Kingdom Work

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem!
Rejoice in the Lord your God!
For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness.
Once more the autumn rains will come,
as well as the rains of spring…

“Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike.
And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth—
blood and fire and columns of smoke.
The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives.
But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,…” Joel 2:23, 28-32 (NLT)

This has been a favorite Scripture of mine. While it is certainly for the time and people that the prophet Joel was speaking, it has also been a divine promise that I have grabbed on to during some very difficult times.

I have felt the dry burning desert of time when I felt I was being tested. I have wondered if God remembered that He sent me out there! Then when it seems I am at the end of my rope (yes, I tied a knot in it and was hanging on!), God sends a cool, refreshing rain. It may have been verses like these. It may have been an unexpected blessing that only I knew was a cry from my heart. My Father didn’t forget me.

“Then” God gives me promises of what is to come. I weep thinking that God would use me, you, our children to continue His extraordinary Kingdom work.

He will use dreams and visions. This is where many may pull the covers over their heads. God is going to use means that are – difficult to quantify and often do not fit into our church programs and human preconceived ideas. The prophet records God’s words and they are scary. The sun goes dark and the moon turns to blood red. God says when He comes it will be a “great and terrible day”. Frankly I think that when God appears ‘great’ and ‘terrible’ may come to my mind.

And then comes the “But”. EVERYONE who calls on God will be rescued from the eternal fire. Everyone. God, great and terrible, is Savior. He is the only One who can save us, His children. He is the only One who can make promises and be trusted to keep His promises.

I believe that the future will be hard. I believe this world will continue to deteriorate. I believe that God is trying to teach me to believe beyond what my human eyes and mind can verify with science. I believe that I will have to lean on my relationship with God that He is building with me every day. I will use faith, trust, and hope in my every day language. God is doing Kingdom work and I want to be a part of that.

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Like A Child

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.” Mark 9:33-37 (NLT)

When you were a child, did you ever get caught with your hand in the proverbial cookie jar?  I mean really caught in the cookie jar?  My mom was a great cook!  At Christmas, she was the Master Cookie Maker!  The cookies weren’t these pretty little one bite, fancy, petite things!  Oh, no!  They were the 2-inch diameter, medium thick, gooey, golden and wonderful things!!!  Well, up until the day I left home at age 22 – the temptation was too great to stay out of the containers that Mom would fill with her Christmas cookies!  Quietly going into the kitchen while Mom was in the basement washing clothes – carefully lifting the lid on the jar – slowly and carefully putting my little fingers around 2 (I was greedy!) of those fat cookies and carefully lifting my hand out of the jar —  I can’t wait so I put one in my mouth and ease down and away from the high counter.  “Jo! What are you doing?” (How did she know these things??!!)  “mgh…nuthin’, Mom!”  Ever try to talk around a mouthful of cookie?!!

OK.  I was caught with one cookie in my mouth and another in my hand and I still lie!!! Dumb! At least the disciples kept quiet – and lied by omission!!!  No improvement there in God’s eyes!  God sees me in my sin, big or small, and because He loves me – pricks me with His question to allow me to confess and repent.  The sin is covered. I learned from the experience and move on.  But no!  I have to usually compound the problem by lying or denying the sin and so it becomes an open door into a bigger sin.  By bigger, I mean sin that leads me into a greater distance from the Father because each time I find it easier to ignore the ‘prick’ of the Holy Spirit to turn from my sin and repent and turn to the Father’s side.  It’s a slippery slope!

A little child is easily chastised in their disobedience.  Their heart is tender and desires so much to please their parents.  Tears of remorse come easily along with a trembling, “I’m sorry, Daddy.  I won’t do it again.”

A pre-teen or teenager begins to learn about self and when chastised will raise their chin and look up with defiant eyes.  Silence, excuses, or lies come more easily.  “I’m sorry” is given more to avoid punishment and without a true heart change.

An adult will turn in anger with the initial question of their actions.  The body language becomes aggressive and the denial is quick and hot!

Yes, Jesus lifts a little child up as the example of a true disciple.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:10-12 (NLT)

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FREEDOM ISN’T FREE

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this to indicate how he was going to die. John 12:23-33 (NLT)

One of the highlights of my birthday this year was shaking the hand of a young man (Oh, how young he looked!) who had just returned from his tour of duty. In fact, his parents had just picked him up from the airport. He mentioned being in Kuwait so I wondered if he had been part of the last Army units to leave Iraq. I thanked him for his service; for protecting my children and grandchildren and rejoiced with his parents that he was home safe.

Interesting word, “Freedom”.  When I think of the word and what it means in my heart, it is being free from oppression or enslavement.  But “freedom” isn’t “FREE”, is it?  History shows us clearly that “freedom” comes with a price.  The price is usually paid through the lives of our loved ones, sons or daughters, fathers, mothers, and spouses.
It cost Jesus everything, didn’t it?  His life, yes.  But it also cost Him what He valued most – His life with the Father.  When He took on my sins, He could no longer be in unity with the Father. It is hard for me to understand but Jesus had never not been with the Father and the Spirit. They had always been One. And yet God loved me, long before I loved Him; loved me so much that He would give all so that I could live free of the sin that entangles and binds me from living (Hebrews 12).

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”     Matthew 27:45-46 (NLT)

When I look at the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa and see the lack of freedom that I so take for granted, and listen to the stories of the elders in Hungary when I was there, I come back to the USA and I fall to my knees in thanksgiving for the gift that I was given by just being born here.

When I see people struggling to understand this life and all that is going on without the assurance of Jesus in their life, I fall to my knees in thanksgiving for the gift of mercy that Jesus has extended to me and I extend my arms out with the prayer that the mercy will just flow right through me and be received by those I love and those I have even yet to meet.

Freedom isn’t free.  Jesus paid it all.

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Nothing Else

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children. The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,    ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:1-12 (NLT)

There are so many things to ponder about this passage. The church leadership being “disturbed” by the ‘troubling’ experience that the disciples were sharing. Jesus rose from the dead. Here we are 2000 years later and often church leaders are still “disturbed” about Scripture that can not be contained and explained and generally controlled. God as an intimate, all-powerful, and passionately loving Father can be unsettling when I accept Him and enter into a relationship with Him! Hmmm – 5,000 people accepted and believed! Now that is Church growth!

No other name but Jesus.  That’s it …believe in Jesus.  Peter takes a page from Jesus’ style and doesn’t initially answer the council’s question. He poses one of his own. Revealing that the council isn’t ignorant of the Who but is actually more afraid of the What that came from the Who! Someone was healed in a ‘can’t-be-explained-away’ fashion. That bothered the leadership because they definitely wanted to explain Jesus away! But then Peter gives the clear answer: It’s about Jesus and the Good News. Salvation from the judgment that I deserve, the death that I deserve, comes only from believing in Jesus.  Believe that Jesus is who He said He is.  Believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  Believe that Jesus did what He said that He did.  Believe that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today.  That’s it.

Oh, how we want to make it more complicated and make ourselves seem more exalted by trying to make this ‘Jesus Club’ more exclusive. Some would say that you can’t be an alcoholic and really be ‘saved’.  Some would say that if I do not go to church every Sunday then I can’t really know Jesus.  I don’t read those mandates as the ‘exclusive’ in Scripture.  In some ways, it would make my life easier because then I could just have this list of rules and if I checked them off – then my relationship with God would be – limited and more easily defined, wouldn’t it?  Unfortunately, my Jewish brothers and sisters have already proven that a list of rules and regulations do not work. I cannot keep track of all the rules much less obey all of them. The laws, the commandments, are the light from God to lead me in obedience. Jesus did not abolish those laws but He came to cover us with His Blood so that when we fail, which we will, we have His atonement, His perfect sacrifice, to cover us and extend His mercy that forgives us. Jesus said that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” and that I can only come to the Father – through Him (John 14:6).  He didn’t say I could earn my way if I did … other things or did not do… others.  I was just to believe Jesus.

Living an obedient life, desiring to live to glorify God, putting my wants behind what God wants for me, and bringing myself along side God’s plan for my life that’s what I choose to do after Jesus saved me.  I choose to do these things because I love Him after He loved me.  There isn’t any way for me to get ahead of God and some how earn my salvation.

Salvation is a free gift.  Salvation is believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  No more but also no less.  It would be laughable if it wasn’t so pathetic how I struggle and work to make my relationship to God more complicated and difficult than it is.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord?  Then we will have all eternity to worship our extraordinary Lord and praise Him for what He has done for us! All the other ‘stuff’ – well, let’s let God sort all that and let Him handle the details since He handles everything so well!

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Who Do I Know? Who Do I Trust?

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head.

When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron. 1 Samuel 17:41-52 (NLT)

How did David know that God was going to give him Goliath? How did he have the courage to go out in the middle of a battle field and face the biggest guy he had ever seen? Alone! God did not bring about this victory in a ‘usual’ way. Saul tried to give David his armor and sword. That would be the usual way to win the combat. God showed David how to put the giant down to his level. Then David took the giant’s own sword and killed him with it. The very thing that Goliath put his trust in – was what brought his demise. Another lesson for me to learn. Where do I put my trust?

David knew God.  God was not a casual acquaintance of David’s.  David spent a lot of time with God every day.  David even sang to the Lord, making up little songs that expressed his joy and yes, even his doubts and questions.  They had built a relationship and it was built on trust.  This relationship had not come quick and had not come easy.  If I am totally willing – it could be quick and easy.  I am the one who has to give up past experiences and see God for who He is.

David also knew based on his past life experiences.  God had given him the strength to kill a lion that was attacking his sheep.  David could count on God in life-threatening situations.

David also knew based on the traditions of His forefathers.  He had heard the stories of generations before he was even born!

O my people, listen to my instructions.

Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
We will not hide these truths from our children;

we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.       Psalm 78:1-4 (NLT)

Let us walk with confidence into this day, knowing that our Lord is faithful and has already gone before us!

Posted in 1 Samuel, Psalms | Comments Off on Who Do I Know? Who Do I Trust?

My Anchor

Posted on October 15, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

My mother was born in 1919. Today she is celebrating the day of her birth in heaven.

In her earthly lifetime, she saw many changes in her home.  Electricity was probably the biggest as well as too many appliances to count including the microwave.  Transportation went from a horse/mule to cars to planes to landing on the moon.

My mother was also Catholic.  She saw many changes in her denomination including a service that went from Latin to English and in the last few years, Bible study and healing services.  Yes, she lived through many changes.

I, too, have seen many changes in my life – most are subtle and, yes, I would say insidious.  There has always been electricity and telephones – it has just moved into fiberoptics, 4G, iPads. Communication has went from a few days by postal mail to instant messaging and Skype. I have always went to movies. It is more difficult to find one that has an interesting storyline that is not completely overshadowed by special effects that are digitally created. Most are too violent and pornographic for my grandchildren so, frankly, I don’t need to see them either.

Changes – some big – some – not so big.

What can I count on?  Who’s word can I trust?

Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.
Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.
Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.
If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.
I am yours; rescue me!
For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments.
Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit. Psalm 119:89-96 (NLT)

I can count on God.  He is First and Last.  He is eternal.  He has always been and He will always be.  Period.

How do I know this?

Looking for happiness?  My Heavenly Father desires to give me good gifts.  He gave His only Son so I would have eternal life. Matthew 7:7-11, John 3:16-17, James 4:2-3,

Looking for a spouse?  God brought my husband to me. I was not looking. In fact, I was content in my life. Henry was content in his life. God had a plan. A perfect plan and it would be wonderfully executed with the diverse gifts that He had given Jody and Henry. (And I think it was an added side benefit to Him to watch our stunned faces as we realized His call to both of us!) We have both learned a lot about God and about our relationship to Him through each other. Ephesians 5:21, Philippians 2:1-4, 4:8, Colossians 3:18-19

How do I raise my kids?  God knows the importance of honoring my father and mother and that parents should not frustrate their children. Do I walk what I say to them? Do I encourage, empower, and educate them in the LORD? Do I pray for them without ceasing? Colossians 3:20-21, 1 Timothy 4:11-16, 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Each day is different.  Each day has changes.  Jesus is the anchor that I can count on to hold me steady in any storm.

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.        Hebrews 6:16-20 (NLT)

I celebrate your birthday today, Mom. You showed me Who was the anchor in your life.

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Beautiful Feet

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!
The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for before their very eyes
they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem.              Isaiah 52:7-8 (WEB)

When I think of a messenger in Isaiah’s time I think of a person who walks barefoot, or at best in sandals, over dusty or muddy roads.  He/she has calluses and hasn’t seen a pedicure in their life! “beautiful feet”?

There are ‘watchpersons’ in my life who truly do have “beautiful feet”.  Some have young smooth feet. There are many young people who speak such wisdom to me! They see the world and God’s children with passion and a fearlessness that I do not want to lose. Some have feet with arthritic joints. These feet have traveled many, many roads. I am awed at the precious nuggets of wisdom and experience that these messengers have brought to me. Some have feet of color, bringing essential and diverse news to me that I would otherwise be without.  They are all beautiful because they bring me God’s Good News just when I need it.  Some are leaders, teachers, but more importantly they are brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.  They are the ones who come when I am at the end of my rope.  Many times they don’t know my need but they are obedient to the message they have been given and obedient to deliver it!

I was thinking of a particular incident this morning when God’s Good News came to me at just the moment I needed to hear it.  I ran the scenario of what might have happened or the road I might have walked if that Good News had not come to me because the messenger was ‘afraid’ to deliver it or was too ‘tired’ or the hundred other excuses that I have heard in my head from my flesh or the enemy when I have been given a message to give.

I lift up these messengers of God who have been faithful and I ask the Lord to return to them a thousand fold for what they have brought to me.  I also lift up those who have struggled in the message and the delivery and ask our merciful Father to strength their feeble limbs as He has strengthened mine.

[Jesus said,] “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” John 13:15-17 (NLT)

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Posted on October 13, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

God of Seasons

“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.”   Leviticus 26:3-5 (NLT)

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 2 Timothy 4:1-4 (NLT)

It is a beautiful time of year here on the Gulf Coast. The temperatures are mild. The humidity is lower. My windows are open to let in a lovely breeze. Hurricane season is almost over for the year. My kind of year!

God speaks to us in metaphors we can understand. I grew up on a farm. Rain was essential to the bounty of a crop. As a child sometimes I didn’t like rain because that meant I could not go outside and play. In the summer months, however, it was wonderful to run out in the rain and jump in puddles! The winter snows were also essential to the harvest as the cold killed many insects that when we had ‘mild’ winters the bugs would come back and destroy a crop! The winter hibernation period in the land is part of the cycle that may cause fruit to be more abundant in the next summer.

God is a God of seasons.  This characteristic is one of encouragement and hope for me.  When I am going through a season of tremendous pressure, I know that it is a season and will come to an end.  HALLELUJAH!  Of course there is the other side of the season.  During a time of great peace or spiritual growth, I know that there is a time coming where I will need to apply what I have learned in this season.  HALLELUJAH!
Just as I enjoy spring and fall more than summer or winter, so I enjoy my spiritual seasons of growth (spring) and relief from the refiner’s fire (fall).  I believe that if I lived in an area where the weather was always spring-like or fall-like, I would become lazy and not appreciate the beautiful anticipated seasons that I do like.

I have had some really harsh seasons in my life. God has always been there. I may complain about the season but I am never alone in the season. Faithful God. Worthy of my trust. God is there to show me where to walk and how to walk and carry me when I can do no more. He is the best when it comes to tending to me, desiring to produce abundant fruit in me. He knows the best place for me to be planted. He knows when I need water and His nutrients to grow. God promises to send rain and all that I need to grow strong and healthy.

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority—
the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!                     Psalm 8 (NLT)

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Divine Thinking

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Genesis 22:1-9 (NLT)

I wonder what Isaac thought at that moment!  Did he look at his father like, “Are you nuts?!”  Or given the time and social mores and maybe even the relationship that Abraham and Isaac might have had, did Isaac quietly relinquish his control in absolute trust to his father? Child sacrifices were not unusual in this time. Going to worship God on a mountain was also not unusual. Taking the gift for which you asked and prayed and destroy it? Was that what Abraham was doing?

Since I made that 180 degree turn in 1995, acknowledging that I was a sinner and accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, it seems that God has asked me many times to relinquish my plan and come along with His plan. He has let me wander and take my own path, waiting for me to turn back to Him. It isn’t easy to follow God. It may be simple, but not easy. It isn’t easy for me because it means following God even when I cannot see the outcome.

My answer to the control question has usually been more toward the “Are you nuts?!” side than the peaceful release.  I theologically know that God knows best but it’s taking that step away from me to Him that trips me up.  And besides, how do I know it’s really God?

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9 (NLT)

This is just one of the Scriptures that comes to my mind when I wonder if what I am hearing is God.  Yes, I also consider what I feel in my spirit and what has God done in my experience but in any given situation, I could hold up this Scripture and get a ‘reading’ on which path/answer is truly God.

– Which path would glorify God with my gentleness and show that the Lord is near?

– Which path brings on ‘anxiety’ and which brings ‘peace’ in my spirit?

– When I lift the situation in prayer, which path does thanksgiving overflow and which path do I want to present before God if I am staring Him right in the face?

– Which path is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy?

The answer may not be the easier path. It may not be the logical path. The answer could be the obvious right answer. Jesus promised that if we seek Him first; if we knocked, He would answer. How excellent and faithful is my LORD.

Going through a tough time? Unsure which way you should turn? Instead of staying up late with worry, let us spend the time in prayer instead. What a divine thought!

Posted in Genesis, Philippians | Comments Off on Divine Thinking

I Have Sinned

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

This is the Lord’s response to David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah.  Nathan, the prophet, has gone to David with a story of a rich man who takes the only lamb of a poor man and slaughters it to feed a traveler instead of using one of his many lambs.  David has said the rich man should die for what he has done to the poor man.

Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own. This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.” Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.” 2 Samuel 12:7-13 (NLT, my emphasis)

I was struck by the simplicity of David’s answer to Nathan.  No excuses.  No explanations.  Just “I have sinned against the LORD.”  He didn’t blame it on his flesh.  He didn’t blame his parents. He didn’t blame satan.  “I sinned.”

Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the Lord by doing this, your child will die.”   vv.13b-14

When I sin – I say to the world (and to myself!), “I know better than You, God.”  Contempt is a harsh word but sin comes from rebellion and arrogance before God – and that is contemptible! Do I understand that it is not that I have been ‘caught’ in my sin. It is that I have distanced myself from God through my sin.

After Nathan returned to his home, the Lord sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife. David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused.      vv. 15-17

David repented for his sin and he asked God for mercy for his son.  He knew his son’s illness was a consequence for his sin.  “Why did God allow an innocent child to die?”  I believe God knew that David would be a great servant for Him and a leader but he needed to learn discipline and fear of the Lord.  This got David’s attention and he did learn Godly principles.  See what follows after David is told the child is dead:

When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate. His advisers were amazed. “We don’t understand you,” they told him. “While the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.” David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”

Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of the Lord”), as the Lord had commanded. vv. 19-25

I don’t know that I am in the place that David was.  But I want to get there.  David saw with ‘eternal’ eyes.  He may have lowered his eyes to the flesh with Bathsheba but he has learned the lesson and lifted his eyes to eternity and grabbed on to the lesson learned.  And God sent him a confirmation blessing through Solomon.

Hard lesson.  A growing Christian life is not for “weenies”!!!  It’s hard.  It’s keeping my eyes on the eternal and God’s Kingdom even when I feel the pull of the ‘me’ and ‘now’.  It’s awesome! It’s GOD!

Posted in 2 Samuel | Comments Off on I Have Sinned