Suggest Hope

Good morning! And what a beautiful morning it is here in northwestern Pennsylvania! It's been a little chilly lately, but the sun is shining and it is already warming up. Don't get me wrong. I am a LOVER of everything fall! The temperature. The smell. The activities. The food. The pumpkin-a-latte loveliness. But...........it. is. JULY! *Rant over...for now*

Most of the year our church has a Saturday night service as well as Sunday morning. My husband is the Worship Pastor and I am also a member of the worship team...which means that we get to attend both services! :-) The message a while back on a  Saturday night, spoke a couple of really power-filled things straight to my heart...and I can't wait to share one of them with you today!! I've literally typed this post three times. Once on my phone. Don't get me started on how annoying that was! Once on my iPad...almost as equally annoying. And once on my computer. Fourth time is a charm? We shall see......

First, this is my challenge to you. Get your Bible out. *Vanesa taps fingers on table and hums Jeapordy theme song while she waits for you get your Bible* No matter how annoyed or impatient you are at my request it will help my post make sense!! Pretty please...*insert puppy dog eyes*

Whew...now open to Acts 27 and read verses 9-44!! The reason I say use your own Bible...is because that way you can underline the verses that stick out at you. You can also write beside them what God speaks to you today. It is for your benefit at a later date when you are struggling. The words underlined and written will stand out...and you will remember how God used them for your good! =)

For those of you honestly too busy, rushed, or ahem...lazy to get your Bible...here you go...

Acts 27: "⁹ Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, ¹⁰ “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” ¹¹ But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. ¹² Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.

The Storm

¹³ When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. ¹⁴ Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. ¹⁵ The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶ As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, ¹⁷ so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor^[b] and let the ship be driven along. ¹⁸ We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. ¹⁹ On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
²¹ After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. ²² But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³ Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴ and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ²⁶ Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.

The Shipwreck

²⁷ On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic^[c] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. ²⁸ They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet^[d] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet^[e] deep. ²⁹ Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. ³⁰ In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. ³¹ Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” ³² So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
³³ Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. ³⁴ Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” ³⁵ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. ³⁶ They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. ³⁷ Altogether there were 276 of us on board. ³⁸ When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
³⁹ When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. ⁴⁰ Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. ⁴¹ But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
⁴² The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. ⁴³ But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ⁴⁴ The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely."




I highlighted and underlined the verses that I wanted to bring your attention to. The men on the ship had given up hope. They did not see any way out of this situation they found themselves in. So what did Paul do. He suggested hope. He was the first to give them a thought of life over the death they were sure they were facing.

Let's think about this first suggestion of hope. Had they not believed...what would the outcome have been? Had Paul, being a prisoner of these men, been too terrified to speak up...oh how different this story would be. But Paul boldly spoke. And the soldiers hesitantly listened.

Think back on the course of your life for a moment. Has anyone ever been that first suggestion of hope to you? Whether you believed it at first or not...can you recognize that they boldly spoke what neither of you could actually see? Let me give you two of my life examples.



MY first suggestion of hope came after my second pregnancy, which just like my first, ended in a disappointing miscarriage. The difference though, was that I had had a lot more time to fall in love with baby #2. I was 16 weeks along when my hopeful attitude slapped me in face and into another state of shock, disbelief and soon to be depression. I held him. Born in my bathroom on December 20th of 2001, Isaiah Ethan fit into the palm of my hand. His arms and legs were like spaghetti. His tiny lifeless body I was sure would haunt me forever. 

Months went by. I was still unable to think of the events of that traumatic night with out shedding tears. One day I was with a couple of friends at their yard sale. Vicki walked up to me and spoke straight to where I was broken. She said that she was praying for me and God told her that I would have a child. I would carry the child to full term...and the baby would be healthy.

THAT, was my suggestion of hope. I no longer had to wonder. I no longer had to doubt. I just had to wait for God to bless me with this child I had now been promised. It was one month shy of 3 years after that conversation that God fulfilled that promise to me. My healthy baby boy was born in May of 2005...and all I had to do was believe.



MY second suggestion of hope came after I had my fourth child. (I only KNEW of the promise of one...but out of my seven pregnancies...I have gained four AWESOME kids...and three are in Heaven awaiting our arrival!!) After I had my final baby I was diagnosed with Post Partum Depression (PPD). It made absolutely no sense in the natural. Baby #4, Levi, was a very happy baby. The transition to bring him home was super smooth. And it was fall...my favorite season! BUT, in the supernatural it made complete sense. Knowing what I know now....it was an absolutely VITAL part of molding me to the woman I am today.

So, shortly after my diagnosis, God began telling me to talk to specific women. He would say, "Tell her what you are going through, she has something for you." So I did. Six women. Each with their own specific truth for me. Each one, one step in my road to healing. One of them though...was my suggestion of hope.

Bekah sat with me in my living room..while my kids raced around...and listened gently and softly spoke when appropriate. I told her all of it..."I feel like a horrible mother, I've had thoughts of hurting myself, I scream at these children that I prayed for, I flip out, I stay silent for days, I distance myself from everyone I love"...and what is her response?

"I see so much hope for you."

Confusion set in. I didn't see it. If I didn't know and love her...I would say that it was a cruel joke. So she went on to explain. "When you come out of this victorious...you are going to have a powerful ministry that will be set on fire. You will reach out to women who are going through similar circumstances and you will be their voice of hope. God will use you in a mighty way!"

I didn't feel it. I didn't see it. But I CHOSE to believe it. I had to. My alternative...was death. A few weeks later the opportunity would present itself. Death knocked at my depressed heart...and I fought for my life. Had I NOT spoken to those women...what would my outcome have been when the enemy whispered for me to take my own life? If I had not chosen to believe in the hope I neither felt nor saw....where would I be today?



Who has been that voice of hope for you? Have you ever told them? Maybe it is exactly what they need to hear today. Write it down. Mail it to them. Text them. Call. Email....whatever it takes. Let them know the impact that their suggestion of hope had on you. And be willing to suggest hope to the hurting people you know/see. They might be simple words to you....but to the searching heart....it is LIFE!

Relevant Reflections-Storms of Life

A few Sunday’s ago my pastor read a very familiar story from the Word of God. This is what proves that the Presence of God is all through the Bible. I’ve read this story. I’ve heard this story. And yet…God spoke a simple and powerful truth to me that I hadn’t seen before. He is forever giving me a reason to stand in awe of Him! (I sooo LOVE that about Him!)

We are going to read from Mark 4:35-41. I know that we’ve all heard and read the story of when Jesus calmed the storm…but please take the time to read it again. God has something specific to show you. He refuses to leave us in the dark. And where HE is…darkness cannot be. That is why He is forever making His Word relevant in our days. Specific. He meets us in a new way that meets our specific needs for that time in our lives. Awe. I’m in awe!

 

Mark 4: 35-41 “That day when evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with Him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!””

 

I can paint you a simple picture with our last boating trip of the 2012 summer. Uncle Mike let my son Aiden drive the boat for a little while. Aiden…was SEVEN!

Intent. I guess that IS how you would want a seven year old to look while driving a boat. Intent and focused. No matter how nervous his mother is…pictures and videos still MUST be captured. And here is what his little brother was doing…… No fear. Zzzzzz

 

Let me point out my favorite parts of that story. First of all…it was Jesus’ idea to take the boat out! Oh how I needed to realize that truth…a LONG time ago. Haha! If it is HE that is leading you. If it is His idea that you are following. Even when you face obstacles and hardship…it does NOT indicate that you didn’t hear Him correctly. What it does indicate, is that you are about to learn to trust Him in a new area. You are about to see His faithfulness to your fresh, unfamiliar needs. Following the Voice of God will encounter some storms…BUT that same Voice will pierce through them in the moment you ask. (*Did that last statement just give you chills? If not…place two fingers on the inside of your wrist and check for a pulse. Haha! It did me!*)

That brings me to my next favorite part. When the disciples woke Jesus up…what did He do? Freak out? Nah. Cry? Nope. Run around like a crazy person? Not for a second! He rebuked that which He has dominion over. And what did He use to calm the raging storm? Not a spear…but speech. He spoke! Can you speak? Do you have power (because of the Jesus that lives within you) to speak to the storms in your life? YES!! Some days the truth hurts. Today, the truth sets you free my friend. :-D That voice is a powerful weapon in this storm you are waging now. Learn to use it to help instead of hurt!

 

So are you ready for what God spoke directly to me during the reading of this passage of scripture? This statement I’m about to make is the reason I woke up with my husband at 615 this morning. I knew someone needed this simple reality today. God whispered the following to me…”Did you catch that Vanesa? Jesus SAID to the waves… Just speak. Speak life even if the waves are higher than your vision!”

And that vision that God was referring to can be one of two things. Some days our storms, our problems, our circumstances can seem so deep that we can see nothing else. Our vision is blocked because all we are focusing on is the ‘why’ instead of the ‘how to move past’. So we literally, don’t have vision. It is being blocked. Which, by the way, makes the enemy beam with pride. His storm is doing exactly what he planned.

Then there is God vision. There is the glimpse that God gives you of what your future plans are to be. For example, God has given me a vision to write my own devotional. Sometimes the reality of how crazy my life currently is, with four young children, prevents me from seeing that vision ever coming true…but I KNOW IT WILL. I know that God has a season and right now, I am developing my own style. I am developing a deeper love for His knowledge. And I am learning to listen to Him through the calm and through the storm…and to come out praising Him either way.

When the enemy can keep us discouraged from completing God’s specific and intimate vision for us…this too is proving his storm to be effective for what he had planned. Picture the smile on his face. Let that awful, snickering smile motivate you today. Let that anger rise up within you and aim it the correct ‘power’. Let the enemy feel the wrath of *insert your name here* because God just revealed his scheme to you. Those waves just lost their height. The fear that he was holding over your life has just lost its power.

How is your vision? Is it blocked? Or have you forgotten you had ever seen a vision? Speak to your storms today. Don’t wait another second. Let the calm wash over your circumstance. God. Has. Got. This!

How Do You Eat Your Augie’s Pizza?

I’m BAAAAAAACK!! :-) Oh how I have missed writing over the past couple of months! I got my computer back last week and God gave me an illustration the very next morning about Augie’s Pizza! (If you haven’t had it, I’m sorry. If you’ve had it and don’t like it, YOU. ARE. CRAZY!) The weird part is that the illustration came when I accidentally dropped my deodorant on the floor and it smashed into lots of pieces. Bahaha! It’s only funny because my husband randomly bought me a Sam’s Club size pack of deodorant a few weeks ago. As I was opening the pack while getting ready this morning I noticed it had three “Shower Clean” scented sticks…and one that was the ‘featured scent’. I pondered…do I start right off with the best…or do I save it for last? That is where Augie’s Pizza came into play.

For those of you that have never had Augie’s…that probably means that you have never visited my hometown here in NW PA…and it is a crying shame. ;-) I could eat it for breakfast RIGHT NOW dinner most nights if finances allowed. ;-) My two oldest children attend a local Christian elementary school. They have the option to purchase their own little personal size Augie’s pizza every Monday for their hot lunch. (Jealousy is wrong……right?!? Lol!)

So here is lies my illustration. This will once and for all prove that I can take ANY THING and bring God into it. I’m bringing truth into pizza today. Love it!

Let’s just say you do not know, nor have you ever had pizza from Augie’s. You will still understand the illustration…but you might not be AS passionate about it. ;-) Simple question. “How do you eat your (Augie’s) pizza?” Anyone that has been with me will notice my ritual is specific.

First, remove the THICK cheese that is hiding the pepperoni underneath. (Fold cheese and set aside to be devoured later.) Next, eat slice of square pizza AND the yummy crust that is your only hope for holding it. Last, roll cheese with attached pepperoni and consume. **Eat salad to lower level of guilt and move on from there.** ;-)

(My middle son, Titus when he was just a wee little man. He did not close his eyes for the picture…he was literally falling asleep while eating his Augie’s this hot summer evening. Proof…you want proof? You know I got it! ;-)

  (ASLEEP…covered in pizza sauce!)

I’ve eaten Augie’s (and only Augie’s) pizza like that for as long as I can remember. The cheese is my absolute favorite part…and I want to save the best for last. I think I am like that with most things. (I know you are all on the ends of your seats wondering about my deodorant choice for this morning. Wait no more…I chose the shower clean. I’m saving the feature event for last. Haha! Your welcome.)

So, how does God fit into deodorant and pizza? First of all…we need to thank Him for His inspiration and creation of the people who were born to invent these two things in our lives. Can I get an AMEN!?! After giving thanks…I got to thinking. I really do like to save the best for last. When I tell a story…I want to build and build and then tell the best part leaving my audience wanting more. When I write…I like to be stupid hilarious silly at first and then bring the power of God through simple truths in every day life. I want to leave my audience feeling as though they just had a revelation from God that they clearly understood and can actually picture in their lives.

So when does this rule NOT apply. In my eyes, this rule does not work for my quiet time with God. If I think I am going to give my best to God at the end of my day…when I’ve been beat up and bruised by the fire-filled darts of the enemy…I am severely mistaken. Once my feet hit the floor in the mornings to start my day…my brain is already going over my To-Do’s for the day. My kids are already asking for such crazy things as food and socks. (Can I just say how much I loathe socks? I can never find two that are the same…multiplied by the 6 people living in my house. They don’t stay their original color for more than one wear because apparently my children think that walking outside in their new socks is a requirement to “break them in”. And I hate trying to match them after a secret troll has carried only one of them away during the six step laundry process. Rant over.)

I am taking my cues from Jesus. I want to wake up while it is still dark. I want to rise while my family slumbers. I want to have an intimate encounter with my King FIRST. That, my friend, will be saving the best, most power-filled part of my day for FIRST! And I’m huge fan of starting my day feeling inspired to war for my family. Starting it feeling encouraged so that I have a voice to speak life. Who are you taking your cues from? When God prompts you to wake and meet with Him as a sacrifice of time…probably sleeping…are you willing? I am not here to guilt you. I am here to inspire you to imitate Christ…

Mark 1:35 “VERY EARLY in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” And what happened in Mark after Jesus had spent time with His father? He preached. He drove out demons. He healed a man with leprosy. And that is just in the the next 6 verses!

Jump ahead to John 14:12-14 (These are the words of Jesus HIMSELF!) “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.”

Did you catch what Jesus just said? (You) “will do EVEN GREATER things than these!” If that doesn’t hit you deep in your core…check for a pulse. Jesus is still going to the Father on our behalf. He is still writing new songs in the hearts of His loves. He is still speaking truth over lies that have been believed for generations. He is still handing over the power to heal in His Name. He is still saving the lost through those willing to be His hands and feet. I could go on all day. The list of miracles He is performing just in the circle of people I know…would blow your mind. People are doing the unexpected. And our faith is being strengthened to expect the GREATER things.

I am pumped up! I am humbled. I am looking, in expectation, for my opportunity to show Jesus to be living and active in all areas. How about you? Do you believe that the words in those verses in John 14 are for you today? Do you truly believe they are relevant…or do your thoughts and actions prove that you think they are old school? I’m praying for simple, divine revelation for you today. YOU! I want the Maker of the Heavens and earth, to speak simply and effectively to you. I want you to see His hand and His heart so that you can share Him easily with those in your path.

I Have Not Forgotten You

Hello all! I have been missing you all lately...as I'm sure you've been missing me! =P I write this short post to let you know that I have not forgotten you. I have not abandoned my post as prayer warrior and encourager. I've got a slight issue that is preventing me from writing. Two words...computer trouble. Sigh. My laptop needs work so that I can use it again...and the budget needs to allow for it. $$ Anyone with me?!

So...stay with me. Don't loose heart. God is still speaking words of life. As soon as I can I will surely share them with you. Pray for me as I pray for you! And if you don't mind...pray for my computer to be fixable...or even better to just suddenly turn on by the power of God!! ;-)

Much love! Send me your requests for prayer right now...and I will lift you up as well. It is part of the privilege that comes with being a follower of Christ. I LOVE to talk to Him...and it doesn't have to be about me. I would love to pray and seek God on your behalf. Honest!! Request away!

Have Some Faith Man…Don’t Look!

A few Sunday’s ago my pastor was talking about faith. It is a normal and expected topic when attending church, don’t you think? ;) What is baffling to me, is how I have been taught my whole life about faith…and yet still have SOOO much to learn. I still have eye openers. Light bulb moments. Jaw droppers. I just love how God is so amazingly clever in how He gets through these thick skulls we have. Haha! We can read the a passage of Scripture that we undoubtedly have read before…and God can highlight it in a way that makes it as if it is the first. Fresh. New. Real. Relevant! That is just one more proof in our days that He is living and active!

Let’s take a moment to list some things that are birthed from faith. Maybe this faith we strive to strengthen isn’t as necessary as we make it out to be. (IT IS! I was playing the sarcasm card there. And since you can’t hear my tone…I want you to KNOW! I have not lost it. ;) )

 

 

Evangelism. You would have no reason to evangelize if you, yourself didn’t have faith in the hope of your future in Heaven. You would have no confidence to evangelize if you didn’t have faith in the Author of your words. Christ’s perfect life, undeserved death, and miraculous resurrection are all the reasons and confidence that you need to speak. He took the life of each of us seriously. He is asking that you do the same. And not just with your own. We are to take every human life just as serious as He did when He gave His life up for us all.

Hope. Think about people in this world that you know right now who do not know Jesus as their Savior. What do they have to hope in? They should be dreading and terrified of when their life ends. Especially not knowing when, how, and what is to come. If they DO know what is to come…they have no reason to feel hope in their days now. What do they have to look forward to? Torment.

We have everything to hope in. No matter what the enemy throws at us…he is not our future. He was our past…but we have been delivered from eternity with him. Hope is a no-brainer. If we aren’t seeing our hope… We. Aren’t. Using. Our. Brain. Simple! And if we aren’t sharing this hope we have… We. Aren’t. Using. Our. Heart. Ouch!

Grace. Why in the world would we ever extend grace to anyone if we didn’t understand, by faith, that God’s grace trumps all else? He had/has absolutely no reason to extend grace to any one SINGLE human ever to live. Ever! After all, we are born into sin. We learn to sin before we learn much else. But God is a God of agape love. (Can I get a hallelujah?!) He sees His children who have chosen salvation through His Son, Jesus, as pure. Blameless. Without blemish. So why is it that we so easily do the exact opposite? Why is it that we see each other as a teen going through puberty…covered with blemishes? Sometimes we even get really close to inspect others with a magnifying glass. Looking for any sign of even the tiniest of blackheads forming under the skin. Then, we won’t let it go. Whispers. Gossip. Things blown out of proportion. Where is the grace in that?! If you are worthy of being magnified under the same scope than by all means…inspect away. If you fall short…try grace. It will look good on anyone! ;)

Forgiveness. Are you squirming? Forgiveness is tied right into grace isn’t it? How can I forgive someone who doesn’t even understand and/or care how bad they have hurt me?! Here is my challenge to that statement. Ask God…if, and only if you are braced and prepared for His answer…to break your heart for what breaks His. Your eyes will be opened to so much hurt and pain that you never saw before. That magnifying glass you gripped tightly will gather dust on a shelf because you will be spending so much time praying for and speaking life to the lost and broken. You will not have time for trivial things. Reality…there are people dying. There are souls heading for eternal suffering. There are wars going on in the Heavenly realms that could use some earthly warriors. Forgiveness is only a choice because we have made it an option. To God…it is an absolute.

Provision. Oh this one hits home. This is a stumbling block for so many. Whether you are rakin’ in the dough or scraping bottom; we are all to rely on God for our provision. Isn’t it interesting that it is difficult for both ends of the spectrum. Those who have worked their way to success sometimes have difficulty remembering Who it is that provided life for them. They don’t need a Savior to work miracles with their finances. They don’t need to have faith for tomorrow. Being ‘self-sufficient’ is not always the blessing it appears to be. And then there’s those who work all day and still come up short. They can also have a hard time trusting, by faith, that God is still working on their behalf while they are slumbering. They sometimes feel as though God is just watching them squirm. Faith though. Faith is being sure of things unseen.

Let’s look at a verse that can help put things into a simple perspective. Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”” I can just see some of you out there, minds turning, a bit of bitterness rising. You might be saying, in your head, ‘How in the world could I ever even think of becoming a lover of money when I have…none?! I don’t have money, that is the problem!!’ My child, read it again. It does not say that you have money, it says that you love it. You constantly think of it. You dream of the day when you can go buy whatever you want. You covet what your neighbor has. So what does contentment look like? Dive into the Word of God and find out!! You will not regret it!!

 

Let’s end with the four challenges and a quote that my pastor gave us when it comes to faith.

1) Don’t look at what you can’t do. (No fear.)

2) Don’t look at what you can do. (No pride.)

3) Don’t look at what you want to do. (No selfish ambition.)

4) Rather, discover what you’re supposed to (called to) do. (No limit!)

“Is God impressed with what you are capable of? Nope. But when you do it His power He will delight in you!”

 

Actively look for ways to strengthen your faith this week. Ask God for His revelation on areas in your life that need work. Maybe you have no problem trusting for provision, but are not showing grace. Whatever it is…be intentional! God did not leave your salvation to chance. He was absolutely intentional. Let your faith prove to Him that you are grateful for His sacrifice.

Just a little Devotion

“satan doesn’t need to take away your whole devotion he only needs to distract you.” –Pastor Bruce

Oy… Distracted. I would say that is a good word for my past few weeks. Distracted by sickness. Distracted by life being busy. Distracted by schoolwork and stuff for my kiddos. How funny (funny as in annoying and frustrating) it is that the only line of this post that I had taken the time to write was the first one. Read it again…

Gah! How true that is. How many times have you set your alarm for the following morning? You decide in the previous night that you will wake early and spend time doing your devotions. Something happens while you sleep though. By the time morning comes you have ‘forgotten’ how passionate you were the night before about waking up and meeting with God first? It is the bed. Never has it felt warmer and cozier. Snooze. What’s another five ten thirty minutes of beauty sleep? Or maybe it is a sick child. Perhaps it is that pesky, relentless mental to-do list. Whatever it may be…it is a distraction.

If the enemy can get us to skip this !!!MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DAY!!!…he will surely have a foot in the door of distraction for the rest of it. Let’s get serious about turning our distraction into devotion. Devotion. When was the last time you thought of the definition of that word in relation to your daily time spent with God?

Devotion-Love. Loyalty. Enthusiasm for a person, activity or cause. Selfless affection and dedication. Commitment to a purpose.

Think of something that you are or have been dedicated to. Maybe at one time it was to a sports team. Maybe it still is…only now more from a sideline or ‘couch’ position. (Yes I meant couch…not coach. You know who you are. You speak as though you are one of the team even though you are no way, shape or form a part of it. Unless you count the merchandise you purchase. Ha-ha!) ;) Or maybe now your dedication is to a team/group in your church. Maybe it is your job. Maybe it is to your new health kick. Whatever it is…how would you describe your level of devotion?

Do you think of it often? Are you constantly improving your skill? Are you wishing you could be doing it when you are not? I will use my oldest son here as my illustration. Aiden played Munchkin Football this past fall. He was the cutest little blonde a rough-n-tough Titan. ;) (I am fully aware that he is not really ‘playing’ ‘football’ *I’m a big fan of inserting finger quotes when necessary* in either of these pictures. But I just love that handsome little face…so I just had to add the ones of him smiling!) Back to the illustration…Aiden had never played football before but that didn’t phase him. He was genuinely excited to go to each night of practice. He loved getting a chance to race the other players. He loved learning about the game. He loved winning. And he even learned to be a gracious loser. (Seriously…I AM proud of that one!!) He worked hard to improve. He didn’t want to miss a single opportunity to learn more and to play longer. He still talks about it and can’t wait until he can play again this coming season.

If you were a part of a team…wouldn’t you go to every practice and game? You’d have people counting on you to do your part. The same goes for your time with God. Not only will it bless you, and set you off for your day with a better heart condition…but there are also people counting on YOU. They won’t tell you. They can’t sometimes. But God has designed us in a way that we uphold each other. That is how the body works. And God can and will use someone else…but He desires to use you!

That is how I desire for my devotion to my faith to be all the time. Not just on Sunday. Not just when life is easy. Not just when I feel like it…but always. I want to be excited to meet with other believers. I want to desire to talk to God often. I want to love to learn more and more from Him…about Him. I want to search for times to talk about Him at every opportunity I can get. I want the desires of God’s heart to be inline with mine. I want to strive be content in every, last, little thing…except for how much I know about the Word of God. That, I want to seek, as if it is treasure. It is, after all, the ONLY treasure that is eternal.

A few weeks ago our church’s assistant pastor, Bruce, spoke of an old movie called It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. (<—Is that enough mad’s? LOL) There were people in the movie that gave their whole lives up for this treasure they searched for. They allowed it to consume their every thought. They were sold out. Nothing else mattered much anymore. All of this devotion was for money! How different this world would be if all who claimed to be Christians had that mentality about their faith. They would see that this life is not their own and they would give it up without a selfish thought. They would be consumed by God’s Word. They would be sold out to do the work of the cross and to take it into ALL the land. Nothing would matter as much or certainly not more than encouraging others in their walk to the Kingdom of Heaven!

What about our treasure? Is it clear to those around us what we treasure. No matter what we claim to treasure…is it clear by our actions? Our words? Our commitment? Our movie play list? Our television history? Our computer browser history? If we unlocked every part of our day to be open and in view…what would our treasure clearly be? (Don’t worry…I am fully aware of the plank in my eye. And yes it hurts me as much as it hurts you to read it for yourself.)

It’s not too late. It’s never too late for you. Click here to listen to the song Come Away that I’ve been loving lately by Jesus Culture. Let it speak to your mountain. Whatever it is that you have been consciously or subconsciously treasuring…it is not too late. Today. Now. Vow to treasure only that which is eternal. Make a pact with God that you will stop wasting your days on things that will rot. Instead you will begin to invest yourself, your time, your passion into things that Reign.

When you stand before God in Heaven…don’t you long to hear these words of approval? “Well done my good and faithful servant!” Picture it. Imagine yourself before the Presence of your King…imagine the emotion that will be packed into words such as those. Imagine how unworthy you will feel for them to be spoken from the lips of the Creator. Imagine how in awe of Him you will be. Let that mental image be your driving force from this day on. Devote yourself to the eternal and let it be evident to all!

relevant church is born!

Last weekend my pastor spoke what could be some of the most important words spoken over our church. “Today, is the birth of relevant church!”  WAHOOOOO!!!! (Excited much? Yes we are!) A while back (before we even started attending this church) they had decided to change the name. For the last few months I have heard it referred to by the old (Columbus Community Evangelical Church) and the new. Last week though…something changed. You see, God is moving among the people in this little town in PA and He is taking us along for the ride of a lifetime! =D

Sometimes I feel as though we, the church, feel disconnected from Scripture. Not necessarily from the the truth of the Bible…but from the application. We struggle on how we apply our knowledge, both old and new, to our every day. That is my goal. That is the purpose of why I write. I want you to understand that we serve THE GOD. The only God that is living and active. The only God that is…relevant. What a perfect word to name His church!

Relevant. Let’s go over some things that are still relevant today. Let’s look for ways that God proves Himself to still be alive and engaged in our lives.

 

Prayer. Never have I understood how relevant prayer truly is, until I experienced, first hand, the past year of my life. God has healed me at the prayers of myself, family, friends and church body. God has given me what I cried out for, knowing that I would not recognize it at first. Or even that sometimes I would ask Him “WHY?!” forgetting that it was at my request. *Vanesa thumps head here* God has taken me through the best of times and the worst of times…and helped me to see His plan was always greater. God has helped me counsel the hurting and broken because of what He had already given me victory over. God has helped me to speak life even when death was running rampant. My prayers of compassion and sometimes desperation reached to the heart of God. I will never be the same as I was a little over a year ago. And my pastor’s challenge to grow 2% closer each week for this year…will change me just as much or (as I am praying)…more!

Pastor Les said that the prayer ministries and prayer warriors of ‘the’ church, are the most vital. Prayer is the start of everything else. It is our most intimate time alone with our Father. We can tell Him all. No holding back. Anger. Hurt. Shame. Brokenness. Reality. He wants us to be genuine. And when we are…He will cover over each of those with truth. Simple truth. The darkness of anger will lift. The shattered hurt will begin to heal. The shame will turn to humble growth. The transparent brokenness will allow His power to become evident in your circumstance. And your reality…it will suddenly make sense. No matter what the mountain is that lies before us…blocking our view of victory…we will take each step up to the top with a renewed purpose and passion. And all of this starts with a simple prayer. Talking to God is not difficult. It is a conversation in which you are real and so is HE!

 

Worship. relevant worship…has a nice ring to it don’t you think? ;) Our worship IS to be relevant. We will always appreciate the things of old. We still love the  past…but we refuse to stay stuck in it. We want to always be engaged in what is to come. What is current. Think about it. God is writing new songs each day. He is reaching out to us with new words of life that we can sing to Him. He has not run out of ideas. He never will. The songs they sing in Heaven are relevant. I can’t even begin to imagine how amazing they are. And when they reach the hearts of someone here on earth…that is to be celebrated. Not just on Sunday…but always. Sing to your King anywhere and everywhere! Show Him how much you adore Him because He is absolutely CRAZY about you my friend!!

Let me set up a scenario for you. It happens often to me…and I am sure it happens to SOMEONE out there too! You are driving down the road and you hear a song. It doesn’t have to be the first time you’ve ever heard the song…but maybe it is first time you really listened to it. You are silent. You just sit and listen with fresh ears. The words speak directly to you…way down deep. If you are like me, you silently weep as they minister to you in a very specific way. You know that God wrote that song. You understand that He had you in mind for this exact moment of when you would need and accept it. You sit humbled. Thankful. Inspired. And feeling genuinely loved and adored by your God that is alive and engaged in your day. That…is relevant worship. It will happen more and more. Look for it. Be open to it. Bask in it’s glory and goodness when you feel it wash over you in waves of power. *A chill just ran through my body because these words are going to open up someone’s eyes today. Right now the enemy’s blinders are being peeled away in someone’s life…and the God of all Creation will be seen and praised. His power WILL be life-changing and forever evident.

 

Faith. Our faith must be relevant in our everyday. The stories of the power of God that we read in the Bible absolutely still serve a powerful purpose. For the mother who’s womb is barren…the story of Sarah gives hope. For the man who feels too weak to fight for what is right…the story of Gideon encourages strength in the name of Jesus. For the thief, the drunk, the liar who feels like he/she is too far gone…the story of the Cross proves that grace is available to all. We are still to learn from these Bible stories. We are still to apply their foundational truths to our daily walk. Just because they are ‘old’ doesn’t mean they are outdated. The Word of God is absolutely relevant. I dare you to try it out. Double dog dare you. Talk to God. Tell Him what you are struggling with. Ask Him to show you His relevancy in His Word. It might be a verse in a devotional that you pick up. It might be a verse on Facebook. It might be a seemingly ‘random’ passage in your Bible. Figure out what it is that God is teaching you…and be sure to praise Him for it. Talk about it. Lead by example and show your friends how He can be relevant in their lives as well.

Here is a thought provoking challenge question from Pastor Les to you…people out there in the world of cyber. ;) “If you were mentioned in the Bible…what would it say about you? Would they even know you were saved according to how you lived your life? Not according to how you act or ‘appear’ on Sunday…but how the rest of the days of the week that end in the word ‘day’ are. Would your name be recorded because of all you did for the Kingdom?”

It is never too late. Today is a new day. Start a new chapter in which you are sold out. Committed. Passionate. Let your faith be evident…not for the cause of being remembered…but for the sake of someone’s eternity. True love as the Father intended it cares more about souls brought to the reality of the Cross, than all of the wealth in the world. World changers. We need world changers who are Christ-driven to rise up.

Speaking of “it’s never too late”…take a moment to listen to a song by a Christian group named Jesus Culture. The song is called Come Away and I feel like it’s message is absolutely relevant to where we are headed. Click here to be inspired and challenged to worship as if you are standing in the Presence of the Almighty. You are. Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." It’s not too late!

 

Please understand I do not expect you, the reader, to just accept my list as complete. My hope is that you spend time searching for your own relevant applications. I would LOVE to hear how God is showing Himself to be relevant in your life! I know that He is. I believe it with all that I am. If you are not seeing Him…please let me know and I will pray for His revelation to become boldly evident to you. relevant church is praying for those of you out there that are reading this right now. Let us know the fruits of our prayers and/or how we can pray more specifically! After all, we are called to be Christ’s hands and feet!

I leave you with Colossians 1:3-6. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints- the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.”

Watch out…relevant church is on the map! ;) relevant church is now alive. It has a heart beat. A heart that beats like it’s Heavenly Father. Curious? You should be!! Come and see what God is doing in a little community in Pennsylvania…that will someday soon have a huge impact on a world that is lost and broken. We believe that God is all together relevant and we are saying… “Why not use us?!”