christians that to me it almost seems cliche, but the truth is there. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take." 
If I turn down the radio in my car, I can listen to the G.P.S. tell me where I need to go. So, it is with God if I turn down the busyness of my life I can hear the voice of Him saying "Recalculating" Then I can follow His direction. 

photo from biblegateway.com

Be Still

We’ve been going through the Old Testament in the children’s ministry program at my church. Josh and I have been planning the main worship lesson for the 6 to 11 years olds about 3 times a month and the 10 – 11 year old small group every Sunday morning. It’s been really a lot of work, but we’ve really seen the kids grow over the past few months. Teaching has been very rewarding as it has been challenging. This week we’re on our third lesson on the life and ministry of the prophet Elijah. Last week we talked about when he challenged the prophets of Baal and the fire came down from heaven resulting in Israel repenting and the drought coming to an end. However, as a result all the prophets of Baal were put to death which didn’t please Jezebel too much, so she’s out to kill Elijah. At this point Elijah feels all alone in the world and everyone is out to get him. He is running for his life, God has sent an angel to provide food for him and after being on the run for 40 days, he is in a cave hiding.

I Kings 19

¹¹ The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

   Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

   Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

This is what I find amazing in these verses that scripture points out to us all these natural disasters (a wind storm, earthquake, and fire) and states after each “but the LORD was not in” it. I often think that if God’s going to tell me something then he’s going to TELL me something. It’s going to big and loud! But, no! That’s not what happened here with Elijah when God spoke to him it was with a “gentle whisper”. I had to ask myself today how often do I listen to the voice of God? God brought to my heart this morning.

Psalm 46:10
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

This evening I was looking at my calendar for the week. It’s a busy week with doctor’s appointments, play dates, work, date night, a scrapbooking party, and more. One thing God spoke to me about it when did I schedule in my time with him? When will I allow the gentle whisper of the voice of God to ring in my ears? I want to challenge myself this week in the mist of my busyness to stop, be still, and listen so I will know God. I challenge you as well to take even just 5 minutes every day this week to turn off your phone, computer, TV, ipod, whatever it is and be still in the LORD and listen for that gentle whisper of God! I truly believe that the LORD will be exalted if we do!

The Joy of Submission

The first church was established for the beginning when God created Adam and Eve to have fellowship with each other and God. Satan has been trying to tear down the marriage relationship from the beginning and is continuing to do so today. Adam blamed Eve for his sin (Gen. 3:12) “the woman who you gave me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” He blames Eve for his fall and in the process blames God for the trouble he’s in. I’m sure Eve thought to Adam’s statement was something to the effect of  “I was just being helpful, you didn’t have to eat it, you could have stepped it up and been a man by telling me no! And now you blame me??!!”  Man fell into sin. Woman fell into sin. Since then Satan’s antics to destroy the family have continued – Cain vs. Able, Esau vs. Jacob, 11 of Jacob’s sons vs. Joseph, David and Bathsheba’s adultery. Fast forward to today, and now we have over a 50% divorce rate in ”Christian” families.

Just as Christ has redeemed us from our sin, so has He redeemed marriage. Ephesians 5:22 says “Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord.” How do you submit to the Lord? By seeking His guidance, by respecting His authority, hiding in His protection, and giving you life to Him. So, just as we submit to the Lord this is how we need to submit to our husbands. Submitting is not a command it is a choice to put yourself under someone’s authority. If someone is demanding submission out of you it no longer means submission but it becomes a directive. No longer a choice, but an order. In addition, Paul also directs submission “to your own husband” rather than to anyone else. As a woman you are not under the authority of any other man besides your husband. This is where society feels the Bible views women being less than men and feminist reject the Word of God because they feel God has said woman have no value. That is a falsehood; if God did not value women He would not have created us to be so impactful and instrumental in this world. Verse 23 “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.” Through Christ’s death we are saved and when we accept and claim Him as our Savior we become one with Christ by being a part of his body.  This is why marriage is used as an example and picture of our relationship with Him. As we choose to claim our husband or wife we are saying we are going to be one with him or her. Your head is just a part of your physical body it has a very specific purpose for you to live. The husband being the head simply means he has a role in the relationship to lead, to be accountable to God, to plan the big picture for his family. The wife is pictured as the body and as the body of Christ she has a purpose, too. Each relationship finds that role separately, in my marriage the roles my husband and I have we agreed upon for me to be the manager of our home. Taking care of the day to day management, decisions, monthly budgeting, etc. This isn’t to say my husband isn’t a part of this, but he doesn’t have to worry about it because he trusts my judgment. Even though his focus in on the long term that doesn’t mean I’m not in on the process but then I don’t have to worry about it because I trust him. To think about this in other terms, the corporate world has structures of hierarchy: Board of Directors, CEO, Vice president and staff. Each level has a different level of accountability and responsibility, but without each level the company could not function long before dissolution.  If there were two CEO’s no one below them would really know who to follow. So, think back to marriage. The Board of Directors is God just as the CEO is accountable to the Board of Directors the husband has the same to God. If the husband is the CEO then the wife is the Vice President, who directs the staff to do what the CEO has set, to give counsel and to support the husband/CEO. When a company first starts out there isn’t a lot of staff if any, but the staff of this illustration is the children of the home. 

Verse 25 states “husband, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Verse 28 states “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” I find it interesting that so many people read this passage of scripture and only see the word “submit” and think of being enslaved or subservient it’s so negative or “old-fashioned.”  But they don’t see that “submit” is only used twice but husbands are commanded to “love” their wives three times, as well as being commanded to give up everything for her (vs. 31) I’m so grateful I have a husband that loves me, cherishes me, and scarifies so much of his life to better mine. Just as Christ has done for me. When you have a husband who loves you like Christ, it makes it so much easier to picture Christ has your groom and to want to seek His will and His purpose for your life. In other words, submit to Christ.

Paul ends Ephesians 5 with this statement “let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Respect, what does that mean? I feel God explained that back in Ephesians 4:25, “let each of you speak the truth with his neighbor…(32) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.” Also in Proverbs 31:11-12, “The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will have no lack of gain, she does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” I show my respect to my husband by honoring him with my life, being honest with him, and being forgiving towards him (not making a list and record of his faults) just as Christ’s blood has covered my sin and forgiven me I should forgive my husband. Respecting also means doing the best for my husband my whole life. As a reward our husbands will be able to trust us and will show us the love we need. Submission is a scary word until you understand the order and perfection of God’s role in your submission. When we willingly give our will over to God he blesses us and frees us. The same holds true with the husband when I willingly give all myself to my husband, he blesses me with unconditional love, trust, and he willingly listens and values my opinions. He strives to meet my needs and desires. It’s a beautiful, wonderful, blessed cycle which creates a great lasting marriage. Which in the end of my life I pray and strive to hear two phrases one from my husband “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” (Prov. 31:29) Then my Lord Jesus saying “Well, done good and faithful servant you have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matt 25:21).

Ephesians 4:30-32

“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Today, as I woke up “on the wrong side of the bed”. I’ve been full of rage. Galatians 5:22 “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness…” has not been a part of my mind and heart today. As I finally got Kaiden down for his nap, took a hot shower and got some time to reflex on my heart – I knew I needed to sit and read some of God’s word to get myself back on track. I hoped my notebook and it was there, BAM!, like a sword into my heart  “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” As, I’m writing this sentence I’m being tested on my kindness towards my son. He just got up again when he is to be down for his nap... Ok, now he’s back in bed so let’s see if I can get my heart and head clear again. My pastor Michael Fletcher says God gave us marriage to kill you and what’s left of you will be done away with by your children. I’m really feeling that right now. More than anything in the world I want to sleep for about 20 hours right now, and then go to the gym, get a pedicure, go shopping by myself, and then hang out with my best friend over a cup of tea and scones. But I have laundry to do, work to prepare for, dinner to make, and a very moody two and a half year old to tend to today.  I just remember Luke 9: 23- 24 “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it” and of Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharps another.” My life is not for me but for Christ. I have given my life for Him. God has given me my husband and Kaiden to give me greater understanding of His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness.  I’m reminded now of all Christ has done for me and all the grace he has given me. My life should always be an outpouring of what I have poured into me. Today, I’m going to put away my old self once again and say good-bye to all bitterness, rage, harsh words, and slander. Instead, through the aid of the Holy Spirit I’m greeting with open arms the spirit of kindness, being tenderhearted especially to my son, and most importantly forgiving, because I have been forgiven so much.

Lord, thank you for your word, thank you for the conviction of your holy spirit, and thank you for your never-ending forgiveness! Jesus I have been angry and full of rage today please take that out of my heart and mind bind those spirits away from me. And replace them with kindness, a tender heart, forgiveness, and love!  Please work in the hearts of my family to forgive me where I have failed them. Thank you Lord for your love you are such an amazing God who I do not have the words to praise enough.

It is amazing and it may be hard to believe, but I can not tell you how much my spirit has changed in the last 25 minutes of sitting down to read and write my thoughts out to God. That's why I really had to share my heart on this. I don't really like to share my weak points but I felt like God was telling me I needed to share this one today.