HIS Love Never Fails

Lately I have been outreaching to some people and in addition have been spontaneously contacted by some others. They’ve all needed to talk. All of them have had a lot going on in their lives. (Who doesn’t, right?) 

The truth about each of them, and perhaps us too, is that a lot has gone on in all of our lives and continues to, both in the past and in the present. And until or unless we get past our past we can be hugely affected by it. We make judgments and choices, responses and reactions, mistakes and excuses, so often based on where we’ve been. And this can be true for those who are without a faith, new to the faith and mature in their faith.

Some of the dear ones I have talked with recently have needed to talk about old stuff and new stuff, and at times even stuff coming up. Sometimes the truth doesn’t dare stretch its neck out for fear of humiliation or retaliation or the anticipation of yet another apathetic response. When it comes to sharing the hard stuff, the old stuff, and the hurt places with someone, there needs to be relationship, trust, and a sense of safety and security.

Sometimes you just need to let the good, the bad and the ugly out and know that it will be heard and accepted unconditionally. Being the brave talker or the tender listener takes a God-grounded kind of trust and love that we don’t always come by naturally. (Can I get an “Amen?”)

So it would seem that both the talker and the listener have a deep need for HIS love to be in the midst of every conversation.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 John 4:18a There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…

In Brooke’s candid post yesterday The Problem with Grace and Mercy I liked that she defined both grace and mercy. And I really appreciated that she talked honestly about how we all can so misuse and distort our versions of them. I also read between the lines that her quest to get an answer was based on her love for another and for the truth.

Isn’t that what confession is? Isn’t it freely and safely talking about what we’ve done wrong or what wrongs have been done to us?

James 5:16 says, Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

Easy, right? Sometimes. With certain people, about certain things, but not about everything. We all sometimes just naturally don’t expect to be accepted or comforted or forgiven.

And yet once the truth gets out there, while the words are lingering in the atmosphere, true grace and mercy can fall on them. And it might even be expressed through us!

Once we have experienced authentic versions of HIS grace and mercy, and the changing course that they take us on, we have a tall order; one that I fall short of, I must confess.

II Corinthians 1:3-5 states, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ⁵ For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

One of the people I visited with this week had some former distresses that I could relate to so I could offer understanding. She also shared some serious tales of anguish that I couldn’t relate to, couldn’t even fathom. I must admit that hearing her woes made me feel sad, irritated, powerless and provoked. I wanted to leave the conversation for selfish reasons or take action for the sake of the victim before me. But my place at that moment was to just love by listening.

1 Corinthians 13: 7-8a Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Love - HIS love - It’s what keeps me running, and it’s what keeps me from running away.

In the midst of all the stuff that goes on in our lives, I am so grateful for the LOVE, grace, mercy, truth, comfort, hope and healing that I find in the Word of God.

Gratefully HIS,

Jan

The Problem with Grace and Mercy

The other day I was lecturing a certain child, for the thousandth time it seems, about a certain behavior she has that is particularly.... annoying, detrimental to her relationships, potentially unsafe if it continues or happens outside of home, expensive (for me)...  it's a bunch of things. 

My point was- she continues to do this particular thing, despite being asked not to, yelled at, punished, rewarded for not doing it; the whole nine yards. Not only does she continue to do engage in this behavior, but she freaks out (as in, crying, screaming, swearing, slamming doors, threatening, etc.) when anyone does the same thing to her.

The other day I was at the point of begging her to tell me why she thinks it's ok for her to do this to us, but when it happens to her, it's the end of the world. I asked her why she is so much better than the rest of us.

Not only was I mad, I was confused, and really trying to understand why she thinks it's ok when she does it, but not when anyone else does it.

Upon reflection, and during a nice long car ride in the middle of the night, I realized that as unattractive as this attitude is in her, it's even more so in me.

I do the exact same thing. When I wrong someone, I immediately expect them to understand my reasons, my circumstance, my excuses. 

But when I am wronged- I jump to the worst, and often most ridiculous conclusion, and refuse to see the situation any other way.

When I "withhold information", I have a reason, and I expect that my reason will be understood, and sometimes even appreciated.

When someone LIES to me, the world has ended, and I will forever question everything that person says.

When I say something hurtful or out of turn, I apologize, and assume it is understood that I didn't really mean it, and that I'm sorry. Then I forget about it. Or, in my case, play it over and over in my head, wishing with everything in me that I could take it back, and replaying the conversation the way I wanted it to go.

When I am hurt, the other person is mean, and hateful, and horrible, and obviously I am a horrible, awful person, or else they wouldn't have said that and meant it. 

One of the definitions for grace is this: "A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve."

The definition of mercy is: "compassionate treatment of or attitude towards an offender, adversary, etc."

The problem with grace is that I accept it greedily, but I hold onto it like I'm the only one who deserves it.

The problem with mercy is that I assume I will receive it every time I need it, but often refuse to offer it.

The problem with grace and mercy is me. It's us. We're emotional, and sensitive. We have strict expectations of everyone but ourselves.  We have high standards that only we are allowed to deviate from.

We have no problem believing and even sharing God's grace and mercy with people. I know that God loves those wrong me, understands them, will forgive them and offer them the same grace and mercy that He offers me over and over again.

But, my pride gets the best of me way too often, and I get to thinking that I am the only one in the whole world who has a viable reason for my poor actions. My poor attitude is understandable, while everyone else should be able to control theirs.

Like a certain child, I get to thinking that it's ok when I misbehave, but not when anyone else does.

Oh how messed up I am.  How in need of grace and mercy I am.  How thankful I am that my God doesn't withhold it the way I do.

I'm off to search the Bible- hoping there's a verse in there that will tell me specifically how to gracefully and mercifully teach a traumatized child that stealing is bad, and that if she continues to do it, I'm going to be the one crying and screaming and slamming doors.  Actually, I do that already sometimes :)

Be Blessed,

Brooke

OnTarget

As a child I went to summer camp and I didn't much like it. I was and still am a person that likes to set my own agenda. I also am not a very athletic person so I didn't enjoy or excel in many of the activities.

There was one activity  however that I did like; archery.  I don't think that I ever did get a bulls-eye but I hit the target! I even came pretty close to the center of the target on occasion.

In archery I knew what my goal was- to hit the target and better yet to hit the center. My walk of faith with Jesus is much the same. My goal is God. My goal is to be as close to Jesus as I can be, in the center of the target  ( and i don't mean the store ). I  have to make decisions everyday about my life under the scope of "is this bringing me closer to my target?".  And honestly, I very often miss the mark.

"So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this:Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road  he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God with everything you have in you today-live a good life." Deuteronomy 10:12-13 the Message

God desires us to live in His presence!  He isn't telling us to just come and be with Him once a day or just on Sunday. God wants us to LIVE in His Presence.

God does not tell us to go away to a secluded place to be with Him, He tells us to LIVE in HIS Presence and this is no easy task. Our enemy knows that when we are in the center; close to God, that we have more wisdom, knowledge, strength and power and he will do anything to keep us from reaching our target. The enemies distractions are endless.

God tells us in our Scripture today that we should follow the road He has set out for us. Did you note my emphasis on the word"He"? God tells us to follow the road He has set for us, not our own path. When we spend time with God in prayer, worship, waiting and studying His Word He will reveal His path for us.

God tells us to love Him and serve Him with everything that is in us for this is the way to the center of the target. Every word that we speak and every action we make ought to show HIM how much we love HIM.

What is your goal? Is your eye on the right target-God? 

Are you practicing and taking aim with your hearts desire of hitting the bulls-eye- living in the presence of God?

Take a good honest look today at your life, your decisions, your hearts. Are they heading toward the center of the target -God?

If you desire to LIVE in the presence of God are there an changes you need to make to hit the target?  Are your eyes truly fixed on the target? Are you equipped with the right tools  ( the Word of God) to accurately hi the bulls-eye? Are you spending "some" time with Jesus or are you practicing "Living" in HIS Presence?

Are you on target?

Humbly,

ruthann

Wrong Way!

Today I got on the highway going the wrong direction. I was on auto-pilot. I usually take 495 SOUTH to meet with people in Taunton, but today, I was supposed to take 495 NORTH to meet someone in Franklin. So, I hopped on 495 SOUTH and one exit down I said to myself, “JILLIAN! You got on the wrong way! ...oh, no you didn’t...good, never mind”...and continued to drive in the wrong direction. A few exits down it really hit me that I’m going the wrong way. I got off, turned around, and got on 495 NORTH. Then my gas light came on. Needless to say, I’m going to be late. I had planned on meeting this person at 8:30; I got there at about 8:50. Not too bad, considering.

So often we get on auto-pilot with life, and miss the direction God actually wants us to go. We get so busy and our priorities get so out of whack that we end up convincing ourselves “oh, I’m going the right direction...”

When we don’t take time each day to foster our relationship with God, we can miss big things He has for us. I struggle with this, and know I’m not alone. I’m a busy girl, and I want certain things for my life. But more importantly, I want what God wants for my life. I’m a better person with Him and my life is better with Him. But I have to put the time and effort in.

Do you have an effortlessly intimate relationship with your friends/children/spouse/parents? Most likely not. We have to put the work in. This is where our priorities make us fall apart. We end up prioritizing other things before our relationship with God and before long we’re going the wrong direction.

Then, by the time we finally realize it, we’re “out of gas” and exhausted because we’ve been living by our own strength instead of fostering that relationship with God and living on His strength. And at that point, we’re late. Our stubbornness or pride or disobedience or wrong motives or sin or lack of commitment may have made us miss something big that God had for us.

I want to be going the right direction. I don’t want to waste my life chasing the fleeting things of this world when God has so much more for me. I want His path. All the time. Easier said than done. And if anyone has figured out how to never get turned around, let me know. Until then, I’ll be praying these verses over my life and my family:

Psalm 16:11-“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence”

Psalm 23:3-“...He guides me in paths of righteousness, for His name’s sake...”

Psalm 25:4-“Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths, guide me in Your truth and teach me...”

Psalm 119:32-“I run to the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free.”

Proverbs 3:6-“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.”

Proverbs 4:11-15“I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. DO not step foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.”

Have a great weekend,

Jill

“Assignment”

Do you ever think back on your school days and remember certain teachers more than others? Chances are some are remembered for how they inspired or helped you. Others may be sorely remembered for being strict or intimidating or just too serious. Some may be known and remembered for being both tough and motivating. Those are the ones that you might have disliked at first but grew to appreciate despite their demanding assignments. As you walk the halls of your schooldays memories you probably can even picture where their room was located.

Remember times just before the bell rang at the end of some classes when you would already have all your books and gear ready to snatch and run with, because you just couldn’t wait to get out the door. But then the teacher would begin outlining your “Assignment” for the next time and you’d have to fumble for pen and notebook and scramble to jot down the information. You probably had already missed some of it and of course some of the teacher’s spoken details might get swallowed up in the final blaring bell or buzzer. So you might have never actually written much of anything down and even if you did, you weren’t sure if you got it all down.

At that point you had some choices. You could ask the teacher for clarification and get the accurate instructions. You could ask a classmate and get their version, be it right or wrong. Or you could take your chances and presume you had enough to go with. By now you could be late to your next class and your head is filled with fresh distractions. So regardless of the method you chose to be familiar with the “Assignment”, thoughts of it were soon abandoned for other things.

Later when it was time to get to work on the “Assignment” your earlier choice takes on a greater significance or consequence. You could have clarity from attentively hearing or consulting your teacher and that allows you to move forward with confidence. You might have some help from a peer whose influence helps you confront the task, but with some uncertainty and just a hope for the best. Or it could be that the meager points you remember on your own might not only diminish your preparedness but might also make for a halfhearted approach. Worse scenario is that disruptions within the day even made you forget the “Assignment” totally.

We probably all recognize that the best of all ways to get precise instructions how to do something is to go to the source, the creator of the task.

In the same way that we probably resisted that approach with teachers, how often do we overlook this in the “Assignments” of our everyday lives, given by our Creator?

How often do we fail to hear the voice of the Master, and settle for the voice of others, who in fact may not only have a different perception of the “Assignment” but may actually have a totally different assignment all together?

How often are we in such a hurry that we miss out on the most important preparation details for what lies ahead of us and for us?

I know I am guilty of getting easily distracted and forgetting things. And sadly, this happens often when I am sitting with my Master Teacher. I often rush out the door to my next ‘whatever’ before making sure I have given Him time to prepare me for my next “Assignment”.

Sometimes I hear, read or write only part of the plan and then wonder why I am floundering to know what to do.

On occasion I listen to ones who are not the best source tell me what to do and how to do it, somehow thinking that their direction is better than God’s personal guidance to me.

God generally doesn’t demand that we complete an urgent mission daily. But I do think He has daily assignments for us that He would like to communicate to us. He desires that we be patient and attentive to listen and willing and ready to complete.

I am grateful that on the days that I don’t stay long enough in His quiet presence to gather all the details, that He can still use me, guide me, equip me, and find me faithful, simply because He walks right beside me through the halls of the school of life. Best scenario though is that I ask and listen for His “Assignment” directions first.

In Leviticus 26: 3 God states, “If you follow My decrees and are careful to obey my commands…”

Then God says in Leviticus 26:12, ^“I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” and again in II Corinthians 6:16 “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Gratefully HIS,

Jan

Holding Up

The other day, Kerrie was standing on a chair, checking to see what kind of light bulbs I needed to buy.  I don't remember why, but it ended up taking longer than we thought, and she started complaining about her arms being tired.  Helpful sister that I am, I put my hands on her elbows, and held up her arms for her.  It was meant to be a ridiculous gesture, but like most ridiculous things, it got me thinking.

We all remember the story from Exodus (chapter 17) when the Israelites were warring with the Amalekites, and Moses sent Joshua out to fight them. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, and when he lowered his hands, they weren't. Since wars are long, and Moses is human, his arms got tired. Luckily, he had a brother and a friend, and they got him a rock to sit on, and held up his arms for him. In the end, Joshua and the Israelites defeated the Amalekites, and all was well in the wilderness again.

Kerrie's arms getting tired was not war-winning, or even life changing, but it started me thinking about the different ways we 'hold up each other arms' in this day and age.

For me, it's Jill and Kerrie offering endless support with Heather, and any other random children who happen to be here.
It's texts asking how my day was.  Last week it was one telling me that I'm the perfect me.
It's Jane, threatening bodily harm to anyone who hurts me.
It's Dad, telling us we're his favorite, and knowing that he's so good at loving us that we all believe it.
It's the help that shows up at the soup kitchen each month, and those who only come when they can.
It's people praying for me, and telling me so.  
It's the babysitter who swears she loves my kids, even though I'm sure they drive her crazy.

Everyday occurrences that we often don't think twice about, are what keep us pulled together, keep us sane.

These examples are just where I am in life right now.. There are different ones from different points in my life.

Financial support when I've needed it.
More moral support that any normal person should need.
Being welcomed into someone else's family when you're convinced your own doesn't understand.
Listening ears and shoulders to cry on and hugs.


I don't know what it looks like for you, but I hope you have people who 'hold up your arms' for you too.

More than that, I hope that we take time out of busy lives to hold up someone else's. I'm guessing that Aaron and Hur were just as blessed as Moses by God's faithfulness in delivering the Israelites, even though, technically, it was Moses' arms that were the "official" tools of that deliverance.

We should seek to be a blessing to others.  Jill's post on Friday talked about the type of friends we need, and it stands to reason that that's the type of friend we should be as well.


I know that I'll be seeking more ways to be that friend, knowing how grateful I am to have those friends.


Brooke

Are You A "Picker" ?

I am a "picker". Once a week, usually Friday mornings, I make the rounds to some of my local country salvage/antique shops.I go there often so I can keep my eye on what's there and not miss anything There are so many unique and interesting things of old to look at, I easily get lost in the past.

 I browse and dig and "pick" through the stuff  looking for little treasures.  I never know what I am going to find, some days I leave with empty hands but a head full of new ideas for some of my old stuff.

Other times I have my arms full of little treasures, cups and saucers, picture frames, old wooden kitchen tools or things to make jewelry with for my small business. I like old stuff and finding ways to re-purpose them into a brand new life.

"Picking" is fun and I have made an unofficial commitment to it in that I partake regularly in this relaxing hobby.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". Matthew 6:21 NIV

Although I find it fun to "pick"  through some old junk I find my true satisfaction in searching for real treasure in God's Word. It is here in the pages of Scripture that I pick up the little nuggets of Truth that change my life.

Some days I  pick up a small treasure in a devotion and ponder it through the day and then study it more later that night. Other days I dig and dig and come up with a heart and mind full of treasure.  I don't just swing through God's Word once a week but I go there everyday.

 I am a picker of God's Truth and I search there multiple times throughout my day so I don't miss a thing He has waiting for me.

"I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know about God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else." 

Colossians 2:2-3 The Message

Go ahead and become a picker of God's Truth. God's Word is a treasure trove  just waiting for you (there is no junk in God's Word). God wants to meet with you and take your junk and re-purpose it for HIS glory.


Your picker sister in Christ,
ruthann