Anything-Everything

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, 

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

(Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

(1 Thes. 5:16-18 NIV)

Sometimes the most "cheerful" words in the Bible are the hardest to live out.  In these two passages Paul is reminding us that God is in control and that he wants us to come to him in prayer no matter what.  No problem, right?

But, really?  Don't be anxious about anything?  There's so much in our crazy world that can lead to anxiety.  But God says to use prayer and thanksgiving - in EVERY situation - to ask for God's help. "Every situation" means "every situation."   In every situation we come to our faithful God asking in faith, sharing our thanks for what God has done, is doing, and will do, and trusting that he responds - in EVERY situation.  Even when we can't see the response yet. 

Then Paul tells us to "rejoice always." Really?!?  "Always??"  That's, like, all the time and in all circumstances.  Sometimes there doesn't seem to be much to rejoice about.  Life on this earth - especially if lived without God - can seem overwhelming, terrible, and hopeless.  But when we live life in relationship with God we can always find at least one thing to be thankful about.  Did you wake up breathing today?  Did the sun come up (even if behind the clouds)?  Do you have electricity?  Often when we find one thing with which to give thanks, we then realize how many other things are also worth thanks.  

I do not believe that our rotten circumstances are necessarily God's will for us. If Jesus wants to give us the abundant life (John 10:10) then "abundance" includes love, joy, peace, hope, grace, and so much more.  Rotten circumstances are, ultimately, the result of the enemy of our souls, stealing, killing, destroying lives, relationships, resources, etc.  While I believe God allows this to happen (for what reasons I don't usually know or understand), I do not believe that this is what God intended for us.  

Can God use rotten circumstances to refine and improve our character and our understanding of who God is?  Absolutely.  But just because God can work all things together for good for those who love him, doesn't mean he wants us to have trials, death, and destruction.  God's purpose for us - God's will for our lives - is to know his love, joy, hope, grace, mercy, and peace. 

No matter the circumstances I believe that God wants to give us his Peace.  That "shalom" is beyond everything we could understand without God.  And it guards our hearts and our minds - our spirits, our words, our deeds, our thoughts, our hopes - because of Christ Jesus.  God's Peace gives us Hope in the midst of rotten circumstances.

Is not being anxious but rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances easier said than done?  Yes. But it's still do-able.  And, like anything we practice, the more we do it the easier it becomes.  

For anything, in everything, bring it to God. 

Father God,

Thank you that in all things - not "for" all things - but "in" all things - we can rejoice in you, your faithfulness, your provision, your grace, and so much more.  Thank you that by the Blood of Christ you have made a way for us to draw near to you.  Thank you that we can bring all our hurts, struggles, anxieties, and confusion to you and that you will hear us when we pray.  Holy Spirit, help us to saturate each day in prayer, offering our faith-filled requests to you with overflowing gratitude.  Help us to tell you each detail of our lives, knowing that your perfect plan for us is a life lived within the grace of Jesus Christ, so that your joy is our continual feast .  Help us to remember that you can work all things together for our good - for an abundant life - and that your wonderful peace that transcends our understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord. Help us in everything and for anything to bring it to you. In Jesus's name we pray, Amen. 

"Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ." (Philippians 4:6-7 TPT)


"Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thes. 5:16-18 TPT)

"A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!" (John 10:10 TPT)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 NIV)

Day 2 - Intense Treatment - Abundant Life lived under the leading of the Shepherd-King

Shepherd King of My Soul,

You are my Shepherd-King in whom I have total security and lack nothing.  I lay down in green pastures.  I'm led beside quiet waters.  My soul is refreshed by my Shepherd.  I am guided along the right paths of security and prosperity in God, bringing Honor to the Shepherd's Name.  Even when I walk through circumstances of greatest darkness and peril, I fear no evil for the Shepherd is with me.  His authority and support guide, rescue, protect, comfort, and reassure me.  I am received at the Shepherd's Table as an under-king, an honored friend.  Even as my enemies are around me, I am anointed with my Shepherd's oil and my cup of blessing overflows.  The Shepherd's goodness and unfailing love pursue me all the days of my life.  I will dwell as a welcome guest in the house of the Lord forever.  The Lord my God commands me to follow his decrees and laws.  I am to carefully observe them with all my heart and all my soul.  I declare that the Lord is my God and I walk in obedience to him.  I will keep his decrees, commands, and laws.  I will listen to him.  I am God's treasured possession and I will keep all his commands.  As I listen to and follow the leading of Holy Spirit, I will love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind.  I will love my neighbor as myself. He has declared that he will set his people in praise, fame and honor high above the nations he has made.  I will be set in praise, fame, and honor, holy to the Lord my God as promised.  I will not worry about my life, what I eat and drink.  I will not worry about my body, what I will wear.  My life is more than food and my body is more than clothes.  The thief - the enemy of our souls - comes only to steal AND kill AND destroy.  Jesus came that I could have a full and abundant life.  Therefore, I ask God for the restoration of my soul - the breathing of my entire inner nature and personality.  I will be set on a new place with a seal called "special" upon my heart.  God's love is as strong as death, his jealousy as fierce as the grave. Because of the leading of my Shepherd-King, I will have life abundantly.  In Christ's name I pray and declare: AMEN. 

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3     he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

    for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk

    through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

    for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

    my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me

    all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.  (Psalm 23 NIV)

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25 NIV)

16 The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. 18 And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. 19 He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.  (Deuteronomy 26:16-19 NIV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  (John 10:10 NIV)

Set me as a seal upon your heart,

    as a seal upon your arm,

for love is strong as death,

    jealousy is fierce as the grave.

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

    the very flame of the Lord.  (Song of Solomon 8:6 ESV)

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" (Matthew 22:37-39 NIV)

Idea from:  https://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=25704 

Some notes from:   NIV Study Bible (c) Zondervan, 2011

Set for Life

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)

I am continuing to read and read and read on parenting and educating our children. This week I realized this parenting thing as a "calling" in a way I don't know that I understood before. Specifically, per Psalm 78, my calling is to teach my children God's ways so that they teach their children and grandchildren these truths.

1 O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
2 for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
3 stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.

5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
6 so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.
8 Then they will not be like their ancestors—
stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,
refusing to give their hearts to God. (Psalm 78 NLT)


At some point, each member in each generation has to make a decision for or away from the Lord. So, that brings me to the "how" part of parenting/educating our children - how do we parent in such a way that they will not only learn the truths and ways of the Lord, but understand themselves as called to pass on that faith to their descendants? How do we do that in this day and age?

For me, this week's conundrum has been a "curriculum" issue, specific to our five year old. Plan A? Plan B? Something else? Some combination of the above? Then I came (again) to the first part of Psalm 62:

God, the one and only—
I'll wait as long as he says.
Everything I need comes from him,
so why not?
He's solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
I'm set for life.

I AM set for life - my spiritual feet are placed on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ - the Way, the Truth, the Life. So, when I feel my inner world getting all choked in "Plan A" or "Plan B" (or any other struggle) I have to join with the Psalmist, again, in the next part of Psalm 62:

3-4 How long will you gang up on me?
How long will you run with the bullies?
There's nothing to you, any of you—
rotten floorboards, worm-eaten rafters,
Anthills plotting to bring down mountains,
far gone in make-believe.
You talk a good line,
but every "blessing" breathes a curse.

God is never a god of confusion or chaos; our Creation is beauty and order. So when the things of this life seem to gang up on us, we need to realize that those "blessings" are really not the Solid Rock we can build our lives upon. Chaos and confusion are not of the Lord. God is an impenatrable castle. God gives us breathing room for our souls. And we are, indeed, set for life.

God, when the chaos and confusion of this world seems to choke us, help us to hold onto your Word and promises. Help us to raise our children not only to be Jesus Followers, but to then pass the faith on to future generations. Help us to trust you for their salvation and those of generations yet unborn. God, the one and only—we'll wait as long as you say. Everything we hope for comes from you, so why not? You're the solid rock under our feet, breathing room for our souls, an impregnable castle: we're set for life. Amen and amen!

Every Season

"Every Season" by Nicole Nordeman

Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn

And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me

Summer, autumn, winter, spring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dwpdZdvCl8&feature=PlayList&p=12234E01DDC3B046&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=12

Several years ago I attended a conference that started with a "heart check" - how's the state of your relationship with God? The speaker talked about life, especially our spiritual life, as having seasons - spring (new life beginning), summer (great life), fall (transition/things falling apart or dying), winter (spiritual hibernation/death). I have experienced at different times each of those seasons. The fall and winter ones are really hard, but often have the most beautiful and unexpected blessings. The beginning of a spiritual spring or summer can be hard to recognize - sometimes we don't want to believe it or we don't even realize it's come. And yet those spring and summer times are great times of living life to the full. The writer of Ecclesiastes says that "there is a season for everything under heaven" (3:1) and that "there is nothing new under the sun" (1:9). So, I (we) are not the only ones who believe life has seasons.

I was thinking about writing on the "abundant life" this week. In John 10:10 Jesus said he came to give us life more abundant - life to the full. I've been thinking lately that I am living that abundance, at least as much as we can here on earth. It dawned on me that I am in a "summer" season of life - home life, kids, marriage, church, friends, etc. all are basically great. Realistically, I know that things change. But I also recognize that I need to appreciate, enjoy, and relish this piece of (earthly) abundant life. Life IS good. So, it would be easy to write and celebrate my slice of today's abundant life.

But tonight I had an email conversation with a friend whose life is in a huge fall stage - in some ways "falling apart." Choices and circumstances combine in such a way that this friend is having trouble recognizing where the abundant life is in the midst of the chaos. Even as I can (and should) celebrate my summer season - giving thanks to God for this gift - my friend's fall season is heavy on my heart.

God is able to speak, move, exhort, and bless us in whatever season we are in. And we should give thanks that God IS in every season. So we pray...

God of all seasons, all places, all times,

We thank you for being the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Thank you for your faithfulness and that your promises are true. Thank you for watching over us, loving us no matter what, and offering grace & mercy. Thank you for celebrating with us, for helping us absorb change, for carrying us when we are too tired or broken or confused to walk for ourselves.

We pray for those who are in fall seasons of life...bracing for colder winds & change...

For those trudging through winter seasons...wating for opening doors and for life to enter...

For those, perhaps unknowingly, starting to see spring arise...and realizing you are making all things new...

And for those who are living a spiritual summer...for those immersed in fun and wonder...

Help us embrace your abundant life in every season of our lives.

In Christ's name we pray,

Amen

Easter: So What? OR Salvation Spring Up

"Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." (Isaiah 45:8, 2 Timothy 2:10).

"I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18).

"Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them." (Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 5:2).

"It's Easter. So what?" our pastor said yesterday. I wonder how many non-church people thought that. I was driving between church & home about 9:15 a.m. and saw two different people out jogging. Perhaps they'd already been or were planning to go to church, but it seemed strange to think of not being in church on Easter.

Last week my best friend from 5th-10th grade contacted me on Facebook and wanted to be my "friend." Being somewhat curious as to whatever happened to her, I said yes. Then I got to looking around her FB posts, which led me to other "friends" of hers on FB - some of whom I was in high school with and I've long since lost touch with.

Twenty years later the 41 of us in our class have, as expected, traveled different life paths. Inferring (or judging) from the FB posts of some of them, they are not Christians, or at least aren't living a life of Salt & Light. One's FB talks about Buddha....another going out drinking to forget the ex-spouse...but another surprises me by putting "He Is Risen!" up as a post. "Easter. So what?" could very well be what some of them had been thinking. [Insert all appropriate disclaimers to what I don't know, how God sees things, what may be going on behind the scenes....]

The reason I bring this up is because I have been wondering lately about who we will see in heaven. I spent 13 years of my life with most of the kids I graduated with. But will they be in heaven?

Several months ago I began to pray over my children the "31 Biblical Virtures to Pray for Your Kids" by Bob Hostetler. The Isa. 45:8 and Charlie Hall's song "Salvation" has been my prayer - that Christ's salvation would "spring up" in my children so that I would someday see them in heaven.

And now I have a new 'burden' - for people whose lives my life path has crossed but are not living a life of love in the grace and peace of Jesus Christ. I'm not sure what to do, except pray, but I do hope I will see them in heaven.

God, we know you want to gather all your children to yourself. We know you came to seek and save the lost and your heart aches for those who reject you. You said you came to give the abundant life in Christ and we praise and thank you for that gift. But today our prayer is for those who do not yet know you.

Salvation, spring up from the ground
Lord, rend the heavens and come down
Seek the lost and heal the lame
Jesus, bring glory to Your name

Let all the prodigals run home
All of creation waits and groans
Lord, we've heard of Your great fame
Father, cause all to shout Your name

Stir up our hearts, Oh God
Open our spirits to awe who You are
Put a cry in us so deep inside
That we cannot find the words we need

We just weep and cry out to You*

By your Spirit, draw your loved ones to you. Use us for your glory so that when every knee bows and every tongue confesses you are Lord, there is no one missing. Seek the lost; heal the lame; we wait in expectation for the fulfillment of your promises. In the strong name of Christ we pray. AMEN

* (by Charlie Hall (c) 2000 worshiptogether.com songs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqSNDWC2yn8

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px2dDZO2WZ4

Waiting - a musing

Tonight I know two families who are waiting for loved ones to die. Both have been ill a long time, so being released from the physical problems of this world will be a blessing. Both have spouses that will grieve deeply. Both are believers. But Christmas is a strange time of year to face a death.

Christmas comes at the end of fall - the end of long, lighted days. In a way, the time from the summer solstice to the winter solstice is a time of dying. Gradually the days cool, the daylight becomes shorter, and before we know many things like leaves and flowers have died for the season. Even Advent can be a time of dying to ourselves, getting honest with God (again), and surrendering a little more of our will to Jesus. A different type of death.

And yet death is not the end.

Much as on Easter we ask, "Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?" this Christmas these two families can know that the other side of the dying process is LIFE - life lived in heaven with Jesus. And on the other side of the "dying" months, come the "rising" months from the winter solstice to the summer one - and the light gets longer, the temperatures (eventually) rise.

Most importantly, at Christmas we celebrate the end of waiting for the Messiah. The Jews had waited hundreds of years for the coming of the King. They didn't expect a baby in a manger, but God's ways are definitely different than ours. If Advent involves dying to ourselves, Christmas involves CELEBRATING all that GOD is and has done through Jesus for us. In him we have life and have it abundantly. In him we live and move and have our being. In him we can see the way, the truth and the life.

Sometimes we must wait for death. But we know it is never the final end. God is a God of life.

Thank you God for life!

Amen

Worst case scenario

I've been doing some research lately on emergency preparedness. Last week I had a conversation with someone who made the comment that in certain situations, "Worst case scenario: you're dead." And, strangely enough, that was actually encouraging to me; for to me being dead is not my "worst case scenario." No, to be dead would be great! Heaven, here I come! Grace upon grace...freedom from fears and tears and sorrow and pain and suffering...joy in worshipping God forever! No, that is NOT my worst case scenario.

Watching my children suffer illness or hunger or...whatever: THAT is my worst case scenario. A wise woman friend reminded me that God would be with me in that "worst case scenario." I can't understand all that God does or allows to happen. Like Job realized, God is still God even when we can't see him or know what he's doing. And so we have to wrestle back to this place of faith: God is with us no matter what we are going through.

Eventually, faith comes back to having our spiritual eyes and hearts set on heaven. We are warned we will have trials and trouble in this life (John 16:33) but we are also promised that we are not alone.

Jesus said, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Mt. 28:20 NIV)

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." (Ps. 23:4a NIV)

If God is with us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31b) So, then while a "worst case scenario" here on earth may be horrific, my hope is in heaven. I, for one, am more and more with Paul:

Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose. As long as I'm alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I'd choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it's better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues.(Philippians 1:21-26 MSG)

And so we pray....

God of Abundant Life, Giver of Peace that Passes Understanding, Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow, the One whose Promises are Yes and Amen: All praise be to God, the Lord and Father of Jesus Christ and to the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your promises that we are precious and loved and that you walk with us through joy and through hardship. Thank you that you offer us the gift of salvation and grace and that you've already endured the ultimate worst case scenario because of your love for us. Help us to grow in joy and in trusting you. Help us to focus not on the fears and suffering of this world, but on living out the callings you give to us to be Salt and Light to the people around us. Help us focus on your strength, your provision, your grace - all for your glory. We pray in Christ's name...Amen.

Thorns

Recently I joined the Facebook "community" and since then have reconnected (intentionally) with a few friends from grad school and relatives I haven't seen in awhile. That is one of the nice advantages of having such a place - finding long-lost friends. But, then, sometimes that ability to reconnect is also a liability, as two people from a long time ago (in my life) have contacted me and wanted to be Facebook "friends."

These specific two people are guys I was involved with in one way or another at different times. [Fast forward 15-20 years and we're all married with kids. But that's not this story.] I remember each of these guys in the context of my shame at the choices I made with them. So, while I may be somewhat curious about how their lives have turned out, my larger reaction even after all these years is, "ugh. I thought I'd put that memory, that person behind me. And here he is showing up again, reminding me of things I would rather forget."

And it dawned on me the other day that the Evil One uses his whispers of "shame on you" and "I bet they haven't forgotten" and "you were sure dumb then" to pull me down. When the truth is that repentance is about turning away from sin and turning toward God. I made (and continue to make) my choice to be serious about my relationship with God. As that happens I continue to better understand God's love, grace, forgiveness and - get this - forgetfulness - in a way that I can't concisely put into words.

A guy at church calls all this emotional garbage "skubalon," which is a (real) Greek word meaning "refuge" and "things worthless and detestable." I would imagine that there are more people out there with a conscience, people who have made foolish choices that they now regret, people that would rather forget pieces of their past, especially their own set of skubalon. I keep having to remind myself that it's those things that Jesus came to forgive. Those places in our memories and hearts he came to heal. Those whispers for which he came to say, "Peace, be still." Those lives that he came to redeem from the Pit and point toward the Great Banquet Feast the Father has prepared for us. The Evil One would like to distract us from the reality of our identity, seen through the blood of Christ, as precious children of the King of Kings. When we acknowledge that those whispers are nothing but distraction, we can go on to embrace the Way, the Truth and the Abundant Life we are offered.

I was talking this over with a friend last night and she reminded me that maybe God has let me keep those ("I wish they were gone") memories to help me have more mercy and grace for others who are also making choices that are not of God. Maybe those thorns I carry help me to be more compassionate to others who are still tangled in the thorny bush. Maybe the Crown of Thorns is a symbol of all that skubalon being nailed to the Cross and we bear it no more, praise the Lord!

My prayer for each of us is for forgetfulness...for redemption...for skubalon forgiven...for freedom from thorns carried many years and many miles...for a tender and humble heart to extend grace to others and to ourselves...for the heart to know what is of Evil and what is the voice of God...for joy in the Lord to embrace the Abundant Life as God's Children, enjoying the heavenly feast with Jesus...Maranatha, Lord Jesus, Come.

"...Anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins." (2 Cor. 5:16 MSG)

(P.S. I am so grateful to God for my husband and the life I'm living now. Evil's whispers and thorns come and go, but the bigger and better parts of my life are embracing the Abundance of Christ. I hope that if you are someone struggling with your own thorns, that this prayer will help you.)