Inescapable Love

The longer I live in this world the more I realize the reason Jesus said this: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation (or trouble), but take courage (or heart); I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) These days I can hardly watch the news. I'm sure you feel the same. The devastation that has rocked Haiti is more than a soul can bear. Also, this week I received a prayer request for a family who tragically lost a 21 year old girl in a car accident. In addition, I am still praying for two babies both under 3 who are enduring cancer treatments. When I think about all of the natural disasters, all of the death, all of the sickness, all of the sheer pain, I am nearly overwhelmed. BUT (ah I'm thankful for the "but")when I remember Jesus' encouragement..."take courage or take heart I have overcome the world" I am relieved and recall that our God has this world under His grasp. He is in control. Jesus, at the end of all things, is our only hope. Without Him, we are wrecked, lost, destined for death indeed. There is hope in His Gospel...that He has come and has loved this world by giving His only Son that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). That is an inescapable love. In the midst of tragedy, God has not forgotten, nor has He left us. He is not taking a break, missing in action, nor is He powerless. He is there. Pursuing us always with an enduring love that the human mind can scarce fathom. God has demonstrated this love in sending His Son. This is the message of hope that we need to hear, that Haiti needs to hear, that the mourning family needs to hear, that Ansley & Ian & their families need to hear. God has loved us. For who would die for a good man, much less an evil man wrecked with sin? Yet our Savior loved us while we were yet sinners bearing the shame & guilt of our sin on the cross. Inescapable love. That is what we need. I pray that Jesus is the One we share as often as the day allows. We need to tell all who will hear it that this Savior is risen & is able to rise in hearts bringing newness of life. It is inescapable love!

Only One Thing Is Needed

"Martha, Martha you are anxious and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42)

Many of us are familiar with the story about Mary and Martha, where Martha is doing all the preparations and work while Mary goes to sit at the feet of Jesus. Not trying to criticize Martha for being on top of things concerning the workload, I was convicted when I read this "antithesis" of Psalm 23 written by Marcia K. Hornok:

The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest.

It makes me lie down only when exhausted.
It leads me to deep depression.

It hounds my soul.

It leads me in circles of frenzy for activity's sake.

Even though I run frantically from task to task, I will never get it all done.

For my "ideal" is with me.

Deadlines and my need for approval, they drive me.

They demand performance from me, beyond the limits of my schedule.

They anoint my head with migraines.

My in-basket overflows.

Surely fatigue and time pressure shall follow me all the days of my life.

And I will dwell in the bond of frustration forever.

Let us all remember the MAIN THINGS - to keep our fellowship daily with the Lord AND to tell others about him!

"an anchor for the soul"

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe..." (Ephesians 1:18, NIV).

When I see a star, I tend to think of strength and confidence. I find myself putting my hope in this symbol when it is on a police officer or a flag, since it can create a feeling of security. I see, though, that this symbol does not ensure dependability. God, however, is always worthy of our hope.

If someone asked you to explain why you hope, what would you say? The other day, my friend expressed that she rather be sure of something rather than just hope in it. The dictionary defines hope in several ways. Yet, how does the Bible define hope?

The Bible teaches us that hope is not seen (Romans 8:24) and we must wait for it (Romans 8:25). As Christians, we hope in the promises made by Jesus Christ to love us and save us (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Hebrews 6:19 explains, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure..." (NIV). The Bible speaks of a confident hope in God's promises because they are trustworthy and grounded in love.

Romans 5:5 explains, "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us" (NIV). The hope described here is not an unsupported optimism. It is a confidence in God's future promises and is based on God's love, expressed when He sent His Son to die for us to save us.

The Bible teaches us to hope in God, who, with His never-ending love, will always be there for us. Romans 5:8 explains, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (NIV). I pray that we will have hope and confidence in Christ and be able to show others His love.

Run The Race!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

How many of us have been running the race marked out for us and life's circumstances and/or the enemy tries to get us tangled up so that we will stop running?

God's Word gives us the plan we need to persevere as we run the race marked out for us as His witness!

• Throw Off Everything That Hinders & Easily Entangles Us From Running God's Race!

The Holy Spirit is faithful to show us anything that needs to go! Anything that is causing us to get tripped up and/or stop "on God's straight and narrow track" that leads to knowing Jesus, Sharing Jesus, and Leading Others to do the same! What do we have to do? It is important to know what easily entangles us personally, develop a plan of perseverance, and Obey God!! THROW OFF EVERYTHING that is not helping us Run God's Race! We can get "entangled" in unhealthy attitudes, habits, thoughts, actions, relationships...ask God to search EVERYTHING in our life as we trust Him for His ability to Run Unhindered towards the finish line = JESUS!

• Run With Perseverance Your Race!

When I run if I look to my right or to my left, I get off track! When I keep my eyes fixed straight ahead on the race marked out personally, I stay on course as His witness and I am able to run with perseverance! God has a race marked out personally for each one of us, as His witnesses. He has specific people that He puts in the path of our race that He strategically organizes supernaturally! How many times have we met someone that we knew God put in our path that needed to hear The Good News about Jesus or needed to hear something specific about our personal testimony? When this happens to me, it gives me a "a kick, a second wind, a burst of spiritual energy" to keep running and keep sharing Jesus! The race we run is like a marathon that requires perseverance! Take heart because Jesus runs ahead of us and prepares the pathway of perseverance! Jesus loves us so much that He gives us "witnesses" that "cheer us on" as we RUN His RACE! Who can we "cheer on" that is Running His Race With Perseverance?

You Can Do It!!! Keep Running God's Race For JESUS!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YhP5zSicdk (Run With Perseverance!)

Explaining the Gift of the Gospel

"He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the way of God to him more accurately" (Acts 18:26, HCSB).

Priscilla and Aquila "explained the way of God more accurately" to Apollos (who was a Jew). After Apollos spoke in the synagogue, they took him home and explained the promise of Jesus (the Messiah) in such a way that he could understand it.

What does this mean for us? The passage speaks to me on many levels. First, I love that Priscilla and Aquila were out in the marketplace. They were not just sitting at church waiting for an unbeliever to come to visit. Secondly, how cool is this...they must have gone up to Apollos after he spoke and invited him over to their home. They didn't go confront him but they friended him and invited him over - possibly for a meal or refreshment. Thirdly, they took him where he was (a Jew) and pointed him to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

When is the last time you sought out someone and invited that person over? When did you take that person and bring them with you to walk life with you? I was impressed with one of our seminary gals who befriended a young high schooler from another country to come to Starbucks with us. This young gal did not grow up learning about Jesus, but by the testimony and life of this student, she is seeing the good news of Jesus Christ.

Who are you explaining the gift of the gospel to? Let's agree to look for the opportunities that God has before us every day!

Mindset

Have you ever asked your spouse this question: "What are you thinking?" in just a curious way. I ask it all the time, because I want to know what's on Chris' heart and mind. It's a natural thing for us to discuss. I think the Lord desires this same kind of intimacy with us. In fact the Lord asks us to set our thoughts on things above rather than on the things of this earth. He desires to lead & guide our thoughts so that we are able to lead effective, fulfilling, purposeful lives that agree with the callings He has placed on us. As women, I am well aware that we think a thousand and a half things in a day's time. All sorts of things run through our minds: our to-do lists, our children's schedules, our family's needs, and the list just keeps running on. In the midst of all of this it is easy to adopt an earthly mentality...thinking only of the immediate, the temporal, rather than the eternal. When we stop thinking on eternity and on the Savior who will soon appear we often miss opportunities to share Christ with others and encourage believers on our way. Today I encourage you as I remind myself to set your mind on things above not on the things that are on the earth. For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed you will be revealed also with Him in glory (See Colossians 3:1-3). Don't let your mind take you away so to speak. Let your mind, your every thought be conformed to Jesus & bring Him glory and honor and praise, for that is what is due to Him!

charting a course

This past Friday was a snow day in Louisville! So, my friend and I ventured outside to take pictures. We found our way to a hill that is a popular spot for sledders. It was packed with families! Soon, we were helping people find the best course down the hill. The people who took time to look before they sled were able to coast and enjoy the scenery longer before reaching flat land.

In the first chapter in Matthew, the list of Jesus' ancestors can seem quite long. Yet, it shows how God planned from the beginning that Jesus would come to the world to save us. In life, we can see how planning with God's guidance can make such a difference.

It is important to seek understanding as we plan: "Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course" (Proverbs 15:21, NIV). God and others He puts in our life can help us determine what is the "straight course." We must remember to ask Him lead us as we plan, for: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14, NIV). Then, in the end, we can celebrate all He has done!

I admire how Jeff Johnson explains following God: "That we may be sons and daughters of vision." I pray that we will remember His holiness and divine wisdom as we plan this year.

Link to the song "God Over Us" by Jeff Johnson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdu1yvNzRVI