God's word still talks! He is alive and active. The best part is that he speaks personally to those who will listen for him, with just as much life & effectiveness as when he spoke the world into being. He is a light in dark places. Here's an excerpt from my journal of some quick thoughts that came to me while I pondered this...
"Speak Lord. I am listening. Because of that, I am living!" For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 ESV There is a scene in 'The Last Crusade - Indiana Jones', (come on, entertain me for a minute :) where Harrison Ford comes to an impasse; a chasm that must be crossed but he has no way of doing it. He cannot return until he completes this path so he takes a step of faith over the gorge, into the emptiness and with great relief, finds that his foot lands on a hidden, stone bridge. After crossing over, he stops and throws dirt on it so that it remains revealed for the return trip... Have you ever had moments in life like that? Some roads I've travelled have been ones that I would definitely not want repeated. These are the roads of intense pain and loss; the ones that blindsided me; the paths with deep chasms in front of them. Because they were nonnegotiable, my only foreseeable options were to either sink in the after-moments or bravely inch forward. It takes great courage and faith to keep walking, especially when all you can see is that you are on the edge of a cliff. Typically, my heart would instruct me but in these kinds of moments it is the heart that experiences the chasm. The pain of it is overwhelming making you want to run but finding there is nowhere to go. The chasm is luring in its despair. It is then that the words of God embedded in life and the experiences of truth handed down through faithful generations kick in. It's as though I move by rote and habit, but mentally I choose what I will believe and do. I choose God. Unlike this movie, God gives us dust to throw before we step out in faith. Faith is substance. Faith comes out of what we hope for. Hope comes from God. If we invite His presence and voice to give counsel, He will be like dirt thrown on the hidden path revealing the way forward. There is a bridge. Jesus gave us that many years ago when He came and took all hopelessness away by dying on a cross. He is the path, the truth and answer in seemingly hopeless situations. He is life and love giving healing to unanswered hurts, release from bondages formed in injustice, and incredible courage to hope again for something good in the future. I guess what I am trying to get at is this; we cannot have answers to all of what happens in life but we can trust a loving God who promises to stand by His word. His word is His bond. When He says that He is love, we can trust that. When He says that He will never leave or forsake His kids (Psalms 94:14), we can trust that. That means He is there, at the cliff... and He will make good on His Word. He will make a way for you to cross over! “For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.” Psalm 94:14, 17-19, 22 NIV Throw (apply) His Word on your scenario.
Invite His presence. Ask Him to speak. Let Him show you the bridge. Let Him be the bridge. Love is one of the greatest quests of humanity. That's why we never run out of songs to write. But, have we made love something other than what it is? Have we made love something that serves us rather than something that serves? Have we forgotten what love is or, that love is God? Everything that God does is out of an extreme love for us. Forgiveness, grace, mercy and yes, even rules. His love is relentless and bold, kind and personal, holy and right, unswerving and pure. His love is full; full of life, joy, creativity, energy and adventure. Let me come at this from a different angle. One of the greatest struggles in my life has been fear. It has not been intentional and certainly not my quest, but nevertheless it has been there ...a nagging voice always looking to have its way! Fear opposes love. It is vocal, demanding, analytical and protective. Fear never allows love to totally be all it is meant to be for love is too free and does not make sense. It will never give everything to another because it must hold something back for a rainy day. If that is my axis or plume-line of action, then I will certainly grow more like it over time. My dreams, talents and relationships will be compromised and I will not be all that I am made to be. Over time, in essence, I will die. Jesus said that perfect love casts out fear. Love is free and does not operate on calculations or keep tabs. Love makes fear mad. Perfect love is not a thing. It is pure and free flowing, unconditional and forgiving. Love does not need to be repaid or acclaimed. It does not need honour for it is honour itself. Love does not need. Perfect love is the substance of life and is completely Jesus. God is love and His desires for us are out of His perfect love. Will you let Love be? “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:16-18 NIV I posted this on my Twitter feed and thought, I'd like to say more... @wandamann: There is no greater joy than to see your children passionately worshiping God and leading others in that pursuit.
As a parent, I have celebrated first words, first steps, potty training, first day at school, last day at school, jobs, weddings, babies, etcetera, etcetera. There have been so many "proud parent moments" that they are innumerable. But, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the best moments are the ones when I see them passionately worshiping God and leading others in that pursuit. I am aware that because of the image I posted, it may appear that I am referring to being a skilled worship leader in a band and leading large crowds. I can't deny that these are fun moments and my heart does quite a flip as I watch the response from a crowd, BUT these are NOT the significant moments. The significant moments are in the pursuing, engaging, following, and making a life statement of love and surrender to their God... my God. It's in the little things, the attitudes, the humility, the patience, the forgiveness, and the choices made privately to serve others; and the perseverance and commitment to the church of Jesus and to His wisdom. That's when my heart flips with profound joy! The strength of what others see in public, comes from the cumulative effect of the small. When we love and honour God with everything, His destiny for us will be totally fulfilled. If God's destiny for you is fulfilled, yours is also. There is no higher calling, no greater satisfaction. So, as a parent my heart is full when I observe fruit from the small choices that my children have made. I have to think that God is like that toward us as well... So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27
This is going to be a short post. I'm not so interested in giving you a bunch of my words today. I would like to simply encourage you to remember how practical God is. That may sound like an oxymoron (... a combination of words that have opposite or very different meanings) but I believe it is true. If you want success, peace, and favour in your life, follow God. Learn His ways. Emulate Jesus. I was reading Proverbs 3 when these thoughts struck me. God is smart. He made me and knows how I tick best. I would be wise to follow His advice...
God is smart. He made me and knows how I tick best. I would be wise to follow His advice... The story of Naomi and Ruth is an amazing one! Every time I read it, I am blown away by how big God is, how involved He is in details, and mostly, how loving and kind He is toward those who are after His heart. Here's the intro to a Bible study that I wrote that expresses my heart ... sorry guys, this study is not directed at you :) What does it mean to be a godly woman? We are women and we are unique. We are not like men, and they are not like us. I know this sounds kind of elementary, but we live in a world that seems to be getting it a little mixed up. To be ‘godly’ seems to have little to do with our past. If it does, I for one failed the test several years ago; in fact I probably failed it the moment I began my journey as a Christian! Godliness has nothing to do with successes and failures, but everything to do with my present posture & state of mind before God. I guess another way of putting it is; a godly past does not justify or acquit an ungodly present. As I was pondering the question of being a godly woman, I was drawn to the book of Ruth. As I read and reread the book, I was impressed with the many things that we could learn from the lives involved. I was stunned by the significance of Ruth’s choices, especially as I reflected on the genealogy listed in chapter 4 (Ruth 4:13-22). It was then that I saw the women specifically that were used to fulfill the coming of Jesus; unlikely candidates for a King’s lineage! In Matthew 1:1-16; there’s another genealogy account listed for us that takes the one from Ruth all the way to Jesus’ birth. Christ’s lineage includes woman like Tamar (she slept with her father-in-law), Rahab (a harlot & Canaanite), Ruth (a Moabite), and Mary (unwed & young). God takes great delight in using unlikely people for His glory. The very nature of ‘being’ a Christian is to be constantly growing and learning, ever changing as Christ increases in us and we recognize our intense need of Him. That is my life-long endeavour; to always be teachable, pursuing the heart of God and bringing Him glory with my life. The more I mature, the more I realize that I am like most of those that God used in scripture; unlikely candidates to be used effectively for a King. But, this is mere human reasoning as God takes great delight in taking foolish things, weak vessels, and broken lives to exhibit His salvation. "Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.""
(1 Corinthians 1:26-31 MSG) While reading this morning, I knew the Lord was speaking again to a very deep place in my heart... I've been reading through a chronological version of the Bible and today's chapters were in Deuteronomy where God is giving Moses final instructions & reminders for Israel before they move into the promised land with their new leader, Joshua. So as I come to chapter 18, I glance at the sub-titles: Offerings for Priests and Levites, Occult Practices, The Prophet and dive in. After reading the previous OT books, a lot of this is beginning to look repetitious, but I move on. I resonate with the Levites, agree quickly with the avoidance of occult practices, and want the voice of the prophet. Oh, but I haven't noticed this before... Look at verse 16! For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”
I want His voice & presence to be near. I trust Him. I honour & fear only Him. I want Him to speak & move through me. This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children... Romans 8:15(MSG) So, what is a good determiner of character in an individual? What in life reflects the truth of who we are? Is it grades, position, money, skill, looks, or degrees? I suppose these things might be affected by character... but are they what define it? I was thinking about this tonight. Not sure why, except that I have seen too many people struggle to stay afloat in what our culture has deemed to be important. I too, have wrestled with it! Either the essence of character has become physical or the pursuit of appeal & popularity has become more important. At any rate, I prefer the pursuit of great character. Great character:
Fight the urge to perform and to prove yourself. Fight it with truth - the truth that you are loved, no matter what you do or how well you perform. When you find that, you will have a prevailing peace regardless of what is coming at you. "I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." Jeremiah 31:3 There's an old movie - and I mean old - called 'The Music Man'. The gist of the story is how a traveling salesman masquerades as a band conductor and claims that if you just think hard enough, you can just pick up your instrument and play it; not only as a soloist, but as a complete, unified band! Of course, this is a movie with a a happy ending and the town actually pulls it off with flying colours. Oh that life was like that! If this really worked, I would use it all the time ... for cleaning toilets, mowing the lawn, driving through traffic, making money ... sigh. Is that how I think faith really works? That if I pray hard enough, think hard enough and believe passionately enough, then all that God wants to do on this earth will be accomplished? Faith is more than an emotional stirring of my belief. The proof and power of my faith in God, is as I step into it.
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:23-26 NIV Take courage today. Partner with Jesus Christ.
Ask Him to show you how you should put your faith to work. "In that day the remnant left in Israel, the survivors in the house of Jacob, will no longer depend on allies who seek to destroy them. But they will faithfully trust the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return... " Isaiah 10:20, 21a I hear this call just about everyday, "Return". What? Is Wanda backsliding? Isn't Isaiah talking about the 'remnant' of Israel who survived God's punishment toward them because of their unfaithfulness toward Him? In less words... they were a remnant of disobedient people. Every day I make choices to either stay close to innocence (God) or not. I see, smell and hear things that want to challenge my desires and appetites - that require some type of response. These parade as allies - fulfilling my imminent needs while sabotaging my future. Often, the best reply I can give is what may look like indifference - to walk away without response. You know; not taking the 2nd look, closing the fridge door, turning the pity off, etc. Otherwise the pity starts to party and the treat turns into bondage. Sound trivial? Maybe, but these are the things that spoil my connection with the Holy Spirit. I am human. I decided to follow Jesus a long time ago. And I tend to get distracted. When I do, He calls me back. Maybe one day I'll be so perfect in my desires and pursuits that I will not need to have this reminder. But until that day comes, this remnant will return as often as is necessary! Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV) |
Inquiring MINDS
Please inquire for the word of the LORD today. 1 Kings 22:5
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