When the Answer I Needed Was Already Written in the Margin

When Ryan was a little boy, he came home from TCPS one day, full of information. "Hey, Mom. Do you know why Psalm 37 says not to fret three times?"

"No, Ryan. Why is that?"

"Because God really means it. 'Don't fret.' You should read that Psalm. It might help you a lot."

Out of the mouths of babes.

I'd had quite a bit on my mind, and I'd done a bit of fretting. As Ryan tried to tell me, none of my fretting was really necessary. None of it helped anything. All of it was sin. (Originally, I wrote that it was "probably sin" but realized that, if God said do not do it, disobedience to that command was sin.)

I repented, but, over time, my concerns piled up once more and I fretted again.

I'm not talking agonizing, terrified, frantic worry. I "just fretted", but Psalm 37 strictly forbid it. "Fret not." How much plainer could it be? I repented again.

Last week, I had accumulated a mountain of concerns. My son, Ryan. Sam. Ministry. Spiritual warfare. Finding ministry partners. Making prayer cards. Connecting with senior citizens. Getting updates from missionaries. Fundraising. Sam's swallowing. My town. Vandalism at the park. Our sidewalk grant application.The list seemed endless. I was about to drown in concern. (AKA fretting)

I was like Martha (sister of Mary). Concerned about many things when only one thing was needful. You might think I'd remember Martha, but no. I didn't.

Fretting is exhausting work, and, by Sunday morning, I was worn out. I settled in for quiet time and got serious. "Lord, You have to give me some clear direction. I don't know what to do. I'm just worn out with worrying about all this, and I don't know what to do about any of it. Forgive me. Please speak to me today."

That seemed like a prayer God would want to answer, so I headed to church with expectation.  I needed an answer, and God was sure to give it before the day was out. 

Pastor Scooter frequently delivers the very word I've needed to hear, often before I ask God for it, so I expected an 11:00 delivery time. You can't imagine how surprised I was in Sunday school when my "word" arrived early.

"Let's turn to Acts 5," Steadman Harrison (my Sunday School teacher and CEO of Global) told us.

I missed a good bit of what he said after we turned there, because my answer was written in the margin of my Bible, just waiting for me. It had been there for years. Literally. 

"When God wants to do something, there is no demon in hell strong enough to stop Him. My emphasis needs to be on OBEDIENCE, and not warfare."

While Steadman taught with enthusiasm, I had a silent conversation in my heart with our Lord. 

"Just obey? That's the plan?"

"Just obey. That's not all the plan, but it's the part you're supposed to do. I've got the rest."

"So... you're talking about the prayer project with the senior citizens?"

"Yep. And the other things I've said. You just do what I've told you to do already. I can handle the rest."

I don't really want to admit this last part, but I might as well. "You don't need me to help you with that?"

I'm a little surprised about this, but God chose not to dignify that question with an answer. 

I gave Him the answer He wanted. "Okay."

It was what He'd been waiting to hear from me during the weeks I'd spent fretting. I quit trying to figure it out and simply committed myself to doing what He'd said. 

The peace I gained with that decision was monumental. 

There's great freedom in simple obedience, especially when it's not complicated with fretting. 

To make the issue of fretting perfectly clear, God has spoken very clearly in His Word. It's not from Him. We are not to do it. It's sin.

Because of my Sunday epiphany, I've altered my schedule. I still start my day at 5 am, and, whether at Global or working from home, I still have long hours. What's different is the self-imposed pressure to figure out God's plan and my part in it or to try to orchestrate the outcome I think He wants.

It's God's job to reveal the plan. My job is to seek Him. If He wants me to do something, He'll let me know. The Holy Spirit is an expert at conviction. 

Today, let's stop fretting about the concerns in our lives, give those concerns to God, and accept the peace He so freely offers. When we do, we'll find that peace doesn't come alone. It brings joy and contentment, as well.

"...do not fret, it leads only to evildoing." Psalm 37:8 nasb
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: What Becoming A Missionary Taught Me About Myself
#peace #worry

Resting in the Shade of Our Safe God

Sam's in and out of my house all day long, but never more so than when Ryan is home. The two of them are nearly inseparable. In the picture above, Sam, Ryan and I were on the pond levee, feeding the fish. Bento, Ryan's dog, was playing in the grass, chasing bugs.

Late in the afternoon, the surrounding trees give enough shade to make this a cool, comfortable spot. 

We take shelter in the shade of the towering oaks.

This morning, the image of the three of us, comfortably resting under the trees by the lake, came to mind as I read Psalm 91.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."

Psalm 91:1 nasb

The psalmist goes on to say that God will "cover us with His pinions" and we can take refuge "under His wings." 

When we put our lives, our faith, our trust in Almighty God alone, we have taken shelter in a safe, comfortable place. It's the safest place of all. 

There is no danger, no trouble, no sorrow that can attack us under His protecting wings, unless it goes through Him first. What danger is strong enough to go through God? No danger. 

This doesn't mean that we will never encounter danger, trouble, or sorrow. It means that God may allow us to face these trials, but we won't do it alone, and we won't do it without His protection and assistance. 

All our trials will have a point. None of them will be wasted.

Verse 5 of that psalm also tells us, "You will not be afraid..."

In this world, there is so much evil that it's easy to be intimidated by the present and by the future. Our world is full of angry, disenchanted, violent people who seek to take matters into their own hands. They want retaliation and change, though it's seldom clear that what they propose will be an improvement. 

I see our nation and our world heading in a deadly spiral of sin, and the future looks bleak.

There's good news, though. We don't have to be afraid. 

When we take shelter under the wings of the Almighty, our future is not in the hands of angry, disenchanted, violent people. Our future is not in the hands of corrupt officials or crazed terrorists. 

Our future is held tight in the no-slip grip of Jesus Himself.

When we rest under the shadow of the Almighty, we are sheltered in a safe and comfortable place. No fear. No anxiety. No uncertainty. 

We are safe. Now and in the future.

Today, let's put our trust in the One who created and sustains the universe. The One who not only sees the past, present, and future but has the power to intervene. The One who loves us most.

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." 

John 14:1 nasb 

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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: God's Favorite Spot

#faith #Jesus #worry #disciple 

Considering the lilies: Choosing freedom from fear, worry, selfishness

"Consider the lilies, how they grow... And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.                                       (Luke 12:27, 29-32 NASB)

The lily series continues, mainly because I've enjoyed learning about the lilies.  I hate to leave it. We began this series by considering the lily bulb. In case you missed any part of the series, you can click on the links to catch up. We've also considered lily propagation,  lily's disposition, true lilies and the importance of the name, the importance of planting the lily bulb deep in the ground, the different varieties of lilies, and  living the lily life. Yesterday, we examined seeking the kingdom. 

Today, we look at the "DO NOT's". The world often thinks of religion in terms of "thou shalt not's". To the unbeliever, Christianity seems more like a list of don'ts than do's, a divine dictatorship rather than a relationship. If they only knew... 

The "don't's" of faith are for our protection and generally come with a "do" alternative. (Maybe not in the same verse, but if you look for it, you can find it.)

There are three "don't's" in this passage and they aren't what most people think of when they hear "thou shalt not". 

1. Do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink. 

 The word translated as "seek" is not a casual hide and seek game. We might think of it as  a demanding search, determined to have what we want. Jesus is warning us against demanding a certain kind of consumption. 

The implication is for us to be content with simple fare. We may want caviar and lobster, but that doesn't mean we should have it. Let's give up our selfishness and our sense of entitlement.

The most commonly eaten food in the world is rice. The diet in many countries is composed largely of rice. Not caviar. Not filet mignon. We would likely improve our health if we did not "seek" (demand) a certain diet, but were satisfied with a simple diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Okay, lean meats, too for the omnivores among us. (My physician side is shouting this morning.) 

2. Do not keep worrying.

Jesus knows us, doesn't He? We don't just worry for a moment. We keep on worrying. Agonizing, soul-wrenching worry. We fill our lives with what if's and miss the here and now. It's not the way we were intended to live. 

Jesus told us not to keep worrying because there is no need to worry. Our Heavenly Father has the world in His capable hands. He can handle our lives. So take every thought captive. Make a choice to obey. Stop worrying. Stop it. 

Here's a motivator for those of us who have trouble with worry. Jesus told us not to keep worrying. When I refuse to obey Jesus by continuing to worry, it is sin.

How do we stop worrying? Take our thoughts captive. Stop rehearsing our worry. Speak truth. Quote Scripture aloud. Pray. 

3. Do not be afraid.

I love this particular admonition. "Do not be afraid, little flock." The Good Shepherd is speaking here to His lambs and reminds me of Psalm 23. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." As our Shepherd, He has accepted the responsibility of providing for our needs. We are not to allow fear to drive our actions. Momentary fear should drive us to Christ. In His presence, fear flees. 

Will we stop doing what Jesus says not to do? We must, so that we can live free of selfishness, entitlement, demanding, worry, and fear. 

Choose to live as free men and women. It's the way Christ intended us to live.

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Our Father, Our Shepherd and our Lord, forgive me for my selfish demanding, my worry, my fear. Help me to trust you and to follow you. Help me to live free, for You bought that freedom with Your blood. In Jesus name, Amen.

Considering the lilies: Living the Lily Life of Faith

"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the  grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!  And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.                                        (Luke 12:27-29 NASB)

The lily series has continued a little longer than I expected, but we're winding down. We began this series by considering the lily bulb. In case you missed any part of the series, you can click on the links to catch up. We've also considered lily propagation,  lily's disposition, true lilies and the importance of the name, and the importance of planting the lily bulb deep in the ground.  Yesterday, we looked at the different varieties of lilies.

Today, we return to the original passage. "Consider the lilies," Jesus said, "And how they grow." You may remember the information about how lilies grow. They can grow from seed, form scaly bulbs, grow a single tall stem and produce fragrant, showy flowers. 

Jesus would also have us take note of how lilies don't grow. They don't toil, they don't spin, they don't worry, yet their "clothing" is breathtaking in beauty. "Not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these." It would be hard to dress ourselves in the beauty with which God clothes the lilies. 

Lilies and the grass of the fields have an extremely short lifespan. At most, the lily flower lasts a few days. When the bloom is spent, it's treated as trash and thrown away. The brevity of its life does not diminish its value. God still provides for the lilies, still clothes them in beauty.

If God clothes the lilies, don't you know He will take care of you? 

This discussion between Jesus and his disciples began when a man asked Jesus to intervene in his inheritance. Jesus saw his question as an indication of greed and He reminded his listeners, a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Life is not about your money. You can't take it with you. 

Life is so much more than you think.

Don't worry about what you'll eat. Don't worry about what you'll drink. Don't worry about anything. Your Heavenly Father can handle this. Quit worrying. 

Jesus went on to say, "Seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you." It's a matter of priority, of faith, of trust. If we stop chasing material things and start chasing the things of God,  we will experience the faithfulness of God in an amazing way. 

This is a promise. We can count on it. 

This trusting when I don't see how God can provide requires deep faith. It requires deep obedience. You and I have to stop living in panic mode and start living in faith mode. We have to adopt the faith of Jehoshaphat.  When a triple-army (Moab, Ammon, and Meunites) was coming to attack the nation of Judah, King Jehoshaphat turned to the only One who could deliver.

"For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." 2 Chronicles 20:12 NASB

You and I need a lot less "I can handle this" and a lot more "my eyes are on You" if we are to live this life of faith we say we want. We need less seeking of our own solutions and more seeking God's solution. 

Life is more than we think. It is so much more, but we are content with so little. We surround ourselves with material things and call it wealth, but it's not. What God wants for us is Himself. He is the treasure we should seek. He is what make life rich. 

I want a lily life. 

Lilies spend their lives doing the work God has given them to do, putting the beautiful provision of God on display in their blooms, dependent on Him to provide. Just to be clear, lilies spend their entire lives doing the work God has assigned them. The lily life is by no means a life of leisure, but it is a life of joy. Of faith. Of promise.

We, too, can live like the lilies, but only if we start by seeking Him first. So let's take stock of our lives. Are we living like lilies? If not, let's begin by seeking God first. Do the work God has assigned us. Put His bountiful provision on display by the lives we live. 

Live like the lilies. 

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Our Father in Heaven, forgive us for seeking everything except You. Forgive us for accumulating the wealth of this world and missing that of the next. Help us to seek You first, to follow You. Help us to have the life You meant us to have. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Chubby Robins

Looking out my kitchen window early one morning, I found the ground covered with a multitude of birds. Although it was near the end of winter, none of the birds looked sick or malnourished.  One robin was actually pudgy. 

​As I settled in with the first cup of coffee, I wondered about the chubby bird.  Clearly, the robin had not only had all it needed, it had a little more than it needed.  Jesus’ teaching on anxiety came to mind.  

“Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; and they have no storeroom nor barn; and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!”  

(Luke 12:24)

Imagine that!  Without a storeroom or a barn, the bird had managed to eat more than enough lots of days.  There was no other way to explain its expanded girth.  

​God had provided for the bird, and sent more than it needed.  I’ve read many times that anxiety wasn’t necessary because God cared for me more than for the birds and the lilies.  I’ve heard numerous sermons condemning worry and stressing faith.  Somehow, though, the chubby bird brought the truth home with startling reality.  

​I had spent so much time worrying about whether or not I’d have enough of whatever I thought I needed, that I had missed a vital principle.  Perhaps you’ve overlooked this, too.  It is not only that we are NOT to worry.  There is one little thing we must DO.  “Your Father knows that you need these things,” Jesus said.  “But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you.”  

It’s a promise you can count on.  You seek His kingdom and He meets your needs.  No worry required.  Our heavenly Father can be counted on to keep His part of the deal.  The question is – can you?

(Excerpt from upcoming book, Lessons From the Harvest, by Dr. Leanna Hollis)

Filled up

While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." (Luke 5:12 NASB)

The word translated as "covered" here, plērēs, might be better translated as "filled" or "completely permeated". For this man, leprosy was not just an infectious disease affecting his skin and peripheral nerves. His illness had, at least figuratively, "filled him up".  The consequences were more than he could stand, the public shame was too terrible to endure. He had had all he could take. 

His illness wasn't his fault, nor was anyone else to blame. It was, simply put, a terrible tragedy and only a miracle of God could change it. Somewhere between one shouted "unclean" and the next, he looked up, saw Jesus, and recognized that the miracle he so desperately needed was just within reach. He didn't stop to ask if it was a good idea. He didn't get cleaned up. He just ran to Jesus and fell at His feet. 

It is tragic that a difficult situation can become so overwhelming to us that it completely consumes us, filling all our waking moments and stealing not only our hopes and dreams but also our joy in the present. Are you "filled up" by circumstances beyond your control? Does your concern over wayward loved ones threaten to overwhelm you?  If so, take a lesson from the leper. Run to the feet of Jesus and let Him bring healing to your fear and anxiety. Turn the situation over to Him and leave it with Him. He is able to heal, to deliver, to set the captives free.