A great amount of authority comes with the wearing of a uniform. Last night, for instance, at my son's basketball game, the ref made a call which the opposing team's coach did not approve of. The coach was up on his feet questioning the call, to which the ref patiently gave an explanation. The coach, however, was not satisfied and continued to verbally press the ref, for which he was rewarded with a technical. The opposing coach walked to the wall and leaned in frustration.
To the casual (code for "completely clueless") basketball observer (like me) it would seem that all is over, but the ref stops the player who has already taken one free throw and looks at the coach, instructing him to sit down. What??? Is this ref on some sort of power trip? The coach informs him that there is no room on the bench for him to sit, to which the ref answers, "Then move your players down!" When the coach raises his voice again to rebuttle, the ref loudly proclaims, "He's outa here!"
Silence from our team and fans (We don't want to somehow further offend this very powerful ref who has the the authority to throw people out of the game). Grumbles of "Can he do that?" and "Who does he think he is?" and swift lurching of breaths and half-said words from the opposing team and fans.
Coach tries a stall tactic with, "I just want to know why!" Ref says, "NO. This game will not continue until he's out of here. If you're not out of this building in ten seconds, you will forfeit the game." At about the six second mark a door slams behind the coach -one last effort to make his objections heard.
The official word has gone forth and been enforced by the one who has the authority to do so...and the game is back on.
What the completely clueless fan (me) didn't know was that when a coach gets a technical, he must sit down. Opposing Coach knew it but was testing his limits. Did Ref know the rule? Did Ref know he had the authority to enforce the rule? Would Ref have enough boldness to truly fill that position of authority when push came to shove? Coach found out the answer: Absolutely.
Did you know that as a Child of God, when you were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, you took on the Name of Jesus with all the authority that it affords you? As a Born Again Christian, you have the witness of the Spirit backing you. As a Soldier of the Cross, you have access to the whole armor of God for an offensive battle.
Do you know the rules of engagement? The devil knows them. He knows the authority that you have in the name of Jesus Christ. Will he test you? Most definitely. Will he go willingly? Never.
Remember that you are wearing the Uniform. You have authority in the Name of Jesus. You have the backing of the Spirit. You have the protection of the Whole Armor of God. There is no reason for you to back down against the enemy. Whatever your situation is, speak the Word of authority with boldness. Tell the devil, "NO! You will leave now in Jesus' name!" Yes, he will oppose you and rebuttle and kick and scream and slam doors and make a lot of noise, but when the official Word has gone forth from someone with the authority to speak it, HE'S OUTA HERE!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
Sunday, my pastor husband asked from the pulpit, "If you saw a coin lying on the ground in front of you, would you stop to pick it up?" Most of the congregation was quick to answer, "Yes". Then he added, "Even if it was only a penny?" There was a bit more hesitancy to answer this question, many feeling that it would be a waste of time to stop for a mere penny.
A few, myself included, still enthusiastically affirmed that we would stop even for the penny, after all, "Money's money!"
I have a better reason to stop that was shared with me several years ago. On every American coin are the words "In God We Trust"...even the meek and lowly penny. When I see any coin in my path, I immediately take it as a reminder to trust God. Many times, I am going about my day on the outside, but dealing with difficult circumstances on the inside, wondering, "What should I do? What's going to happen?" Then I see that little copper penny from Heaven and am immediately reminded that I don't necessarily have to DO anything for things to work out...I simply need to trust God.
From now on when you see a lost coin in your path, do what I do -stop, bend over, pick up the little message from Heaven, dust it off, hold it in your palm for a few seconds and say, "Thank you, Jesus. I'm going to trust you today!"
A few, myself included, still enthusiastically affirmed that we would stop even for the penny, after all, "Money's money!"
I have a better reason to stop that was shared with me several years ago. On every American coin are the words "In God We Trust"...even the meek and lowly penny. When I see any coin in my path, I immediately take it as a reminder to trust God. Many times, I am going about my day on the outside, but dealing with difficult circumstances on the inside, wondering, "What should I do? What's going to happen?" Then I see that little copper penny from Heaven and am immediately reminded that I don't necessarily have to DO anything for things to work out...I simply need to trust God.
From now on when you see a lost coin in your path, do what I do -stop, bend over, pick up the little message from Heaven, dust it off, hold it in your palm for a few seconds and say, "Thank you, Jesus. I'm going to trust you today!"
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
BE STILL MY SOUL
To Sister Barb who is a beacon of light for me.
Be still my soul.
Don’t struggle so.
You are safe in the Master’s hand.
Be still my soul.
Just rest in Him.
Trust in His unfolding plan.
Be still my soul,
And feel His breath,
Life and pulse and flame.
Be still my soul,
And hear His voice,
Caressing the sound of your name.
Be still my soul.
Push back the dark.
You are His beacon of light.
Be still my soul,
And shine for those
Who are still treading the night…
…Be still my soul.
Be still my soul.
Don’t struggle so.
You are safe in the Master’s hand.
Be still my soul.
Just rest in Him.
Trust in His unfolding plan.
Be still my soul,
And feel His breath,
Life and pulse and flame.
Be still my soul,
And hear His voice,
Caressing the sound of your name.
Be still my soul.
Push back the dark.
You are His beacon of light.
Be still my soul,
And shine for those
Who are still treading the night…
…Be still my soul.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
WINTER'S COMING
When I was a child growing up, I remember much harder winters than we have now. During the winter of 1976-77, we were out of school for six weeks. (My oldest brother assures me that he remembers this year well, as it started snowing on New Year's Eve, was followed by an ice storm and we didn't go back to school until the first week of February. He didn't get to graduate until June 8th because of it...I can see why it's imprinted on his mind:)
It seems every year, our winters get milder and milder. Yet, without fail, we will have a few really harsh weeks, which always catch us by surprise and cause us to run scurrying to make sure we have enough staples in the cabinet and propane in the gas tank outside. Living in the country, we also have an annual family wood cutting day (much to our kids' delight).
We have church in the middle of the day on Sundays and so my husband and I have a Sunday morning ritual. After breakfast we make "the rounds", checking on our horses and cows. This morning, we drove through the gate and, as usual, my husband started honking the horn at the cows. They heard this welcome sound and came running from the distant hills, eager for the feed that they knew was in his vehicle.
As I sat in the Jeep watching them shuffle for a place at the feeders, I smiled to myself, remembering just a few months earlier. It had also been a Sunday morning and we had come through the gate honking the horn, but to my husband's frustration, the cows wouldn't pay him any attention. He honked. He yelled. He banged on the feeders...nothing. I distinctly remember thinking to myself at the time, Just wait, winter's coming.
You see, I knew something those fat, lazy, content cows didn't. It won't always be summer. The grass won't always be tender and green. The skies won't always be blue. Winter is coming and when it does, content cows become hungry cows.
Isn't it the same with us? God beckons to us. He honks. He yells. He bangs on the feeders...nothing. We have become fat, lazy and content in the spirit. We have forgotten that it won't always be summer, the grass won't always be tender and green and the skies won't always be blue. God knows something else that we have forgotten -winter is coming and when it does, content saints become hungry saints.
It seems every year, our winters get milder and milder. Yet, without fail, we will have a few really harsh weeks, which always catch us by surprise and cause us to run scurrying to make sure we have enough staples in the cabinet and propane in the gas tank outside. Living in the country, we also have an annual family wood cutting day (much to our kids' delight).
We have church in the middle of the day on Sundays and so my husband and I have a Sunday morning ritual. After breakfast we make "the rounds", checking on our horses and cows. This morning, we drove through the gate and, as usual, my husband started honking the horn at the cows. They heard this welcome sound and came running from the distant hills, eager for the feed that they knew was in his vehicle.
As I sat in the Jeep watching them shuffle for a place at the feeders, I smiled to myself, remembering just a few months earlier. It had also been a Sunday morning and we had come through the gate honking the horn, but to my husband's frustration, the cows wouldn't pay him any attention. He honked. He yelled. He banged on the feeders...nothing. I distinctly remember thinking to myself at the time, Just wait, winter's coming.
You see, I knew something those fat, lazy, content cows didn't. It won't always be summer. The grass won't always be tender and green. The skies won't always be blue. Winter is coming and when it does, content cows become hungry cows.
Isn't it the same with us? God beckons to us. He honks. He yells. He bangs on the feeders...nothing. We have become fat, lazy and content in the spirit. We have forgotten that it won't always be summer, the grass won't always be tender and green and the skies won't always be blue. God knows something else that we have forgotten -winter is coming and when it does, content saints become hungry saints.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
BIRDS OF A FEATHER...
...flock together. Isn't that how the old saying goes? Church is a bit like life at my birdfeeder. Birds (and saints) come in all different colors, shapes and personalities.
First, there are the dominate, brilliantly colored Cardinals. The flamboyant males waste no time making their grand entrance. They set the mood and order the goings on, while their equally stunning mates give them support from a nearby limb.
Second, there are the little round birds that only feel brave enough to approach the feeder if they have reinforcements. Hence, the reason they come in groups of five or six. Their strength is in their numbers.
Third, there are the small, gray birds with the top thatch on their heads. They come to the feeder alone and only when their hunger drives them to brave the crowd. They are spectacular in their own right, but never feel quite good enough about themselves to bond with the rest of the flock.
Fourth, are the raucus Bluejays. They aren't regular to the feeder, but when they do come, they always have something to say.
Fifth, come the more settled Doves. They approach as a couple and, usually, only one pair per feeder. They sigh and calmly assess the atmosphere at the feeder, then go about their business
-their togetherness never affected by the hodge podge of activity around them.
Sixth, flies in the occasional Red-headed Woodpecker. He's alone. He's busy. He's on the move. You can't build a relationship with a Woodpecker.
And finally, seventh, come the Crows. They have their own agenda. They're sleek and impressive, always capturing everyone's attention with their quick wit...while they scatter all the feed from here to there so that everyone goes hungry while trying to tend to them...blasted Crows. (I know what you're thinking, "But they're SOULS!" Well, trust me, some birds are just decoys.)
I send my son out to replenish the seed. He's the Pastor of this feeder. If the birds knew that I watched their antics inconspicuously from the window, would they realize there's plenty to go around? Would they begin to work together for the common good? Would they invite others to come and dine?
First, there are the dominate, brilliantly colored Cardinals. The flamboyant males waste no time making their grand entrance. They set the mood and order the goings on, while their equally stunning mates give them support from a nearby limb.
Second, there are the little round birds that only feel brave enough to approach the feeder if they have reinforcements. Hence, the reason they come in groups of five or six. Their strength is in their numbers.
Third, there are the small, gray birds with the top thatch on their heads. They come to the feeder alone and only when their hunger drives them to brave the crowd. They are spectacular in their own right, but never feel quite good enough about themselves to bond with the rest of the flock.
Fourth, are the raucus Bluejays. They aren't regular to the feeder, but when they do come, they always have something to say.
Fifth, come the more settled Doves. They approach as a couple and, usually, only one pair per feeder. They sigh and calmly assess the atmosphere at the feeder, then go about their business
-their togetherness never affected by the hodge podge of activity around them.
Sixth, flies in the occasional Red-headed Woodpecker. He's alone. He's busy. He's on the move. You can't build a relationship with a Woodpecker.
And finally, seventh, come the Crows. They have their own agenda. They're sleek and impressive, always capturing everyone's attention with their quick wit...while they scatter all the feed from here to there so that everyone goes hungry while trying to tend to them...blasted Crows. (I know what you're thinking, "But they're SOULS!" Well, trust me, some birds are just decoys.)
I send my son out to replenish the seed. He's the Pastor of this feeder. If the birds knew that I watched their antics inconspicuously from the window, would they realize there's plenty to go around? Would they begin to work together for the common good? Would they invite others to come and dine?
Monday, January 22, 2007
IF I'VE TOLD YOU ONCE...
...I've told you a hundred times! How many times have we said this to our own children? (just previous to the huff and eye roll) Aren't we really saying, "This is a valuable piece of information that I REALLY want you to get"?
When God repeats something in his Word, it is because he has a desire to relay it's importance to us. Hence the message in Psalm 107:8 and 15, and 21 AND 31 -"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
From these verses I see a snapshot of God, the Creator of the universe, with a hunger to be noticed by his creation. I see a God who has done and continues to do great and mighty works for his people and yet, so many times, we are oblivious to his involvement in our lives.
How many times have you been on the brink of mental, physical or spiritual tragedy, and yet a way of escape was made for you? How many times have you been the recipient of blessings that you knew you didn't deserve? How many times have you watched the beauty of a sunset, the tranquility of a river, the mystery of an unfolding rose, the majesty of a soaring eagle, or the way of a mother with her newborn child...and not given God the glory?
Our God desires to be noticed, and He deserves to be praised.
When God repeats something in his Word, it is because he has a desire to relay it's importance to us. Hence the message in Psalm 107:8 and 15, and 21 AND 31 -"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
From these verses I see a snapshot of God, the Creator of the universe, with a hunger to be noticed by his creation. I see a God who has done and continues to do great and mighty works for his people and yet, so many times, we are oblivious to his involvement in our lives.
How many times have you been on the brink of mental, physical or spiritual tragedy, and yet a way of escape was made for you? How many times have you been the recipient of blessings that you knew you didn't deserve? How many times have you watched the beauty of a sunset, the tranquility of a river, the mystery of an unfolding rose, the majesty of a soaring eagle, or the way of a mother with her newborn child...and not given God the glory?
Our God desires to be noticed, and He deserves to be praised.
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