My Stronghold in Time of Trouble

When I was a child, I used to quote a certain Bible verse when I had to go down a dark alley: "What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee." What time I am afraid......of failing....of being let down....of trusting....of trusting too much....of being angry....of being angry and sinning in it....of caring too much....of caring too much about the wrong things....of letting you down....of not lifting you up....of what You'll ask of me....of what You won't ask of me. What time I am afraid...I will trust in YOU......to lift me when I fall."The Lord delights in the way of the man whose steps he has made firm." Psalm 37:24...to lift me up when others let me down."Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." Psalm 37:7...to place the right desires in my heart."Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4...to show me who is trustworthy; to provide discernment."The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster, they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty." Psalm 37:18-19...to calm my anger and appease my fretting with peace."Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil." Psalm 37:8...to focus my priorities on the main thing--YOU."Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to possess the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it." Psalm 37:34...to create a person of peace within me."Consider the blameless; observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace." Psalm 37:37...to be my refuge and strength."The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord. He is their STRONGHOLD IN TIME OF TROUBLE. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him." Psalm 37:39-40"What time I am afraid I will trust in YOU," for you are my "Stronghold in time of trouble."Whenever I am afraid of what YOU might ask me to do, I can lean on You, my Stronghold, and ask YOU through me to be all that YOUR heart desires. You are my Stronghold, the hand to which I still cling in life's dark alleys.

Join Me in Hope-MORE!

Grief happens when things seem hopeless. I think we should start a hope-MORE club.Observe with me some of the things that make us grieve:*lost time.*broken promises.*hurtful words.*dead ends.*heavy hearts.*stress fractures.*ungrateful reactions.It strikes me that God grieves over the same things that hurt us. His heart breaks over the same things that break ours. Yet He brings healing when we grieve. He resurrects our buried dreams. He reunites families and friends. He takes the dead things and brings new life to them. He gives new meaning by His presence and His TOUCH on our lives.God shares our hurts. His heart breaks over:*Lost time and opportunities but, not being bound by time, He restores those moments.*Broken promises when He offers His new covenant full of the promise of first love.*Unfaithful followers when He regains trust with His unfailing kindness and mercy.*Hurtful words or gaping wounds by healing us through His goodness.*Dead ends become detours to the faithful who persevere.*Heavy hearts who turn to Him see that "joy comes in the morning." Wait for the Light after the night.*Stress fractures in our hearts receive His peace and restoration.*Ungrateful reactions are wooed to gratitude by His Spirit.In Nain Jesus raised the son of a widow (Luke 7:11-17). Eugene Peterson refers to Nain as "a place of holy mystery." What is your "place of holy mystery," the time in your life when God flipped your grief from hope-less to hope-MORE?Romans 5:3b-5 tells us that suffering becomes perseverance which builds character which breeds hope. Maybe we got stuck at Hope-Less Junction in the suffering mode. Shift gears into Perseverance and watch Him develop the character in your life that is fertile soil for hope. Join me in the Land of Hope-More:"And we rejoice in the HOPE of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, HOPE, and HOPE does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Suffering -> Perseverance -> Character -> HOPE = Overflowing LOVE!

Weigh In!

I'm struggling with what it means to "count the cost." In fact, "I don't think that word means what you think it means!" When I weigh in on what it means to follow Christ, it looks like I don't have what it takes. Surely He doesn't mean for me to take stock of what I bring to the Table, because it's not much. Check out the cost of following Christ in Luke 14:25-35. See if you can uncover where Christ describes His system of measuring. They don't even do physics like this at Purdue, do they, Darbs? Maybe He wants me to weigh in like this...? *Don't sign up if you're gonna' back down. Otherwise, the other team gets the points just as surely as if you stuffed the ball into the wrong basket. *Don't value your life when you're being asked to die. *Don't count your pennies if your pocket has a hole in it. Or, don't try to pay your buddy's way when He's got the golden token. *Don't lay down banana peels when you're starting a marathon. Or, don't plan an escape route when you can trace the road to success. *Don't sign a peace treaty with the enemy when you know your side's gonna win! *Don't store up when He says, "Put your hands up!" *Don't try to flavor someone else's life when your own life is tasteless. *Don't go with the flow when you can row to a Banquet upstream. *Don't give up everything you have unless you desire the bigger Prize.

I Stinketh, Therefore, I Am

Lately, I have been so unproductive. I am just realizing what an achievement junkie I am. Getting things accomplished energizes me. Sure, I can stew and contemplate with the best of them. Admittedly, it is in the quiet that God reveals Himself to me. But if I got to choose, then I would pick the fast lane of God's activity. I just want Him to let me do something for Him. Like a new puppy whose tail is wagging so hard against his frail ribs that he falls over from the needless exertion, I am anxious and spinning my wheels. I want to run out into the streets and yell and scream and make His name known, and He wants me to sit with Him a while. Sometimes, I just need to sit. Other times, all I want to do is sit and stare and "veg" out. Those are not the times when He is with me. Those are the times when I am so into myself that the puppy in me has given way to the lap dog, the one whose owners have to purchase organic food because he's too overweight to see his paws. The lapdog and the exuberant puppy in me need the same thing. They both crave a dose of Jesus. Most of the time, my heart is not a place where He wants to set up camp and hold a meetin'. There's no place to sit due to the clutter from an unconfessing nature. That's when "I stinketh." There's just one cure. Not just a dose of Jesus but a total Blood Transfusion. The name of Jesus on my lips and the promises in the Word of God through Jesus in my heart will fight those distractions off--for the lapdog and the eager pup. Focusing UP rather than INWARD. Saying JESUS' name over and over in my head rather than ME, MY, MINE. Last night a great friend encouraged me--a lot. When we first began to converse, things were awkward between us, tense, strained. I realized there was hurt in the voice in my ear. We started to laugh and to share what was in our hearts. Before long, my friend was encouraging me through a difficult patch. Having already conquered the boulders on that trail, my friend knew where all the good views were, the places to sit a while. Being able to encourage someone like that when you yourself are hurting is something only the Spirit of God can do in us. I saw Jesus in my friend. It struck me. That's exactly how it is with Jesus and me. When we first start to converse, things can be a bit strained. Remember: "I stinketh?" There is a pain in His voice that seeps through His obvious affection. Soon, we are laughing about the ridiculous way I have of chasing my tail, and I begin to be honest with Him about what's been keeping us apart. Remember: "I stinketh?" He knows where all of the great boulders in my life are placed, and He perches on one and sits with me a while. The hard places in my life are places to perch and sit a while with Him. A novel idea! He whispers to me: "I know you stinketh...Therefore, I AM!" Did I mention that He encourages me--a lot? Sometimes it is hard to stay focused. Often it's hard to stay faithful. But look back at the spiritual markers in your life, the times when you stationed one of those roadside Civil-War signs to recall what happened between you and the Father. Usually, the trail to the marker was not so pleasant when you were walking it. That's because something in us has to die for something perfect in Christ to be born in us there. Once I give into death ("I stinketh") and let Christ live in me, then I AM comes to reside in me. The stench of death and sin becomes the aroma of Heaven. He produces, and I abide. Suddenly, I'm no longer so unproductive any more! "Noah built an altar to the Lord and...he sacrificed...on it. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma..." Genesis 8:20-21. The smell of a sacrifice is the odor of something burning, of death, but out of the ashes God blesses.

A Garment of Praise

My friend is hurting. She is desperate for some relief from the pain she feels. It's so intense that she cannot sleep. When exhaustion finally drowns wakefulness, her dreams are restless and she wakes up disoriented and agonized. One day, the troubles of this life will be fleeting reality. In our ultimate reality, we will be fully loved, fully forgiven, fully free. The thing is: We are all of those things now as we abide in Christ. We just do not embrace the full love, forgiveness, and freedom of being IN Christ. You do know that it's all a lie that we are not completely forgiven, that no one could love us completely, that we will always be slaves to our sin. It's a thinly veiled disguise that the enemy is wearing. Look inside the sheep's head and see it for the dragon it is. Run from the lies! Isaiah 61 describes this favor of the Lord: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me." Yes, that's a good thing. The Spirit of the Lord is peace. We need that! The Spirit of the Lord is joy. We crave happiness! The Spirit of the Lord is on us to do good to each other; to tell each other that we are loved; to remind each other of the bond of love we share in Christ. I think one of the wonderful perks of being on mission for God--going out of our comfort zone--is the way we are forced to lean on Him for everything. When we were in Arizona on mission, I could feel the Body being a cooperating, supporting system as she should be. Back inside our cocoons, we often retreat into our own resources to find solutions. We have a mission. Each of us has one. We get to put bandaids on each other's hurting hearts. We get to tell everyone, "This way to the Escape! No more bars and bland food for you. Come to the Table He's prepared for us!" We get to trade our black attire of sadness over sin for some new threads of undeserved and unmerited favor and kindness. You see, what waits for us is a "garment of praise" instead of the hand-me-down, ashen wardrobe of despair and mourning. Take the blinders off. See the glory. Wear the praise. Let His light shine through the holes in your life. Do not be ashamed of your past. None of us deserves it, and that's okay. That was His plan all along! Let Him heal your hurts. Trust me when I tell you that I understand the agony of wallowing in a lie. Too much of my life has been spent feeling unworthy, rather than embracing my status as daughter of the King. Do not listen to the creepy voice in your head or envelope yourself in the limp, wet blanket of oppression. It's familiar and seems more comfortable. For a brief instant, come out of the dark and into the blinding Light and let His warmth cover you. He has a glowing crown of beauty to put on your head. No more ashes and rags for His child! Wear His praise. "He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and to provide for those who grieve...--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:1b-5a.

Dignity Torn to Shreds

Today I am reading about the widow woman who gave all she had "out of her poverty." And I am asking myself what it means to give all I have to live on. The woman in Jesus' story was a real person, not a parable told to make His point. In the Jewish culture of her day, this female without a husband was clinging to the bottom rung of society's ladder. In fact, she was so low that she was flying beneath her neighbors' radar. While it may be difficult to fathom performing some task out of my natural giftedness, this dear soul was not counting the cost. While I may be whining about the tension in my comfort zone or bragging about how it's growing, this woman was living with her eyes downcast to avoid creeping into someone else's imaginary comfort zone. When I balk at something God asks of me because it might inconvenience some beloved member of my family, this generous benefactor was subsisting without any guardian or patriarch. How am I guarding my precious dignity, when all around me, other people's dignity has been torn to shreds? How am I guarding my budget, when another has a desperate need that God can meet through me? How am I searching my ability to give, when the answer lies in my inability to give and His ability to provide? When do I measure my energy level to determine what I am willing to invest, when another person is caving under the burden of a load that I could help to shoulder? Do I limit what God can expect me to do for Him by bringing society's barriers to the Cross? When has my personal need to give been so desperate that I willingly let God take from me what was beyond my capacity to fathom giving under my own strength? Will I allow Him to tear my dignity to shreds in order to sew a garment of praise? "[All the others] gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." Mark 12:44

Brand Marks

Do you search for a certain brand when you are shopping? On what items does the label matter to you, and on what others do you just look for the bargains, the sale items, the discounted or freebies? It strikes me that we bear a brand mark on our lives. I wonder whose brand we are wearing. Are we looking for the quick fix, the discount, the quick way to a good deal in our lives? We live in a "take the easy way out" culture where the end cost seems to justify any means of reaching it. But is that the way of our Savior? The cool thing is that He has made this covenant, taken an oath with us as His children, and sealed those promises with His blood. He takes a heavenly blood-brother promise with us: "I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands"! (Isaiah 49:15-16). Jesus still bears those covenant marks today (John 20:24-27; Rev. 5:6), the Lamb that was slaughtered so that we could see glory. That Lamb is the lamp of heaven (Rev. 21:22-27). There are no substitutes there, no sale hawkers, no "get rich quick" schemers. There is no more night; nothing impure crosses the threshold; we will have no shame, nothing to hide. The glory of the Father is the light of heaven. He is no mere night light but a continuous beacon of blinding radiance. That's a little freaky to us. Check out these glory sightings:* The shepherds saw it before Jesus' birth while they tended their sheep outside of Bethlehem (Luke 2:9). They wore the glow of the brand of PROMISE.* That glory shines in us as we bear fruit for the Kingdom (John 15:8). Will you bear the brand of FRIEND (John 15:13)?* That same glory of heaven resides in our skin as the Spirit reveals Truth to us from God's Word (John 16:12-15). Will you wear the brand of TRUTH?* God ignites His glory when He shows us His plan. Check out Abraham's story in Genesis 12 and 15 and Exodus 3. When has the Father revealed His glory to you by asking you to join Him in His work? Abraham chose to wear the brand of GLORY.* God's glory is revealed when He exalts Himself (Acts 7:55-56). In New Testament days, slaves, soldiers, and servants in the temple received brand marks for their masters, much as Paul mentioned in Galatians 6:17. What marks are we willing to bear to bring the Glory? In Acts 7, Stephenpreached in front of man's high priest, and it did not go well. Then He saw Jesus, our High Priest, standing at the right hand of the Father. Stephen saw the glory of the Most High in the middle of being stoned by the anger of men. These men chose poorly and chose religion over a relationship; they took on the brand of Religion. Hey, there's no more night in heaven where Stephen preceded us to meet the Son; no more spite; no reason or possibility of hate. Stephen bore the mark of being CHOSEN. Christ still bears those wounds from the Cross, even as He radiates glory from the right hand of the Father, even as He prays for each of us to be vessels for that same glory. Because of Him, we are branded, "LOVED." Whose brand marks are you sporting today? Discount or death? "Just like every one else," or just like Redeemer? We have a great heritage in wearing the brand marks of the Cross. We have a great inheritance, too. Our hope is not in things that moths and rust can corrupt or that thieves can break in and steal. We have a treasure in heaven. Let's follow the Man whose Name is the Branch (Zechariah 6:12). Let's get branded by the Cross!

Underestimating God

My friend, Allison, asked about when I have underestimated Jesus and when He has proven Himself to be more than I need. Perhaps I should tell you about God's financial provision for the mission trip this fall! As a background to this provision, I should tell you that my friend Jodie and her husband have been helping us every time Christa has gone on a trip. Christa has been to Avignon, France, and Montreal, Quebec, and other parts of Canada, and our friends and family have assisted us greatly by being God's provision for those trips. Whenever we nave sent out an SOS to friends and family for aid to make the plans happen, Jodie has always given--and very generously. This March Jodie and Aiden started sending checks to our Baileys on Mission account that the church keeps. At the time, we as a family just thought it would go for whatever Christa was doing in Montreal this past summer, but that never materialized. Then our church started promoting this disciplemaking trip to work with the Indians in Sells, AZ. But my mind was divided. My focus was on getting Christa ready for university in Montreal, and I could not give any emotional or spiritual energy to anything like a fall mission trip--to anything for ME at that point. Or so I thought. When we got home from taking Christa to university, an ordeal in and of itself, the promotions for the mission trip continued, and it looked like it was not too late to sign up after all. I was relieved that when I finally approached our adult minister, Jason he told me that only one other female had signed up to go and that he would be thrilled for me to join the team.Thank you, Rachel, for being obedient and timely, when I was not! The team had not started their training; Jason had postponed it to let more sign up and to avoid Labor Day. Whoo! Hoo! I just did not worry about the money. We did not have a red cent that was not spoken for but I just did not panic. For those of you who know how I like things to be decent and in order, this was not my usual reaction. But to be truthful, all of my emotional and spiritual energies were spent clinging to God because of Christa's being at school. I just had to trust or my family would be picking up pieces of me along GA400 due to shattering and splattering. In the meantime, my friend Jodie started sending checks again...randomly...OR NOT! Ultimately, she sent just what I needed to pay for the trip. I never told her how much the trip costs were. In fact, we did not know the exact cost until late in September because Jason was waiting for the best airline ticket rate! Jodie and I never talked during this process, except that I did let her know that I was going on the trip. She sent exactly what the trip cost with about $20 extra, I believe. Two days after we got home I wrote her a long email, explaining how God had used their family's generosity to help Christa to travel, to do Sojourners in Quebec, to experience God's call to missions, and so forth, and how their continued faithfulness had allowed me to go to Sells and what I had gotten from that experience--a TON, let me tell you. Anyway, last week I got an email from the church that two more checks had come to Baileys on Missions account, EACH for $500--both mailed the day Jodie got that email, likely one before and one after receiving it and realizing that more trips were likely in the future! After the checks arrived, I found out that Jodie and her family had put their home on the market the previous weekend...and it was already under contract, in a flat housing market! Yeah, I think we underestimate God. Hang onto your hat, and keep me in your prayers as I see where the Lord is leading! However He leads, whatever I expect Him to do, I am quite sure I will underestimate the outcome!! "He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than everything we ask or think"! Of course, He is! Tell me how God is providing for you and how you have discovered ways that you underestimate Him as well.

Crippled

Ever think about what it's like to be crippled--physically unable to get around? This week I read the story of the crippled woman whom Jesus healed, and it struck me how much she and I have in common. Shocking? Perhaps. But there are things in my life that cripple me as desperately as her disfunctional legs hobbled her walk. Sometimes it's an unnamed fear that trips me up. This creeping unease and discomfort ravages the horizon of my peaceful thoughts. I have let the "what ifs" eat up the joy of the things that truly and inescapably are. For example, I am a child of God who draws on His strength and power to protect me. The unnamed fear is just a lie that steals my peace, and like the crippled woman I hobble through life when I could run. Sometimes what cripples me is the failure to notice unclaimed blessings. Do you ever get still and realize that you forgot to thank someone for this huge favor that person did, something that really got you out of a tight spot? After I got back from the mission trip to Arizona last week, I started taking stock of all that God had provided for me in the weeks prior to the encounter with Him there. My daughter somehow enrolled safely at a university in another country and has made friends and a new life there. A friend and her husband paid for my entire trip to Sells, Arizona, primarily before I had even signed up to go! How's that for an unclaimed blessing! There are tons more ways that God had been working, and I was crippled by my spiritual blindness and failed to be grateful. I was limping when I could have been laughing in the Spirit. Other times, I am not fearful or ungrateful, I am just living in the past, trapped in the mire of unresolved issues. Those ghosts from our past haunt us, even though we have "moved on." I wonder if we have completely moved to our new address in Christ. We are in Victory and we still left some stuff in Defeat. For me, it's like I forget where my new house it, who my new King is, how His children dress. You get the picture. I need to move into Restoration and stop renovating my old ways. Finally, there are times that I refuse to let unexpected joys interrupt my life. I can remember getting a blessing as a teen and saying to my mom, "But I didn't ask the Lord for that!" She would laugh and say, "Well, isn't that the definition of a gift? You didn't ask for it. He just gave it to you out of love." Sometimes the interruptions are the REAL life, rather than the agenda we make for ourselves. For me, I can look back and see missed opportunities and run right over the next blessing because I am focused on life's rearview mirror. No wonder I am not supposed to be in the drivers' seat. God has circular vision; circular love; circular rainful of blessings; and circular peace. He's not looking away, taking a break, or too busy to bring the joy. Let's name our fears and give them to Him; claim the blessings He is showering on us; resolve the past by focusing on the bright hope and future He is building in front of us; and expect the joys to overwhelm us, rather than tripping on them on the way to our own deadlines. No more hobbling along. Just mount up with eagles' wings, no rest required because we are no longer weary, soaring on the winds of Love that was so good He had to die.

Captivated

What is it that has captivated your heart, seized your passion? Why did it captivate your heart? How did that happen? One of my favorite quotes in the Bible is from the visit with Christ on the road to Emmaus: "Weren't our hearts burning within us while he talked with us...?" What was Jesus doing that caught their hearts on fire? *Jesus talked with them. *He opened the Word to them. *He just walked alongside them. What captivated their passion? What were they doing? *Listening to Jesus. *Being open/receptive to what He had to say. *Inviting Him to STAY with them. How have you listened to Jesus recently? What was the last thing He said to which you felt open or ready to act? Do you ever just ask Him to sit with you a while--STAY? Remember as a child longing for a friend or favorite cousin to STAY longer, PLAY just another hour. Wonder why we rarely beg the Lord to SIT a while, PLAY longer? Ever noticed the state of mind of the travelers on the road to Emmaus, those two who got a special visit from the newly risen Christ? Actually, they were a bit like we are on most days: *blind to Who He was. *depressed about what was happening around them. *their hopes were destroyed; expectations ravaged. *unable to find Jesus anywhere they looked. The travelers finally recognized Him when He blessed the food. Ahh, we do see the blessings. We see the evidence of Him. What about this challenge? *Can you look OUT...even when you cannot see Him? 'Cause He's there! *Can you look UP...even when things look bleak? 'Cause He's in control! *Can you look IN...even when you've moved away from Him & lost your trust? 'Cause He's STILL with you. How did the travelers react once they recognized Jesus (once He blessed them)? *They reacted IMMEDIATELY. They returned to Jerusalem. *They reacted POSITIVELY: It is true! He is risen! He's alive!! *They reacted EMPHATICALLY. In summary, "Folks, our hearts burned; He spoke to us; He's alive." They went home to TESTIFY! How would such an intimate encounter with Christ captivate your heart? Do you need to SEE, TASTE, TOUCH, SMELL Him to believe? How might sharing such a personal experience of yours with Jesus compel another person to be captivated by Him? How will you stretch out your hands to offer the Bread to another searching beggar? At the end of Luke 24, Jesus blesses the people again...then He leaves...again. But He leaves an important instruction: Wait for the Power, then tell everyone. Friends, we don't have to wait for the Power of the Spirit any more. He came on us in all His power the moment we accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord. That same power that raised Christ from the dead, seated Him at the right hand of the Father, and submitted all things to His authority LIVES IN US. In fact,we don't have to wait on the Power--He's waiting on US now! How will you invite Him to captivate you-- *to walk with you... *to speak to you... *to stay with you?

Lord, Give Me Patience...Now!

What defines "patience" for you: * tenacity *diligence *unflappability * focus * vitality *composure *persistence *endurance? Does your patience need a makeover? Could it use a bit more tenacity, focus, or vitality? 1-Patience is spiritual tenacity. *Patience is endurance and absolute certainty that what you anticipate is going to happen. If you are disappointed in the short term, then hang on; perhaps your hopes are being purified. Be watchful like those waiting for the Master to show up as Host for the wedding feast in Luke 12:35-38—dressed, ready for service, lamps burning, expecting His return. *Spiritual tenacity is not merely hanging on, which tends to harbor an element of fear of falling off, but working with a vengeance, believing that God will be victorious. In short, wait on the Lord. *Spiritual tenacity refuses to believe that one’s hero can be defeated. "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10. 2-Patience is…spiritual focus: "My eyes are ever on the Lord" Psalm 25:15. *Patience is possible because one’s eyes are on God rather than fixed on a cause, an issue, or a goal. "Though it tarry, wait for it" Habakkuk 2:3. Stay tuned for incorruptible rewards rather than seeking earthly treasures (Matthew 6:19-24). *Look beyond what one can grasp or experience (or feel); never let down spiritually. "Not as though I had already attained, either was already perfect….Press on…!" Philippians 3:12-14. The runner’s analogy in The Message puts it this way: I have my "eye on the goal, [I’m] off and running and not turning back." 3-Patience is…spiritual vitality. *Patience means disciplining one’s thought life. Be "rich toward God" rather than being like the rich man who "thought to himself," considered "I, me, and myself," and built bigger barns on the night before he died (Luke 12:15-21). *Action Plan for Spiritual Vitality: Rouse yourself to action. Restrict your won’ts for God and your wants for yourself. Rest in the new life God is creating within you rather than in the laurels of the progress you have made already. Nothing wilts faster than a laurel rested upon! "Let "patience do her perfect work" James 1:2-4. "By standing firm you will save yourselves" Luke 21:19. "Decide beforehand that you will not worry how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you the words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist" Luke 21:14-15. Let God bathe your life in His peace this week. Ask Him for the tenacity (the stick-to-it-iveness), the focus, and the vitality in your walk with Him to be unflappable in life!

Peace...

Peace * calm * serenity * order * harmony *symmetry * balance * equilibrium * stability *constancy * tranquillity *composure * quiet *relief * satisfaction * relief * repose *restfulness *stillness *placidity * ~ Circle 1—3 words above that best describe what you need in your heart and life right now. ~ Where do you need peace? ~ Where do you seek to find it? ~ What disturbs me most is… John 14:27 – "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you…." "Peace comes from looking into His face—and realizing His undisturbedness—calm, pacified, untroubled, tranquil, unruffled…. The mirror of peace, or reflected peace, is the proof that you are right with God—because you are at liberty to turn your mind to Him…. Abide in Him. (2) Lay it all out before Him." [Chambers, 8/26] ~ For me, "the great life" would be… John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you:…Let not your heart be troubled…" "Peace comes from "complete reliance on God… The seal of peace comes when you obey God. When you obey, the problems are not between you and God but as "probes" to keep you amazed at how God is going to unravel that problem. Keep obeying. (2) Watch in joyful delight as He deals with the problem. [Chambers, 12/14] ~ Why is it more precarious to live without God than to live in obedience? "Your life is hid with Christ in God" Colossians 3:3 Peace comes from living in right relationship to God and staying in the light. The plateau of peace provides plenty of room to live and grow: "You have enlarged my steps under me." Rather than a peak of a mountain, a life free of sin, full of the Spirit, bathed in His light is a plateau. (1) It is impossible to doubt when He is with you. (2) His words are real when you are in personal touch with Him. [Chambers, 12/24] How are you going to mirror His peace, model the seal of His peace, and live on the plateau of His calm today, this week, from now on?

Divine Contentment

What is the definition of sheer bliss to you? To some it's a place, for others sheer bliss is a peaceful feeling of being just right with God. We are encouraged to be content whenever, wherever (Phil. 4:11-13; 3:7-10). What about these promises of seeking divine contentment? * I resolve to be content...because even when I don't feel His presence, He is with me. That is CONFIDENT contentment, because "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Philippians 1:6. * I resolve to be content...because even when I [still] don't know where to go, He is guiding me. That is OBEDIENT contentment, following Christ's example--with His power to make it possible--by emptying myself of self. Here's what this obedient contentment looks like: 1-I am empty of my rights to self. 2-I am ready to serve--God and others. 3-I am humble (all of my human resources are harnessed and available to the Divine Driver's rein/reign). Check out Philippians 2:5-8 to get inside the mind of Jesus as He embraced the form of a servant, humbled Himself to be obedient to death, making Himself nothing in the process, all the while looking out for our best interests. * I resolve to be content...because even when a storm rages inside of me and all around me, He anchors my soul. That is COMPLIANT contentment. Philippians 2:14-17 describes the manifestation of this malleable peace: 1-No complaining, griping, or arguing. 2-Radiant. 3-"Spent" for the cause (holding back nothing). * I resolve to be content...because even when my enemies conquer me, my friends leave me or let me down, even when the light of my release from this torment is a mere pinpoint, He can see the rescue and lives on the other side of my defeat. That is RELIANT contentment. Philippians 3:17-21 captures the essence of this trusting peace: 1-My destiny and my citizenship are in heaven. 2-My God is Jehovah. 3-My glory is in Christ alone. 4-My mind is set on things above. Not bound by space or time, God is, at once, not only in the midst of the vortex of our angst--settling peace on us, but also He is already living in the peaceful victory that lies on the other side of the any disturbance to this earthly realm. He IS peace. His divine contentment resides in our confident, obedient, compliant, reliant rest in Him.

What's Up with You and God?

It's amazing to me how many of my friends are struggling with what God is saying to them. Many days I struggle with it, too. It is the hardest, most grueling thing because He is relentless in His pursuit. Sometimes there is no sleep, your appetite may go away, and nothing seems to satisfy the longing. Maybe what would be helpful is if we focused on what He IS saying, on what He says to us ALL THE TIME. Perhaps it will encourage you--and focus my thoughts--to recount a few of His all-of-the-time feelings for us: *I love you. I gave my Son for you. You are worthy of my Ultimate Sacrifice. (Who wouldn't adore Someone like that?) 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; John 3:16 *I have a plan for your life. It's a purpose that includes prospering you, not hurting you or taking advantage of you or looking for your weak points to capitalize on them. By the way, I have got your future sewn up--no raveling, no slip showing, no pants-dropping in public settings. I have got your back--and your front. Get to know me and the details will fall into place. Jeremiah 19:11; Psalm 142:3b *I will answer any time you call me--no call screening, no leaving a message, no "Hey, this is a bad time. Call again." Jeremiah 33:3 *Nothing is too hard for me. I created you, didn't I? Did I mention that there is this warranty for all of my children? There is absolutely NO CHANCE of your life not meaning anything. I gave it meaning and purpose--guaranteed. Jeremiah 32:27 *I surround you with a circle of my love. Psalm 139:5; Isaiah 52:12 *I will meet your needs, even though you are surrounded by rebellion. Isaiah 58:11 *My relationship with you is like a secret garden. Nothing can get in and desecrate what we share. Blossoms are evident 24/7, every day of every year, in season and out of season. Even when the thorns and weeds tempt suffocation, I am there to prune the suckers (John 15:1). Fresh fruit is guaranteed out of your life as long as you cling to me (John 15:5). *As a faithful child of mine, whatever you do in my name will prosper. Psalm 1:3 *You are a garden of delight to me. Only an unpruned life is a desolate wasteland and useless to my purposes, but you are seeking me and begging me to reach down and clean you up. Let my rain fall on you and return the sparkle to the leaves of your heart. Isaiah 5:4-7a *I will watch over you day and night so that no one can hurt you. I will nourish your spirit continually. I want to be your safe haven, your refuge, your den of peace. I want to bear fruit in you so that the world may know my peace. Isaiah 27:2-6 *I will guide you along a path that constantly feeds your soul. You will never thirst for me. Just bend and drink. Isaiah 49:10 *Do you feel like you are a desert inside? Well, I have compassion for you. I can make those wastelands into oases. No more crying but gratitude and singing for joy will flow from your lips. I have promised it, and I cannot lie because I am your Way, Truth, and Life. Isaiah 51:3; John 14:6 What is God saying to you? Would you share it with me?

Keeping the Faith

Did you realize that visible faith costs comfort? Hard times create perseverance in us… which leads to character… which leads to hope (Romans 5:3). It's like strength is a butterfly borne from the cocoon of hardship (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Ultimately, our perseverance is Christ’s product, or outgrowth, in us when we are faithful. We hang on; He produces (2 Thessalonians 3:2-5)! As far as our perspective on life goes, perseverance involves looking beyond the obstacle to see the possibility (James 1:3-4). When it comes to dealing with mounting pressure, perseverance is basking in God’s compassion no matter destruction rages around me (James 5:10-11). We cling to hope when we keep facing obstacles, because perseverance leads to effective, productive lives (2 Peter 1:5-8). When we keep the faith, our stick-to-it-iveness upholds Christ’s light in a dark society (Revelation 2:2-5). In matters of trust, perseverance is remembering what Christ has done in the past and trusting in what He will accomplish in my present and future. It is a deliberate commitment when I see no way (Hebrews 10:32—11:1), like a marriage that chooses to honor its vow before God even when the love dims to barely a flicker of its previous blaze. Faith is really perseverance looking ahead to the end result, to the promised and expected reward (Hebrews 11:24-27). Oswald Chambers puts it this way: "Patience is more than endurance. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and then the saint says—‘I cannot stand any more.’ God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God’s hands." (Chambers, May 8) How trusting was Job when he uttered, "Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him" Job 13:15. Ultimately, perseverance is letting God keep me, even when my faith is slipping and I'm not sure I can keep holding on.

Carried Away by Love

If you're not carried away by it, then it's not love at all. Certainly that does not mean that obsession is a good thing. In loving and relating to our Creator, we want to respond out of devotion, not obligation, not just by attempting great things for Him. Strangely, He does not define love the same way that we do. Our Father desires an attractive adoration, not necessarily a warm-fuzzy, calculated, "smart" response to His gift to us. He craves annointed acts--beautiful, memorable, unchecked service. And He seeks abandoned attitudes. Oswald Chambers says that abandoning ourselves to God is of greater value than being holy. Wow! And I thought the pursuit of holiness was the pinnacle. But then, that's all about me as a personal vessel, isn't it? Abandonment to God is all about Him--and what' s IN the vessel. Rather than focusing on whether or not I am of any use, being carried away by His love makes me wonder how I can be of value to God Himself? Yet when I am sold out in abandoned love to Him, then He works through me all of the time. Carried away by love means being a carrier of His love.