So that the blind may see!

John Chapter 9 - a whole chapter devoted to one miracle.
It's not just any miracle...Jesus heals a man who had been blind from birth. This was not just a "magic trick" that could have been done by anyone. Following the miracle, the man is questioned multiple times about it. And Jesus explains his actions to several people on multiple occasions. What is it about this story that has everyone all RILED up???

I encourage you to read the whole chapter in order to gain understanding through context, however I will only include part of it here as our focus.
 
S - John 9: 13-16, 39-41
They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees. ¹⁴ The day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath. ¹⁵ So again the Pharisees asked him how he received his sight.
“He put mud on my eyes,” he told them. “I washed and I can see.”
¹⁶ Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He doesn’t keep the Sabbath!” But others were saying, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was a division among them.

Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.”
⁴⁰ Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and asked Him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?”
⁴¹ “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see’—your sin remains.

O - Oh how the Pharisees loved to pick apart everything and remind you of the "law". Let's look at a few details of this story and dissect the law for a minute.
First, Jesus uses mud. He sculpts it into a shape to place on the blind man's eyes. In the law, you weren't even allowed to "sculpt" the mud on the Sabbath, the Jewish holy day of rest. The simple fact that he picked up the mud and used it was going against Jewish law.
Secondly, he HEALED on the Sabbath. Now I don't know about you but the fact that he healed on ANY day is pretty amazing! I have never understood why they are getting all worked up and completely MISSING the fact that this guy Jesus just took a man that was blind and made it so he can see. They say he is not God and calls him a sinner specifically because he broke the "law". Seriously! Like wake up people.

I don't know Hebrew law well and it might be in there specifically not to do "healing" on the Sabbath, but my thought is that healing wasn't done on a regular basis, at least the full-on complete healing that Jesus was doing, and it was not the NORM. And it amazes me that they are fixating on the fact that he did something on the Sabbath. AND they are not SEEING what is right in front of them. They are so focused on the actions of the man and what the law says that they are missing God. It seems so silly to be fixated on the day of the week. I don't really get how that makes you a sinner. I don't believe that when God gave them the "laws" He intended for them to hold that above meeting people's needs. God gave them the "law" to set them apart from the rest of the world for the purpose of carrying out His plan of salvation, but it was not supposed to define them when it came to having a relationship with the Lord Almighty, the creator of the universe. And it was definitely not set in place to justify ignoring care for people at a basic level, which was exactly what Jesus was doing.

Going back to the mud again for a moment. I find it interesting that Jesus doesn't do something fancy to perform this miracle. He uses mud...from the ground...and then tells him to wash it off. This is what heals his eyes so he can see. Jesus chooses a very basic material, the same of which incidentally God used to create man in the first place, and does incredible "eye opening" things with it! (sorry, fun little pun there...I am my Father's daughter :)

In vs. 39 Jesus says he came for judgment so let's address this a moment. I think this is talking about how Jesus will be judged and take on the judgment for sin, even while he is sin-less. I think it would be easy to interpret this as him saying he has come to judge us. We would be missing his point by taking this view. Jesus came to show us how to live, and to save, not to judge. He is making a point to give us a play on the word "see" and using the miracle of blindness to sight to teach us to be open to what we cannot see with our eyes but can "see" with our hearts. We do not SEE God but can know Him. He sees us for what we can be instead of who we are in our sin. His plan of restoration includes us accepting the gift of salvation by faith and not by sight...we cannot always see God with our eyes, nor can we see what He has in store for us as He changes our hearts and lives, nor can we see or imagine the immeasurable blessings that He has to give.

In vs. 41 when He says that the Pharisees sin because they "see" it means that they are using their human eyes that have limited power to really see who He is, instead of being open to "seeing" God's plan for all of humanity. They are blinded by the law and their own limited interpretation of God's plan. They believed this was just for the Jewish people but God had a bigger plan in mind from the beginning and they are missing it.

A - There is so much here that we can apply to our own lives and I am humbly reminded to look within myself at my own sin. It would be prideful to say that I am a "good" person and follow the "law", which I do. In reality, I am just as big of a sinner as a murderer, which makes me cringe. My pride, losing my temper, judging others, and a handful of other sins, get in the way of my relationship with God. But I am also reminded that God sees me, little ole me, for who I can become in Christ, not who I am in the world. He has paid the price for my sin and the gospel says that there is NOTHING I can do to make God love me more, or less. NOTHING. (Romans 8) I did not earn my salvation by following the law, nor will I keep it or get a better spot in heaven because of "good behavior".

Let me address "good behavior" for a moment. We Christians are actually sometimes the WORST about holding this over people's heads. We say what you can and can't do. We judge others and we judge ourselves. I know a few people that are so wrapped up tight with guilt over something they have done, or something they didn't do, and perhaps even shame over something horrible that someone else did to them, that they don't love themselves, they don't think they are worthy of God's love, and they most definitely are NOT able to love others because they have nothing to give. Like an empty glass begging to be filled with water. On the other side of the spectrum are some other people that don't care what God thinks actually, and don't think they need Him. They want to justify their behavior because they are "good people" and follow MOST of the laws of the land while JUDGING Christians for speaking out about what is right and wrong. I've been unfriended on facebook for giving my opinion on social issues, which I guess is considered "judging", even though the other person giving their opinion about Christians and "bad" behavior didn't consider their own behavior "judging". Hmmm, but I digress.

But the worst of these in my opinion are Christians that act like they are "better" because they do all the "right things" and don't SEE the log in their own eye. They are happy to be proud of themselves for going to church, being in the "best" bible study where all the other "good" people are, giving money, going downtown to feed the homeless, and bringing you dinner when your husband has surgery. Oh, they won't ever say anything to those "less" than themselves that is judgmental...it will be all sugar and sweetness...but they are gossiping to their close friends about you or telling their kids that they can't play with your kids. I admit it...I know this because I have found myself guilty of this a time or two. It hurts to admit it and I just HATE it when I find myself influenced in this direction. I guess my opinion expressed here could be considered judging as well. I DO believe we need to stand true to biblical principles and there is a time and place, and a LOVING way, to address sin. Parents should be cautious and protect their kids from negative influences, but we should not be afraid to "mingle" with those that are not our "kind". After all, Jesus ate a meal with prostitutes and tax collectors!!! This is a slippery slope that we must be cautious of lest we turn people away from the church for what they SEE in us. Do they see Christ, or do they see US?

And so it is important to read John chapter 9 and remember that we too are guilty like the Pharisees of having limited sight. We see what we see with our eyes every day and justify our sin, judge others, fall into temptation, act based on what is right in front of us, or the fear that we feel from what we don't understand or "see" completely. Maybe our sight is limited because we are so focused on unaddressed pain in ourselves. We are blinded from God's ways because we see every day the ways of the world. We don't always see who God is or we don't see His plan because we forget where to look.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says "Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, ² keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne."

That's right people. We keep our eyes on Jesus. That's what we do. Day in and day out we look to Jesus. And if we don't know how to do that, we keep looking...we seek Him and we mess up...and we learn a little bit...and we keep looking. This doesn't mean we DON'T have to worry about the law because God did give us the Bible, written by His divine power through 40+ authors, that all point to the same thing...God goes before us, He has our back behind us and frankly, He knows what He's doing cuz He like created the whole world or something! Maybe we should listen and stop trying to figure it out on our own. The Bible and the Holy Spirit are our guides. This is how we learn and the more we practice looking, the more we SEE. And when people look for God's plan and trust in Him, He works it all out. He restores, He saves, and He heals with simple materials like mud and water.

P - Oh that I would keep my eyes on you Jesus! I really stink at this sometimes. I sometimes see myself for what I've done in the past, what I haven't done yet, and very often how others see me. But you Lord see me as beautiful, and valuable, and you love me FOR my weakness because it all the more shows your great power when you overcome all that. Use me. Please give me the gift of sight to see your plan for my life and how you want to use me each and every day. I want to look to you and be blinded from the ways of the world. Please hide the temptations from me!!! I pray this prayer for my family and friends as well and especially those that may not believe that you love them, or that you want to use them for GREAT things. I pray they would see themselves as YOU see them and take a step toward loving you and seeking you. I pray they would be surrounded by those that love you and would show them how much love you have to give. May I simply be an instrument to guide others in this same way. Thank you Lord for the privilege of interpreting your word and being able to share it with others. This brings me great joy! I pray all this in Jesus' Holy name! Amen!

The Apostles' Creed

Today I am writing from beautiful Colorado. I am on a "girlie" retreat with my daughter, my friend and another friend's daughter. We are going to be working on being "missional" while we are here and took the girls to a dog kennel to try to see if we could help. We got to play with and "socialize" some puppies! It was so fun!

We are also going to be working through a short bible study with the girls called "Confirming Your Faith" and today I would like to share some thoughts on The Apostles' Creed.

There are perhaps many that have not been raised in a "traditional" church setting and may not be familiar with this creed that states what the Christian believes. Here it is in a "traditional" but updated version:
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen."

S - John 11:25-27
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” ²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

O - Being raised in and growing up in the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches I was aware of this creed and knew parts of it as a kid. I learned this creed in its entirety in confirmation class as a 6th grader and was able to recite it. This was something we would recite often enough in my church that it was helpful to know it. It didn't really hit home with me though until I was in college and teaching junior high Sunday school. It's like it had always been factual until I taught it to someone else and then it became personal. I was able to break it down into parts and really take in the depth of it because I was teaching it.

The verse here in John that accompanies this creed from our little study is Jesus speaking to a woman. I think it's important to know the context here...he is actually speaking to Martha the sister of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. In this verse, Lazarus has died and Martha and Mary are mourning, saying that if Jesus had been there, he wouldn't have died. Jesus was about to demonstrate His power over death so that his followers might believe. He is asking her to believe before He has even demonstrated this power. This is a testament to her FAITH. She had heard Jesus' teachings and seen miracles but resurrection takes it to a whole new level! She did not have to have proof of his power over death to have faith. She BELIEVED He was who He said He was by faith, and nothing else. He was not just a good moral teacher...He was God in the FLESH. He was God who came down to earth to live among us and save us.

Another observation is that He says whoever LIVES by believing in me...this is about not just believing but also LIVING by this belief. We demonstrate our faith by how we live and we help others come to believe as well by how we live. This does not mean we need to DO something to earn salvation, but it is how we respond to our faith, as well as how others come to know the Lord. If we don't share our faith, no one else would have a chance to believe and we would be keeping the greatest gift we've been given from ourselves. I don't know about you, but I want others to get to receive this amazing gift and share it with me!!!

A - the apostles creed has basically three parts of belief: creation, redemption, sanctification. First, we believe that God is the creator of all things and is over all things. Next, we believe that we have the opportunity to choose redemption because Jesus sacrificed Himself for us as a SUBSTITUTE. And third, sanctification is about holy living and demonstration of our faith...we need to believe in the importance of this AND in the correct purpose of holy living. I think this is the hardest part for many people in a lot of ways.

I think for the most part there are many that believe in God as they know Him...the creator, a "higher power", a provider. Even those that are not active in a church and those that follow the Jewish, Islam or other faiths or claim no faith at all believe that we are all believing in and following the same God. (I could get off on another topic about whether this is the same God or not, but I won't for now)

As for redemption, a belief that Jesus died for each of us is maybe an easier path to take than believing that this belief is actually going to CHANGE us through the process of sanctification. Many say "Oh yes, I want to go to heaven...I want to live forever with God." and yet do they really realize what they are inviting God to do? I don't want to dog certain denominations within the Christian faith but I think there are still MANY Christians that are focused on the "how to" guide book of what you have to STOP doing or what you SHOULD be doing to be a "good" Christian and forgetting one simple truth...we are saved by faith alone and this is the purpose of Jesus' redemption. Once saved, it is not up to US to change, it is up to us to ALLOW the Holy Spirit to change us through sanctification and show us how we can demonstrate our faith to others.

And this is why KNOWING what we believe is so important and why the Apostles Creed can be helpful. This is a creed that was written during the years of the early church. I'm not really an official "theologian" and will need to study up more on the origin of it but I think it's an important creed to know and live by and I'm pledging to try to be more purposeful in teaching it to my children. It is a foundation for everyday living and can be a guide for how to demonstrate our faith and share it with others. As the accompanying verse in John teaches us, faith is based on a belief that Jesus IS who He says He is and He will DO what He says He will do.

I think it would be a valuable exercise for all Christians to dissect this creed and really think through each of the points, one by one, and decide for themselves what they believe about it. Do we believe in the resurrection of the body, for example? Have any of us really taken the time to think about what we REALLY believe in relation to the gospel or are we just "going with the flow". Perhaps it's time to take a deeper look for yourself???

P - Father God, you ARE the creator of the universe. You sent Jesus to live among us and to save us through substitution and I am eternally grateful. You have transformed lives through the work of the Holy Spirit and I pray that others would not only believe this for themselves but that they would understand WHAT they believe. I ask for guidance Lord as I teach this truth to my children and to others. I pray protection for the TRUTH and that different interpretations of who Jesus is would not be just molded into a sweet little "box of rules" that we can hold onto. NO, I pray we would see life transformation and we would be open and receive the Holy Spirit, putting our life in his hands. Amen.

Faith to move mountains

Three years ago, our daughter came to live with us from foster care. Seven months later we officially adopted her and we have been on a fabulous roller coaster ride ever since. I like roller coasters! Some find them scary but I enjoy the thrill and excitement. Sometimes, if it's a really "intense" one, I get nervous before I get on but that's part of the excitement for me...facing and overcoming the challenge/fear.

Our daughter just graduated from high school a few weeks ago and I have been thinking a LOT about what an amazing accomplishment this is! For her, she probably always knew that graduation was in her future. We knew it was in her future too but we weren't sure that SHE knew it was in her future. For several months she had pretty bad "senior-itis" and was tardy to school, not doing work, failing tests from not studying, not turning in major assignments, etc. I personally was a little worried that she was not going to push through, and would miss passing by only a few points. I asked some friends to encourage her and it actually made her MAD. They sent her cards and she threw them in the trash! Her reasoning was because it was "annoying" that they all used the same verse in Hebrews 12 that talks about "running the race with perseverance" when in reality it was because she thought we had doubts in her ability. I had always thought that she COULD do it, but I wasn't sure how strong her self doubt was and whether the gaps in her education had effected her self confidence. To me, there was a difference in CAN she do it and WILL she do it...basically verb semantics. But in the end she made it happen and we are SOOOOOO super duper proud of her!!!

All this got me thinking...I want to start up my blog again so I can write about some of these thoughts and challenges. I had decided to stop posting even as I have done my own devotionals, simply because of feeling the need/priority to focus on my family and new daughter, and wanted to eliminate anything in my life that took extra time and wasn't "essential". Now that things have slowed down a little, I'm going to return to share my SOAP devotionals, as well as various thoughts on what is going on in the world from a biblical point of view. My hope is that my writing will not only help me to continue to grow closer to God but that it will also be a blessing to someone else. This week I am sharing a devotional I actually wrote a month before we met our daughter. I was reading past writings and this seemed perfect for the "roller coaster" ride we have been on. It is amazing that this entry is on having faith to move mountains and I have seen very clearly how God has been at work in our lives for the last 3 years simply because we have tried continually to put our faith in HIM.

S - The scripture is from Matthew 21:21-22 (Holman Christian Standard Version - also known as the "Apologetics Study Bible")
²¹ Jesus answered them, “I assure you: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. ²² And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

O - Jesus says, "I assure you." He doesn't say "its a good idea" or "it will probably happen" or "I'll think about it." ASSURE is a strong word like a promise, or a guarantee. But Jesus is not asking the disciples, or us, to go around moving mountains, perform "magic" and impress people. He is making a point about our faith. Nor is He saying that we will get anything we want in prayer. He is asking us to have faith to do bold things in His name, things that may appear to be "mountains" in our lives.

A - Do I have faith to move the "mountains" in my life? Those obstacles that appear to be in the way of doing God's work, the work He is calling me to do. Do I ask God boldly and believe that He will move these mountains and make happen what needs to happen. I believe I often do have this kind of faith...more often in praying for others. I think I struggle with this for things in my personal life, doubting whether I am praying for real intentions or within God's will.

P - I thank you God that you have given me the gift of a strong faith to inspire others that need to believe you will move mountains. Remind me to have this same faith when it comes to matters of a personal nature. I sometimes have doubts because I wonder if I am praying selfishly or within your will. Remove the voice of the enemy that seeks to discourage my faith. May you keep him far from me. Will you use me to move mountains in your kingdom, for your glory?

Worry About Yourself - A Look at How We Judge

This is my SOAP devotional for May 14th

S - Acts 15:10-11
10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

O - The Jewish Christians were struggling with which of their customs/laws should be followed by the Gentiles. Circumcision was an important issue to the Jews because it was a physical reminder of their covenant with God. To the Jews, following these laws was true obedience, and not following them was pure defiance. The council of Jerusalem had decided to not make the issue a requirement so as not to relegate Christianity to "just another sect of Judaism". The bottom line was that God's way was to include ALL believers the same way, by faith alone. This was Jesus' special favor, not with requirements. The additional recommendations the council asked of the Gentile believers were simply to help unify the church as a whole, to help find common ground against pagan worship.

A - Oh how much this reminds me of our churches today. One church requires baptism by full emersion to be a member and truly be saved. Another requires weekly confession to a priest to take communion. And still others have requirements like not allowing instruments in the church worship, or social requirements like wearing proper clothing, lest you be judged unworthy to attend services. There are many ways that we judge others in their "fitness" for God's grace. I confess that when I see tattoos and piercings, I judge that person to not be a true believer because it gives the appearance of drawing attention to "self". We all struggle with what God has called us to do...a simple issue that I'm trying to teach my Kindergarten music class..."Worry About Yourself!" We cannot earn God's smile...we already have it. We think if we do something pleasing then we will earn special favor...that this will put us in a "higher place" with God. In reality God does His work and the question we must ask is "How can I be a part of it?" This is where the "requirements" come in because we are asking of God and not of man.

P - Lord Jesus, this is a hot topic for my life and oh how amazing you are that you know what I need to hear. As I learn to "worry about myself" in where I am with you, will you remind me to ask what YOU require of me and not what I assume or think you require based on my so called knowledge of your word. Oh, how I must be diligent in my prayers to seek your wisdom in how to love others without judgment. For your grace and mercy are never ending. Amen.

Fearless Faith

This is my SOAP devotional for 5/3

S - Acts 7:59-60 (New living translation)
59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

O - Stephen, in the midst of pain and dying, prays for his persecutors. We see the same compassion at Jesus' crucifixion as well. Stephen was bold not only in standing up for his faith but also in speaking up as well. This was basically the launching pad for the persecution and scattering of these new believers, as well as the expansion of the church. This was a tragic event with amazing consequences for the greater good. Stephen is an amazing example of acting in God's service regardless of the fear and obstacles you may face.

A - Oh that we all would be so bold. Not that we should face the same persecution, but that we would be that loyal and committed to what God calls us to do. For me, this is so personal in what we are doing RIGHT now in adopting "A". We are being obedient to what we believe God is asking of us, regardless of the fears we may be facing. Inviting a teenager with many life experiences to join our family is a huge step for all of us...it is in some ways scary but also EXCITING and an incredible honor and blessing that she is willing to trust us. I look forward to see how God is going to take the tragic events in "A's" life from her past and turn them into something amazing. What a blessing that we get to be a part of it!

P - In a word, Lord, I have fears! I KNOW that your word promises that fear does not come from you. I believe that you are bigger than any fear I might face. Help me to continue to put my faith ahead of the doubts and fears that I may see in my head. Keep the enemy far away from me, that I will embrace the confident faith that I already know is your spiritual gift to me. Oh Lord, how you love us and I thank you for the provision you have already shown in "A's" life and I thank you in advance for the work you will do to show your "purpose and plan" for her (Jer. 29:11) Amen.

We are weak but HE is strong

Be sure to read my other devotional for this week posted today.
My SOAP devotional from March 18th

S - Matthew 26:34-35,74-75
34"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." 35But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.

74Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 75Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

O - Peter made a pretty bold vow. Not only did Peter reject the idea that he would deny Jesus, but Jesus knew he would do it. When Peter was faced with a crisis situation his impulsive and human nature took over. He spoke without thinking in both situations. After he realized he had done exactly what Jesus said he would do, he was greatly troubled.

A - How often do we act and speak impulsively making promises we can't keep? I have many times. How many times do we commit to God's service and we "forget" or get "distracted" by worldly things. We lose our focus. We are not obedient when we know it's what we SHOULD do. Peter was in Jesus' inner circle and could touch him and speak to him and yet he still denied him. How much harder is it for us, who cannot physically be with Jesus, except it's not really the same thing of facing persecution and death for our faith. God asks us simply to choose faith in Jesus over the ways and temptations of the world. Why is it so hard?

P - Lord, I am weak. I have been a pretty devoted follower and yet I'm just as bad at times as someone who doesn't even know you because I confess I will hear you call to me and I put you off. "Maybe later" I say. This is just lip service I know but I earnestly pray Lord for strength and courage to be bold in my faith...to act now, not later. To be thoughtful and prayerful, and not impulsive. I am thankful for the way you made me because I know you do not make mistakes and want me to learn and grow in the ways you are teaching me. In my weakness YOU are strong! (2 Cor. 12:9) Give me the conviction to put YOU ahead of anything else on earth. Amen.

Get out of the boat!

This is a second devotional from this week so don't forget to read the other one.

My SOAP devotional for Feb. 17th

S - Matthew 14:25-33
25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

29"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."


O - This is one of my favorite "miracles" of Jesus. I have somewhat of a fondness for Peter because he was a great leader and yet acted impulsively and with great passion/emotion (not always thinking first) - I guess I feel that I can relate to him. In giving credit to John Ortberg's book of the same title, the key to this passage is "If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat." Peter showed great faith and yet he let his eyes get in the way because he saw his fears (the waves). I also find it kind of humorous though that at the end of this passage, the disciples say "You really ARE the Son of God!" And it's like, "You're just now realizing this???" What does God have to do to get through to us?

A - This is a story of faith and facing our fears. If we are to do what God is calling us to do we must first get "out of the boat" and then we must fix our eyes on Jesus, being blind to our fears. As we face big steps with adopting our daughter "A", we must ignore the big waves coming at us and focus on what Jesus is calling us to do. We have already stepped out of the boat...now we must realize who God is and fix our eyes on Him.

P - Lord Almighty, I believe that you will help us and "A" walk on water. I trust you and give you the glory in advance for what you are doing and will do in our lives. Amen.

on making poor choices to protect ourselves

My SOAP devotional for Feb. 16th

S - Exodus 1:8-10a, 15-17
"8 Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. 9 "Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous..."

15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live."

O - The key word in this passage for me is "threat". The new King was threatened by the number of the Israelites. Why? Because they had different customs, they worshipped God, and perhaps they were not loyal to Egypt? Really, he FEARED they would turn against them. The King sought a way to oppress them through slavery, hoping to kill their spirit and stop their growth. His paranoia and oppression escalated to murder when he asked the midwives to start killing baby boys. He asked the wrong ladies though for their faith was strong and they risked their lives to do what was right.

A - This passage reminds me of the genocide that has taken place throughout human history in places like Poland, Rwanda, Darfur, and the Holy Land...and even here on American soil with gang violence and abortion. In each of these situations, someone made themselves and their own interests a priority. We as humans really are a savage people. For when we get so focused on our own desires and what is in the way of getting what we want or what we see as a threat, we simply will destroy it. It's not just murder that destroys. The destruction of a threat happens every day with "civilized" individuals too. Like those that will gossip to destroy a reputation, or cheat others simply because they "deserve" it or to advance their own economic status/career. We are ALL guilty at some point of making poor choices for the sake of bettering ourselves. Are we really that much different in God's eyes from this pharaoh or Hitler when we put our own best interests ahead of others and perform selfish acts?

P - God of LIFE! You have put us on this planet to test the boundaries of love. Will you help me to love those that are a "threat" and help me to always seek your wisdom, goodness, and glory regardless of the personal cost.

On the same team when Jesus is on FIRST!

Here is my SOAP devotional for Feb. 8th

S - Matthew 10:34-39
34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
" 'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[a]

37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

O - This is a challenging passage because it appears to be a contradiction. Jesus is drawing a line. Most would say "how can Jesus who is the supreme example of love, ask you to go against your own family, especially when it is one of the original 10 commandments?" What Jesus is saying is that people are flawed and not dependable. They will let you down but Jesus will never let us down. Jesus has proven to be dependable and has sacrificed much in spite of people that even deny who He is. So if we place our faith in people instead of Him, especially those that are not following His ways, then we will always find disappointment. Sometimes love means making tough choices if that is doing what is best. Jesus is always going to choose to love us, therefore we must choose to put Him first in our life...to choose His way over the way of people.

One note of interest is that Jesus quotes Micah 7:6 here. Micah is a book in the Old Testament and he was a contemporary of Isaiah. He is considered one of the "minor" prophets and he spoke of God's judgment and the offer of pardon to all those who repent. The book of Micah contains many prophecies about Jesus, the Messiah, who will come to unite all of God's people. He writes of God's extreme dislike of pride and injustice, and also His willingness to provide a way to forgiveness and mercy. It is clear to me that Jesus IS the only way that God could be both the judge and merciful.

A - We cannot control the choices of the people in our life. If we cling to what is actually temporary on this earth, we will miss the purpose of Jesus' coming. Jesus is not asking us to NOT love people - He is asking us to love Him MORE. He calls us to choose His way above any earthly way as the way to eternal life with Him. Jesus brings a "sword" against anything that seeks a path of destruction, and the enemy prowls in an attempt to take us with him (1 Peter 5:8). In our human nature we will not always be "on the same path"...some will have their own best interest in mind, or be blinded by the enemy's schemes, even if we are family. Therefore, in order to fully love each other, we must FIRST love the Lord of Life. If our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we will always be on the "same team".

P - Oh Lord, I plead with you to strike the heal of the enemy and keep him far from me and my family. When the enemy seeks to destroy, he will put us against each other. But putting our eyes on you (Hebrews 12:2) as the author and perfector of our faith, we will experience a peace beyond understanding, (Philippians 4:7) for following your ways ensures that we are always on the "same team". I pray most earnestly for protection and that each of those I love, and that I call "family", will put YOU first in their lives so that we might cling to your promises together. I am truly thankful that you found a way to be both the judge of all evil and yet sent Jesus to show us mercy. Amen.

Mission Impossible Faith

My SOAP devotional for Jan. 26th

S - Genesis 24:10-14, 26-27
"Then the servant took ten of his master's (Abraham's)camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water. Then he prayed, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."

"Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, saying, 'Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."

O - The servant that goes out to find a wife for Isaac is a strong believer. The servant was in some respects not living in Abraham's household by his own will, because he is a servant, but yet he embraces fully his God. He has so much faith in fact that he believes that God will prompt the RIGHT girl that will say exactly the RIGHT thing, and also happen to be one of Abraham's relatives. This is what he sees as success. He is giving God a tall order and we see the miracle, by my definition, that God delivers exactly what he asks for. In addition, the servant gives God the credit and praise for his provision. Later in this passage, Rebekah is happy to go with this stranger because she too is perhaps inspired by the faith of this servant and sees how God is at work in her life as well.

A - This passage reminds me of the Tom Cruise Mission:Impossible movies when the bad guy says "go to this certain street corner and ask the man on the bench for a stick of gum" and then it happens to be exactly the RIGHT guy who wisks him away to meet this secret person. I always thought it wouldn't be a very good movie if it ended up being the wrong guy and he actually hands him a stick of gum. Tom Cruise would be left standing there blowing bubbles. Actually, that would probably be the Ben Stiller version.

I think this is an interesting passage because we have to be careful not to be selfish in our requests of God. When we ask for too many specifics we are perhaps trying to put God in a box...please do this, but only if this happens. On the other hand, I think that it is important that I make specific requests of God and ask Him to give me a clear sign when He is working in my life, just as Abraham's servant did. It is important to know who's voice you're listening to...even the enemy knows my desires and offers good things. All too often however I am afraid to make requests that are not in line with God's plan so I don't make them, or I make requests that are attached to a selfish agenda, and I am disappointed when I don't get the answer I want or the answer doesn't come at the right time. I must do both...ask and believe, with an attitude of acceptance in His provision. We can only find true peace in God's plan when we believe in the power that we are asking for and trust Him to work in our best interest, down to the small details like providing gum from some guy on a park bench. Sometimes our requests might seem like "mission impossible" but that is only because our sight is limited. God sees all things and I can find satisfaction in knowing that the plan He has laid out for my life is the BEST plan, regardless of whether it's what I've requested or not. I think the key is trust. Do I trust God enough to be bold in my request and then hand it over to Him to work it out?

P - I do believe Lord that I have a strong faith. I believe your promises and that you have my best interest at heart. At times though, God, I have in my heart requests that seem too detailed and too "impossible". I should not be afraid to ask you, nor should I doubt that you would grant these requests if they are in line with your word and your will for my life. I pray Lord that I am always seeking your voice and that you would give me clear signs that you are speaking and moving in my life so that I can give you the credit and all the glory. At the same time, may I always accept with grace when your answer is no. Amen.

Believe/Made Righteous

My SOAP devotional from Jan. 14th

S - Gen. 15:6
"And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith."

O - This verse is referenced in Romans 4 as well and discussed by Paul at great length. The debate is about Abram believing God and then being declared righteous because of his faith. Therefore, he is the Father of all believers and we share in the same inheritance that God promised him. Abram obeyed as an act of his faith and relationship with God.

A - I should not be beating myself up when I mess up. The Lord has declared me righteous because of my faith. And when I do mess up I should confess it and get back to the Lord's work, not spending worthless moments pondering my sin. This is only a tactic of the enemy to distract me. God's word is clear and I need to BELIEVE it.

P - Keep the enemy FAR away from me Lord for he tries to deceive me into believing his doubts. YOU are faithful and what a blessing to be in fellowship with you, having confidence in your mercy, grace and forgiveness. May I never be so comfortable in my sin either as to forget WHO you are and who I belong to!! May I cling to the inheritance you have promised even little ole me :) AMEN!

Time to grow!

School has started and our two boys have some AWESOME teachers. Tom and I also have some great kids in our classes. I will still be teaching music only 2 1/2 days a week which gives me the time to work my CM business, volunteer at the kids' schools and serve at Faithbridge, our church home. In addition to his service on the TBA Board of Directors, Tom has an opportunity to be a clinician for the junior high bands at St. George's Prep School in Vancouver, BC for a week later in Sept. This is a GREAT opportunity for him!

Our 13 year old had a check up right before school started and has grown 4 inches and gained 35 pounds since this time last year! He is only 1 inch shorter than me now and his voice has dropped. He is even in need of a shave as he has a "mustache". It is hard to believe that he will be in high school in just one year...technically only about 160 days!! EEEK! How did this happen??? I don't think we even noticed all the changes that were happening the last 6 months until just a few weeks ago when I looked at him and all of a sudden he just looked like a different person!

Our younger son turned 9 in June and has been the same...his pants are too short continuously and he has been maturing in the area of "trying new things". He is our "picky" one and within the last couple months he has tried several new foods without complaining and even gone on the "Tornado" at Splashtown, which is HUGE for him! We are so proud!

Our oldest just received the honor of being named "Vice President" of the band and is first chair trumpet in the Symphonic Band. We are looking forward to watching him grow in his new leadership roles. Both boys are taking tennis lessons and we are playing more as a family, and they also enjoy video games and the History channel in their free time.

We also are still waiting to hear about the children that will come to be a part of our family through adoption...just waiting...not sure how long we will have to wait, but we are positive that God sees their faces and will bring them to us in the right time. It's possible that they are in the foster care system and just aren't available for adoption yet. We'll see. There is growth happening with us in our hearts as we pray for patience. God is good and faithful and is helping us to open our hearts and pray for ALL the children in the system...they need someone to lift them up, to find "forever families" that will come for them someday.

We went on a family vacation this summer to visit Tom's aunt and her family, and to see the New England states. What a great road trip it was! We enjoyed spending time with family so much and we also got to go whale watching off Cape Cod, walk the Freedom Trail in Boston, eat Lobster in Maine and check out family history. We added 13 new states to our goal of going to all 50 (we're up to 28 now!) and actually clocked 4734 miles on our minivan! WHEW! This trip was growth for us too because we hadn't ever done long driving days like that before...we weren't sure if it would be too much. We drove over 800 miles in one day, 4 times, but not all in a row...the most we had ever done before was going from Amarillo to Houston and that is over 500, so this was a big leap for us. Tom and I DID IT and we are glad we were able to have more time for the actual vacation instead of spending more days driving.

So all this has me thinking about something...our pastor, Ken Werlein, has spoken several times before about one of his seminary professors teaching the concept of "no, slow, grow, go" when looking for answers to prayer. I have at times, since the first time I heard him share that, looked back at when I had been praying about something and realized now in hindsight I could see what God had answered...no, slow, grow or go. I have found that I OFTEN have been told GROW when I have had to face patience and waiting on a decision...much like we are doing now. The growth that has taken place in my life during these times is indescribable. Had I not waited, or had I taken matters into my own hands, things would probably be messed up.

And what a joy it really is to be in the care of the Lord and to know that He has a bigger, better, and ROCK-OUT plan to love us and help us be the best people we can be...a plan that we couldn't imagine on our own. We read about it in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I also believe that where we are right now is a "slow" period...we do not want to rush the adoption process. We have friends that have had issues with their adoption, and not that it was a mistake, but perhaps they moved too quickly and didn't give it enough time. We want to be absolutely sure we are moving as God directs as HE really sees the big picture and knows what is best for us. We could look at the frustration that we feel sometimes with the lack of communication in this adoption process and be annoyed with the waiting, but we are limited in how far ahead we can see and how much we can control and so we are glad to be patient for the child or children that are supposed to be a part of our family...we do not want the wrong child for us and want it to happen in God's time. What a RELIEF it is to know that God is working in our favor and we don't have to worry about how it will work out!

One other thing of note: recently we had a dear college friend die of a heart attack at 45. We just found out about a former student of Tom's that has breast cancer at 25. And we have 2 church acquaintances that are facing major health issues in their 30s and early 40s. These concerns combined have reminded me yet again that life is precious and we are here but for a short time. What I KNOW and what I BELIEVE is that we are here to do something great, something of worth to impact the lives of others each and every day, in response to the GIFT that Jesus gave us through salvation. Nothing else matters more than loving our families and friends with a real love, a love that can only come from knowing the One True God. We love because He first loved us...and so each day I ask, "What can I do TODAY to add meaning to the life of someone else?" I hope each of you that take the time to read this are inspired to do the same for your loved ones and even those that are hard to love...the positive investment you make in your closest relationships DOES MATTER.

I am working on a "Faithbook" called "10 Fingerprints of God"...it's really about 10 ways I have seen God at work in my life in my first 40 years. I am excited to see the end result because I know the process itself will show me God's grace and goodness. Thank you to each of YOU that read this blog for the impact you have made in my life! Make it great!

Do the next thing

Life can be overwhelming. For our family right now, there are a lot of plates in the air...as I'm sure is the case for many of you as well. Sometimes it's the little things that get neglected because we are focusing so much on what is coming up or the big picture of what has to get done. Sometimes some of the burdens consume us with worry, doubt, fear, stress, anxiety, or anger. I believe that the enemy uses these tools to take our focus off our real job here on earth which is to take care of each other and help others know that God loves them.

This week as I read my daily email from Proverbs 31 ministries, there was one quote that really jumped out at me. It has become such a "mantra" for me this week I had to write about it. Elisabeth Elliot, wife of Jim Elliot, is quoted as saying "just do the next thing" and God will take care of the rest. Jim and Elisabeth went as missionaries to live among a remote tribe of people to share the gospel with them. It wasn't long before Jim was attacked and killed by this very same tribe. Other missionaries from the Elliot's ministry in the states were inspired to go, sacrificing their own lives to try to reach this tribe with the gospel. Eventually Elisabeth herself returned with her son to show them that God is a forgiving and loving God and TODAY this entire tribe has turned from their violent ways and given themselves up for Christ. It's amazing what God can do through a few dedicated people!

Now, for me, to hear Elisabeth Elliot say that she can in faith "just do the next thing", that is profound. I'm a big picture person so I am always making long-term plans and I'm not always great about seeing the details. I like to be "visionary" and think of possibilities...we could do this, or we could do that. I'm not always great at the "here and now" and what's realistic to get it done...that's what I married Tom for :) He keeps me grounded! BUT, to realize that a woman like Elisabeth Elliot, after all she's been through, can still say let's "just do the next thing" and God will take care of the rest...it's very inspiring.

The next thing for me might be to take the kids to school or return a phone call or eat something. I've realized in the last couple weeks that if I will ask God "what is the next thing I need to be doing?", he answers me. I'm notorious for making my "to do" list and immediately getting overwhelmed with all the things that HAVE to get done in a day. If I will stop and ask God to show me "the next thing" instead of trying to prioritize by myself, I have more peace about the steps that I take, knowing that God is going ahead of me to work it out.

We have a lot of choices and decisions ahead in our family right now. Between adopting, doing ministry, and facing educational and family challenges, there are many reasons to get overwhelmed. We are stepping into parenting not just adopted children, but adopted children that have been taken away from their birth parents who weren't making good choices. In the coming weeks 1 or 2 children will be joining our family and life will become about "doing the next thing." Because we haven't even seen their faces or know anything about them yet, it is easy to imagine the worst case scenario and get overwhelmed with what we might be facing. But we also know that we are on the path God wants us on and so we have to make the choice to move forward, one step at a time.

Ben Stuart spoke today at our church on a similar topic...having integrity to do the right thing, even when it's hard. He said that some will say that trusting God with the details is crazy, especially when you have been hurt by someone or are facing big challenges. Our society says to get out there and take care of it! Someone said that God is in the details and so we can trust Him to take care our burdens. Why do we think that the creator of the universe does not SEE what's going on in our lives, that He can't see the big picture and make the puzzle pieces fit. Why do we think we can do a better job than Him?

These next couple of weeks for us will be filled with school getting out and summer fun, as well as lots of decisions. WE will be praying that we can allow God to take care of the details so that we can be obedient and just "do the next thing." I pray this for each of you as well. May your summer be full and rich with many blessings!