Longing For Yesterday??

Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ (Ecclesiastes 7:10).

I flipped on the TV recently and caught a few minutes of a popular sitcom that ran in the ‘80s and ‘90s. As I watched a few minutes, I marveled at how innocent the dialogue was, how straightforward and understood the values and family ideals which were advocated. And this was an NBC comedy from only twenty years ago!

While it’s normal for every generation to bemoan its culture and its youth, certainly where we’re at right now in America is exceptional – school shootings the norm on a given news day, unconstitutional laws forced on the citizens, drugs legalized in some states even as addiction soars and schools demand more money to educate on drug use. Families are being ripped apart by divorce at staggering numbers, even as homosexual couples gain free access to children.

The sheer madness of our current culture makes me think that if our founding fathers could come back in the flesh for one day, they would weep in sackcloth and ashes. What a tragedy that so many lives of so many generations were given in wars that this nation fought – so our framework could be shredded and we could become an abomination on the planet, a stench in the nostrils  of God!

I’ve found myself longing lately for simpler times, when the foundations weren’t destroyed (Psalm 11:3) and the security walls were intact. When the times were not so violent and chaotic compared to today.

The Lord’s perspective

However, the Lord has been speaking to me about this very firmly. I share this because what He is saying to me is doubtless a word for others as well. “I appointed you for these times, to  be a warrior standing up against the unprecedented forces of darkness unleashed on the nation.” He has underscored Isaiah 58:12 to me as a personal promise, and assured me of His faithfulness and His protection even as I “dwell among the tents of Kedar” and those who hate peace (Psalm 120:6).

The surpassing word that He has given me and which I share as applicable to anyone reading this who can relate to these sentiments is “GLORY.”  As dark as it is around us, as horrific has our world has become, this generation will see the glory of God like none other before it. That is the promise I am contending for, the hope that I have that makes me believe it is better to live now amidst the madness and uncertainty of these days than it was to dwell in the milder calm and safety of yesteryear.

“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace’” (Haggai 2:9).  The prizes and promises of the Kingdom of Heaven to which this generation is entitled I believe will outshine every previous one – but we must contend for them!

Indeed, where else can we go, but toward His presence and toward His immeasurable glory, and seek with all our heart and soul and strength to bring that glory to earth!

The Sword In Your Mouth

“He made my mouth like a sharpened sword” (Isaiah 49:2 – NIV)

“I saw…one like a son of man…and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword” (Revelation 1:12, 16 – NIV)

John’s description of Jesus in Revelation fills me with awe each time I read it. Eyes like blazing fire, voice like the sound of many rushing waters, and a two-edged sword coming out of his mouth. This image bears little resemblance to the nice flannel graph Jesus of my Sunday school days – this is the glorified Christ to whom every knee on this distracted, self-aggrandized, war-weary planet will someday bow.

“And coming out of his mouth was a double-edged sword.” What is this sword that is coming out of Jesus’ mouth? It is the very word of God.

In Hebrews 4:12, the word of God is also likened to a double-edged sword, “penetrating even to dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow.” In this instance, it is the logos or written word of God to which the writer of Hebrews refers.

Psalm 149:5-6 says “Let the godly ones exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.” In this passage, the double-edged sword comes in the context of God’s people worshiping Him. Again, the image of the sword is in conjunction with their open mouths.

Paul tells the church to put on the full armor of God, and to “take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). The Greek word used for “word of God” in this passage is rhema, meaning the spoken word.

Have we stopped to think about the word of God in its various forms and why it is compared to a sword? Do we have any idea how powerful it is when we use it? Do we keep the word to ourselves rather than speak it out, for reasons we’ve convinced ourselves are noble?

The enemy wants to intimidate Christians out of speaking the word of God – whether praying, praising, prophesying, declaring the scriptures, or confronting someone as the Spirit nudges – because that sword is death to his kingdom of darkness.

Power in speaking when it’s uncomfortable

I want to focus particularly on speaking up and speaking out when it is difficult, because the Lord gave me a revelation about this. Twice in two days, I spoke up when it was very uncomfortable to do so. (Now I am someone who is shy about speaking up and telling the manager of the fitness center I belong to that the locker room is exceptionally dirty!). The first instance was to talk to a friend who is continuing in sin and using God’s word to back up her actions. I had no intention of being the one to do this – but immediately following a time of prayer and fasting, the Lord brought this situation before me, and before I knew what I was doing, the words were out of my mouth. The church that she attends with her live-in boyfriend evidently has been unwilling to speak the truth to her about the danger she’s put herself in.

I was uneasy about my actions, but I knew they were prompted by the Lord. While my friend did not respond favorably to what I told her, the very next day I learned from a family member that she had done something which indicated radical repentance in some of her behavior, which they said was huge. I don’t even know that she consciously did this as a result of what I told her; but I know that spiritually, something heavy and dark over her was cut by speaking the truth into the situation.

The other instance of speaking up was also one which I did not feel like doing, but I had asked the Lord for an opportunity to be His witness and He gave it that same day. Immediately after I spoke up for what I believed, I had the sense in my spirit of something being cut away and coming into a wider space – like an impassable path suddenly being cleared by a machete.

That is when it hit me – there’s a reason the word of God is compared to a sword. When we use it, we go on the offense full force in the spiritual realm. We’re not just hunkered down protecting what we have – we are striking the kingdom of darkness. After I spoke the truth, when it was particularly difficult for me to do so, I was impressed with the Lord saying,“Ten thousand just fell at your right hand” (Psalm 91:7).

No inertia in the word

There is always a reaction to the word of God. When His word is in our mouth, speaking out or praying or in prophetic utterance, it is as powerful as if God Himself were speaking.

“My word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). That is an astounding promise of God! Simply speaking, it means that every time we use words that are borne of the spirit, God’s kingdom advances!

How about you – is God prompting you to speak? Is there something intimidating you? If you don’t know, just ask Him. He will tell you, and use you in a mighty way if you’re willing.

Ministry wife Series: God as Your Pastor

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Ministry Wife Series: God as Your Pastor Posted: 25 Aug 2013 07:37 PM PDT **Once upon a time I wrote a series of articles for ministry wives based on common topics of email questions I receive.  These articles were first published at Christian Women Online but I am re posting them here for those of you who may find them helpful.  I would love to hear some fresh conversation on these subjects!** An anonymous sister asked, “Few people realize the dilemma of a pastor’s wife. Her husband is the ONLY preacher/pastor that she ever has! This is great, if he is a good preacher, but what if he is not that great a preacher?  Is she doomed to  spiritual starvation and boredom as she sits through his sermons each week?” By asking if she is “doomed to spiritual starvation and boredom,” I am assuming this pastor’s wife is looking for permission to attend another church where she perceives she will be neither spiritually hungry nor bored. I find no biblical support for making this move. Let’s turn the tables on this one. Let’s say you love to cook and find great joy in preparing meals for your family. Imagine now that your husband informs you that his mother’s cooking is much better than your own and, in order to satisfy his hunger with the best food, he will start eating supper at her home every night. It’s tempting to respond with, “Let him go eat at his momma’s and see if I care.”  However, before you do, truly consider what his decision would do to you as a woman. Personally, I would be devastated to think I had really tried and my husband chose the better meatloaf at the expense of my dignity. I believe this is the same concept as leaving your husband’s church for another just to find “a better meal.” Two phrases stuck out to me in the initial question:  spiritual starvation and boredom. I think there are ways we can avoid either without taking the drastic measure of seeking nourishment outside the family. 1.  Go to church full. Early in Luke’s ministry, he and I served in a church that did not have the greatest of preachers.  He was an excellent pastor, but his teaching skills were lacking.  I remember clearly Luke and I concluding that God was preparing us for servant leadership by getting us used to feeding ourselves instead of expecting someone else to do it for us.  Luke has stated many times over the years that a Christian will never survive on one thirty-minute sermon per week.  The purpose of Sunday worship is to come in to God’s house overflowing with what He has revealed to us through a week’s worth of personal study and prayer.  If we come in starving, we will still leave with a growling belly. 2.  Don’t force your husband into a role he isn't meant to fill. As much as I love Luke and his teaching, his sermons are not the meat of my Christian walk.  I love to hear him expose a passage for my deeper understanding and discipleship but he is not God to me, nor does he seek to be.  If I seek spiritual fulfillment based on how effectively he demonstrates his calling, then yes, I will always be disappointed and perhaps even bored.  However, our joy as pastor’s wives should be found in upholding our husbands’ ministries while exercising our personal gifts. 3.  Be honest about your reasons for not following your husband. I read several forums in preparation to write this article and it’s obvious there are many reasons pastor’s wives choose not to attend their husband’s church. The most common scenario is a woman being deeply attached to a congregation where she was a member before her husband was called to minister.  Because of her long history and love for that body, she is hesitant to depart. To this Scripture only says one thing:  Leave and cleave.  (Genesis 2:24)  Your place  is by your husband.  Period. Another reason is the wife not believing her husband is truly ‘called’ to ministry and that he is perhaps pursuing it in vain ambition.  Also noted is that she knows that her husband is not the man he proclaims to be in the pulpit and she refuses to reinforce the lie. These situations are tough at best. The Bible does not call us to submit to ungodliness.  Honestly, I think the answer to this question is as varied as the individual circumstance.  If marital strife, deceit, or heaven forbid, abuse, has you feeling you can’t sit in the same church body as your husband, then my advice is to seek godly Christian counseling to determine the next step.  There are many low-cost or free resources available.  The Parsonage (www.parsonage.org) is a ministry of James Dobson’s Focus on the Family and is a great resource I recommend to find support for the pastor’s family. I believe with all my heart God’s desire for the minister includes his entire family worshiping in one body.  If you find yourself feeling empty, consider beginning a women’s Bible study group.  You may just find that the measures you take to curb your own spiritual appetite will serve to feed others as well.  That is true ministry and I promise, once embraced it will be the great thrill of your Christian life.  In fact, I’d be willing to bet you’ll forget all about your husband’s lackluster sermons when you are pouring it out into the girls God has entrusted to your care. Even if the man behind the pulpit happens to be your husband, ultimately, God is your pastor.  I can’t think of another person more supremely qualified to lead you into righteousness than Him!

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Superfoods for a long and healthy life

Superfoods for a long and healthy life

Next Door Savior:Taken With A grain Of Salt

       A first time reader of Max Lucado, and am writing this review out of obligation.....I have read the Bible cover to cover numerous times and i am quite convinced with the work of Christ and the testimony it brings, but this writer just turns the whole story into a fantasy tale. If you have never read the bible before and lazy at  getting to it then you might appreciate the illustrations in his writing. The Bible is complete and it written well,nothing to be added or taken away. All the illustration just makes it boring to me, cos if this book is to minister to the lost for Christ, it will fail, in the aspect of  preaching the undiluted word of God. The word of God is not FICTION!
   
    That been said, the book does not have a story line, each chapter talks about something totally different from the previous chapter which is not engaging to me. you will have to read and take breaks between each chapters. This writer did not catch my attention but a few of his illustrations did stick a bit without the fiction. Like the story of peter when he first met Jesus and after his Resurrection when he went fishing, he could not catch any fish without Jesus despite his years of experience as a fisherman. He needed Jesus to be fulfilled in his secular profession. Now that is something to write home about, as a Doctor ,Lawyer or Teacher  or even a Stay at Home Parent ,whatever your  profession might be you need Jesus to be fulfilled, to be accomplish.
   I would recommend this book for anyone who finds it tedious in reading the bible or does not understand the stories and the parables in the Bible, not for mature Christians who are spiritually sound. Middle school and High School students, teenagers in general will appreciate this book and Hopefully they will pick up the Bible and get the message of the undiluted word of God.
I receive this book for free from the publisher through BookSneeze,blogger program. I am not required to write a positive review.The opinion i express are my own.

The Good Man Checklist

A friend of mine asked me to edit a letter he was writing to his teenage daughters about what to look for in a good man. After I poured my heart back into my chest (it had melted all over the floor), I put on my editor hat to engage in what this father sees as important in a man.

My letter-writing friend mentioned discipline, the way the boy in question treats his mother, and whether he has the strength of character to respectfully disagree with his girl.

Reading his thoughts intersected with several conversations I've had over the past few months with Christian singles trying to figure out what this whole dating thing should be about.

I think I need another decade of life experience before I could begin to pick apart what’s really honoring when it comes to dating “with Jesus at the center.” But since I can’t fix the good man/Christian dating problem this morning (feel free to weigh in), I can at least start the conversation.

Of course, the most important thing should be Jesus. But, when I met Dave, the quality of his relationship with Jesus (as well as my own) wouldn't have been winning either one of us any crowns in heaven. We've both changed dramatically, and his relationship with the Lord is strong, steady, and well…quiet. So I worry that if I told you that the ONLY thing that matters is to “make sure Jesus is at the center of your relationship” you might start to figure that he’s got to have some worship songs he can sing to you on the guitar, or he needs to exposit some scripture, or for goodness sake, at least move people to tears with the passion of his public prayers. And sometimes in the quest for that spiritual leader, you might miss the qualities that Christ put in your man that aren't quite so visible. Like these:

#10: He should be teachable. You should observe him being OK at taking correction.

#9: He should be humble. One sign of a humble man is that he’s willing to celebrate other’s strengths. If you don’t ever see him admiring someone else for something, he might not have room for anyone in his heart but himself.

#8: He should make you smile. If making you smile means being goofy or dancing crazy or bringing you flowers or watching Bravo with you or delivering great one-liners, no matter what it means to you… you are gonna need it. His looks may make your stomach flutter now, but eventually flutters fade… laughter goes a long way.

#7: He should also make you think. He should stand up to you. You might like being right (believe me, I get that) but you need a man who’s willing to go toe-to-toe with you and call you out when you are being stubborn or seeing the world with your crazy glasses on. Believe me, he has different opinions than you… and you need him to express them.

#6: He should cherish you. We women know we talk a big game, but at the end of the day, we want someone who will give us protection. I remember in college Dave being very concerned about my whereabouts when I was away at football games… and although I probably rolled my eyes and told him he was annoying, I know deep down that I wanted him to care in that way.

#5: He should bear fruit. Maybe he’s not the up-front guy in your church or campus ministry, but do you observe these qualities in him? Peace? Patience? Kindness? Goodness... and the rest of those Galatians qualities? Is he diligent in his work? How does he treat children? His mother, even when she’s annoying? Do you see qualities in him that you admire?

#4: He respects you. Even when you are irrational. Even when you are emotional. If you say no to his advances, even if you said yes the day before…he gets it, he backs off. If he uses emotional manipulation or any kind of physical coercion–get the heck out of that.

#3: He can control his temper. Everyone gets angry, but the Bible equates a man who is quick to anger to a fool. Nobody likes to show their angry side, so if you are beginning a relationship with a guy and you are seeing a temper, you better believe he’s giving you his “best side.” So imagine what that might look like in ten years, when the shine’s worn off and he’s still angry. Red flag.

#2: He is trustworthy. There is a feeling in his presence that he can be trusted. You tell him things and he doesn’t repeat them. You mess up and ask forgiveness and he really lets it go. You go out for a girl’s night and he doesn’t hound you every hour. He treats you specially and differently than any of his other friends, but he doesn’t make you his idol, nor does he demand that he become yours. If trust is breached, he confesses. If his trust of you feels threatened, he confronts it. This kind of trust is built upon consistent and persistent communication, even when you both stumble around trying to express yourself. This man knows that getting things out in the open is worth all the work.

And my original and still #1:

He should think you are awesome. The best relationships I’ve seen have a bit of mutual awe built into them. This guy thinks you are almost “out of his league”… but you feel the same about him. He admires characteristics in you, and he believes in you. He reminds you of who you really are, and he sees you as you at your best. And in each other’s presence, you are both better people. This is the true picture of a marriage with Christ at the center, and I believe that there are Christian men and women who are honestly following Christ who WON’T meet this criterion together. At the end of the day, there is a mystery of love that can’t be programmed or planned. It requires faith, surrender, and a giving in even when it defies reason. Maybe that’s why they call it “falling” in love…

What do you think? What other Christ-like qualities should be on this list? Sound off in our comments section! 

I am not BUT I know 'I AM'

As much as I've looked forward to the reading of this book,  i was very disappointed. I tried to enjoy the book, but i just could not. This is my first time reading a "Giglio Louie" book and am totally turned of. Never heard him speak before but am sure he has made an impression to some audience. I find this book very tedious to read and redundant, it sounded more of a literary to me, not sure if its a fiction or non-fiction, i could not place myself in this book.
 

However, i like the idea of the book and what it is all about ,"I AM NOT BUT I KNOW I AM"....
I am not strong but i know I AM who is
I am not rich but i know I AM who is
"The fact that our names are I am not does, not require us to put ourselves down but rather to embrace the fact that we already achieve the greatest heights because we know I AM" God plus anyone is an overwhelming majority,an exceeding powerful team.....Knowing that when we are weak, helpless and hopeless we are not to put ourselves down but to know that we are seated in heavenly places because we know I AM who is strong and graceful, that was why he died for us while we are yet sinners and he made us a royal priesthood.

 He also mentioned that God chooses us to be included in his purpose,he did not just bring us here and forsake us. He's affirmation is so sure, "don't worry about who you are, just focus on the reality of who i am and the fact that i am going with you"!!.....Now that is great news.

 Young believers might appreciate this book which  i recommend, also for seminary students. It will work well as one of their text books and also a playlet.

I receive this book for free for my honest review from waterbrook multnomah publishing group.