in your lane ...

‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper and every tongue which rises against you in judgment is already condemned’  Isaiah 54:17

 

Stay in your lane –

It is usually said flippantly as a polite – not at all polite – way to say,

Mind your own business!

Yet, sometimes we need to remind ourselves and speak this to our own selves

 

But, what does that look like, practically and spiritually?

It looks like us fixing our eyes, minds and hearts on the right things

It is you & I staying out of matters that are not in our control

It is each one of us rejecting the impulse to ‘counsel’ God

It is each one of us focusing on all we know to do that is right

We stay in our lane and God stays in His lane … as only He can do

There is a story in the book of Esther –

Esther was a young Jewish girl. She was taken to the palace of the king and eventually became queen where she was tasked with being a voice to help save her people. It is a wonderful Bible account and one which had lasting implications. We will delve into Esther’s story later this year. But today, I would like to focus on the backstory of Esther’s cousin Mordecai.

 

Mordecai raised Esther after the death of her parents. He also served faithfully in the king’s court. However, he was hated and despised by a man named Haman – a man who would ultimately be responsible for plotting the destruction of the Jewish people [the very plot Esther had to fight against]. But before Haman set out to destroy all of the Jewish people, he set his sights on destroying one particular Jewish person, Mordecai – even erecting a gallows on which to hang Mordecai.  

Long story short, Mordecai ‘stayed in his lane’ by continuing to focus on what he knew to be right. He did not have to worry or think about any of Haman’s evil plotting against him individually. The Bible does not note whether Mordecai was even aware of Haman’s plot to attack him personally – to take his life and rob him of a future. Mordecai did not know – but God was fully aware of everything that was transpiring. And Haman ended up getting caught in the very trap he set for another. He reaped what he attempted to sow into the life of Mordecai, ultimately being hanged on the very same gallows which were erected at his command. And Mordecai kept living, traveling in his God-ordained lane.

Understand and know –

As we ‘stay in our lane’ … we free God to fully occupy His lane

We remove troublesome ‘traffic’ from His lane & what He is doing

Not that we could thwart the plans of God;

God is an expert at being & showing who He is

Yet we frustrate ourselves when we jump lanes and try to be God; and while we may want them to ‘get got’ now, God knows best

The battle is not ours – it belongs to the LORD

He is perfectly capable of working out His plans for us

He has good plans –  to prosper and not to harm, to give a hope and future (Jer. 29:11) and He promises that no weapon formed against us shall prosper.

He puts all things, situations – and people – in their designated lane

But, He does it in His time … in His way.

Esther is one of two books in the Bible that does not mention God

            But His presence and providence is evident

Likewise – you may not be able to see God in your current situation

            But He is ever working for your good and for His glory

No weapon formed against you shall prosper.

They can lie, cheat, manipulate and plot to steal from you

But, what God has for you is for you – and when He determines it is time for you to move forward, to spring forward into the plans and purposes that He has for you, nothing can stop it!

 

‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,

who have been called according to His purpose.’

Romans 8:28

spring time

‘Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.’  

Isaiah 43:19

Springtime –

It is a brand new season;

A time for flowers and trees to bud

A time for things which laid dormant through the winter

          to spring to new life

A time for planting in anticipation of the showers of Spring

It is a wonderful time of the year – naturally and spiritually

It is the time of year where we reflect upon the sacrifice of Christ;

            But more importantly upon His resurrection

His death would have been meaningless if He did not rise again – but He did!

So it is with each one of us individually

The instances of death  - dreams, hopes, desires - it would all be pointless without some sort of redemptive quality

As such, we have this assurance from the LORD: ‘I will give you back what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops. It was I who sent this army against you.’ Joel 2:25GNT

He will give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. [Isaiah 61:3]

This is not a word for everyone – for there are seasons for everything … ‘a time to every purpose under heaven.’ (Ecclesiastes. 3:1) To you I say, ‘wait on the LORD and be of good courage. Wait patiently for the LORD.’ Psalm 27:14 Your time is coming.

However, if this is your 'now' word, you will know. It will resonate deeply in your heart and soul with what the LORD has been whispering to you of late. It will ignite a passion, excitement and mind-boggling anticipation, causing hope to spring to life in a tangible way. To those of you, I say, get ready! The LORD [not myself] says, “Look … See! Be astonished! Wonder! For I  am doing something in your days – you would not believe it if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘… the old is passed, behold all things are made new.’

II Corinthians 5:17 DRB

2021: St. Patrick's Day

‘For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God’  Romans 8:14

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Today is a day of great celebration for many and a day of national pride for many Irish. Yet, that has not been the primary or traditional reason of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in my family. Today is my Nana’s birthday!

Growing up in Boston, MA … March 17^th was a local holiday

My mom always told me we had the day off from school because we were celebrating my Nana’s birthday. And I remember thinking, ‘My Nana must be something pretty special for them to shut down the whole city.’ I think I was in second or third grade  before I found out the truth. I guess technically my Mom was not lying – that is why she celebrated March 17^th.  

However, she also incorporated some very Irish traditions: corned beef, potatoes, carrots and cabbage for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day. The recipe has been tweaked over the years. I add Guinness Stout to my corned beef and we have incorporated chocolate treats and a couple of loaves of Irish Soda Bread. However, the heart of the celebration is the same: good eats, counting blessings and enjoying relaxing time with family. This year my mom is heaven with her mom (my Nana) – but I like to think they are both smiling at me and my sons as we continue our family traditions.

Not all traditions are bad. However, the true message of St. Patrick’s Day often gets lost in some of those traditions. It is frequently overlooked the fact that St. Patrick was taken to Ireland as a slave and eventually played a substantial role in sharing the gospel with the Irish people.  A slave turned missionary  … that is noteworthy.

It is this aspect of St. Patrick’s Day which is much more aligned with the celebration of my Nana’s birth and life.  She was an amazing woman of God! She loved her husband. They were married over 50 years and did not separate until she went home to heaven. She loved her children, she consistently provided for her family, always extended a helping hand to neighbors and established a firm foundation of faith for her family and grandchildren. This legacy of faith has continued – the roots which she established continue to grow, bearing fruit in the lives of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great, great-grandchildren to this day. Faith in the One True & Living God, Facilitated by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and Empowered by the Holy Spirit … That is truly something to celebrate!

Therefore, in the tradition of honoring my grandmother and honoring the memory of St. Patrick, I leave you with this blessing: May the Strength of God guide us. May the Power of God preserve us. May the Wisdom of God instruct us. May the Hand of God protect us. May the Way of God direct us. May the Shield of God defend us. May the Angels of God Surround us. May Christ be with us, before us and in us. Christ be over all!

still our living hope

‘I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.’  Psalm 27:13

 

I was watching a show this morning and it echoed something that has been visiting my heart over the past few days. It made me think of a post that I originally wrote back in 2012. It was a post about ‘a living hope’. National Suicide Prevention Day is not until September 10^th  but many precious souls will not make it that long. So I am sharing that post today … since it is heavy on my heart today. I pray you will be blessed by it…

 

[originally posted 22 March 2012]

I have something that has been on my heart for several days and it just will not move for some reason. My prayer is that I can make the following statement without people jumping to a bunch of conclusions.

In the past few years with all that I have experienced personally and in my interactions with others, I have come to this conclusion:
     "There are many people who have contemplated suicide who do not want to die ... they simply want the pain to end."

They are not completely hopeless as some would presume. Saved or unsaved, they have a hope and an expectation that what lies on the other side must be better than what they are currently experiencing - if for no other reason than the simple fact that they can rest.

To those who have never been there, and cannot fathom how someone could reach that place:

• Do you know what it is like to be so exhausted from living that an eternal rest seems like a better option than awaking to face one more draining day all over again?
• Can you understand and have a heart of compassion for someone who feels that way?
• Or do you scoff, spew out a Bible verse and flippantly declare, 'It's not that serious.'? 

My heart aches for those who hurt. And I have come to the realization that but for Christ in my life (and me actively in Him), there am I.

'I would have lost hope unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.' [my emphasis] Psalm 27:13

So tonight I am praying ....
Praying that God will touch every person who is so tired of living that death seems like the only viable alternative. I pray that He would speak to you in a personal way, unique and specific to how you can hear Him best. He loves you so much and He is present, even though it may not feel that way.

My pastor made a comment on Sunday and he said, 'There are people that are so lonely ... they can be in an auditorium full of people and feel completely alone ... sometimes you need Jesus with some skin.'

Powerful statements ...
And while I pray that He would speak to you individually and directly, through a dream, through a song, through a sermon,  to your heart, through a breeze, a flower or  a touch ... I pray also that He would send you a 'Jesus with some skin', a child of God who will not judge or condemn or minimize your pain - but one who is blessed with discernment and understanding, who radiates the love and compassion of Christ in such a way that it will be difficult to discern the difference.

Yes, God is bigger than anything you are facing and He is well able to handle it. However, I have come to the realization that the biggest hurdle for most people to jump is not in comprehending or believing in the ability of God but in having the assurance of His willingness, believing that He desires to do something meaningful for them.  He does ...

Therefore, I pray that He would comfort you with an everlasting and powerful comfort. And I pray that His love would be as real and tangible as the pain has been ... and so much more so.

I pray that you would see and experience His goodness in the land of the living and that it would be the foundation for a living hope - a match which ignites a desire to stay among us and fulfill the plan and purpose that God has for you life. He does indeed have a good plan, to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a real hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)

'Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the waters, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green and, it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.'  Jeremiah 17:7-8

Another word for trust is confidence or hope. It is one thing to place confidence in the LORD. However, it is something entirely different when He becomes the very confidence or hope that you possess. Jesus Christ, who died so that we could live, is our hope and confidence.

May the LORD God Almighty, truly bless you and keep you...
May His Holy Spirit supply you with strength and wisdom
May Christ be your living hope and give you hope to live ...

still yes ...

‘... exceedingly, abundantly above all that we could ask or think ...' Ephesians 3:20

Will you protect me and shield me?

Will you nourish me and comfort me?

Will you support & encourage me?

Will you see the best in me when I cannot see it in myself?

Will you provide my every need?

Will you respond to my cries?

Will you watch over me while I sleep, stay with me in the dark and reassure me when I am afraid?

 

But, will you sing to me?

 

Will you defend me when no one else will?

Will you listen when I need someone to talk to … no matter the time of day?

Will you help me when I am confused?

Will you know what I am trying to say when I cannot explain it myself?

Will you help me find the things I have lost?

Will you support my dreams and help me get to where I need to go?

 

Do I have anything to fear?

'As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.' Isaiah 66:13

Could a mother forget a child who nurses at her breast? 

Could she fail to love an infant who came from her own body? 

[Yet] Even if a mother should forget, I will not forget you. [says the LORD]

Isaiah 49:15 CEV

yes!

‘For as many as are the promises of God, in Him [Christ Jesus] they are yes’

II Corinthians 1:20

 

Every promise of God gets stamped with a ‘Yes!’ in Christ Jesus –

That is how The Message version of the Bible describes 2 Corinthians 1:20

I thought about this verse after seeing a preview for a movie on Netflix – Yes Day

The premise of the film is a day where parents must say ‘Yes’ to every request

Ice cream for breakfast? Yes …

Taking a day off to rest, relax and play? Yes …

You name it and it is getting a ‘Yes!’ on this imaginary day

 

But what if ‘Yes Day’ were a real thing?

What if you could ask your parent a question and be assured a positive response?

YOU CAN!

All the promises of God are ‘Yes’ in Christ Jesus –

Why? Because in Christ we have covenant, relationship & fellowship

In Christ we are co-heirs

‘If we are God’s children, we will get the blessings God has for His people. He will give us all that He has given Christ.’ Romans 8:17

Now, those blessings are not without suffering with Christ, to the glory of God – but it is still a ‘Yes Day’ … every day

How amazing is that?!

That is not to equate God to some genie in a bottle –

He does not fulfill everything we want

But He does fulfill everything – and I mean every single thing – He promised

Anything we desire in accordance with His promise is assured

We have full assurance that what He has promised He is able and willing to perform

LORD, will You protect me from my enemies today? Yes …

LORD, will You shadow me with goodness and mercy? Yes …

LORD, will You supply my every need today? Yes …

LORD, can I trust that You will not fail me? Yes … Emphatically Yes!

 

Jehovah Promise Keeper

When asked, ‘Who do you say that I am?’, it would most definitely be among my responses

While not one of His names listed in the Bible, I know from experience it is who He is

There is a comfort in knowing that He has good plans for me – and that He is faithful to fulfill them

Not one of His promises has failed … ever

'He is not a man that He should lie nor the son of man that He should repent or change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?’ Numbers 23:19

His Word goes forth and accomplishes that for which it was sent [Isaiah 55:11]

His Living Word Jesus, came & accomplished all for which He was sent [John 1:1, John 1:14]

His spoken word, His promises, do the same –

'There has not failed one word of all His good promise.’ I Kings 8:54

 

So today I declare His Word over your life, and mine

The LORD will be our guide [Psalm 48:14]

His presence is with us always [Hebrews 13:5]

There is no need to fear – His perfect love casts out fear [I John 4:18]

His faithfulness – rich in mercy – is not dependent upon our faithfulness [II Timothy 2:13]

May the LORD bless you in accordance with His perfect will for your life – today & everyday

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘He who promised is faithful’

Hebrews 10:23

praise time

 ‘I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD.’ Psalm 122:1

 

I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD.’

Yet, the times of praise & fellowship are constant and unending.

In times past, there was a set time to go to the house of the LORD.

Thankfully, we who have been saved by the blood of Jesus, have now become the house of the LORD

‘Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and the Spirit of God dwells in you?’ I Corinthians 3:16

This is not to negate the need for corporate fellowship: ‘Let us not neglect our meeting together…’  (Hebrews 10:25) Rather it is to emphasize: we may be in the house of the LORD – anywhere

 

Today – whether you are attending a church service in a building, watching online or having a personal and private time of individual worship, know that it is a privilege to be with LORD.

Jesus made that possible!

 

‘Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words].’

II Corinthians 9:15AMP

the following

‘Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." And this she did for many days."' Acts 16:16-18

Paul and Silas were in Philippi on a tour to share, teach and preach the gospel when they obtained a new follower

Yet, Paul and Silas did not need a notification to alert them to their new follower

She was intent on being a nuisance and an ever-present source of noise

She more than made her presence known – so much so that Paul finally had to address it

Understand that not everyone’s intention in following you is because they admire you

Some are present with the sole-purpose of tracking your movements –

                and trying to be a source of distraction and irritation

This young lady was no different, except that her actions were being led by demonic forces

‘Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.’ Acts 16:18-19

Paul was annoyed with the demon spirit within the girl and called it out

The masters were irate when they realized their profit machine had been tampered with

The girl was likely exasperated from being abused, controlled and manipulated

After all, she was a simple and helpless slave, a pawn being exploited and dominated

                Used by her masters [much like a pimp utilizes a prostitute]

                Used by the demon [as a willing or unwilling vessel]

She was no longer in control of her own actions – her mind, will, emotion and body all held captive

 

Paul knew what it was like to be used by the enemy in the most vile ways –

He used to lead the charge in killing followers of Jesus Christ, and thought he was on a holy mission. He continued in his efforts, even standing by and consenting at the stoning of Stephen [Acts 7 & 8]

He carried on with his daily business until Jesus interrupted his assignment –

Paul was literally knocked from his high horse, blinded and ultimately transformed [Acts 9]

Paul was annoyed with the spirit which the girl carried [or the spirit which carried the girl]

It can be viewed either way. Her actions were not her own.

Her assignments for many days was to be a distraction and to attempt to interrupt the work of ministry being performed by Paul and Silas. But God had a very different assignment for her life on that particular day – FREEDOM

Jesus said in John 10:10, 

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. 

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Understand that the battle is not against flesh and blood

Many of the people we encounter on a daily basis are an empty shell

Worn out, broken and used by life and the enemy – they need love and deliverance

They need Jesus – a genuine encounter like Paul had, a freeing encounter like the girl had

Our task is to keep to our assignments,

shining the light of the LORD and being that light to the best of our ability

‘Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.’ Ephesians 6:18

But remember that everyone needs prayer – the just and unjust alike

Let us pray that the people following us to Jesus are not only those who already know Him.

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘The LORD is not willing that any should perish’

2 Peter 3:9

covenant

‘I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be for the sign of covenant between Me and the earth.’ Genesis 9:13

Happy Monday!

I hope your day is off to a great start as we March forward into the week … [weak pun intended]

This will be a quick post because I have much to do – have to slay some school work

As a side note – it is never too late to accomplish a personal goal; keep going until you have obtained it

But I digress – today I wanted to share some spectacular artwork

Artwork which inspired thoughts of our  Covenant-Keeping God

 

I walked out this morning and saw this beautiful artwork next door.

It made me smile – so much so that I had to go inside, get my phone and take a picture

Counting, hearts, stars, someone with glasses, tic-tac-toe, a friend waving hello!, another with arms open wide and ...

Yes! There is a little person in a rainbow boat in the background

 

As I am writing this post, I am listening to Edward Rivera singing a version of the song Nothing Else. And the line being repeated over and over is this: ‘Take me back, take me back ... take me back to my first love’

So what does this have to do with my master artists next door?

Sometimes, to get back to that first love – you have to go back to your first thoughts

‘you have left your first love … you have abandoned the love you had at first …

repent … go back and do the works you did at first’

Revelation 2:4-5 [AMP & ESV]

Sometimes we have to go back to being like a child,

with an innocent and hope-filled view of the world

Where is that enthusiastic, wide-eyed approach that we once had - to life and love and God?

Sometimes we need to pause and just count to ten – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 …

Sometimes we just need to look at hearts and stars – and draw a few

Sometimes we have to use our imagination and … ride in boats made of rainbows

Don’t we need that sometimes?

When it feels like we’re sinking – to be reminded that His covenant literally carries us

It is the vessel which safely allows us to navigate the storms of life

It is supposed to start raining soon,

And, unfortunately that precious sidewalk chalk masterpiece will fade away

But it has accomplished its task: beautifying the world, inspiring hope and coaxing a smile

          from someone who needed to smile ... me

Many things will fade in this earth

Let us make sure our hope and joy are not among that list

Let us believe, with child-like faith, that anything is possible, even sailing in rainbows

Let us forever remember His covenant with us and commitment to us will never fade

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘you have only a little strength,

yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.’

Revelation 3:8