Week Thirty-Eight - Hedged In

England overflows with beautiful countryside, rolling hills, rock fences, and quaint farms, all with an almost effervescent green haze, but hedges too often block your view. My mother-in-law even said, "It is a beautiful place, except for the hedges." Nevertheless, I count my lucky stars to live on such a luscious isle. 

Dick Brogen's devotional began talking about being hedged in, but he wasn't referring to physical hedges. His thoughts were about God's hedge - the one He places around His children. 

His thoughts are drawn from Psalm 139. In verse one, God has searched and known us. In verse two, He knows when we sit up, get up, and what we think. In verse three, He knows where we go and when we lie down, and He knows all our ways. Verse four tells us He knows every idle word, and most marvelous of all, in verse five, "Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me." To beset is to hedge in.

Brogen then draws for us three beautiful thoughts based on the truth that God knows us and has us surrounded by His love.

Because God knows us, we do not need others to know us. Our culture perpetuates the notion that if we aren't recognized for something, we're worthless. We are told to promote ourselves, sell our idea, and put ourselves out there, but you'll be hard-pressed to find this ideology in God's Word. "These pathetic cries for attention are not necessary if we are secure in being known by Jesus. When we understand that Jesus knows us intimately and loves us deeply - despite what He knows about us - this alleviates any need to be known and exalted by others." God's love and knowledge of us are enough.

Because God knows us, we keep no secrets. In other words, we have nothing to hide. That doesn't mean we need to air our dirty laundry; it means we need not fear the dirt. Those skeletons in the closet are silenced when we hand them over to God. He knows all about them, and they don't intimidate Him. He isn't ashamed of His children.

Because we are hedged in, we are free. Most people don't like the idea of being confined or having boundaries. They believe restraint removes freedom, but the opposite is true. "Only those who embrace the limits of God have rest, joy, and freedom. To have no boundaries is to be in the prison of insecurity and doubt. When God hedges us in from behind, we have the assurance that we will not falter, fail, or return to our vomit. When God hedges us in before, we have the assurance that we will not go outside of His will or His pleasure. We can run, abandoned and protected. There are no cliffs to fall off." We are fully protected and free to venture with God wherever He calls us.

Physical hedges may obscure our view, but the hedge of God enhances our view. The sky is the limit with God, for with Him, all things are possible. Are you living with the knowledge that He is before, beside, and behind you? Do you rest and enjoy life knowing you are hedged in by His love?

Adapted from Live/Dead, by Dick Brogden

Week Thirty-Seven - What Do You Want?

One of the first verses I claimed as a young Christian was Psalm 37:4, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." I didn't have any big tangible desires like a huge house or a fancy car, but what I wanted was the intangible: happiness, contentment, joy in knowing my life was good and blessed by God. My delight was to serve, to be a part of the church family, and to see God at work around me. 

As time went by, God planted further desires in my heart. I wanted to be a missionary, and He granted me that desire. I wanted to have a happy home and raise children who would become good citizens and love the Lord, and He gave me that desire. I wanted to remain faithful in the ministry He had given me, and for over forty years, He has met that desire. How could I ever doubt He would continue to bless as I continue to delight in Him?

What we long for matters. If our attention and focus on life remain solely on the tangible, that may be all we have. We cannot take cars and houses with us when we leave this world. One storm, one flood, one fire, as we have so lately seen, and they are swept away. But what we focus on that is intangible and eternal can never be taken away from us. 

Psalm 37:37 reads, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." Do you want a peaceful life? Then your focus will be directed toward a blameless life. The approval of others is not your concern. The approval of God is your priority. And when our desire or focus is shifted to Him, we enter a world of peace. The striving to please or appease others ceases, and God becomes our peace.

Psalm 37:39 reads, "But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble." The desire for righteousness leads to strength in troubled times. When we face hard times or find ourselves at odds with others, we run to the Lord, knowing He will give us strength and wisdom to endure or forgive. He is the lifter up of our head, our shield, and protector. When our desire is for righteousness, we walk carefully and thoughtfully.

Psalm 37:40 reads, "And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him." Trust isn't usually our automatic response when faced with wickedness. We typically want to fight or run, but the Lord asks us to trust Him. Sometimes we may be required to speak up. At other times, we must remain silent. But no matter, our trust must be in Him, not ourselves. He promises to help and deliver; we must trust that promise. God is delighted when we trust Him.

Do you desire peace? Strength? Help? If so, God promises to grant those desires. The only prerequisites are delight and trust. God will never fail to keep His promises, so you can safely put your delight, joy, and hope in Him. 

Jesus gives us this promise about the things we want in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." 

Psalm 37:23 reads, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way." Is that what you want? For God to delight in you? Then set your delight in Him, and watch what He can do! 

Week Thirty-Six - A Better Life

Psalm 63:3 says God's lovingkindness is "better than life." His thoughts and actions toward us are better than anything we can imagine. His loving care surpasses anything we consider precious or good, for all He has, all He is, and all He gives far outweigh and surpass our highest reality and enjoyment.

 "God's lovingkindness is better than food, better than peace, better than comfort, better than travel, better than sports, better than marriage, better than adventure, better than nature, better than every good thing we enjoy." (Dick Brogden)

We can't begin to fathom the fullness of Jesus' lovingkindness until we let go of the life we have made for ourselves. Life, as we designed it, is still too affected by sin and self. 

Are you trying to live with Jesus and for yourself? It won't work. It is impossible to run in two different directions at the same time. A better life comes only by living in one direction.

A life that is "better than life" is only truly realized in heaven, but we can begin to experience it now as we live under the shadow of His presence, where there is no iniquity and offense. We enter a better life not by trying to be good, but by accepting what Jesus has done for us and using our energy to seek Him.

A better life is marked by lips that praise Him. Lips that acknowledge the Lord. Lips that render thanksgiving. Lips that seek to bless Him by every word spoken.

And a better life is marked by practical living based on holiness and compliance with God’s Word. Does your life honor Him? Do your daily choices bring you into the place of blessing - where you are living out a better life?

A better life is marked by a soul that is satisfied with Jesus. Godliness with contentment - that is great gain. That is the goal of the better life. And it is evidenced in simplicity, a focus on Christ alone, rest in Him, and the absence of temporal clutter.

Some aspects of a better life can be experienced while on this earth, but oh, for the blessed promise of the better life to come. 1 Corinthians 2:9, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into he heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." or as Isaiah 64:4 says, "those that waiteth for him."

That eternal better life is coming, but that doesn't mean we can't taste a bit of it while we are here. He came to give us life, and to give it more abundantly now. You don't have to wait; draw near to Him, rest your soul in Him, seek His presence, and see if life doesn't get better day by day.

Adapted from: Live/Dead by Dick Brogden

Week Thirty-Five - According To, Too

Last week, we thought about God's power to answer prayer according to His ability. Today, let's look at another aspect of those two words, "according to." The "according to" that places strength and power within us.

In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul basically records his prayer for the people in the church at Ephesus. The verses take a different focus when you read them as a prayer.

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

Such a wonderful prayer. I'd love someone to pray that over my life, wouldn't you? To ask God to grant me the strength of the Spirit in my inner man, according to the riches of God. God, who giveth liberally? God, with whom all things are possible? God, who is for me? And for my petitioner to do so based on the power of God that works in us both?

Let's not stop there, for Paul records his prayer for the church at Colosse, as well. Colossians 1:9-12 reads:

"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."

There is that request for strength again. This time, coupled not only with the knowledge of Christ's love, but also with the understanding of His will, fruitfulness, and the qualities of patience, longsuffering, and joy. 

These are prayers that recognize the abundance of God's supply, prayers that tap into who God is and what all He wants to accomplish in us, according to His power working within us. 

I don't know about you, but when I think about God's power within me, I'm humbled, fearful, and even empowered. Not by what I can do, but by what He can do according to His attributes and character. I'm not a little non-count, I am a child of God, and according to His Word, all power is given to me as well. Amazing! And when I translate this power into my prayer life, even more amazing things happen. For now, I am praying according to my belief and within God's will. It opens the door of the impossible!

Week Thirty-Four - According To

Two little words, according to, can change the whole focus of your prayer life. For example, when you withdraw funds from your bank account, you can only do so according to how much is available. When you order online, you can only request an amount according to what is available for purchase. And when you pray, your requests are only limited according to what God is able to do. 

And what is He able to do? "Exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20). And how much power is available to us? Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). How does that work? Ephesians 1:9 says, "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power." He does the work through us. His power flows through us. Paul wrote in Colossians 1:29, "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."

So, according to God's reckoning, we have His power working in us according to what He can do, not what we can muster up. 

Dick Brogden wrote, "We must approach prayer knowing that any answer is for the sake of the supplier, not the supplicant. This is a difficult lesson for us: to make prayer God-centric in answer as well as in petition."

Did you catch that? God is central to the answer as much as He is central to the supplication. How many times are we guilty of whining and begging before God, thinking we might use some magic word or mystical tear to tap into His graces? Do we view prayer as only a petition without thought of the God of vast supply available to those who believe? Are we so small that we think only of our puny selves kneeling in some fruitless exercise? Do we get hung up on trying to say it right, be right, or do right, so God will hear us? If so, we are praying with the wrong focus. Prayer isn't about us. That might be hard to swallow. 

Dick Brogden says, "All things, including answered prayer, are for the glory of God - not the glory of humanity. Everything that God does, He does for His own glory and purposes. Everything we do should also be for Him. The only reason this concept offends and unsettles us is because at our core we want to be the center of the universe. The sanctification process is a long lesson in embracing Jesus as the center."

When we grasp the truth that all we are, all we have, and even every petition we put forth are based on Him, prayer takes a different path. We pray, not focusing on what we can do, or what we can figure out, or what we think God should do, but we begin resting in who He is, what He has, and what He wills, according to His mercies, His riches, and His abundant supply for the answer to every prayer. 

He becomes central, capable, trustworthy, and all-powerful to answer according to Himself alone. 

Chew on this for a while, and next week, we will add to the thought according to what God has revealed in His Word!

Week Thirty - Three - Trampled in the Street

Speaking the truth is not always welcomed because the truth can be hurtful. It can also get in the way of people's goals or plans. Truth creates accountability and is a measure of integrity. It is beautiful, but it also stings.

In 1 Kings 22, Jehoshaphat and Ahab, after three years of peace, decide to take back the city of Ramoth from Syria. It sounds like a great day out! All 400 prophets agree. But Jehoshaphat asks, "Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him?" (1 Kings 22:7).

Much to Ahab's chagrin, the prophet Micaiah is called. Ahab's words were, "I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil."

The messenger pleads with Micaiah to agree with the words of the prophets. Still, Micaiah tells him, "As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak" (Vs. 14). 

Standing before the two kings, the prophet seems to be playing a game with Ahab as he says, "Go, go ahead and go to war." But Ahab isn't easily fooled, saying, "How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?" (Vs. 16).

Even though Ahab hated what Micaiah had to say, he still preferred the truth. Not one to be intimidated, Micaiah goes on to prophesy defeat and the death of Ahab. 

We face pressure every day to conform, keep quiet, and agree, but we must not succumb to these voices. We don't have to be beligerent, we just need to remain faithful. God will take care of the rest.

Dick Brogden writes, "God expects His people to do the dangerous work of trusting Him and remaining rooted in troubled environments."

Speaking the truth, standing firm, and graciously disagreeing can be a dangerous stance. But if we go with the flow, if we shy away from the truth, if we remain silent when God is wanting us to speak, we wash truth away. 

Truth is trampled, or as Isaiah 59:14 says, "Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street."

Someone must man the oars and guide the boat to safety. There must be those who hedge the gap, speak truth, and recognize that God is the majority. Macaiah was that man in his generation. Will you be the one in yours?

Week Thirty-Two - Stop Meddling

My sister and I were too curious for our own good. Hence, the words from our grandparents were, "Stop meddling." They were instructing us to stop poking into things around the house, but as we grew, the same instruction came if we drifted into gossip or surmising about others. "It's not your business, so stop poking your nose in. Stop meddling," was their advice. Have I always managed to follow it? Nope. And it has come back to bite me.

My Bible reading this past week was in 2 Kings. In chapter 14, Jehoash, king of Israel, and Amaziah, king of Judah, meet face-to-face, not for reconciliation, but for power. 

Amaziah, fresh from a great victory against Edom, thought he'd now take on Israel. Jehoash warned him this was not a good challenge, but Amaziah would not hear  (vs 11). The battle ends in a complete thrashing of Judah, resulting in the loss of all the gold, silver, and vessels in the Lord's house, along with all Amaziah's treasure, and a group of hostages taken by Israel.

Some things are better left alone, right? Picking fights, antagonizing others, or flexing our muscles doesn't mean we will win. There is always a cost to such actions. Amaziah lost it all. And when we create drama, stir situations, or show off, we are in danger of losing, too.

Meddling is when you insert your opinion without being asked. Meddling is when you dig for information that should be left private. Meddling occurs when you try to manage others without having the authority to do so. Meddling genders strife and sets people against you. It isn’t the way to win friends and influence people.

Ecclesiasticus 11:10 reads, My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing." (Please note, this quote is from Ecclesiasticus, not Ecclesiastes)  This is still good advice. Meddle not! 

God gives the same instruction to the children of Israel, "Meddle not with them," in Deuteronomy 2:5. And in Proverbs 24:21 we read, “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:”

Meddling puts you in danger of loss. You may lose friends, reputation, or even wealth. God says we are to mind our own business. That will keep us busy enough. 

Let's end with the instruction from 1 Thessalonians 4:11: "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands."

So, stop meddling!

Week Thirty One - Sowing for the Harvest

In July, Tom and I spent a long weekend in Cornwall, sharing time with two churches and five missionary families. What a blessing to see God moving there, planting new works, and bringing in more workers. Cornwall is a beautiful part of the country, and well worth a visit. But that wasn't what caught my attention. It was the testimony of one of the missionaries whose ministry underwent a significant transformation during Covid.

Bro Grissom and his wife have served the Lord in several places in England, but a few years ago, the Lord led them to plant a church in the city of Plymouth. They distributed flyers, knocked on doors, and did all the things a missionary does to get a church-plant off the ground, but not much was happening. Then came Covid, and the Lord told Bro. Grissom to begin the Ruth Project. God's instruction was to plant vegetables and give them away. So the soil was tilled, the seeds planted, and God gave the increase.

Bro Grissom has continued the Ruth Project for the past few years, but let me share with you his testimony. At one point, he began to grow weary of the planting and tending. He wasn't enjoying the work of gardening, even though things were growing well. A keen gardener visited his patch and made this statement, "You aren't a very good husbandman."

And the Lord used that comment to challenge Bro. Grissom. He was planting seeds, which were growing, and he was sharing with others, but he had missed the project's purpose. It wasn't about giving away vegetables; it was about reaping a harvest. And that harvest wasn't just the fruit of the ground; it was the souls reached by the Ruth Project.

As he talked with us about sowing seeds and sowing for a harvest, his heart burned with passion to explain the difference, a key difference that enabled a church to get off the ground and begin to grow.

When we sow for the harvest, we tend the seeds more carefully, guard them against pests, create frames for growth, and position them for sunshine. Sowing for the harvest means we are diligent, discerning, and disciplined. Seeds thrown to the ground will often grow, but those tended grow best. 

Perhaps it is time to reflect on the kind of husbandmen we are in God's ministry. Are we guilty of the same? Do we witness carelessly, throwing seed as if it were just something we have to do? Or do we witness with purpose, keeping the door open, leaving open questions that will lead to further opportunity? Do we hand out tracts like we're handing out candy? Or are we praying over the tracts and making sure the ones we distribute have a solid message? Are we sowing for the harvest or just throwing out seed?

Week Thirty - What's Cookin'?

A scripture I had never noticed before was brought to my attention in Dick Brogden's Live/Dead Devotional. Tucked away in 1 Chronicles 9:31, it reads, "And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans." Mattithiah was the kitchen manager!

Each Levite had an assigned role or position within the temple. Their tasks varied - some cleaned, some sang, and some, like Mattithiah, were entrusted with cooking.  

Cooking is one of my least favorite tasks. That eternal question, "What's for supper?" is a source of stress for me. Probably because I'm not a foodie. I eat because my body tells me I have to. However, for my husband and children, food is a top priority. We even make jokes about being in a room full of hangry (hungry and angry) Gritts's. It isn't a safe prospect! Therefore, mealtime must be tended to faithfully.

Back in 2019, I wrote about Angels in the Kitchen. This says it all.

"Mutter, mutter, mutter! I hear my heart grumbling as I slap toast into the toaster and wait for the kettle to boil. Slinging silverware to the table, I watch the bacon impatiently while I wait for the family to get downstairs.  “Why do I have to wait on these people hand and foot?  Why do they wait for me to scream up the stairs before they come down?  Can’t they smell the bacon and hear the kettle?”

Just as I get ready to take the cups to the table, the family spills down the stairs with excitement. “Why are they so happy?  Don’t they know how irritated I am being the only one down here getting things ready?” 

“Good morning,” they all chime. 
“Ump,” I groan as I butter the last piece of toast.
Once they are all out the door, I go to my quiet place for some solace and encouragement. It’s been another hard morning, and I am anxious to hear from the Lord.

Hebrews 13 is my reading. “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” 

“Well,” I thought. “I haven’t entertained strangers this morning, and I’m sure they are not angels.” Then, I heard the Lord reminding me of 1 Peter 4:9, “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.” 

“Okay, okay!”  So, I was a bit grumpy this morning. To be honest, I am grumpy at having to man the kitchen alone. I don’t like cooking. I don’t like the feeling of everyone expecting me to do it with no help. I’m sorry, but it is probably the task I despise most about housework.

I laid aside my Bible and picked up a little book I had been reading. The faded green cover revealed its age, and the writings were short excerpts, so maybe I could find some comfort there to lift my annoyance, but the Lord wasn’t going to let me off that lightly.  My eyes fell on:

  “In one of Murillo’s pictures in the Louvre, he shows us the interior of a convent kitchen; but doing the work there are beautiful white-winged angels instead of mortals in old garments. One shining spirit serenely puts the kettle on the fire, and one is lifting a pail of water with heavenly grace.
   One is reaching plates from the kitchen dresser, and there is also a little cherub running about and getting in the way while trying to help. It all serves to remind us that heaven is about us in our kitchen, and that God may help us with the most menial and humdrum tasks.” 
Adapted from Blessed Be Drudgery by Williams C. Grannett

“Well,” I continued to mutter, “there were no angels helping me today.”  Then, my eyes caught the next short thought in the faded green book, “There can never be a really happy home if there is trouble in the kitchen.”

I was guilty. I knew my bad attitude could spill over to the rest of the house. I wanted a happy home.  I felt I had a happy home, but my heart’s attitude and outward actions in the kitchen revealed something different.

“Lord, forgive me. Help me serve my family as unto you. Forgive me and change my heart and attitude. May my influence be one of genuine hospitality, coming from a heart of love and care. Help my family to overlook and forgive my selfishness and curt impatience. May grace and angelic presence abide in my heart, hearth, and home for your glory.”

Nearby, staring back at me in blank resolve was a tiny, white angel ornament recently made for me by an old friend. Was I going to allow angels into my kitchen?

I took the tiny angel and placed her near the sink as a reminder of my Lord’s instruction. Perhaps tomorrow morning, she will remind me that I am not alone in my kitchen, and serving my family, done as unto the Lord, does not go unnoticed.   

Excerpt from: Good in Everything by H.L. Gee, p 56 

Just as Mattithiah was entrusted with the kitchen, so am I. And the attitude with which I perform my duty matters. Dick Brogden wrote, "The evil you let into your heart will leap from you to your vulnerable ones." I don't want my family memories to be of an angry mother in the kitchen. What's cooking matters!

And that's not only about the physical food, but also the spiritual aspect.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Week - Twenty-Nine - Dry Times

Enter Elijah, the prophet who bravely announces three years of drought to King Ahab. He refers to the authority behind his proclamation, and throughout the chapter, we read phrases like "according to," "the word of the Lord," and "I have commanded." Amid the sin and idolatry of Ahab's society, Elijah speaks for God. 

This was a dry and dark time for those who followed the God of Israel. Prophets were hiding in caves, some were walking carefully among the people, and in the courts, it was not a safe time to be a believer. After Elijah's bold prophecy, God hides him by the brook Cherith and commands the ravens to feed him. Once the brook dries up, God commands a widow woman in Zeraphath to care for God's man. 

From the conversation, it seems she reluctantly offers Elijah hospitality, yet God cares for all of them by providing a never-ending source of oil and meal. But when her son falls ill and dies, she begins to doubt whether Elijah was indeed a genuine prophet. Elijah, too, seems to question God's action toward the widow woman, and cries to the Lord to restore the child. 

As the child stands again before his mother, her words are, "Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth" (vs 24).

Why tell this story today? Because dry times do come. There are times when following Christ is difficult, and sometimes downright scary. We might feel like hiding away. We may need discernment in how we present ourselves to others. We may be in a dry patch, feeling alone with God as our only companion, or we may be on the edge, living solely by faith in God's provision. 

But during dry times, we need not dry up on the inside. God's promises hold true. His Word remains and refreshes the thirsty soul. Continue doing what God has commanded. Speak for Him. Place your faith in Him, according to what He has said and how He has worked in the past. His integrity is impeccable. 

Serve, give, and love according to what He has directed, for there is the place of provision, protection, deliverance, and blessing. God will prove Himself faithful. Dry times are not dry to Him.

Week Twenty-Eight - He That Ruleth

God's direct mandate is, "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God."

Admittedly, few leaders attain this, whether in politics, education, or, sadly, even in the clergy. However, this principle of integrity and justice is admired and expected throughout the ranks of God's servants. 

For example, a father should be just and rule his home in the fear of God, and so should a mother. A pastor should be just and lead his church in the fear of God, as should all church leaders. A teacher should be just and manage their classroom in the fear of God. We could continue thinking of leadership positions that benefit from these two characteristics—justness and Godly fear.

Leadership makes us more accountable before God and others for our words and actions. It is foolish to think that we can flippantly do and say whatever we want simply because we hold a title or position. God will call us to account, so we'd best think before we speak or act. 

Dick Brogen, when speaking of leadership wrote, "If we enjoy pronouncing judgment, we are acting in the flesh and do not understand what it costs the Father to admonish His children. . . God employs an unyielding, unrelenting process to make holy those who would speak holiness." God takes the privilege of leadership seriously.

His mandate is found in 2 Samuel 23:3, "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." The remainder of the chapter recounts the exploits and bravery of David's mighty men of valor. This tells me that God recognizes justness and Godly fear at all levels of leadership and service. 

Given the current state of world politics, it may seem easy and warranted to point out the failures of world leaders. But that is not our responsibility. They will give an account, just as we will, before God. So let's not be too quick to point fingers. Let's use justness and Godly fear to examine our own lives first. Are we leading our homes well? Are we exhibiting good leadership skills in our workplace? Are we just with those under our care? Do we understand that all of us will give account unto God?

Humbling, isn't it? So, when and where God gives you a leadership opportunity, take it seriously. Your heavenly Father is watching.

Week Twenty-Seven - For Shame, For Shame

"Be careful, you'll fall in," were the last words I heard before I lost my balance and fell bottom-first into the freshly poured concrete. Embarassed, I raced for the house frantically holding my summer shorts as the concrete began to set. That wasn't the only shameful thing I have done, but I keenly remember feeling ashamed as I tried to salvage my dignity.

Dick Brogden says, "Shame is directly connected to self-consciousness. We were designed to live God-conscious lives, for there is no shame in Him. It is not so much that God wants us to stop thinking highly or lowly of ourselves—He wants us to not think of ourselves at all but to fix our eyes and attention on Him."

It was hard for me not to be self-conscious that day, but there is greater shame than experiencing a childhood accident. Shame comes when we realize we are sinners and the reality of our guilt overtakes our pride. Shame comes when we try to live a secret life or hide our mistakes. And, it comes when we face conviction on how self-centered we are to the exclusion of others and God. Shame exposes us.

Jesus endured shame for us. He was publicly beaten and humiliated. He hung indecently upon a cross, exposed to blasphemous ridicule. These shameful acts were done to Him, yet the Bible says, "Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2). He looked past shame to finished salvation and the restoring of His place beside the throne of God.

Brogden notes, "If Jesus' antidote to shame was the delight of intimacy with the Father, then ours should be the same." This will be key as we grow closer and closer to the Lord's return. "It will become less and less respectable to be a devoted follower of Jesus. Our future guarantees more scorn, more abuse, more disdain, and more shame... not less. We despise shame, not by avoiding it but by ignoring it as we fix our eyes on Jesus. Looking to Jesus clothes us, for when our eyes are fixed on Him, He clothes us with His righteousness. He covers all our shame."

I am reminded of Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." 

For the shame our Christ endured, we should not shy away, but draw ever closer to Him. And for the promise of forgiveness and shame removed, let us keep our eyes solidly on Him. 

Week Twenty-Six - Life on MIssion

My daughter used this book for a ladies' Bible study and recommended it. I ordered a copy and enjoyed it so much that I passed the book on to my pastor. 

Life on Mission is about understanding our God-given responsibility and privilege of living and sharing the gospel. It is about living purposefully for God's glory and discipleship—the cycle of learning and training that propagates the gospel and keeps the church alive and growing. The book ends with a simple breakdown of this process.

He writes,

I do; you watch.
I do; you help.
You do; I help.
You do; I watch.
You do; someone else watches.

As I reflected on my life, I saw this process in action. 

As a young child, I watched my pastors and other church leaders minister doing ministry. Then, doors of opportunity opened for me to help them in small areas of service. I took a roll in Sunday school, played the piano, and participated in church events.

After a while, I even took on some leadership by leading my youth group. It was so scary, but the leaders were there to help me succeed. 

Eventually, I began teaching a Sunday school class, and alongside me was a helper. My helper had already completed Bible College, and she and her husband were doing an internship with the church before going to the mission field. I was so intimidated by her, but my pastor assured me I was the leader and she was there to help me. She was very gracious and encouraging, even when I was ill-prepared or didn't know the answer. She would gently and kindly help me, and I grew to love teaching God's Word, and she became a dear friend whom I greatly admired for her faithful service.

Those years of training set the path of my ministry, and now I have come full circle. Those whose lives I have ministered into are repeating this process in others, and propagation of the Gospel, church growth, and discipleship are blossoming all around because when you live your life on mission, God gives the increase.

My sphere of influence differs greatly from where I began because God took me through this discipleship process. And friend, if we are living for Christ, we are all at some point in this process. "For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

Life on Mission is a read worth your time.

Week Twenty-Five - I Must Be

What did you want to be when you grew up? A nurse, a doctor, a singer, or a teacher? I never thought about that much when I was young, but as my teen years approached, I became more serious about this choice. I knew I wanted to do something that would help people, but I didn't know what that looked like. 

A nurse was off my list because I can't take gore. Singing wasn't possible because I realised my voice was too plain, and a teacher? Well, I didn't have the patience necessary. So as I looked around, I noticed one overriding interest - houses. I loved drawing house plans, so I began exploring becoming an architect. The sad thing was that women were not in that industry during my era, and my Dad informed me so. So that door seemed closed. I looked into the Peace Corps, but they required a degree, and my family didn't have money for college, so I felt like there was no real place for me in the workforce. What did I do? I got married.

It really was the best choice I have ever made. God was at work in my life, and I didn't even know it. I found Christ as my Saviour, and God called Tom into ministry. My job description was beginning to form. And I'm still working that same job and am very thankful for it.

I mention this because a devotion piqued my interest the other day. Dick Brogden was discussing being and doing from the first chapter of James, and he said, "You cannot be something without doing it."

And how true is that? If we say we are mothers, then we should be mothering or fathering, as the case may be. If we say we are Christians, then we should live and act like one. If we say we are servants of the Lord, then our willing service will be readily seen. If we say we are holy, we will live a holy life, and the comparisons could continue. 

To be legitimate, we must be doing what we see ourselves to be. Otherwise, we are hypocrites, fooling ourselves into believing we are something we are not. Obedience and faithfulness to where God has placed me, to the position I fulfill, and to the calling of God upon my life make me who I am.

But here's the blessed point of the devotion: "Anything good I do flows out of God's being and doing." I must be doing what God has given me to do, but even in my doing, it is He who gives the increase. It is He working through me to accomplish His will. And that counts for mothering, singing, nursing, teaching, and even every day living. I must be doing what I say I am.

Week Twenty-Four - A Sketchy Background

Jesus has a sketchy background. You might find that statement odd. He is the Son of God, perfect and holy. How could anyone say He had a sketchy background? 

When you run the genealogy of Jesus in the book of Matthew, you come across some rather dubious characters. The first two verses are kinda okay, but when you get to verse three, you are introduced to a man named Phares, sometimes spelled Pharez. Do you know his story? 

In Genesis 38, we are told that Pharez and his twin sister, Zarah, were the children of Judah. Their mother, Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked Judah into sleeping with her because he had been negligent in providing her another husband. Pharez's entry into this life was nothing to boast about. But he was recognized as the son of Judah, and when you read the genealogy of David in Ruth 4, you see that he is the grandfather of Boaz and, eventually, King David, Jesus' family line.

We really don't know much more about Pharez, except for the statement in Ruth 4:11-12. As Boaz makes his bid for Ruth, "And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: and let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman."

"Let thy house be like the house of Pharez?" Apparently, Pharez did not let his sketchy background inhibit him. He rose in leadership and was recognized a worthy son of Judah. He wasn't an accident. God had a purpose for his life.

Dick Brogden said, "When God assembles a team of insignificant people and wins with them, it is pretty obvious who is responsible for the victory." A sketchy background does not intimidate God. He specialized in using the unlikely. And He will use you, never doubt it.

Week Twenty-Three - Pressing Needs

Are you like me? Anxious to see how things will work out? Impatient with the process? Annoyed by waiting? I don't consider myself impatient, but I do grow weary of standing in line when things are taking too long or dealing with issues that seem to have no resolution. On the other hand, I also understand the joy of being patient and seeing God at work, and I have enough road behind me to see the wisdom of waiting.

Let me share one of my waiting experiences. Back in 2004, we were facing a financial shortfall, to put it lightly. We were already in debt, but took on a second mortgage to keep us on the field. That fixed things for a while, but the exchange rate jumped, and things got tighter and tighter.  I began asking God for a miracle. 

Sometimes, the weight of the debt grew so heavy that I found myself in tears and real fear, but each time I came to the Lord, His word to me was, "Wait."

Oh, I didn't want to do that. I wanted this off my hands. I prayed and prayed for another ten years, and still, there was no relief. We pulled our belts tight, and God carried us through, but we could not resolve this mortgage. Meanwhile, God gave me Psalm 119:49 to hang on to. It reads, "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope."

I heard God telling me to wait. I knew He placed in my heart the realization that He had already answered, but the time wasn't now. So I wiped my tears and rested, hoped, and believed His word to me as I continued to serve. I can't tell you how often I had to return to that verse. I repeated it when the debt overwhelmed me. I'd pray it as I pleaded before the Lord, knowing He always honors His Word.

As we moved into 2020, it still lingered. All our other debt was gone, but this one remained.

God continued to say, "Wait." I kept praying and watching to see how He would help us resolve this problem. I knew He would and only He could, so I waited for Him.

Now, I had prayed from 2004 to 2023, but let me drop back to 2003, before the mortgage. My mother passed away. My inheritance was a rental house. We owned it clear and free, and the income from it we used to clear other debt, keep ourselves afloat, and try to keep up the property. We planned to use it for retirement.

So, in 2023, while still praying about the mortgage, God said, "Now it is the time. Sell that house and clear the mortgage."

"What," I said, "Sell the house?"

"Yes," God said, "It has completed the job I needed it to do, and now this is My answer. Use the funds to clear your mortgage."

I thought I'd be really sad to see the house go, but I wasn't. God's hand was all over it.

The renter wanted to purchase it without any inspections. Our property manager was also an estate agent and managed the sale, only charging us 3%, and things went incredibly smoothly. The mortgage was cleared, and we still had money to invest for retirement. A win, win! 

The sigh of relief and the joy of knowing God had directed the whole thing felt wonderful. I give all glory to Him. My waiting paid off, and what did I learn? God always answers prayer. Wait, is an answer.

In Ruth 3:18, Naomi instructs Ruth to wait, saying, "Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day."

Friend, Christ, your kinsman redeemer, sees your need, and when you bring it to Him and lay it at His feet, He blesses and assures you He will answer. He does not slumber nor sleep in His care and attention to you. You can sit still, knowing He is working on your behalf.

If you have a pressing need today, take yourself to the feet of the altar and ask the Lord to work. You'll go away blessed and anticipating His answer, even if He says, "Wait."

Week Twenty-Two - Under His Wings

Psalm 139 is one of my favorite Psalms because I always find comfort and joy in its description of how much God is involved in the tiny, everyday details of my life. His intimate attention and care are truly too marvelous to comprehend. 

Dick Brogden, in his devotional Live/Dead, speaks of Psalm 139, saying, "It unveils the joys of being fully known."

God knows us, so we do not need others to know us; we rest in who we are in Christ without seeking extra attention from others. 

God knows us, so we keep no secrets from Him, for He knows everything, and we need not fear exposure. 

God knows us, so we are free, hedged in by His love, and under His everlasting wings.

As we continue Ruth's journey from last week, we left her traveling to Bethlehem with Naomi. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, she is steadfast in her determination, venturing with God. As the Lord would have it, Ruth goes out to glean for food and finds herself in the field of Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi. 

God will not disappoint Ruth, for her testimony of kindness and faithfulness to her mother-in-law has gone before her, and Boaz shows her generous favor. Ruth casts herself upon God, and God will not disappoint her.

When we cast our all upon God, trusting fully in Him, He will not fail us either. Whether we need sustenance, encouragement, forgiveness, or strength, He meets us right where we are and provides for our every need. His provision is a testament to His care for us, moving every circumstance for our benefit. 

In Ruth 2:12, Boaz says to Ruth, "The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." Ruth's steadfast mind placed her in favor with everyone around her, and God wraps His wings of protection and divine providence around her. 

Psalm 84:11 reads, "No good thing will he withhold from them who walk uprightly." To walk uprightly means to live in a manner that is pleasing to God, following His commandments and living a life of integrity. God always rewards faithfulness, and the faithful are always under His wings for protection and provision. 

"Walking by faith is not a blind walk; it is a confident, assured stride based on the knowledge of God's Word, character, and promises." (Gail Gritts)

Where are you on your spiritual walk? Are you venturing by faith with God? Do you recognize His presence, and are you assured of His protection? Do you, like Ruth, understand that you are "under whose wings thou art come to trust?"

Week Twenty-One - Steadfastly Minded

Stubbornness is most often seen in a negative context. It could be because it frequently comes with an ungracious attitude. But if we change the word from stubborn to steadfast, we have a similar quality but with a more positive context. Let me show you what I mean. 

If someone said,  "Sheer stubbornness caused him to refuse to admit his mistake." We would believe the person to be unyielding and proud. But if we changed the sentence to read, "His steadfastness caused him to hold his position," we'd have more admiration for his stance.

Being steadfast-minded means having a firm, unwavering resolve and focus, not easily swayed by doubt, fear, or external pressures, and remaining steadfast in one's beliefs, decisions, or actions. Steadfast people are mentally strong and resilient, holding firmly to their convictions. This does not mean they are unapproachable or unwilling to consider others' opinions, but they will judge decisions by a consistent set of rules or principles.

Let's consider Ruth's example of steadfastness. Ruth 1:18 reads, "When she (Naomi) saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her." As the story goes, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem after the death of her husband and two sons. Ruth, her daughter-in-law, decides to go with her, and though Naomi gives several reasons for Ruth to remain, Ruth's heart is steadfastly minded about going with Naomi.

Why was Ruth so determined to push forward? Maybe she deeply loved Naomi and felt concerned about her traveling alone. Maybe she had no family to return to, or maybe she believed God had more for her in a new place. For whatever reason, Ruth was steadfastly minded to push forward.

Oswald Chambers said, "When God gives a vision, transact business on that line no matter the cost." That's what Ruth did, and that's what we must do. When God opens the door, we must go through with a steadfast mind, set on completing our assignment by faith. We should not waver, turn back, or be double-minded.

1 Corinthians 15:58 exhorts us, "Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 

As much as Ruth is an example of steadfastness, Balaam is an example of stubbornness. He kept pushing forward to a mission of his own choice, and as he struck the donkey, God used the poor animal to point out the folly of his stubbornness.

So, are you stubborn or steadfast? One holds great reward, and the other sure folly. 

Week Twenty - Mouth to Life Resuscitation

Oh, how powerful are our words. With one unguarded comment, we wound, and with one considered comment, we heal. Dick Brogen calls words weapons of mass destruction.

God is not silent about the power of our words and often warns us to speak softly, thoughtfully, and with purpose, because our words reveal the true intent of our hearts. The book of James reminds us that our tongues set things on fire and are virtually impossible to tame. With our words, we bless God, and with our words, we curse others. 

But that should not be the way we speak. James 3:10 says, "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."

We discover so much about our words in Scripture, but let's give one more thought before we continue.  Ephesians 4:29 reads, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." This is a great measure for words. Is it corrupt? Then don't say it. Will it build someone up? Then don't withhold it.

Dick Brogen wrote, "Praising God and encouraging others is the opposite of tongue death - these are mouth-to-life resuscitation."

And oh, how people need to hear words of life today. The internet and news are full of negative, damaging words. People seem to believe that freedom of speech means they can say whatever hurtful or hateful things come to their mind with no accountability. But let's not be deceived, Jesus said we will give account of every idle word (Matthew 12:36). 

If we are haphazard or unchecked in our speech, we are unwise and damaging to those around us. God will hold us accountable. How much better to be a life-giver? To seek ways to defuse anger, sow unity, and seek peace rather than to blaze words of fire into situations?

Psalm 34:14 contains the phrase, "Seek peace and pursue it." By our words, we can do this. We can give mouth-to-life resuscitation to those gasping for a kind word. We can bring peace to a situation when we pre-judge our words and follow Scriptural instructions.

Our words should bring hope, joy, and even challenge, pointing the receiver to Christ. How are you doing with that these days?

Week Nineteen - Plundering

Tom and I are in a new era. We are not retired, but our ministry has shifted to a different sphere. We are now the old veterans. It is our joy and pleasure to encourage, mentor, and support those now in leadership. Tom used to refer back to the passage in Numbers 9:25, which says the Levitical priests were to move into this type of ministry at 50. Well, he couldn't move there at that age, but he has finally arrived there! It is a joy and a privilege to see the church grow, to watch people move forward with the Lord, and to know that there will be fruit that remains long after we are gone. They are our "crown of rejoicing" (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

Dick Brogden brooched this idea in our devotional reading this past week. He wasn't talking about sitting back and watching things; he was challenging older believers to keep venturing and plundering. Using the story of the lepers in 2 Kings 7, who went into the city to find the enemy gone and everything free for the taking, he said, "Jesus delights over senior citizens who spend their golden years 'plundering' the nations through prayer, visitation, and outreach."

We aren't supposed to just sit and wait to die; we are to still be about our Father's business and out there venturing by faith. There is a great need for people who have walked with God to continue walking in prayer for the church, the leadership, and the growth of the younger ones. There is wisdom under the grey heads that can be brought to bear for those struggling, in need of encouragement, or just a kind word. There is still outreach that can be done best by those a little further down the road, and there is financial, verbal, and physical giving that can be done by the more mature who understand the grace of giving in tangible ways.

Then he wrote, "It is criminal for Jesus' followers, who are amply supplied, to sit in holy huddles while vast collections of people have no access to or news about the Living Bread...they should be calling out to the gatekeepers that there is life, deliverance, and hope." 

Those lepers could not contain their discovery. They recognized that to do so would be wrong. In 2 Kings 7:9, they said, "We do not well: this day is the day of good tidings, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household."

If you are an older Christian, let me challenge you to not sit in "holy huddles." Don't separate yourself from the life of the church. Get out there and mingle with the young ones. Share your story, share hope, and plant hope in their lives. It will bring fresh life to your soul. Be flourishing in the courts of the Lord (Psalm 92:13-14). Keep your light shining and keep plundering and venturing by faith. 

Week Eighteen - Make Some Noise!

My devotion book this year is Live/Dead by Dick Brogden. Our dear friends, Ken and Carrie Liles, recommended it, and we have not been disappointed! Today, I want to share some quotes I have copied out. I hope they bless your heart and challenge you as they did me.

Dick Brogden writes, "We pass God's tests by obedience, not by performance. He is measuring us by how much of our heart He controls. The obedience of the missionary is linked to the obedience of faith of the nations."

Though we often fail to see the link, blessings are always on the other side of obedience. Our obedience is not just about our own blessings, either. As we obey the Lord, our obedience results in blessing for others. When we obey in witnessing, others hear the gospel. When we obey in giving, others take the gospel. When we obey in prayer, others are empowered to spread the gospel.

So my thoughts that day were on obedience and the eternal fruit it produces.

But here is a longer quote that really caught my imagination.

"Enemy forces feed on and are fed by fear. Fear inside errant ideologies is what drives them and energizes them. Gideon was allowed to sneak into the Midianite camp in order to hear their fear (Judges 7:10-13). The enemy realizes that a rolling barley loaf would "tumble" into town and knock down their tents. We are that barley loaf - we clumsily roll down a hill in all our weakness, and God amazingly uses us to defeat His enemies. False ideologies intrinsically know they cannot win. What are we afraid of, then? Let's roll!

We have to make some frontier noise. The enemy is not intimidated by whispers. It is the shouting, the breaking of pitchers, the blowing of trumpets, the sudden light in the darkness that surprises and routs the enemy (Judges 7:18-20). We have to open our mouths despite the risks and the superiority of the foe. It is the unexpectedly bold proclamation that strikes fear into the heart of our enemy."

Fear surrounds us, causing uncertainty and apprehension, and that is exactly what the enemy wants. However, in the Bible references mentioned in the quote, it is the enemy experiencing fear. They feared the power of the God of Israel. They knew they would not win, yet their fear motivated them to seek to destroy Israel.

It reminds me that the enemy knows God's judgment is coming, but he still defies Him. Fear makes them irrational.

We, however, are not to cower but stand by faith and proclaim the gospel boldly. Our lack of fear is exactly what unnerves the enemy. 

Tom and I began discussing this, and we thought of times when God led us to hold our peace in the middle of a commotion. Our quietness and resolve did not make sense to the enemy, but for us, it was a gentle calm, full of assurance that God was fighting for us. And there have been other times when we had to make some noise, speak the truth, and stand for the defense of the gospel. 

There is a time to be obediently silent and a time to make some noise! 

Week Seventeen - His Lingering Presence

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about the word continually. As I usually find, God was not finished developing His thoughts. He brought me back again to the word abiding and began combining the two. I'm going to share what spilled out into my journal.

"The word abide captured me yesterday. As a reminder, I cut the word out of paper and pasted it over the doorway in my office. Then, Dick Brogden's devotion powerfully related to abide. He was talking about glorying in the presence of Jesus and wrote, "stop everything and linger in the glory cloud - the tangible presence of Jesus."

I've known this presence - the nearness of the Lord, the hushed praise as tears fall and I feel His arms around me. Such precious times. I long for them more and more, and not just for the experience, but the relationship, the knowing that He is with me. How precious to awaken to it, to know it as I look into the Word, and to see and feel it in church, and at times throughout the day - this is abiding. This is His tangible lingering presence.

Dick Brogden writes, 'David lifted a cry of longing for us all: "Oh, when will You come to me?" ( Psalm 101:20) We know we belong to Jesus, yet we long for more of Him. We struggle with the "plague" of our own hearts ( 2 Kings 8:38). Our sin and flesh cloud our spirits and make it seem that God is remote, clouded, and veiled. Hunger for God is itself a grace for it is God who "inclines our hearts to Himself" (1 Kings 8:58). Our hearts are often blurred by self and sin, yet we long for Jesus to come to us in renewed vitality. What wonder that God puts the desire for Himself within us. We do not have to manufacture passion, for we only pervert it when we try. Rather, by faith we trust that God will give us a desire for more of Him and will fulfill that desire. . . God often has to withhold His sweet presence in order for us to hunger for Him. He does not do this capriciously; for our folly requires it. Nothing makes us hunger for the Master's table like wallowing in the mire with pigs for a while. God helps us hunger for Him by allowing us to experience how unsatisfying everything else is.'

Nothing compares to Jesus's presence. Nothing is of more value than the Living Word of God—Christ Jesus. This reminds me of Proverbs 3:15, which talks about wisdom and understanding, and Jesus is wisdom personified. The verse says, "She (speaking of wisdom or He, Christ) is more precious than rubies, and all things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her."

Lord, may I continually abide in your presence. Throughout this day, which is your gift to me, may I enjoy it and be thankful, for it is the day You have planned for me. Abide with me and cause me to abide with You, to linger in your presence."

Week Sixteen - Thoughts on Holy Week

I'm on social media daily, posting a thought or an encouragement, and others are doing the same thing. Often, we share each other's posts, but today I wanted to not simply share a picture but talk about two special ones that gave me fresh thoughts about Easter week.

The first read, "Jesus didn't say, 'I am finished.' He said, 'It is finished.' He was just getting started" (Tony Evans). 

Oh, what joy in that statement, that truth. The cross was not the end of Jesus; it didn't defeat Him. He came to give Himself for us on that cross. The cross was the goal, not the punishment. Jesus' mission was finished, but He was not!

Dick Brogden's statement stopped me in my tracks. He said, "The agony of the cross was felt (by God) before the creation of the world and will be felt long after re-creation. An eternal God bears eternal wounds." 

I'd never considered God being so acutely affected by the cross, but since Jesus is God, the idea of coming in human form and experiencing the pain of sin would be a wound shared equally for all eternity. 

So what was finished? The cross completed God's promise of restoration for mankind. Now, it is time to do our part: to accept Christ's sacrifice and be restored to God. That part, our part, is still ongoing. Have you done that?

The other post that caught my attention stated, "This week wasn't just history. It was His heart saying, 'I'll go first, I'll pay it all. My love for you is this deep.'" And that's what He did. 

Christ's sacrifice on Calvary paid in full the cost of our sins, the punishment we deserve, and the price of redemption. He went there so we didn't have to. 

And He didn't have to! He went because of love, a love we find hard to understand and sometimes hard to accept. We could never pay the penalty of our sin and find forgiveness without the immeasurable love of Christ. Sin demands punishment, and the book of Romans tells us that the "wages of sin is death." So when Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world and died, that payment was complete.

If you fail to accept His offering, you will pay the wages of your sin. Eternal death is the price. How odd that anyone would refuse such an offer. 

This Holy Week is a great time to meditate on what Christ did. It is a time of humble praise and wonder that God would send His only begotten Son to die on a cross for people who reject and scorn His sacrifice.

And if you have not yet yielded your stubborn and prideful heart to the loving compassion of Christ, this is a good week for you to lay down your will and give way to His deep and sacrificial love for you.

Week Fifteen - Continually

Several years ago, I journeyed through the Bible, exploring individual words. My meditation, research, and journaling resulted in my 50 Bible Words book (I've put a link below), and, Lord willing, I have another book of 50 More Bible Words coming out later, drawn from that same journey. 

Today, the Lord again brought to my attention the beauty and power of meditating on individual words. The word He pointed out was continually. Psalm 71, vs. 3, reads, "Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort." Vs. 6 says, "My praise shall be continually of thee." Vs. 14, But I will hope continually."

The habit of praise, hope, and security is uplifting and full of spiritual comfort. God's faithfulness and immutability mean we can continually come to Him. He is always there, never leaving or forsaking us, no matter our circumstances.

Dick Brogden wrote, "Conflict with the enemy and comfort from God are both continual. Our response is continual praise." 

While I agree that the enemy is always at work, I don't want to look at life like that. I try to avoid the enemy and keep him away from my home and mind. But I had to agree, he is always lurking in the shadows, but my God lives in the light! I can continually come to Him for comfort and assurance. He always has my back, and I can praise Him even in the darkness because He is light - in Him, there is no darkness!

He is my habitation, where I escape the world and the enemy. He is that strong tower where I can run in and be safe. I can continually go there. He never tires of me!

Praise is not just a comforting habit; it's a powerful weapon against the enemy. He can't linger when I sing praise to God, quote Scripture, or even confess my sins. These actions repel the enemy, so God's praise is continually on my lips, empowering me in my spiritual journey!

And hope? It's not just a fleeting feeling; it's a constant companion in every circumstance, for God is fully able. Even when things don't work out the way I think they should, there is still hope, as my God knows all things and works all things according to the purpose of His will (Ephesians 1:11). Because my hope is in Him, I yield to His sovereignty and wisdom continually.

Dick Brogden beautifully portrays Psalm 71, 'God is our continual refuge, our continual strength, and our continual comfort.' God's faithfulness and continuance are our secure foundation. Embrace the spirit of praise today, and let Him be your refuge, strength, and continual comfort, providing you with a sense of security and reassurance on your spiritual journey.

50 Bible Words:  https://a.co/d/b6JeSs2