The Unexpected Ending- He is Faithful

This morning I awoke to the song "Hosanna." When I hear it, my imagination takes me to a place in history where the news of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem is first breaking. As He enters in on a donkey, I see myself amongst the crowd of people who had been wondering if he would come. I can feel the desperateness and relief in their hearts as they shout "Hosanna" God save us!

They sing with a knowing that they finally get to see their prayers in faith become a reality. The rescue. And then, how they must have felt when their version of the story looked nothing like His.

After reading my devotional today, I thought God did respond to their cry for help.  The shout "God save us" tipped the bowl of prayers that had been filling with the prayers of faith since the beginning of time. The spill produced a shower of mercy and grace that gave them the ability to withstand His heartbreaking version of the story. Our plans almost never line up with God's. We expect the rescue to look a certain way. Unfortunately, most of the time, His version of the story is first seen through eyes of faith. Why, I guess it allows us to make a choice, is He good? Is He faithful? The crowd that day gathered to watch an expected ending, but it was just the beginning to an unexpected end. His ending would help them, and us make the right choice. He is good, and He is Faithful.

A lyric in the song above sums it all up for me.

"But when I think about the road you took for love, I know your grace will stay the path."

When we can't see what He's doing, we choose to believe He is working it out in a way that will reveal His good and His glory in our story.  He wants our story to be good, but sometimes our version has to die before He can write His. When He died on the cross, all we could see was an unjustified death. And it was, but it was the only way to justify it. His death gave us life. It took time to see what death was doing on the cross. And, with His mercy and grace, we learn to overcome the pain of watching our plans die until we see His plan come alive.

This season He keeps reminding of Sarah's story.

"She judged Him faithful who had promised". - Hebrews 11:11

What precedes those words about Sarah is where we find the way we can also judge Him faithful.

 "Through faith, Sarah herself received strength to conceive."

It is by faith, having faith in the unseen goodness and faithfulness of God, that we are given the "strength" (Mercy & Grace) to conceive His promise.

The ending to Sarah's story needed to die so God's could come alive within her. He let her write one, and it didn't turn out so good. He also gave her time to see her way didn't lead to life. I'm sure there was a private moment where she cried out too, God save me. It's at that moment we understand we need a new ending. We stop striving and struggling and let go. It's the perfect place for faith. Nothing else can enter because you can see no other ending. And that's when He gives us the strength to conceive a new plan, His perfect plan. In this space and place, we will see His goodness and judge Him faithful.

Another wonderful devotional below to remind us of His faithfulness. His mercies are new every single day. An anchor for us all.

RACHAMIM

“Do you believe,” said the teacher, “that God has mercy?”

“Yes,” I replied.  “Of course, you’ve taught me that.”

“No,” said the teacher.  “God does not have mercy.”

“With all respect,” I said cautiously, “that’s not right.”   It was the first time I had ever contradicted him in such a direct way.

“Prove your point,” he said.

“I was just reading the Book of Daniel.  In it, Daniel prays for God’s mercy on the people of Israel.  He says, “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness…”

“It doesn’t say that,” he replied, “not in the original language.  It says ‘to the Lord belong rachamim.'”

“What is rachamim?”

“Some would translate it as mercy.  But rachamim is not a singular noun.  It’s plural.  It doesn’t mean mercy.  It means mercies.  It means that God’s mercy is more than mercy.  God’s mercy is so great, so strong, and so deep that it can’t be contained in a single word.  Rachamim means that His mercy has no end.”

“What about the word for sin?” I asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Is it by nature singular or plural?”

“The word for sin,” said the teacher, “is singular.”

“But the word for mercy is plural,” I said.

“And what odes that tell you?”

“That no matter what my sin is, no matter how great, the mercy of God is always greater.  And no matter how much I’ve sinned, no matter how many sins I have, the mercies of God are more than my sins.”

“Yes,” said the teacher.  “So don’t ever make the mistake of thinking that you’ve exhausted God’s mercy.  You never have.  You never could.  And you never will.  He will always have more mercies than you have sins, more than enough to cover every sin and to still have enough compassion left over to love you forever.  For what the Lord has for you is not mercy…but rachamim.”

The Mission:  Open your heart today to receive the rachamim God has for you, not only for your sins, but the overflowing rivers of His compassions and love.

Psalm 136; Lamentations 3:22-23; Daniel 9:9; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Cahn, Jonathan. “Rachamim.” The Book of Mysteries. Lake Mary, FL: FrontLine, 2016. Day 56. Print.

23 - Wilderness to Wonder

May 23, 2017- 

Every time I see "23" it reminds me of a many things. It holds a sense of wonder because it's meaning is complex, deep, full of pain and full of hope.  I was born on the 23rd and years later felt my deepest pain on the 23rd. It led me into the desert and walked with me through the wilderness. It revealed the bitterness in my heart as I wrestled with Psalm 23. And, it broke my heart to be in "The valley of the shadow of death" but I knew it was where I needed to camp out for a while. I needed time to let go of the way I saw my world. I needed new eyes and that's what I got living in "The Tent World". In the valley I met The Shepherd. Over time He became My Shepherd. Today 23 reminds me that I'm not alone and I'm on a journey that is leading me home. 

This morning I listened to the song above and it paired so well with my morning devotional. The lyrics are hopeful and full of wonder and remind us that He turns the wilderness in wonder. 

“No matter what happens in this world or in your life, never forget, you’re not home…you’re only journeying through.  Every problem will pass, and every temptation will fade.  So tread lightly.  It’s where your’re going.  Keep your eyes focused and your heart fixed on your destination-on the Promised Land.  And for all the rest, just remember…you’re only camping.”

"The Tent World"

Jonathan Cahn

He led me to a plateau from which we could see a vast panorama of the wilderness, mountains, valleys, canyons, plains, rocks, and sand.

“It bears a profound mystery,” said the teacher.

“What does?” I asked.

“This…the desert.  It’s the landscape through which God’s people journeyed on their way to the Promised Land.”

“The Israelites.”

“Yes.  In order to get to the Promised Land, they had to journey through the desert wilderness, dwelling in tents.  In that is the revelation.”

“The revelation of what?” I asked.

“This life,” he said.  “Everything in this world is temporary.  It’s not the place in which we stay.  It’s the place through which we journey  We pass through this world.  It isn’t our home.  It’s the tent world.  And all of us are just campers.  Everything in this world changes, every circumstance, every experience, every stage of life…they’re all tents.  We dwell in one tent for a season, ad then move on to another.  Your childhood was tent in which once you dwelt and then you moved on.  Your good times, your bad times, your successes and failures, your problems, your joys and sorrows, your adulthood, your old age…they’re all just tents.  Even your physical being, even that’s a tent, temporary and always changing.  The very frailty of it all is a reminder that we’re only journeying through.”

“Journeying through to where?” I asked.

“For the child of God, it’s the journey home.  It’s the journey home to the Promised Land…to heaven…the place where we give up our tents and exchange that which is temporary for that which is everlasting.”

“And how do I apply this?”

“In every way,” he said.  “No matter what happens in this world or in your life, never forget, you’re not home…you’re only journeying through.  Every problem will pass, and every temptation will fade.  So tread lightly.  It’s where your’re going.  Keep your eyes focused and your heart fixed on your destination-on the Promised Land.  And for all the rest, just remember…you’re only camping.”

The Mission:  Living this day as a camper.  Don’t get caught up in your circumstances.  Focus instead on the journeying.  And travel lightly.

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5; Hebrews 11:8-16

I love what 2 Corinthians 4:18 says- "There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." - MSG

She Judged Him Faithful

Recently I attended the funeral of a dear friend. His mother had passed on to Heaven, and we were invited to join the family as they celebrated her life. Her pastor spoke that day on behalf of the family and offered a message of hope. The scripture he used to describe her that day is still with me. It’s like it opened a locked door deep within my heart.

                                                                 "She JUDGED Him Faithful."

The pastor was comparing my friend's mother to Sarah, the mother of nations and one that judged her God faithful. I did not know my friend's mother but the descriptions given that day by her loved ones made me believe that she was an amazing mother and wife. I left the funeral hoping that the words spoken at my funeral would some day be like her's, one who judged her God faithfully.

Jesus and I have been talking about why this scripture won’t leave my mind, and He has been sweet to give me insight. I love it when He extends an invitation to talk when your least expecting it.  Below is what He has shown me so far.

“Beyond your pay grade,” is a term used in the military to inform someone that they don't have the rank to make certain decisions. I feel Jesus is always saying to me, Julie, this is above your pay grade. You can't make that decision. You don't know all the facts or hold the authority to make those decisions. I want to move on your behalf, but other things need to happen. It's not time yet.

The delay. Why the delay? I want things to go my way and in my time. I want to move out of the desert and cross over to the Promise Land. I want to be comfortable. I want to feel safe. I know this is not the way things work, so why am I always frustrated by the delay? The Bible was written to warn us of the delay and teaches us how to prepare and what to do in the delay.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. 

But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)

The ending will be amazing! I'm sure of that, but the trouble we experience along the way can be too much at times.

Two more years and suddenly he is free. Joseph went to prison because of the evil choices of his brothers. While in prison, he retains his integrity and abilities and after testing is rewarded with two more years of unjustified imprisonment — and then suddenly he's free. This happens so often in the Bible. Sometimes, unfortunate circumstances go on and on and on. You analyze them and pray about them, and they only get worse.

 Jesus tells us, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority" (Acts 1:7 NIV).

That's a harsh answer when you're in prison. Joseph experiences two more years of separation, loneliness, injustice, and the appearance of abandonment in response to his obedience. What's the point God's trying to make? I'm not sure, but I do see that somehow all of the heroes of faith who have painful, messy lives end with God's stamp of glory upon them. He carries them through.

Sarah is another person who is presently teaching me to be patient. I keep thinking about the time she laughed at God. She was at an all time low when this happened. Twenty-five years had passed, and the promised child hadn’t appeared. There had been "talk" of the promise, but God never told her "when." As time slowly passed, she gave up on hope and her body’s natural ability to give birth. I can see her now, standing in the kitchen washing dishes. She stands close to the wall to eavesdrop on God and Abraham's conversation, waiting for the promise to be mentioned and the explanation of why they didn't get it. I wonder if she thought it was her fault. When the delay took its toll on her hope, she decided to make her own way. Her great idea was to get Abram to sleep with the maid. She became the judge and went way beyond her pay grade. She must have felt an overwhelming sense of shame for helping Abraham lose his hope and promise.

I imagine God was patiently waiting, holding out for the moment when Sarah felt fully pregnant with her hopelessness. He knew one mention of the promise would induce the long awaited labor of her barrenness. As she retreated to the kitchen she heard the promise and laughed. God heard her and asked about it, and she denied its existence. I think the laugh revealed a lie Sarah had come to believe about God — that He wasn’t faithful. He knew this was her struggle and wanted to remove the lie and replace it with truth. He saw and understood her humanness within her story of His eternal glory. Instead of judgment, He offered her mercy and gave her what He promised — His faithfulness.

Sarah's story is messy. She made many mistakes and struggled to hold on to her faith. She wasn't perfect, but God still loved her and made good on His promise. The fulfillment of her dream gives me so much hope. Our lives are about becoming within the delay. We become more like Jesus in the wait. Sarah's becoming fully bloomed in the book of Hebrews. Here we get to see how God saw Sarah during the delay.

"…she judged him faithful who had promised." (Hebrews 11:11)

When I look back at some of my heroes in the Bible, I see that I'm not alone in my suffering. I also get to see that my heroes are human and make many mistakes. They teach me that I don't have to live a perfect life to be greatly loved by God. I will mess up. I will let my loved ones down. I will disappoint myself over and over again. I will try to figure things out on my own and manipulate them for my good. I will fall and scrape my knees and bleed. I will need to give forgiveness and ask for it a million times this side of heaven. I will trip many times over the truth that I can't save or fix anyone. My messy life doesn't bother God. He knew my story before I did and still created me. Today, I am learning that I can't do anything without Him, but with Him all things are possible.

To me, this is a good picture of what He's doing in the delay:

So don’t be afraid: I’m with you.

I’ll round up all your scattered children,

pull them in from east and west.

I’ll send orders north and south:

“Send them back.

Return my sons from distant lands,

my daughters from faraway places.

I want them back, every last one who bears my name,

every man, woman, and child

Whom I created for my glory,

yes, personally formed and made each one.” (Isaiah 43:7-10)

What do you believe and why? - Trey Gowdy

"You've got to figure out what you believe and more importantly why you believe it." 

- Trey Gowdy

A few weeks ago I ran across this speech given by Trey Gowdy to the students of Liberty University. I decided to listen to it while I was pouring my 1st cup of coffee that morning. Normally I "T-R-Y" to pray before I let the chaos of the day in, but I was overtaken by the urge to listen to my new favorite Hero, Trey Gowdy!!! I love his heart that pursues truth and fights for justice.  I was deeply convicted by a question he asks his audience to answer: 

"You've got to figure out what you believe and more importantly why you 
believe it. It's never enough in politics or of any other sphere of persuasion to simply tell people what you believe you must know why you believe it."- Trey Gowdy

I thought to myself, I know what I believe and I think I know why I believe it. But I felt like I need to pray and ask Jesus what His thoughts were towards my convicted heart. I said, Jesus, I believe in you, but WHY do I believe in you? The first thought that came to my mind was John 3:16. I kind of laughed and said, really Lord. That's too easy. Everyone knows John 3:16!! Come on this has to be my thoughts.. give me yours..I waited a few minutes and then decided to look it up and read it again. Before I read it I felt like the Lord said trust me I'm going to highlight something in this familiar verse that you've never paid attention to before. Here is what He said. It's a little long but when I was finished reading it I felt like the Lord showed me how to pray for myself and for the Untied States of America. I was blown away by His faithfulness to answer my question WHY..

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son. AND THIS IS WHY: So that no one need be destroyed:by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending His son merely to point and accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts is acquitted (Set Free); anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. AND WHY? Because of that persons failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. "This is the crisis we're in: God- light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil addicted to denial and illusion hates God-light and wont come near it fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God- Light so the work can be seen for the God- work it is." - John 3:16-21

I felt like the Lord was showing me the Why was so not one of us would be destroyed by the evil of this world and by simply believing we could have a whole and full and lasting life now and into eternity. He came to bring light to our darkened world. I thought how easy, we simply believe! The other part of this scripture that stood out to me was the description of those who practice evil.. those who are addicted to denial and illusion!

As I watch our current events unfold today I cant help but think about the leaders who are addicted to denial and illusion. They manipulate truth and reality because they fear the painful exposure that will come when God's light exposes the evil. I have taken on this prayer for myself, my family and for the United States of America. "My prayer is God, Let there be light. Shine your light upon the darkness. I personally repent for my denial of the truth and disillusionment of reality. I also am willing to stand in the gap and pray this for my Nation and the great leaders You are raising up to shine your light and bring your truth." Again, I'm reminded that we do not place our hope in a political party or a person but in God and God alone. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, He will show us the way. He will expose the truth.

I think this is a prayer we can all pray that will bring unity back to the United States of America. Let truth expose the lies and wake us up to see the reality of our current circumstances. 

Let There Be Light-