SEARED

I Timothy 4:1-2 – But the Holy Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach,

through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are SEARED (cauterized).

When I think of the word “seared” I think of the first step in preparing a pot roast. You first have to sear the outside of the meat before you begin the slow process of roasting. Webster’s definition gives a perfect definition of the word “sear” where it pertains to our spiritual lives as well: To burn the surface of, to wither, to brand.

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he is giving him pastoral instructions regarding the church and its members. These words were for believers. Yes, even believers can be turned away from the faith by seducing spirits, and thus have their conscience seared.

I’ll give you a practical example so we can all stay on the same page here. There are many examples I can use such as lying, stealing, cheating, and lust. But from my memory bank I will pull from the file of alcoholism. Say I decide to start having a few cocktails during the week (besides my weekend drinking which is totally justified simply because it’s the weekend) because I feel I deserve it. I’ve had a long day with the kids and my husband is working late. So even though my conscience, which is governed by the Holy Spirit, is telling me that this is a mistake, I continue on anyway. Phase one in the searing process has begun and I have effectively burned away the outer layer of my conscience.

Then I find that I must have that nightly drink despite what my husband or my peers or my conscience is telling me. I decide that I will have the final (and only) say in the matter. Phase two, withering begins. My heart begins to wither and shrink. My relationship with God and with others and even with myself has started to deteriorate and dry up.

Before long I feel branded. I have become the alcoholic, the very thing that I swore I would never become. My conscience has been seared, withered, and burned. I no longer can hear with ease the gentle and loving voice of my Heavenly Father as spoken through the Holy Spirit. I can only hear the enemy now, my new taskmaster, accusing and condemning.

But alas, this condition is reversible! Unlike the pot roast that is forever seared and eventually cooked, your conscience can be redeemed and renewed. The healing of the heart begins the moment we invite Christ back into that place of Lord in our lives. As we heed His voice and bring every thought captive into His obedience, we will find restoration. The Holy Spirit will gladly bring the conscience back into its rightful place in our lives and we can find peace and purpose once again.

NETS

Luke 5:4-6 – When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon (Peter), Put out into the deep [water], and lower your NETS for a haul. And Simon (Peter) answered, Master, we toiled all night [exhaustingly] and caught nothing [in our NETS]. But on the ground of Your word, I will lower the NETS [again]. And when they had done this they caught a great number of fish…

I love this account in scripture because it’s as practical to the fisherman or businessman as it is to the housewife. Here we see Peter having toiled all night “exhaustingly” and now cleaning his nets and calling it a day. Fishing was his job and what was pulled up in his net was his income. Peter worked the night shift, a good 8-10 hours, and came up empty. No pay for a tiresome day's (or night’s) work.

At the beginning of Chapter 5 we see Jesus preaching to a large crowd on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The people were so numerous that they began to press into Him and literally push Him towards the water’s edge. In verse 5, Jesus sees that Peter’s boat has been shored, and climbs aboard. Peter’s boat represents his career, his livelihood. Christ then tells Peter to put out for the deep water. Put yourself in Peter’s position for just a moment. He has just worked exhaustingly all night long and caught nothing. Now Jesus climbs aboard his boat unannounced and tells him to set out for deep waters and lower his nets …. again. Peter had just cleaned the nets, folded them, and was about to put them away and probably go to bed, dejected and downcast. I can just see the look on old Peter’s face. This rugged, tanned, weary fisherman probably grouching under his breath, but doing it anyway.

Now imagine yourself in the same boat. Maybe your job is low paying and unrewarding, or finds you surrounded by fussing and cussing all day long. Maybe your full time job is to stay home with young children and tend to the affairs of the home. But you find yourself weary, coming up empty, dejected, and downright ready to call it a day. Then Jesus comes aboard and tells you to put out into the deep water and let down your net, again, for a haul. Peter could have said no thanks, no way, or buzz off. So can you. The Bible says that when Peter surrendered to Jesus’ request that he caught so many fish that his nets were to the point of breaking and that his boat was in danger of sinking! Talk about abundance! Peter had to call to his partners in another boat to help them with the catch.

Think of what would happen if we were to not only allow Jesus in our lives but also yield to His requests. We will have to go into possibly uncharted deep waters, maybe places we’ve never been before. We will have to let down our nets, employ our talents, roll up our sleeves, and obey with all that’s within us. But, oh my goodness, the abundance that will follow. The miraculous blessings that will be brought in by our obedience, so much so that others will benefit as well. It says that Peter’s partners James and John as well as the surrounding crowd saw this miracle and believed. What if our lives reflected the works of God to the degree that even innocent bystanders believed! Then we would truly be fishers of men.

WRESTLING

Ephesians 6:12 – For we are not WRESTLING with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

My eighth grade son was just recently on a wrestling team which has given me a new definition of the term. I don’t know if you have ever witnessed a middle school wrestling team in action but it is a thing to behold. There are youngsters in the 90 pound weight class and giant hulks in the 190 pounds weight class. These half dressed, sweaty, angry, Lord of the Flies teens are disturbing at best and downright terrifying at worse.

They skulk out against their opponent with shear intimidating terror on their faces. Then they proceed to circle one another in an attempt to locate the greatest spot of weakness in which to initiate their strike. After the first strike is made the battle is on, whether the other opponent is ready or not. It is a grizzly, grunting, gruesome sport to watch. It’s unlike basketball, football, or soccer where you have the team to turn to in moments of weakness. Wrestling is strictly one on one, to the death (well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration).

But what is not an exaggeration is the desire of your enemy. He has no other purpose but to steal from you, kill you, and destroy you and all that you hold dear. He too comes out against you one on one, encircling your life, looking for weak spots, and then pouncing unmercilessly.

The sixth chapter of Ephesians is dedicated to this spiritual warfare, our adversary, and our only chance of survival. We are commanded to put on the whole armor of God which includes the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and the shoes of peace. My favorite piece of armor is the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. This is our only offensive piece of battle equipment. With the word of God (his promises and his commandments) we are able to cut our enemy down to size.

Most Christians unfortunately fail to follow through with the donning of the armor, either out of ignorance, stubbornness, disobedience, or just plain apathy. Going back to the middle school wrestling match analogy, what kind of a fool would just stand there and let their opponent pummel them? Would they cower in fear and claim they were a victim? Would they run in terror and confusion and hide their head in the sand? I can describe these scenarios because I know them well. I also know that empowered with the spirit of the Living God and with all the resources He has provided us for our Victory, we CAN have an undefeated season against our enemy!

TRUST

1 Corinthians 1:9 - God is faithful (reliable, TRUSTworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on).

March is a very unpredictable month. Spring has sprung yet the weather can't quite make up its mind. There can be frost warnings at night while we don shorts during the day. I've changed clothes three times in one day, and not because I was a diva on tour. How can one month be so uncertain? We don't like uncertainty, do we? Certainly not! No one likes being caught off guard. Sorry March, but I just can't trust you.

But then again, who can we trust? I used to think that I could trust my parents, my spouse, myself. After all, aren't these the most important relationships we'll ever experience in a lifetime? It all begins at childhood. That word alone brings a smile to some and visions of horror to others. Same holds true for the next word – marriage. Why is this? Is it because we are all, and I do mean all, human and fallible? The longer you live the clearer this truth will become. "For we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23.

There is only One who can be trusted, who will never fail us, who is faithful, and who keeps his promises. Someone who won't catch us off guard or leave us cold and alone. We may know this truth in our heads, but only when we totally believe it with our hearts will we begin to rise each day with a new song, knowing that our Creator and Savior is always there and always will be. No more doubts, fears, or worries.

And don't you think He designed it that way?! Think with me for a moment. If there were just one human being on this planet, one month on the calendar, one pill on the shelf that could be trusted infallibly, wouldn't we worship it instead? There is ONLY ONE who can be trusted and that is our Creator and Sustainer. The day you surrender to that One will be your Independence Day.

REPROACH

Joshua 5:9 – And the Lord said to Joshua, This day I have rolled away the REPROACH of Egypt from you. So the name of this place is called Gilgal [rolling] to this day.

God makes this declaration to the Israelites after the circumcision of the new generation and just before the battle at Jericho whereby the Israelites would victoriously march into the Promised Land. This same protocol is still used for God’s people today. Cut the flesh away (better known as dying to the flesh), then the reproach (or shame) will be rolled away, and finally you may march triumphantly into your promised land.

So often we come to God with our dreams and demands, yet we wonder why we are still living in bondage in Egypt. Why is our past still haunting us? Why do we still feel the shame and reproach and judgment of our past? God’s recipe for success must be followed in order to take hold of our promised lands.

Let me give you a more modern, personal example from my own life. I gave my life to Christ as a teenager allowing him to be the Savior of my life but not the Lord of my life (big difference between the two, by the way). For the next 20 years I proceeded to live as the captain of my own ship, the master of my own destiny. Twenty years of bad choices and wrong decisions heaped on mountains of shame and disgrace (reproach). I diligently went to church every Sunday, attended Bible studies, and clung earnestly to the promises in God’s word. Yet, things got worse instead of better. My guilt and bitterness over my past was still there, I still was walking in bondage in many areas, and I saw no hint of any Promised Land in my horizon.

This is the very place where many Christians find themselves …….. stuck, dry, and disheartened. The flesh has not been rolled away so there is no power for victory. Our chains are still intact, our enemies still have the upper hand. Christ must be the Savior AND Lord of our lives. He must be in control. We must surrender to Him in order to find His rest.

The miraculous march around Jericho is probably well known to most of us, but the prerequisites are ignored. We want the power, the victory, and the abundance, but not the cost. There is no victory without Jesus. There is no Promised Land without His presence. And there is no freedom without the power of his Holy Spirit rolling the reproach away.

FAIR

There is no verse for the day because this word is NOT found in God's word. I looked in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and found only references to the word “fair” in the sense of lovely and beautiful, not in the sense that we like to use it. The dictionary defines fair as reasonable, unbiased, done according to the “rules.” Okay, then, whose rules?

I get so impatient with my young children when they use this word in the following sentence, "He gets to stay up later that me. That’s not fair!" I wonder if God gets equally impatient when I use that word in like manner. "That's not fair, God. Why should believers suffer with illness and poverty? So and So gets to go on a cruise and have nice things and we’re struggling just to pay our bills." Same immature tone, different perspective.

Instead of "fair" God uses words such as justice and holiness. He alone is perfectly Just and perfectly Holy. We don't have to worry that He's doing something unfair on our behalf. My children may not understand the value of getting to bed at a reasonable hour or being disciplined for disobedience, but they have no choice but to trust my best judgement. Sometimes I am unfair because of my own personal issues such as lack of sleep, anxiety, stress, and the all important bad hair day. I can assure you that we don't have to ever worry about catching God in a bad mood. He does nothing out of selfish motives or with evil intent. He can't because he is perfectly Holy.

It is fair to say that life is unfair, people are unfair, and circumstances are unfair. But not God. He is perfect love all the time. Do our circumstances seem unfair, and can we doubt what God has in store? Certainly. Tell Him so. Tell Him that you don't understand what's going on, and as far as you know you are not involved in sin or disobedience. Then tell Him that you will trust in Him completely anyway. Then step aside and wait to be blessed. God's number one objective for our lives is relationship – not comfort or fun or riches, although He uses those things to bless us.

Once He sees we love him enough to trust His will and His plans, even when they look unfair, then He can trust us with Himself. I want to give my children rewards and gifts but I absolutely cannot when they are in disobedience or walk around all day in a disrespectful attitude. How can God bless us and increase us and show us more of Himself when we too walk around with a chip on our shoulder or rebellion in our hearts? This world will never be "fair" because it is full of imperfect fallen human beings. Surrender to the only Perfect One who is fair in every sense of the word.

ABUNDANCE

John 10:10 – The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in ABUNDANCE (to the full, till it overflows).

This one small sentence speaks volumes to me. First, Jesus is saying that there are two forces in our world. There is an evil force that Jesus calls the thief. The thief comes only, not for any other reason, but to steal (to take things away from us), to kill (to actually murder us), and to destroy (demolish anything of any importance in our lives, including our loved ones).

Then we see another Force in the universe, One that came to give us life because we were dead in our sins before He came. Christ then says something you may have missed. He didn't just come to save you from your sins and guarantee you a free ticket into heaven when you die in 50 or 60 years. He came to give you an enjoyable, abundant life that overflows and spills out of you and onto others. Abundance means plentiful, more than enough. It's sad to see believers walking around in depression or bondage just waiting until they can cash in their "get out of hell free card." If that were the plan then why couldn't Jesus just save us from our sins and zap us straight into eternity with Him? Why does He leave us here?

My guess is that He wants us to learn to trust Him and love Him in a very unique way. One that involves pure faith. Once He sees that we are willing and able vessels then He does something so precious that you have to experience it to believe it. He actually uses us as His ambassadors, as His spokesperson. He trusts us enough with His word and His spirit to send us out into this world (which starts in your own home, by the way) on His behalf. What an awesome job. Is there someone in your life that you would trust to that extent? What if you had a life or death message that had to be delivered to a specific person at a very precise moment? This is deeper and more significant than anything you've ever been a part of. Who would you trust to deliver this all important piece of information? Would they represent you correctly?

When we think of the abundant life we tend to think in terms of the material realm. How about having an abundance of joy, more than enough peace, and overflowing love. This is what it's all about. Let God fill you to the brim with His very presence, with His love and joy until you have enough for yourself and all those around you. The more we come into God's presence for a refill, the more we have for others. This is truly abundant living!

KNOW

Jeremiah 29:11 -- For I KNOW the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

God knows the end of the story - our story. We don't know what the next chapter or even the next page holds. Sometimes when I get a new book I'm tempted to flip to the back in order to catch a glimpse at the ending. Or if I'm deeply engrossed in the plot and it looks like the good guy or the main character might be in danger I'll quickly scan to the end of the chapter to make sure good triumphs over evil. Is that cheating?

Oh, that we could do that with our own lives. Just to be able to fast forward a month or a year to have that assurance that our families will remain healthy, that our paychecks will simply remain, and that our relationships will grow and not wither. Just a peek to see if danger is lurking around the corner and, if so, will the hero come and save the day.

The One who formed the world also wrote the Book. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last (the Before all and the End of all), Revelation 22:13; which, by the way, is the last chapter of the last book of the Bible. Yes, I flipped to the end to see what would happen. He knew you before you were an embryo (Jeremiah 1:5), and all your days were written in His book before one of them ever took place (Psalm 139:16).

If you have asked Christ Jesus into your heart, to forgive you of your sins and to become the Lord and Savior of your very life, then you can rest assured that His thoughts for you are now for peace and hope and for a future. No more will you have to hide from God and fear every shadow in every corner. You are not here haphazardly because two cells crashed into each other. The Maker of the universe, the Author of the book, the Beginning of all and the End of all put you here at this exact moment in time for a specific purpose and plan. What ever chapter in life you happen to be in, you can be absolutely certain that the Hero of the story defeats the villain and the two of you live happily ever after for all eternity.

LITTLE

Luke 16:10 – He who is faithful in a very LITTLE [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much.

Would you give your car keys to your two year old and say, “See you later son, and don’t be late.” Or would you give your one day old employee the combination to the safe and tell him to mind the store for the day while you were gone? Yet, that’s how our minds operate sometimes in regards to what we expect out of life and out of God. “Lord, I want to write the big novel and have all the financial freedom and honor that come with it.” But I think it’s beneath me or a waste of time to journal every day. “God, I’m begging you for that promotion at work.” Yet you call in sick at the drop of a hat and don’t give your boss 100% day after day.

We want the fat paycheck and the big office, the best life has to offer, but we can’t be trusted with the small things of life. I know our society daily announces in one media or the other the fact that we can have it all, we deserve the best, and it’s all about us. Of course God wants only the best for us, but not at the expense of our integrity. Our Heavenly Father is just itching to bless us and grow us and use us, but like any good parent He knows it takes baby steps to mature us properly.

Our impatient culture constantly tries to undercut God’s goals for us. Namely, to plant a seed, water it and nourish it, watch it grow, and then bless others with the fruit it produces. The little seed contains the tree, but it starts out very little.

LOST

Luke 15:24 – Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was LOST and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry.

You're going to think I'm a terrible mother but I'm going to tell you this story anyway. When my firstborn child was two years old I took him shopping with me to the Mall. He entertained himself playing under the rack of clothing that I was diligently looking through. A few seconds later I peeked through the rack to check on him and guess what – he was gone! At that moment I had a wave of terror and nausea come over me that I will never forget. I frantically scanned the floor looking for his two precious little feet but to no avail. I darted through the racks now not caring what I looked like or what the other shoppers thought. Within probably ten seconds I spotted my son running carefree and playing, so I ran to him and scooped him us as if he had been missing for years.

The father in the story penned in the book of Luke watched his son leave with his share of the inheritance, not knowing if he would ever see him again. The son was happy and playing and having a blast, oblivious to the father's pain. The passage doesn't say how long the boy was gone, but it was long enough for him to blow a small fortune and end up as a hired hand on a pig farm, so hungry that he ate the pig's scraps. So long that the father thought he was dead. It's amazing how clear our perspective becomes in the mud. The son realizes what he has done and knows now that his only way of survival is to humble himself and go back to his father.

I think you have caught on by now that the father in this story represents our Heavenly Father and we are the wayward son. Our pigpens are different but our spiritual poverty is the same nonetheless. Our only hope for survival is to recognize our impoverished state and run back home into the Father's arms.

When I found my son in the store that day part of me wanted to punish him for giving me such a scare and for leaving my side, but my joy at finding him far outweighed that temptation. I knew that he was oblivious to the danger surrounding him and was too immature to know any better. When our Father sees us come to him with a sincere and repentant heart His first response is always joy – joy to the point of "lets throw a party and celebrate" as scripture tells us. Don't ever let pride or fear keep you in the mud when there's a royal feast awaiting your return. Trust me, He will be overjoyed to have you back in his arms!

Psalm 145:18 – The Lord is NEAR to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth.

We were all born to be near someone. It’s ingrained in us. How else could you explain the pandemic of cell phones, texting, and instant messaging? We have to know that another human being is just a click away. Our God is the master of communication, after all it was His idea in the first place. He tells us in no uncertain terms that He will be near to us when we call upon Him sincerely and in truth. No monthly plans or costly devices. Prayer is all we need.

I just read in Philip Yancey’s book on Prayer an interesting fact about what we would consider unanswered prayer or “wrestling with God.” Just before Jacob was to meet up with his estranged brother of 20 years, Esau, (remember it was Jacob who conned Esau out of his birthright twice which set this family feud off in the first place) Jacob spent the night in prayer with a “Man” which commentators have referred to as God Himself (Gen. 32:24). God wrestled with Jacob all night before blessing him, touching him physically, and then changing his name from Jacob (trickster) to Israel (contender with God).

Yancey brings up a beautiful point about this account in scripture. At any given moment God could have won by knock out this wrestling match; however, He chose to entangle Himself all night long with Jacob. God wanted to be near to him. Jacob had prayed in desperation knowing that at daybreak he could lose his life to his brother along with the lives of his wives and children. Instead of instantly changing the heart of Esau or granting Jacob’s pleas for reconciliation God chose to answer in a different way. A way that involved nearness, wrestling, dancing, and hand-in-hand combat if you will. When it was all said and done not only was Jacob’s prayers of appeasement and reunion answered, but Jacob had received a blessing, a new confidence in his relationship with God, and a new name which would carve out his destiny.

I have personally been in a wrestling match with God for years over some of the same obstacles. Many of my prayers have been miraculously answered but some have not. These remaining burdens have been the very catalysts which send me straight into the presence of God Almighty. The barriers have become the blessing. The “No’s” have brought me nearer than any “Yes’s” could have. He is near to me always, but strikingly more so when we’re dancing to the tune of Prayer.

LAMP

Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a LAMP to my feet and a light to my path.

This verse conjures up images of a person walking alone down a dark winding path. Clouds cover even any hint of moonlight. The only illumination comes from the lamp he carries. The light is strong and reliable and it is his only source of direction. If you’ve ever been in this predicament of carrying a lamp or lantern through the pitch black night you know that the scope of the light only reaches maybe a ten foot radius. As you move forward, so does the lamp, and so does your path begin to open itself up to you. The same holds true when you’re driving at night on one of those old country roads where there are no street lights or lit up houses nearby. You can only see what’s right in front of you.

There are many references to God’s word being a light (2 Cor. 4:4), a lamp (Prov. 6:23), truth (2 Sam. 7:28), and the Way (John 14:6). But I love the image it portrays in this passage. The word leads us step by step, a little at a time, keeping us totally dependent on the source of the light, the Giver of the word. So many walk in darkness, uncertain and unsatisfied. They make wrong turns, trip and stumble on unseen obstacles, and ultimately find themselves hopelessly lost.

Why do we set off on a darkened unknown trail without a lamp? How I must confess to so many journeys in the absolute black of night with not a hint of light to lead my way. God’s word is the lamp, His commands are the map, His promises are the hope, and His Holy Spirit that has breathed it all into existence is the very oil that fires the lamp into action. Let His word be the light to lead your way today.

LEADS

Psalm 23:1-3 - The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He LEADS me beside the still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my life; He LEADS me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him - not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.

I know most of us have heard the 23rd Psalm until it has probably lost a lot of its impact and meaning. The Lord showed me a glimpse of what He means by "leading" while I was running my dog this morning. We go out every morning at 8:00 a.m. so there is always much traffic to contend with. Most of my running trails have paved walkways, but throughout my neighborhood there is not so much as a curb. It's blacktop pavement then grass. Obviously, it is my responsibility to keep my eyes open for oncoming cars, and to keep us both out of harm's way. Many times my beloved pet becomes distracted by other dogs being walked, a taunting squirrel, or simply an invisible scent she has picked up out of thin air. Again, it is up to me to keep us on the right path and away from danger.

In the 23rd Psalm God uses the analogy of a Shepherd and his flock for an important reason: authority. From the onset we need to understand who the Shepherd is, who the master is, and who has control. The Shepherd leads the sheep not into dangerous fields, not on frivolous, wasteful adventures, but to green pastures and restful waters with Goodness and Mercy as constant companions. Matthew 18:12 explains what happens when the sheep decide to wander off away from the Shepherd's care.

I know most of us don't like the notion of being at the end of God's leash. Well, let me ask you this. How does it feel being at the end of Satan's? Years ago I found myself at the end of his noose and it was a living nightmare.

This is how I see it in my mind's eye. God and I are walking hand in hand through the Mall. I look and act like I'm about five years old. I look right and left and in every direction at all the beautifully lit up shops. I pull this way and that begging to go into the alluring stores, but my Father simply says, "No my dear we must keep walking forward. I'm taking you to a much nicer place. Trust me." In my disappointment and anger I pull all the more, the beginnings of a minor tantrum on the horizon. Finally, when my curiosity and independence can take it no longer, I pull from his grasp and dart into the nearest store. I'm totally overwhelmed by the shiny trinkets and pretties all around. After what seems like five minutes of indulgence I look around for my Father but I can't see him. Desperation and panic sets in and I frantically run out of the store looking this way and that, calling out his name, but only see the faces of strangers.

Lord, I pray that we would never break free from your loving grasp. I pray that we would trust you and follow you to green pastures and restful waters and always cherish that invisible leash that yokes us to your mercy and loving-kindness.

RACE

II Timothy 4:7 – I have fought the good (worthy, honorable and noble) fight. I have finished the RACE, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

Did you know that the Christian "walk" is really a foot race? I remember in elementary school being one of the last to be picked on the relay race team because my legs were short and I wasn't a fast runner. Someone could have been chasing me but my little pudgy legs could only go so fast.

A few years ago I started a daily jogging regimen where I run several miles around my neighborhood for exercise with praise music plugged into my ears. It has become one of my favorite times of the day because it's just God and I in the great outdoors with my heart beat racing. I don't run too fast or too slow. I just keep a nice rhythmic pace.

Every human being on the face of this earth is involved in a race as well. As a believer in Christ we are on a specific course, and most of the time there is someone chasing us. It's extremely tempting to slow our pace to a crawl and eventually give up and sit down. It's also equally as tempting to step off the course all together and venture into a McDonald's or a Star Bucks until the whole exhausting event is over.

When the apostle Paul wrote these words to Timothy he was sitting in a Roman jail awaiting execution. Even though Paul’s posture was not upright, his spirit was. He may not have been running physically but he was sprinting towards glory spiritually. Paul is writing these words to Timothy as he is about to pass the torch of ministry to his "son" in the faith. God Almighty speaks these words to each one of His sons and daughters as He encourages us to keep going in the spirit, never give up, and fix our eyes on the finish line where He awaits with a victory crown!

COME

John 4:29 – COME, see a Man Who has told me everything that I ever did! Can this be [is this not] the Christ? [Must not this be the Messiah, the Anointed One?]


This statement wraps up a very fascinating encounter in scripture – Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well at high noon. Apparently it was the woman’s job to draw the daily water supply from a well, enough to meet the needs of the home. I know it’s hard for us to imagine such strenuous work just for a cup of water or for a bowl full to wash a dish, but this was life back then. I’m sure it took multiple trips to and from the well, all the while carrying several pounds of water in heavy vases. The reason this woman chose to do this job at the hottest part of the day was because she knew no one would be there. For she was the town harlot, the object of all gossip, and shunned.

After her encounter with Jesus, however, something dramatic happened. Christ asked her with all sincerity where her husband was then proceeded to tell her that He knew she didn’t have a husband, that it fact she had five former husbands and was now living with a man. They continue talking about living water and true worship, and then Jesus drops the bomb that He in fact is the long awaited Messiah.

Now this is the part that trips me up. The woman believes Him and receives Him but then she does an interesting thing. She goes back into town, the same town that has shunned her and shamed her, and tells them to “Come see a Man who has told me everything that I ever did!” The miracle is that verse 30 says, “So the people left the town and set out to go to Him.”

Why would these town people believe a woman they despise and look down on? How can the town floozy turn evangelist in one afternoon? Because she had a true, spirit filled encounter with the Living Water and everything from that moment on was different about her. She was so emboldened by this transformation that the very people she was trying to avoid became the target of her testimony. Oh, that we would be so touched by the living God that we would tell others to Come. We needn’t worry what they will say or do, how they will receive us, whether they will be converted or not. Our hearts desire should just be “Come.” Come and see what He did for me!

VOID

Isaiah 55:10-11 – For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me VOID [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Have you ever had to void out a check? Maybe the person you wrote it to lost it, or the payment was going to end up being made through your credit card account. Whatever the reason, this once valuable check worth whatever amount you placed on it (and hopefully can be covered in your account) is now worthless, empty, useless. This check once had a purpose but now it has none.

I love this scripture immensely because for one thing it is a promise from God, one you can take to the bank. And secondly because God uses a beautiful illustration derived from nature. He is comparing His word (which includes the Bible and every single promise it contains) to the rain and snow. They come down from heaven, a one way ticket, water the seed which in turn begins to sprout producing food and nourishment. The rain and snow do not begin to fall to the earth, change their mind and then exit in reverse back up into heaven. And neither does God’s word. We can’t visually see all that takes place in the cycle of the rain, seeds, plants, produce, etc., but we know it works when we walk into the grocery store and fill up our carts.

When you plant God’s word into your heart it joins the cycle of life within you. You may never see the process in action, but you will experience its fruit. This airtight promise from God says that His word will not return void, useless, and good for nothing. It will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent.

I’ll share a personal example from my own life. Being an “accident” baby born to a 17 year old and feeling that title every day of my young life, when I found Jeremiah 1:5, I clung to it like a canteen of water in the Sahara desert. It reads, “Before you were formed in the womb I knew you and set you apart.” The purpose of that word was to encourage, love, praise, and bless. Not only did that word not return void, but it implanted itself into my spirit until a mighty oak with abundant fruit was produced. God’s word never returns void. It always fulfills its purpose!

SHEPHERDS

Luke 2:8-11 – And in that vicinity there were SHEPHERDS living [out under the open sky] in the field, watching [in shifts] over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!

I just love these guys! These were the minimum wage, average Joe workers of Jesus’ day. I used to admire their lifestyle when I would read of their job description. Living outside, taking care of sheep (yes, I’m an animal lover), no one to answer to, the adventure of the wide open prairie. Maybe my imagination has been a little too Hollywood-ized. Upon further research I found that the shepherds were the lowest on the totem pole, the least of the community. They often had to fight off lions, wolves, and other wild animals to protect their flock. Scorching sun during the day and frigid temperatures at night.

Yet despite their lowly station in life, God chose to send an angel with a First Class birth announcement to a group of shepherds. The shepherds, in fact, beat the wise men to the scene. If you haven’t noticed by now, God loves to turn the tables; the first becoming the last and the last becoming first sort of turning. The lowest and least on the economic ladder were first to see the Messiah. And let’s not forget that it was a 14 year old peasant girl who was chosen to bring the Messiah into this world. And a scandalous, second class citizen woman named Mary Magdalene was the first to speak to Jesus after he was raised from the dead.

Whatever your station in life, your gender, economic situation or race, Christ Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, wants an audience with YOU! This band of shepherds were in the middle of their shift on just another average workday when an angel appeared with a message. This angel didn’t demand that they come see Jesus or zap them there against their will. In verse 15 the shepherds “said to one another, let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” God sent a message and his people responded.

This is my message to you today. You may never see a Heavenly host of angels with flashing swords, but God still sends messages your way every day. If you own a Bible then you are already in possession of the very voice of God. Every morning while I’m packing my kids’ lunches for school I look out my kitchen window to see the hand of God painting a sunrise in the sky just for me. Each day He beckons us to come see a new thing, something He wants made known, Jesus Christ His Son.

SHIELD

Ephesians 6:16 – Lift up over all the [covering] SHIELD of faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

Ever notice in those Brave Heart/Gladiator movies the monstrous shields the warriors use? Sure, there are many other pieces of armor like the helmet, breastplate, knee guards and belts, but the shield is of utter importance. The shield is the outer covering, the first point of contact for whatever ammo is being fired.

Verses 11-17 of Ephesians are dedicated to the full armor of God, our spiritual protection against the enemy. So much has been taught about the importance of the armor, the significance of each piece, and our responsibility to use each piece daily and effectively. But the shield stands out to me mostly because the shield represents our Faith; thus, it is called the Shield of Faith. The Amplified version uses the term for what is being hurled at us “flaming missiles” while other versions say “fiery darts.” Some days I feel like Satan is shooting darts, small annoyances that get under my skin, and other days they honestly do feel like WWII missiles meant to wipe me out completely.

God says our faith is our shield that will quench, stop, extinguish these missiles. If our shield is not positioned firmly then the first attack usually strikes the head. Our helmets may remain intact but we suffer dizzying confusion. Example: “Lord, I know you have instructed us to tithe consistently, but we’re just so behind right now.” My shield of faith faltered so my mind argues and debates the fact that we can’t possibly give 10%.

The next blow hits the breastplate and our hearts are wounded. “Lord, I thought you cared about us. You know our situation.” The heartbreak causes a stumble and now our shoes of peace are knocked off. “I don’t have time to join that bible study. I’m sure someone else will bring a meal to that family.”

Our armor may still be intact but our body is bruised and our walk has been crippled. We are now searching for the Medic and are in desperate need of healing. Our faith can be a shield unto us, but it is up to us to employee it daily. Without it the consequences are immeasurable. Faith is a shield.

THORNS

Judges 2:2-3 – And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; but you shall break down their altars. But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? So now I say, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as THORNS in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.

I don't know about you but this verse sends a wave of sorrow and remorse over me, not to mention a healthy dose of reverential fear. This is one of those black and white parenting types of scriptures where God tells His children to do something, no questions asked.

As a loving Father, God tells us what to keep away from, for our own good by the way, with a quick reminder of the consequences of disobedience. Again, we have a choice in the matter – obey and receive God's blessings and hand of protection or disobey and receive His judgment and ensuing consequences.

The thorn in this verse can refer to any number of things. Let me give you an example from my own life. God has told me personally to keep alcohol out of my body – period. For many years I blatantly disobeyed Him reasoning and debating (arguing) the point, and thus experienced many a thorn, to say the least, in my life. That substance became a god and subsequently an idol that I would later go on to worship. However, because we serve a loving Father who abounds in grace and mercy, the moment I repented of my behavior and turned from it He restored me over and beyond what my previous state had been.

For each of us God has spoken specific instructions in our lives. Some are general, blanket commands such as the Ten Commandments while others are more personal and have much to do with our individual personalities and purposes in life. Whatever the case, if we refuse to remove the foreign gods, idols, addictions, and hindrances from our lives we can be sure these very things we cling to and worship will become a living nightmare, an aching thorn, and a snare to trap us. Ask the Great Physician today to remove what's ailing you.

HIDDEN

Colossians 3:3 – For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is HIDDEN with Christ in God.

The other morning I was out with my dog for a run and the fog was so dense it was almost frightening, in a mysterious sort of way. As I jogged past a soccer field that has been there as long as I have lived in the neighborhood, it had seemingly vanished in the fog. I knew just as sure as I’m sitting here that that soccer field was there, but I absolutely could not see it. If I had been a stranger to the area you probably couldn’t have convinced me that a large, spacious field were before me – that’s how thick the fog was.

God has promised us in His infallible word that if you have been raised to a new life through Christ, that Christ in fact is now within you. To better phrase it, your new real life is hidden with Christ in God. You may not be able to see it during adverse weather conditions of the heart, or circumstances and tragedies that produce a thick heavy gloom like a cloak. But He’s there nonetheless, whether you see Him, feel Him, or hear Him.

What if my husband presented me a beautifully wrapped gift, the kind of small jewelry shaped box that us girls love to receive, but I refused his present stating that because I couldn’t see what was inside that it must certainly be empty. “Oh no,” my husband pleads. “Trust me, there is definitely a spectacular treasure within, a token of my love for you.” Would I doubt his words and toss the lovely box in the trash? Would I continue to argue with him that I don’t trust his words; that maybe in fact there was even a bug inside or a lump of coal? I feel like a nut just writing those words. But isn’t that how we sometimes treat God’s precious gift of Christ, His Son?

We doubt, argue, fear, and even reject. And even more baffling is our response once we have accepted Christ. We know the field is there, we believe there is a gift inside, yet we continue to live our days blinded by a fog of doubt and despair, discouragement and depression.

Lord, I pray that Your word and Your promises would be enough for us. That we would believe without seeing, and open and enjoy the precious gifts and blessings you have hidden within us.

ASK

Matthew 7:7 – ASK and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be opened.

Do you feel like everyone, all the time, is asking something of you – your spouse, your children, your boss, friends, church, even you asking things of your own self? Sometimes the world doesn't even ask, they demand. We have to get our work done, pay our bills, and raise our children properly. The house must be kept in order, obligations met, and relationships nurtured. Everyone and everything seems to be asking, seeking, and knocking at our door waiting for an answer, demanding a reply.

However, in this radical statement, God is giving us permission to ask of Him. He is saying that if we ask of him, seek his Presence (not his presents), and knock on the door of his heart that he will answer. In fact, he says that requests will be granted, lost items will be found, and doors will be opened. Does this give us a license to selfishly start banging on the portals of heaven demanding a bag of goodies like a juvenile trick-or-treater? Certainly not!

God always knows the motivation of our hearts even before we make the first request. When we earnestly seek after him, with only him in mind and not for what he can give us or do for us, then he will quickly respond. In fact, he will throw the door open so quickly it will make your hair fly back!

I have found that I have nothing to give this world, my loved ones, or even myself for that matter until I first go to my Heavenly Father and ask for his presence to be poured into my life. He wants a deep relationship with us more than anything. He genuinely wants to spend time with us. So, go ahead, ASK!

THINK

Philippians 4:8 – For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

I received another phone call from my son’s school saying that more testing would be needed in order to help assess the level of his learning difference in regards to reading. This phone call and these issues have been ongoing for over a year now, and so have my prayers. Healings of children are purposely scattered throughout scripture, and I know from my own personal healing history that miracles do still happen. But, after I hung up the phone that day, my mind switched into auto pilot and started counting and recounting all the UNanswered prayers in my life. A family member who has been battling a chronic pain syndrome for over 15 years, a friend going through a vicious divorce with a child locked dead in the center, another close family member battling addiction … and now this.

BUT GOD …… Don’t you love those two little words that act as a crossroads on our life’s journey (or our mind’s journey through life), a redirection as we barrel down a darkened road. But God showed me in His word during my usual devotional reading this powerhouse verse. Sure, I’ve read it many, many times, but this day I heard it spoken from God’s own precious mouth, digested it, and understood it. “My beloved daughter, don’t dwell on those negative thoughts, those prayers that in your eyes and with your understanding I have not answered. Instead, dwell on Me. I am true, worthy of reverence, honorable, just, pure, lovely, loveable, kind, winsome, gracious, virtuous, and excellent.”

After about thirty minutes of tears of grief, I started meditating on those words and on the One who spoke them. My sadness and disappointment turned to hope and peace. The negatives no longer had me by the throat. I could now easily focus on all the wonderful things surrounding this situation. The loving and devoted team of teachers who were working earnestly on my son’s behalf, the knowledge that my son belonged to God long before he belonged to me, and the assurance that God had such a beautifully orchestrated plan for my child’s life, one that I couldn’t even dare to dream of in my wildest imagination.

God tells us in His word to think on Him for a reason. He knows that at any given moment the phone could ring, the car could swerve, the doctor could be helpless and we would be swallowed whole by the jaws of despair. God’s one size fits all remedy –Think on Me!

CONDEMNATION

Romans 8:1 – Therefore, [there is] now no COMDEMNATION (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.

A condemned building is a dirty and depressing site. A once newly built establishment with hopes of prosperity and a future, now decrepit and worthless. A building is pronounced condemned mainly because of its potential for danger: rotten floors, faulty wiring, moldy internal structures, crumbling foundation. No human could dwell safely within such conditions. When sin enters our dwelling place it begins its cancerous attack on all levels. The attic holding our thoughts and beliefs becomes infested with rabid bats, the furnace of our hearts goes out and leaves a deadly draft, and the foundation of our lives begins to disintegrate leaving us a house built on nothing more than sand (Matthew 7:26).

But at the opening of Romans 8, Paul is pronouncing the Good News that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. When we fully and sincerely allow Christ into our hearts and give Him full reign in our lives, walking after His Spirit and no longer after the desires of the flesh, then He will bring in a Holy cleaning crew to remodel His new dwelling place. The dirt and decay of sin will be washed clean, hidden garbage stuffed away in closets will be removed, a new foundation laid, and even new paint and curtains for an outward glow of joy. Don’t let shame and guilt over your present condition keep Christ from coming in. He can’t wait to burn that “condemned” sign that the enemy put up on your front lawn and do some divine remodeling.

PATHS

Psalm 25:10 – All the PATHS of the Lord are mercy and steadfast love, even truth and faithfulness are they for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

I have certain paths that I jog on daily with my dog, a boxer terrier mix named Trixie who is about two years old. I stay on the paths I know and never experiment with a new trail without bringing another jogging buddy along. One morning Trixie and I were running down a path that I have been down hundreds of times, a course that starts off adjacent to a main road then branches off into smaller trails through a neighboring subdivision.

All of a sudden a huge black shepherd came charging out of nowhere and began attacking my dog, who looked like a small child in comparison to this bear looking animal. I tried to pull my dog away and kick the attacker at the same time, but to no avail. The dog kept following and kept attacking.

My mind raced ahead to an imaginary outcome where I would try to fight off this brute, get bitten myself, and have to carry off my half dead limp partner, both of us bleeding and damaged. Realizing my helpless state, I yelled out “HELP!” No sooner had the words left my exasperated lips did a car pull over, a man (an angel, I suspect) got out of his car and subdued the vicious dog long enough for us to escape. Trixie amazingly left that ordeal with only a few puncture wounds. All I could do in response was continually yell over my shoulder, “Thank You So Much!”

This event has replayed itself probably a thousand times in my mind and each time it’s as if God allows me a sneak peak into what also happened. The garrison of angels who accompanied me, the legion of demons wanting to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), my plea for help, this stranger’s intervention and his ability to control this animal without harm to himself.

I wouldn’t run that path for months following. Even with pepper spray in hand I felt vulnerable and afraid. But then God showed me that the attacks may come, the enemy is always out there, but His mercy, steadfast love, and faithfulness will be there too. As a child of God who is striving to remain in covenant and keep His testimonies, there’s no path where He is not, no storm, no pain, no fear that He hasn’t already conquered. He promises countless times in His word that He will never leave us or forsake us. The Good Shepherd is always there to protect his sheep from harm. His paths are paved with mercy and love!

HARDENS

Proverbs 28:14 – Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of circumstances], but he who HARDENS his heart will fall into calamity.

When snow and ice hit Greensboro, North Carolina we tend to freak out and close up shop. Our Southern climate isn’t accustomed to such elements. We were recently hit with several inches of the white stuff with subsequent freezing rain, ice and frigid temperatures. Anyone who has ever tried to negotiate the ice knows how tricky and downright dangerous it is. One false move, one slip, and down you go. The water that once was welcomed for its nourishment has hardened and has therefore become a danger, an accident waiting to happen for anyone who comes in contact with it.

Our hearts are much like the ice at times. The thermostat of our emotions, the atmosphere of our soul regulate the consistency of our hearts. If we allow our hearts to harden [regardless of the circumstances] then the natural course of events will be a slip and a fall. Again, God puts it in terms we can plainly understand. If we choose to worship and fear the Lord we can expect a “springtime of the heart,” blessings showered down. If, however, we harden our hearts, we are told in no uncertain terms that just as water freezes into ice and becomes a slippery, hazardous surface, so we too will yield a fall into calamity.

Slipping on ice is sudden and violent. Before you know what has happened or could even try to catch yourself you’re down on the ground. This greatly resembles the hardened life lived without God. You’re walking along one day, and seemingly from out of nowhere the rug is pulled out from under you. Ask God today to warm your heart with the Light of His presence. Seek Him daily to regulate the thermostat of your mind, will and emotions. Stay warm, my friends.

HEDGE

Hosea 2:6 – Therefore, behold, I [the Lord God] will HEDGE up her way [even yours, O Israel] with thorns; and I will build a wall against her that she shall not find her paths.

Have you ever seen those giant mazes made out of bushes and trees? Part of me is fascinated and would love the adventure while the other part of me is a little intimidated by the towering walls of green. I wonder if there are maps and guides just in case you get lost. What if hours pass and hunger and thirst set in? Do people finally cry out in despair and beg for release? That's probably a little over dramatic.

When God spoke these words to His people through the prophet Hosea it sounded as if He were being hard and harsh. Israel had been terribly unfaithful to God so that a series of blockages and crossroads had to be built. Out of God's love for His children He purposely constructs hedges of thorns to block our paths when those paths lead away from His loving embrace and into the paths of evil.

God's perspective is always higher than ours. Image Him looking down into the maze and seeing us heading down a course leading straight for danger or a dead end. What if He began calling out to us and even sent guides to direct our paths toward safety and out of the maze and haze of confusion. After all, He sees the opening and He is the Light at the end of every tunnel. From His vantage point He sees all. Our decisions can then be ones of trust and obedience to His voice, even though we cannot see the outcome, only walls all around us. Or we can choose to ignore His voice and go our own way.

Israel had been going their own way until, out of love, God hedged them in and blocked their path. Sometimes we find ourselves in a hedge of correction, while at other times we are in a hedge of protection. If you are in a season of feeling "hedged in" it may be God's boundary of grace or His wall of discipline. Either way, as long as you seek His face and His direction and obey His tender voice, you will find the way out. You will find Him!

CONTROL

II Corinthians 5:14 – For the love of Christ CONTROLS and urges and impels us.

I've recently been on a few long distance road trips and there's a strange, but not new, phenomena I wonder if you're aware of. There are still a few stretches of highway that are 55 miles an hour, believe it or not. I was in the right hand lane, the "slow" lane, and noticed that everyone was flying past me. My natural instinct was to speed up in order to catch up and remain in the flow of traffic. Does "go with the flow" sound familiar? So I accelerated up to 60 MPH. Again, traffic was whizzing by at what I would estimate to be around 65-70 MPH. I knew that if I increased my speed above five miles over the speed limit that I was doing so at my own risk. I couldn't believe or understand why the masses were so blatantly breaking the law.

Guess what I did? I pressed that wonderful button called Cruise Control and let not my heart be troubled. There's something about that button that gives us freedom in more ways than one. It's a shield and a safeguard as well as a convenience. Even though the traffic continued at their Daytona 500 pace, I was safe within the bubble of Cruise Control.

Do you realize that within each believer we too have a Cruise Control button and it's called the Holy Spirit. We have a built in warning system that throws up the red caution flag when we start to get distracted and disoriented by the crowd. We have God's word that should be daily planted in our hearts as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path so that we can stay on the right course and make the right decisions. If we willfully choose to tap into this Holy Cruise Control and obey the Spirit of the Living God within us, coupled with his mighty, unshakable word, then we can sail through life in the boundaries of His bubble.

I'm not saying there won't be storms and accidental wrong turns, but we don't have to be led by the crowd or confused about the rules. No more will we have to be checking our rear view mirror in worry and sweating when we see blue lights. We will have a peace that passes all understanding, and we will reach our destination in one piece at the proper time.