Calm and Quiet

 On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. John 18:1-2

Judas knew exactly where to find Jesus because he had been there many times with Him.

There is much to chew on in this chapter, but as I read this morning I was struck once again with Jesus’ desire to be alone with His disciples. We know He can speak in any place or situation but very often we find Jessus and his disciples in the mountains, by the seashore, in the olive groves, places of quiet beauty. These places that display His awesome creative beauty seem to draw you into a meditative mindset. It speaks loudly of Jesus desire to spend quality time with His disciples in a setting that soothes and calms the spirit and is free from the distractions of the daily grind. This passage makes me want to paint a beautiful outdoor scene on my wall, play some ocean sounds, turn on the sunlamp and sit on a blanket on the floor to have my devotions each day. 😊  (I would not be able to get back up.)

Seriously, I love to sit out on my deck in the warmer weather and even though there are city sounds around me, it is easy to focus on the blue sky, listen to the birds, watch a squirrel scurry across the lawn, and know that my God created and controls it all. Somehow belief, trust, and assurance come more easily to my heart in that setting. I feel a closer connection when I am out with a clear view of the heavens, even on a cloudy day!

Lord Jesus, thank You for the reminder that the things you created lead me back to You. You want to spend time with me in a quiet place away from distractions, and although You can speak at any time or place, in any situation, quiet times are a must. Thank You, Jesus for meeting me in my quiet place today. Thank You for Your Sonshine that warms me no matter the time, place or situation. I love You.

But, When God…

13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace,  Galatians 1:13-15 NIV

Paul reminds his readers what kind of a Jew he was, devout and passionate to the extreme. He was jealous for the Jewish law and traditions. But when God….. When God revealed Himself to Paul, Paul became a meek and mild, laid back follower of Jesus Christ. NOT!!!  Most of the books in the New Testament tell us about Paul’s intensity for Jesus and the Gentiles. When Jesus redeemed Paul, he changed his heart and the very core of who Paul was, but he did not change Paul’s quirks, intelligence, curiosity or passion for a cause. He created Paul with those characteristics and they were the very things that made Paul, Paul. He did change Paul’s perspective; He redeemed Paul’s distinguishing characteristics. He took the old Paul, enveloped Him in love and then set him free to be himself with love for Jesus as his newest distinguishing characteristic.

When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, it was so easy for me to think that I needed to be like Mary, Sarah, or Ruth, or other great women of the Bible. I thought I needed to act just like the best, brightest and most popular Christian woman in my life at the time (often, my pastor’s wife). It took a long time for me to realize that God made me exactly the way He wanted me to be, with all the quirks and idiosyncrasies that made me, me! But He certainly intended that His love would shine through those traits, and that I would grow in my love for Him and the expression of that love to others.

Thank You, Jesus, for my “But when God” moment. I praise You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, with all my uniqueness and peculiarities. Purify my heart and personality to reflect Your love and holiness, I pray.

Jesus Is Enough

5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

I am currently teaching a series by Kyle Idleman on “Every Thought Captive”. It sounds easy until you try to turn your negative thoughts into positive ones on your own. You know how it goes- your have anxious thoughts pounding away in your mind. What if? Will I be able? How will I survive this? What if no one likes my ideas? What if my plan falls through? What if my child refuses to repent? What if my finances aren’t enough? What if__________? You fill in the blank.

You go to prayer and beg God to help you. You plead and promise to be faithful and give Him the glory. Great, these things are not wrong, but when you say “Amen,” are you still wringing your hands hoping He will answer the way you want. You might just be playing the Jesus plus game. Jesus plus the new car I need. Jesus plus that perfect job. Jesus plus the perfect ministry. Jesus plus the perfect mate. Jesus plus the answer I want. We all want to deny this kind of thinking but Jesus knows our hearts and thoughts. Hide it from your mate, friends or even the church, but God knows.

I recently heard a sermon that answered all my questions about capturing my thoughts and making them obedient to Christ.. It’s so simple and yet so deep. I now face each day with anticipation, looking for Jesus throughout my day. No more Jesus plus this or that to seal my faith. Now I capture my thoughts with a single phrase said in total confidence; “Jesus Is Enough!”

Jesus is enough for my anxiety. Jesus is enough for my pain. Jesus is enough to supply my daily needs. Jesus is enough to heal my broken heart. Jesus is enough to give me peace in the valley and blessing on the mountain top. Jesus is enough to keep me from yielding to temptation. Jesus Is Enough!

Have faith, give it to Him, leave it with Him and rejoice that JESUS IS ENOUGH!!

My Shepherd

The Lord is.my Shepherd, I shall not want for anything I need to complete His will, because JESUS IS ENOUGH!

He will lead me to rest in pleasant places and provide living water to restore and refresh my soul, mind and body, for JESUS IS ENOUGH!

He will guide me in decisions for my future for His Name’s sake and glory. The future of my life in His Hands not mine. (The enemy tries to convince me, it’s all on me!), but JESUS IS ENOUGH!

Even though it seems I’m walking beneath heavy clouds of exhaustion, discouragement, and pain, I will remember the Son is always shining and the devil is a liar, because JESUS IS ENOUGH!

I will not be afraid of the future because I know the rod of Your Word and the staff of Your grace and mercy will comfort and guide me, because JESUS IS ENOUGH!

You prepare a table for me, overflowing with joy and peace. amid this sinful world, because JESUS IS ENOUGH!

Your goodness and mercy will help me finish the race until I am at home with You forever. 

PRAISE GOD! JESUS IS ENOUGH!

But Jesus

They [who have escaped and remain] raise their voices, they shout for joy; They rejoice from the [Mediterranean] Sea in the majesty of the Lord. Isaiah 24: 14(Amplified)

The ultimate destruction of the earth is the topic of this chapter and all seems hopeless. Yet, there they are again – the remnant- who will rejoice in this day. As difficult and depressing as these prophecies of doom have been, there has been a silver thread of hope woven throughout each one.  As hard as this has been to read, I realize today that when we ask to know the truth, we must accept the whole truth, the bad with the good. How can we hope for a new heaven and a new earth unless the old is destroyed?  How can we understand the depth of Jesus’ pain on the cross unless we understand all that Jesus is saving us from – the horror, destruction, and wickedness of this world. I find I have sometimes been focused on destruction rather than the glorious hope promised to the remnant! 

Is it any different today?  As you listen to Pastor’s sermons, you hear how bad things are, how self-centered and selfish, greedy and thoughtless people are and then comes the BUT JESUS!!!!!  But Jesus can wash away your sin, but Jesus can cleanse your greediness and replace it with generosity!  But Jesus can give you the ability to put aside your selfish desires and to help those in need! But Jesus can take away your bitterness and replace it with forgiveness and joy! BUT JESUS!!! MAKES ME WANT TO SHOUT, PRAISE THE KING!  HALLELUJAH TO THE RISEN LAMB!!!  THANK YOU, JESUS!

Oh, Father, thank you for fulfilling your promises and making a path for the righteous to see Your salvation and the sure hope of a new heaven and a new earth where we can walk and talk and have unbroken fellowship with You once again. Please, Jesus, do not let me get away with anything that would keep me from enjoying that awesome pleasure of living with You forever! 

Law or Justice

17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.           Isaiah 28:17

God will remove the blinders from the eyes of His people so they can see the lies they have believed and return to justice and righteousness as their resting place and refuge.

There is so much here it would take pages and hours to plumb its depth.  His laws were meant to show His people truth and justice, to give them hope and assurance, rest and refuge. His people had misused and abused those principles and guidelines until they were mere rule upon rule, do this and do that with no heart for truth and justice.  When you take the heart and redemptive truth out of justice, you simply have rules and punishment without the hope of rest and refuge. You can become drunk on your own power and self-righteousness. You begin to believe the lie that you can legislate righteousness.  Your truth becomes more important than God’s truth.  Your man-made rules with their dos and don’ts become law, and justice becomes revengeful rather than redemptive. That is where some of the church has been over the last 100 years.  God has allowed her own rules to become her stumbling block. But, Praise Jesus, many in the church world seem to once again be turning to the gospel truth and justice. Back to the basics of God’s love, Jesus redemptive work on the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit to bring rest and repose to the hearts of believers who take Him at His Word.

Jesus has turned my world around in the last decade and helped me be able to relax and enjoy His love and I am gradually learning how to love like He loves in redemptive mercy with justice for the sole purpose of bringing people to the truth that His way will bring true happiness and rest to our lives.

Thank You, Father, for your unrelenting faithfulness and patience with Your people. Thank You unveiling lies that I thought would bring me closer to You but were, in reality, pushing me away. Some of the truths have been exciting and received with a joyful and thankful heart, while others have been more difficult and taken time and more than a gentle rebuke. Thank You for exposing lies and revealing Your glorious truth!!

Thorns and Thistles

I’m not angry. I care. Even if it gives me thistles and thornbushes,
I’ll just pull them out and burn them up.
Let that vine cling to me for safety, let it find a good and whole life with me,
let it hold on for a good and whole life.” Isaiah 27:4-5

God has created in Israel a beautiful vine that will produce fruit all over the world. Even if that vine is not perfect and produces some thorns and thistles, He will get rid of those as the vine clings to Him for safety and life.

In my life, God will pull out and burn up that which is not producing fruit, that which is not like Him, if I will but cling to Him for safety and life. I will not take my faults and failures to heaven if I trust Him and stay connected to the vine.  I love the words, “I’m not angry. I care!”  I hear, work hard and stay close to Me and I will weed out the thistles and thornbushes in Your life. I have found Him to be a faithful gardener, pulling the weeds in my life and not just throwing them aside to take root again but burning them up.

Jesus, thank You for knowing that weeds will try to grow and drain life from the fruit of the spirit in my life, but You, O God, are the Master Gardener who cares and keeps my garden clean and fertilized with Your Holy Spirit of truth.  That analogy is good only as long as I invite You to prune and weed as needed. Jesus, work in my life as You see the weeds, thorns or thistles and bring life as I trust in You.

All Said and Done

O Lord, You are my God;
I will exalt You, I will praise and give thanks to Your name;
For You have done miraculous things,
Plans formed long, long ago, [fulfilled] with perfect faithfulness. Isaiah 25:1

The Lord God planned, purposed and executed His plan perfectly, just as He said!

I love this chapter!  In His time, in His way, in perfect faithfulness God does what He says He will do! When I can’t see it, when I don’t understand it, when I am surrounded by the enemy, God is in control and His plan will succeed!  There is a time to weep, but joy comes in the morning when God in His faithfulness calls in the final act and finishes His work.  God’s perfect faithfulness! Jesus! History (His story)!  All God’s plans will be fulfilled and come to pass in His time!

Thank You, Father, for the perfect plan for our world and each of our lives.  Thank You for sharing that plan and including each of us in it. Thank You for Your faithfulness and the confidence in the King of the universe, the Master Planner, the Beginning and the End, the Great I Am, the Author and Finisher of our faith!!!Go God!!

I’ll Do It My Way

You built a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool,
but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago. Isaiah 22:11

The warriors of Jerusalem tried to fortify the walls and build a reservoir to keep their city safe. Problem is they failed to do what God had already commanded and did not seek his advice or direction for defense of their great city.

Enough said!! Pretty obvious isn’t it that when we try to defeat the enemy of our souls with our worldly wisdom and standard techniques without seeking God’s desire and plan, we are doomed to fail!  When we set out to defend ourselves and put up walls against the things and the people who hurt us, it works against us. God has a perfect defense and plan that will bring about exactly what we need and often desire, but we must “seek first His kingdom and all these things will be added unto us.”  But you can be sure His plan for defense will likely not resemble your plan. In fact, it may not seem like defense at all but when followed will yield more victory than we could have imagined.  O foolish woman that I am, when will I learn that Your way is the only sure way to victory and peace!!

Lord Jesus, thank YOU for reminding me today that you have the blueprints for my life and for victory for me, for Your body and for the world.  You are the only one who truly understands the enemy and knows just how to counter his attacks. Help me rely on You and trust You when You speak through your word or directly to my heart. Surround me with Your love and a band of angels to keep me in Your care. Guide my feet, my thoughts and my actions as I seek to go into battle with Your armor not my own!  Oh, Jesus guide me as I get older and don’t think as clearly, to always be aware of Your voice and Your truth.

Trust the Architect

You built a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool,
but you did not look to the One who made it or have regard for the One who planned it long ago. Isaiah 22:11

The warriors of Jerusalem tried to fortify the walls and build a reservoir to keep their city safe. Problem is they failed to do what God had already commanded and did not seek his advice or direction for defense of their great city.

Enough said! Pretty obvious isn’t it, that when we try to defeat the enemy of our souls with our worldly wisdom and standard techniques, without seeking God’s will and plan, we are doomed to fail!  When we set out to defend ourselves and put up walls against the things and the people who have hurt us, it works against us. God has a perfect defense and plan that will bring about exactly what we need and often desire, but we must “seek first His kingdom and all these things will be added unto us.” You can be sure His plan for defense will likely not resemble your plan. In fact, it may not seem like defense at all, but when followed it will yield more victory than you could have imagined.  When will we learn that Your way is the only sure way to victory and peace!!

Lord Jesus, thank You for reminding us today that you have the blueprints for life and for victory for Your children and for the world.  You are the only one who truly understands the enemy and knows just how to counter his attacks. Help us rely on You and trust You when You speak through your word or directly to our spirits. Surround us with Your love and a band of angels to keep us in Your care. Guide our thoughts and actions as we seek to go into battle in Your armor not our own!  Oh, Jesus, guide us to always be aware of Your voice and truth, and to obey.