Gashpul

So I spent like 5 hours at Panera today talking with my agnostic friend. For the first time, boldness overcame me, and I was actually able to show her the Gospel. I've shared with her before, but never like this. It's a big deal because I can see a huge calling of God on her life. She's actually one of His chosen people, descended from Israel himself. I want her to find Him. I know there are many hurtles to Christianity in our society. She listed them to me, but I already knew what they are.

Homosexuality
Hypocrisy
Obsessive religiousness

All of these are things that plague Christians. You look at people who "belong" to our faith, and it's hard to get a clear picture of who God is. There are so many issues which cause Christians to look backwards, ignorant, hard-headed, unloving, self-righteous, confused, insert whatever adjective you want. So many who label themselves as Christians only sort of get what it means. I used to only sort of get it. I thought I had it down, but I have learned so much. So much about love. The Bible is thick. It is dense. There is a lot in there, and it is not easy to swallow or understand. It seems crazy, because as far as the world is concerned it is. I tried so hard to show her that following Jesus is a totally different way of thinking. She can accept that everyone can find their own truth, but there is only one Truth. If you live in a plural world, you don't like this. If you live in a dichotomous world, you embrace it. I see good, I see evil, I see light, I see dark. There is nothing in between.

God is judge. God knows our hearts. I am not here to judge how "saved" all the other Christians are, but I can say what I know to be true. After today, I never want to be silent. I think my friend moving might be the best thing that ever happened to us. To her really. If she can just find the Lord, she will find everything I see her looking for.

It is the holes I see in others that convince me God is real. I wish I had more testimony to share. I wish I had a awesome, life changing, amazing grace kind of story to share with people, but all I know is what I've seen. I've heard tale. I know people who know people, but in my life, I see where I was, and where I am. I see a girl who was broken by wanting things, and now I am a woman who has so much joy and peace she hardly can stand it. I see the pain in the lives of non-believers. I see a broken world that needs its Savior. All these things convince me that my God is real!

Do you know Him? I pray you do. It's worth everything.

He is worth everything because His love is never ending. His peace, mercy, joy, grace are never-ending. You will never be empty again. You will never go wanting again. He will always be there. He will never leave. His promises are real and they are true and they will be kept. He has victory over everything that comes your way. He is not dead. He is alive. He has always been. He always will be. You can't deny Him. You can't escape Him. One day you will face Him and what will you say? One day you will stand before the King of kings and Lord of lords, and He will say "Who are you?" How will you respond? I will say, "I am your daughter who you bought with a price!" I have been ransomed from a life of slavery to evil. Now I am a slave to righteousness. I love to do what God is doing. I love to go where God is going. He is moving. He is changing the world. He will do what He will do with or without you and with or without me. God is BIG! He cannot be contained. He does not change. He is beyond words. My paragraph grows and grows as a try to explain Him. John said it best: Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were everyone of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

Preguntas

Obadiah. It's straight forward but what does it have to say to me? Today is not a day where I can take a passage at face value. I have to consider who Edom represents in my life. Who is Edom? Who is Israel? Edom could be so many. Israel could also represent anyone.

I guess the message is that when others are in their day of distress you shouldn't treat them as an enemy and take advantage of them. We are all brothers after all. We have to treat each other like family and respect each other. If someone is hurting, you don't pour hot coals on them. If someone is hungry you don't mock them with how much food you have. If someone is fleeing a bad situation, you don't trip them. We have to treat each other with love and kindness just like Jesus treats us.

Lord, turn my heart away from evil. Let me look on my brothers and sisters with love. Let me share in their joys and sorrows. Let me not continue in apathy or frustration with them. Let me love overflow because You are overflowing in me. Lord, I need You, Oh I need You!


Amen. Amen. Amen.

Turn to Him

I had forgotten how good some of the kings of Judah were. What impresses me are the amazing things God does in their lives in 2 Chronicles 20. He flat out destroys another army. Nations came to fear the Lord. His GREAT!

Finally a king wad getting it right. He made people in charge or praising the Lord. He held an assembly with the people. He made mistakes but he still served the Lord. This is what we are called to.

Lord, let me never be wanting devotion to You. Be my first and last thought. Have mercy on me and incline Your ear to hear my prayers. You are able to do more than I could ask or imagine. I trust You are up to something BIG!

Amen. Amen. Amen.

Random acts of innocence

But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king...and they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the Lord that he had spoken.

There's just no escaping the will of God. God enticed this king to go on a suicide mission into battle. Now its hard for me to wrap my mind around God saying and doing this kind of stuff, but then I remember how evil this king was. The wages of sin is death. Plain and simple. When God says you've messed up there are always consequences.

I suppose the good news here is that God doesn't plan for our consequences quite so early - or at least He doesn't appear to be. Though I make mistakes, I never feel abandoned to be struck by innocent arrows or people. I do feel like I have to Lord as my sheild, keeping me from harm.

Lord,  I praise You for Your goodness. I praise You that You only desire good for Your children. I know the plans You have for me are wonderful. I pray I would listen to You voice and follow in Your ways. No turning back.
Amen. Amen. Amen.

Jezebel

There are so few godly mentioned in the Bible, but I think there are even fewer truly evil women. Of course Solomon warns about them in the Proverbs and such, but there aren't many examples of female power gone wrong...but the ones that are in there are pretty powerful.

Jezebel came up with a horrendously evil scheme to get a piece of land for her husband
If your wife is willing to do that kind of stuff to others,  what might she do to you? Scary right?

Just like some men in the Bible these women have found themselves in possession of power and they are abusing it!! There really is nothing as dangerous as a wife who has control over her husband. Maybe it is because any woman who would want that kind of power already has a bad heart. I don't know. But what I do know is that men are men and women are women so we are different. Men are the head of the family and to have that power taken away can really get everyone into trouble.

Lord, search my heart and speak. Let me act in a way gloryfying to You. Let my actions bring You fame not shame. Let ths day be all for You. Let this life be all for You.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

Why are you here?

After having seen first hand such clear signs of God's glory and power, you really have to wonder how Elijah could be afraid someone could take his life. He had been swept away by the Spirit. He had been made to run at incredible speeds. But he still was afraid that someone might get him.

I know I have this problem. I see and know God can do great things yet I can be paralized with fear. I don't know how or why. But God still have grace and mercy to show us and remind us of His power. Amen? He's pretty awesome. His voice is a small whisper. Oh it gives me chills...

Lord, show me Your power. Let m not fear. I have a list of fears but You are greater than them all. Come and take control! My life is YOURS!!

Amen. Amen. Amen.

Jumping Jehoshaphat

His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord...

What a description!! Wouldn't it be wonderful to be remembered as someone who's heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. Not just that you were courageous but that you were bold n following God's ways amid a kingdom and world that couldn't agree with you less...what a difficult task!

But much like a father is called to boldly lead his family, so to are kings called to boldly lead their people. Their power is indeed fickle and fleeting...you can see that in Israel's history. Some kings have long successful reigns some short and laughable. God grants power to whom he sees fit and He takes it from those who don't deserve it. All authority comes from Him. Big or small.

Lord, grant our leaders the courage to follow your ways. Let fear be far from them as they boldly seek You. Let me also be courageous in Your ways all the days of my life. I want to never fear where You are going.

Amen. Amen. Amen.