Listening, Hearing and Turning Back

You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, 
although the Lord persistently sent to you all his servants and prophets...

 Jeremiah 25:4

Jeremiah.  A hard-to-read book.  As Christians, we look at God's warnings through this persecuted prophet and we wonder; how could an entire nation of people keep turning their backs on God, especially in a time when King Josiah was on the throne calling for spiritual reform?  Does it happen all at once; "Everyone, TURN".  Or is it a gradual distraction and pulling away?

I have to imagine it wasn't an instantaneous mass-exodus of apostasy, rather, Bill next door turns, taking his wife and kids along.  Then Mary sees Bill's family worshipping differently and checks it out, she and Bill's wife are friends and she wants to do what her friend is doing so she joins and persuades her family to come too.  At the well, Mary tells all the other ladies about this 'cool' new worship experience, how much her family likes the change of pace and invites all the other women to try it with their families while Bill is at work bragging about how he was so tiered of the temple requirements and this new religion gives him more freedom to his own personal desires and begins to 'sell' this new experience to others.  Gradually, I imagine, the masses grow and, before you know it, it seems like a mass-exodus of apostasy.

Once religion is cheap, anyone will buy it.

But God didn't stop speaking.  He didn't stop pleading for their hearts through the prophets and through others who served Him faithfully.  Yet, there was this utter refusal to LISTEN and HEAR His warnings.

That's right, did you notice that?  "Listen nor hear".  I think we often take that for granted.  How often do you listen to your kids talking on and on about their day but you couldn't repeat or act on half of what they said because you aren't really hearing them?  (guilty here!)

Yet, here, notice, it isn't bad enough they didn't hear, but Jeremiah says they aren't even listening!

Wow.

A person has to stick their fingers in their ears or completely leave the presence of another to not even listen.  And if you aren't listening... of course you are not going to hear because their is nothing to hear.

What were they thinking?  They were God's chosen, they knew better... right?

But is it really just them?  Are they really such an anomaly?  We don't do that today in our culture... do we?

Sadly, I feel like we can and we do.

Some sell-out to cheap religion, one that may look like God but honestly isn't because they really don't honor the precepts of His Word.  Others, and I feel this is just as common, get wrapped up in the world around us and we put-off what should always be #1 - we forgo listening to God and really hearing what He is saying.  We don't make time to be quiet and seek Him and His voice.

Quiet time gets lost (especially for moms).
It gets lost with busy businesses.
Often, oddly enough, it even gets lost in the midst of ministerial pursuits.

We get our own idea of what it looks like to fulfill our purpose in God.  We plug forward with God in mind (most of the time) and good intentions going before us... when at the core of our heart we are just trying to look like the good Christian, get accolades for our selves, or smather on that 'love' thing because Jesus did - yet our heart is either resentful or feeling a tug in a different direction, while we ignore.


Yes, even (and especially) the Christian lifestyle can become idolatrous when we put the work of God before the plans of God?

• We get too busy for good Bible Study and settle for a marginal 2 minute devotion or one-paragraph read in our Bible then claim we 'didn't get that much out of it', and move on with our day.
• We say a quick superficial prayer for ourselves and/or our day simply from rote, not even caring that we are talking to God or trying to hear from Him... and then move on doing whatever we want.
• We pray and tell God ONLY what we want Him to do for us thinking our idea of a situation is best and forget to see and seek what HE wants for us.

What happens on the other side of all this?

Distance from God.
Dissatisfaction in life.
Spiritual amnesia.

And so many more not-so-great side-affects.  All these, of which, lead to a life that begins to reflect Christ less and less.  If our purpose is His purpose through us in order that His Glory should be known... then is something wrong with this picture?

If selling out to cheap religion, being too self-absorbed, surrendering to often unassuming other-types-idols and misguided goodness is the problem, what is the cure?

My son, keep your father's commandment, 

and forsake not your mother's teaching.

Bind them on your heart always;

tie them around your neck.

When you walk, they will lead you;

when you lie down,they will talk with you.

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,

and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

to preserve you from the evil woman,

from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Proverbs 6:20-24

 #1- Get with God.
You may be subtly (or completely) aware that your relationship with God has become more about relationships with others or strapping on the Christian label while you do your own thing.  Sit down, quiet your life for however long it takes, and get with God.

#2- Admit your shortcomings.
So you are sitting down, getting with God, life is (if forcibly) quiet for the moment but..... nothing.  What do I say?  Where do I start?  Let's face it, we can't even admit to ourselves, let alone to God, that our eyes are in the wrong place and, worst of all, we have no clue how to bridge the gap and get re-focused.  Guess what?  You're not fooling anyone, let alone God.  So go on, admit it.  What's that saying?  Oh, yeah, admitting you have a problem is the first step in getting better.

#3- Submit
So you are sitting there, in the quiet (I don't remember quiet being THIS quiet... scary), you've just admitted {gulp} that you are off.  That you can't seem to get turned on and you don't know what to do.  Good.  We are in a GREAT direction.  Now... submit.  Admitting isn't submitting.  Admitting is preparing to submit.  Within submission you begin to surrender.  You say, "I can't do this on my own, I need help."  I know, those are three of the hardest words to say together in the English language.... especially in American culture.  BUT, once you admit them to God, HE is faithful to respond.

God wants to help, but sometimes we need to get out of His way, submit, and let him.

#4- Wait.
That may be harder then submit!  Sometimes God answers right away, but other times, it is a waiting thing.  Either way, get into the Word of God to Hear God, to know God, to find Guidance, to get clarity on life and His messages as they come.  Not just the superficial 'I did my 2 minute devotion today...', NO.  Make time for God's Word, even if you have to get up earlier or stay up later or turn off the t.v. when you would usually have it on.

It doesn't have to be a 2 hour Bible study, however, it should have substance.  Read God's Word (listen) and then really observe what God is saying in it (hear); cross-reference scripture from the footnotes in your Bible, read a commentary, write down what you find.

When you're done, don't just close it up and put it away, instead, soak it up and ask, 'how can I live in light of God's truth today'.  Maybe you need to change something you are doing or thinking, maybe you need to give others more grace, maybe you are simply strengthened and encouraged for a difficult season.  Whatever it is, respond to God's Word. That is the crux of Proverbs 6 here.

#5- Pray
As you wait, pray.  Pray God's Word that you have just studied and ask for his help in walking it out.  Pray to be made aware of His presence each moment of the day.  Pray for a love of Him and His Word to grow deeper.  Pray repentance and deliverance.  Simply: pray from your heart.  Give God the attention you like to receive when you are having a good conversation with your husband or kids.  Engage with your mind and your heart and just believe... he hears you.

"The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; 

He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. 

Do not fear or be dismayed."

- Deuteronomy 31:8

Within all of this, just keep stepping forward in prayer and Bible Study and trust.  Even if it has to be baby steps for a little while.  Don't give up on experiencing God.  Simply trust Him, He will sustain you, you will begin to feel and notice the difference.

The rest of the story is this: God gave the Judeans over to their sins and sent them packing as captives for 70 years.  But when they sought Him, with their whole hearts, they were eventually delivered.

I pray you will be encouraged, dear friend, everyone gets distracted at some point in their life (some more than others). And while my hope for you is that you are walking perfectly in light and truth today; if you are not, I pray you would find restoration through those deliberate steps forward into His loving arms until you bridge that gap, find His presence and get your ability to listen and hear back on.

Blessings,

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Talking Donkeys and Recognizing Purpose

Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.

 Numbers 22:28-31

Talking donkeys?  I don't think that is the issue here.  I mean, after all, is it so strange?  Surely you've seen the YouTube video of a dog saying "I love you", why not a donkey whose mouth has been opened by God to say "Knock it off, I'm trying to keep us safe here..."

No, the bigger issue comes in Balaam's disobedience. 

I'm going to confide here, no matter how many times I read his story found in Numbers 22, I'm always a bit perplexed...

 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, 

“If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”  

So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

Numbers 22:20-21

Didn't God just tell Balaam to GO? I mean, before this whole donkey whipping, donkey talking incident, verse 20-21 occurs.  So if Balaam arose and went, wasn't that what he was suppose to do?  Why did God get angry with him?  Why did he stop him?

Last Wednesday I shared a Word on purpose.  I will admit, I threw an idea out there but I left out the solution.  If our 'purpose' is not ours but God's and He gifts us and works through us to fulfill HIS purpose... how do we know?  How can we be sure we are on His path and not our own.

Well, there are many ways, actually.  But today, I'm going to talk about Balaam's way. 

You see, to the easy reader of Numbers 22, one might draw a contradiction in God's Word.  Balaam asked, God said no.  Balaam asked again, God said fine... didn't he?  Matthew Henry explains this best:

He seemed to refuse the temptation; but he expressed no abhorrence of it. He had a strong desire to accept the offer, and hoped that God might give him leave to go. He had already been told what the will of God was. It is a certain evidence of the ruling of corruption in the heart, to beg leave to sin. God gave Balaam up to his own heart's lusts. As God sometimes denies the prayers of his people in love, so sometimes he grants the desires of the wicked in wrath.

So what we see here isn't a contradiction, rather, a conviction.  Henry commentary on this passage in it's entirety (link in his name above) points us back to the first visit from this contingent of Balak's and reminds us: God had already spoke on the matter.  Yet, Balaam pushed and it would appear, by all evidence, he had hoped God would change His mind... on a sheerly secular matter which He has firmly already spoken on.  If that isn't eye opening enough... the most haunting statement in Henry's commentary causes us readers to sit and take notice:

many call God theirs, who are not his

Ouch.

Christian, be at ease.  I am not calling you 'not a Christian'.  There are those out there... snake oil salesmen types... who are in it for a show.  Their pride runs the course and their faith is merely for gain, not for God's glory.

No, for us, stumbling fumbling Christians who just want to understand how do we know God's purpose, where do we step?  How do we step?  Am I going the wrong way now?  Well, back to Balaam and his donkey...

If you read this whole scene in context (and I hope by now you grabbed one of the links or your Bible and did that) you will notice Balaam's donkey tried to divert course at God's prodding via the Angel of the Lord, THREE times (for you number enthusiasts: 3 = signature of God!)

What was Balaam's response each time?

Yup, that poor donkey got whipped and yelled at.  Balaam becomes angry and threatens the poor beast.  And then the donkey talks.  Or should we say (on our theme of GOD's purpose) God opens the mouth of the donkey and speaks through it.

Dear Christian who wants to know if you have gotten this whole "purpose" thing upside down or upside right..... is God diverting your donkey?  Are road blocks to the work you feel He is calling you to do constantly popping up and gradually upsetting and frustrating you more and more?  Are these road blocks the work of Satan who is trying to stop you from God's work and will?  One sure way to tell (and a favorite piece of encouragement a missionary friend gave me when we first went into field work)

If you aren't sure whether or not you are doing the right thing 

or in the right direction, 

go back to the last thing you clearly remember God telling you to do 

and do that.

God will speak through his Word.... no fuzzy or twisted interpretation... simply speak.
God may also use your circumstances and/or people around you.

God.will.speak. and HIS peace will be what will prevail... even in the trials Satan may try to throw in your path.

But if it isn't from God....
Peace will be out the window.
You'll be beating your donkey.
NO good results will appear.  At.all.

Most of all: check your heart, check your motives.

God's purpose through you is for his glory alone.
Not your gain.
Not money and riches.
Not your name in bright lights
Not self recognition.

If any of those are why you are doing a thing as "God's purpose for you", I would encourage you to step back, get right with God, recharge your purpose and... if necessary... pull out of whatever path you are on to get on the right one.

That may mean stepping out of a ministry at church because you realize you are't the one God called to the job.  (I can't tell you how many churches we have worked with over the years who had spiritually sick leaders and/or teachers who kept on because of pressure and ignored God's call to re-situate their hearts or step down thinking 'no one else' could take their place... but that is a whole other message!)

It may mean he calls you to slow down.  Take some non-essentials off your plate to make more room for peacefully walking in the essentials.  (Too many people in our culture and time seem to think they need MORE MORE MORE in their schedule and in their lives when, in fact, God is calling us to less, less, less!)  Check out this new song from Danny Gokey for some encouragement today:

And finally... (especially you moms out there)... God's purpose through you isn't always at the head of a Bible Study class, ministry, or MOPS group.  God's purpose takes on many forms, especially in the lives of women. 

• Raising children with eyes on Jesus is a HUGE purpose, don't sell yourself short.  
• Providing Biblical hospitality is a HUGE purpose which God uses to minister to the weary souls of others.  
• Caring for your husband and household is a HUGE purpose which reflects the servant attitude Jesus often modeled to his Disciples.  

What's that theater saying?  Oh, yeah:

There are no small parts, just small actors!

I pray for you this week, as you walk the path of life, that it would be the path God has laid for you and, if you are on the wrong one, that you wouldn't beat your donkey, but instead, stop, get off, and turn to face Jesus asking in all honesty; "What is the last thing I clearly heard Him tell me".  Be encouraged sweet Christian, you are never too far gone for God to reach down and pull you close.... simply let him!

Blessings,

Consequently, I read a PHENOMENAL book this summer:

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I will be sharing some notes in a new monthly thread coming out this week, "Notes from my Reading Nook".  I was so blown away by this book and it's over-arching profound message I want to give it to EVERYONE I know!!!! No kidding!  No matter where a person is in their faith walk from new Christian all the way to a veteran in the faith, EVERYONE will be moved and empowered by God's message through Adrian Rogers.

Well, I can't afford to buy a copy for everyone, but I'm starting with a give-away to one reader this month!  Who knows, maybe I will make it two!  Sound interesting?  Read below to see how you can enter to WIN!

Linking up today with some of these...

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Random Faith

Writing and thinking on random thoughts today.  It has been such a random week.  Random tidbits to get done in the RV before we are ready to really launch into full-“mobile ministry”.  Random bits of leftover challenges and expectations unrealized. 

Like the leaves blown briskly from the trees, the randomness whirls around and suddenly lands in the unexpected. 

Like an opportunity to understand what true-deep faith looks like.  Drawn to Hebrews 11 and seeing for myself… it isn’t where we have been, or where we are now, but our focus on where we are going that tends to matter most and draw us through the rough times.

It is our roots, spread into springs and creeks which gives life in season and out.  The springs and creeks which I formally took for granted and now find myself clinging close to and searching deeply through for those nuggets of Gold.

 Like seeing that the phrase “God is my Rock” is more than a beautiful phrase, rather, the true-deep-anchor point of this mission-mama’s heart in these trying times.

What happens when the random events of our lives settle down long enough for us to take a true, deep-heart, close-up look at our God, our faith, and where our strength comes from.  Some of you know this too personally.  Some may be like me… proudly living your faith, believing every single one of these words I type with all your heart, but never truly knowing what it REALLY means to find yourself standing with not much more than your faith left.  All other ground is sinking sand… causing you to pull in tight to that Rock you depend on.

Yup, that is me… even in random moments lately.  I stop, let the randomness settle so I don’t get lost in the ‘clutter’ of daily life, Grab a hold of faith, look to the place I truly belong but keeping green while I am still here, standing on that Rock so I don’t sink and fall on my butt!!

I pray your random moments give way to deep faith revelations, spurring you closer to Him and deeper in love with your someday destination… because here, we are only passing through!

They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

Hebrews 11:13b-16a (NRSV)

Blessings

Linking up today with:

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Refuge in the Fortress

Prairie Fires devastate Nebraska

We live in a country devastated.  And I don't just mean from Sandy.  Sandy's devastation is but a symbol of spiritual power-outages and eternal loss.  Yet even in these earthly moments of despair, God is not far.

Our God in man form weeps deep heart tears over the same passions and hurts we feel.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.

- John 11:33

Our God in heavenly form calls us to Him... and we ought to seek him.

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

Psalm 16:1

The life of a missionary wife/mom is much like this.  As a matter of fact, I would wager that the life of most devout Christians can be much like this.  We are the reporters called to see the devastation.  We are the relief workers seeking to help repair and rebuild.  

Many times the response is welcoming and reviving.  But then, at times, the darkness overtakes and the wailing won't stop to listen to reason.

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.  
 
Our very presence is despised, our help is rejected, but God says stay - speak- live.

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.  

And in obedience God never fails.  Sometimes we have to look closely to see His face in the little things; a word of encouragement in the midst of nay-sayers, a help up in the midst of being pushed down, a reply when everyone else is shutting us out.

He is there.

He does not leave us... or forsake us.  When we live a life as good and faithful servants.  

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,  will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." 

Psalm 91:1-

The fortress of God gives me safe cover each day we complete our tasks set before us instead of letting the world overtake us.  

The fortress of God holds back the fire each day as we live out our faith before unbelievers or religious blindness.

The fortress of God reminds me each day that, outside His walls, I would not survive... none of us would.

I don't know why these are the only words God has given me today... but perhaps God knows someone out there who needs to know HE is their refuge... no matter where they are or what they are doing.  God's fortress is our protection.  Let us draw into Its cover in all we do, big and small.  Let us not allow devastation to hit where it matters most... we are only passing through this place.

May God bless the path you walk... and may that path lie within His Fortress walls.

Blessings,

Linking up today with:

Intentional Me, Women Living Well, Internet Cafe, iHomeschoolNetwork, and Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Disconnected

I'm trying to find my place.  Actually, I am trying to find a lot of things in post-move aftermath... including my cell phone!!!  It is strange being without the device, our only phone and direct connection.  In some ways I enjoy the peace but in others... I wonder if anyone is trying to call me and I feel awkward not being able to just pick up and dial others.  Beginning to feel a bit disconnected.

In reflection, I think our relationship with Christ is much the same.  Days can be busy; kids, husbands, teaching, cleaning... and so on.  It is easy to get up and plug way... loose our call time with the Lord.  At first we might not notice... 'it is more quiet' we might say.  But after a while we will feel disconnected, uninformed, and not as close to our creator as we should.

That is why, pretty much every day of the week He and I touch base with Bible study.  All day we chat about what is going on and I often ask Him questions I know He is eager to answer.  Just as exciting is sharing Our conversations with my children, teaching them how to 'dial'.  That is one call I want them to make often and earnestly.

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Jeremiah 33:3 (God's phone number!!)

 Being without my phone stinks... but being without the Lord... I will go phone-less any day over going God-less.

I pray you have a direct line to the One who makes us feel connected and complete!

Blessings,

Linking up today with

Intentional Me, Women Living Well, Internet Cafe 

 

 

 

On Our Knees

Sometimes we must come to our knees to see how tall He is in our lives.

Praying he is tall in yours... even when you stand.

Blessings,

Linking up today with

Intentional Me, Women Living Well, Seeds of Faith, Internet Cafe

The Measure of Life

You hear about those "viral" videos and emails... the ones EVERYONE seems to be viewing.  I think this needs to be one of those:

My husband and I watched it yesterday.  We have been battling the attitude bug lately.  We know it is ramped up spiritual warefare because of the coming trip... but knowing and battling are two seperate things.

Watching Francis Chan describe the measure of our life and the affect of our cares here compared to the measure of an eternal destination... well, lets just say, knowing is half the battle.

Everytime I start to throw out a whip or a remark... every time I start to get offended or pump up on worry and concern over non-essential matters, I picture Francis Chan walking the stage with the rest of that loooooong white rope.  I think of that tiny red tape... and I stop.

It isn't that we shouldn't care about now... it is that the only tomorrow we need to worry about is our eternal one.  Do I hold my breath now because of fear of ridicule on earth.... or do I speak Truth so I won't fear rejection in eternity.

When you look at it on that scale... it seems obvious.  And the now?  Only one thing seems to matter now.

Something to think on ♥

Blessings,

If you agree, would you join me?  Can we make this thing go VIRAL?  Share this video on your facebook, twitter, email... everywhere you can think of.  Lets get some of that Kingdom focus going on in a world that tends to focus too much on itself!

Linking up today with

Intentional Me, Women Living Well, Seeds of Faith, Internet Cafe