by Stacey | Aug 2, 2012 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Some days my thread of sanity nearly snaps. What keeps it strong is belief that my God reigns. He reigns in my life, in the world, in my heart, and in my mind.
For years I gave Him reign in life, world and heart – but held back my mind choosing to dwell in the darkness of worry. This manifested in a disturbing pattern. When plagued by worry I called friend after friend to discuss my options, what might happen, or worse, what might NOT happen. We would talk the issue to death.
After talking the issue to death I felt little need to bring the matter before God. Or if I did bring it to God it was in obligation or as an afterthought. My prayers told God what should happen.
As if I knew better than Him.
Once God shed light onto this sin, (Yes, I used the “S” word), He gave me the strength and desire to change. I pledged to no longer discuss worrisome issues with friends until AFTER I discussed them with Him and I made a choice – a choice to take God at His Word.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:6-8).”
In a final attempt to round-up wayward fears I made changes – changes that have sometimes been mocked. I have been accused of living with my head in the sand because I rarely watch the news or read the newspaper.
I believe both venues sensationalize the problems of our sinful world and feed fear. Most news stories are far from noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. I’m not saying it is wrong to watch the news or read the paper, but doing so puts me on a path toward worry and sin so I abstain. I refuse to dwell on images or words that push my imagination into overdrive.
I think the ability to feel deeply and wildly imagine contributes positively to my writing. A vivid imagination is a gift. But knowing I have the tendency to take things to the extreme makes me very cautious about what I allow into my mind.
2 Corinthians 10:5 “…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
by Stacey | Jul 5, 2012 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Yesterday was shaping up to be one of those days. I started the day with a brisk early morning walk, worship music, and prayer. The only way to start this kind of day.
A full day loaded with eight (yes, eight) children, six of them aged five and under.
I prepared for yesterday. I made plans, plans that did not include raising my voice, pulling out my hair, or disciplining someone for pulling someone else’s hair out. But I know myself and my limits. Good intentions never get me far.
To create a day that ended with eight happy kids tucked into bed content and tired I needed help. I hired a teen from our church to be my extra set of hands and asked the Holy Spirit to work in me in a very practical way.
Praying for an extra dose of patience felt a tad simplistic. Does God really care I have eight kids to tend to when there are so many more pressing issues in the world? You bet He does. And I knew in the deepest place of my heart if I tried this on my own strength I would fail – miserably.
So what did I do with eight kids on a hot, hot day?
We built bubble machines.
We blew bubbles.
We made a spider web.
We had a dip in the pool.
We licked a popsicle and slipped on the slip ‘n’ slide.
We took another dip in the pool and licked more popsicles.
Most importantly, I reminded myself to breathe.
When life overwhelms breathe deep. Inhale the presence of God, the presence that He promises will never leave nor forsake. Move moment by moment trusting He will provide what is needed for the next step, and the one after that, and the one after that.
Dependence on the Holy Spirit enabled me to do more than survive a crazy, hot summer day with my own mini day camp in the back yard. It enabled me to enjoy every burst bubble, every wide-eyed wondrous expression, every shriek of delight (and there were many) and every drip of the popsicle. God used eight wonderfully delightful kids and a sunny summer day to bless me.
by Stacey | Jun 7, 2012 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
God is good. All the time. He put a song of praise in this heart of mine.
The words of Don Moen loop through my mind to a toe tapping country beat when life is good. But what about when life is not good?
Where is God when the slaves remain captive? When the sick die? When the lost are not found? Is He still good? What happens to my faith then? What do I do with a God that fails to deliver?
These types of questions rarely lead to satisfying answers as often as they led to deeper, more uncomfortable questions. Is faith based on God giving me what I want? Will I only believe if He explains His actions? Do I trust that God remains when everything else collapses?
These questions led me to Matthew 9:1-8:
“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.”
Maybe our problem with uncomfortable questions lies within the box of acceptable responses we try to force upon God.
As if we know better than Him.
The people wanted a physical healing but Jesus recognized sin as the more vital problem. Furthermore, Jesus had reason to address the sin first. The man’s physical healing validated that Jesus had the ability to forgive sins. The plan was bigger than a physical healing.
Can I accept that the plan is bigger?
Maybe the slaves bring God greater glory in captivity. Maybe He chose a spiritual healing over a physical one for a reason unknown to me. And no one is lost to God – He knows exactly where I am and what I need.
Where was God when my walls collapsed? He was with me, in the valley of the shadow. Accomplishing a bigger plan.
God is good. All the time.
by Stacey | May 24, 2012 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Define the gospel. As a long time believer in Jesus Christ you would expect that to be a simple request. Yet many believers struggle to put into words the essence of the Gospel, especially into understandable words.
With the help of my husband (guys check out his blog here) we have attempted to explain the Gospel, simply, honestly, and with the hope you will consider how this truth affects you and your loved ones.
- Always start with God. The gospel is what God has done for us, to extend His grace to us, to bring glory to Himself. God is holy, perfect, righteous, pure, and just. We are not any of those things. Therein lays the problem. God will not tolerate our sin.
- Us: We are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), created to be in a relationship with him, but sin separates us. Every person sins (Romans 3:23) and the penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Our problem just got bigger.
- Solution -Jesus. Jesus is God’s son (Luke 3:22), is fully God (Titus 2:13) and became fully man (1 John 4:2, 2 John 1:7). He is the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3). He is sinless (1 Peter 2:22). He died in our place as the only perfect sacrifice, paying the penalty of our sin and absorbing the full wrath of God (1 Peter 2:24). He was forsaken so we don’t have to be forsaken.
- Faith. God requires faith that Jesus’ death on our behalf is all that is needed to declare us clean before God (John 3:16-17). Then we act on that faith by living according to His Word (James 2:14-17).
- Victory. After he was dead three days Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:39) by the power of God accomplishing full victory over sin and death. He extends the invitation to all individuals to accept his sacrifice on their behalf. I trust that despite the guilt of my sin God will declare my payment has been made in full by Jesus and I will be able to enter into eternity with Him.
- Help. God sends His Holy Spirit to live inside each individual that accepts Jesus’ sacrifice. It is by the power of the Spirit that I can obey God, seek forgiveness, and live a transformed life no longer defined by my sin (John 14:16-17).
- Future: Christ will return for his followers! Until then, we live in anticipation of His return and in anticipation of reigning with Him in glory forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Good News
Life goes on forever. Not physical life, of course, but our spiritual life. Once our physical life comes to an end, all who die in an unforgiven and sinful state do not enter into Heaven, but instead spend eternity separated from God in torment. The Good News is that Jesus solves the problem that we cannot solve on our own. It is called Good News because without it, we have no hope.
I cannot earn God’s acceptance. I cannot be good enough. Gaining God’s forgiveness for my sin requires a payment, it requires death. Either my death, both physically and spiritually resulting in eternity apart from God or Jesus’ death, which is already done and already victorious. I need to confess my need and accept the payment made on my behalf.
This is the Gospel. This is the Good News of Jesus. This is the central message that God has given us to pass to our kids, and their kids, and on and on and on. It is a multi-generational message of Good News not meant to be kept to yourself.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:56-57
Suggested further reading:
How can Jesus be God and Man
by Stacey | May 12, 2012 | The Weekend Visitor
Whenever I start to get discouraged about the future of the church, I remember a conversation I had a few years ago with evangelical theologian Carl F. H. Henry on what would turn out to be his last visit to Southern Seminary before his death.
Several of us were lamenting the miserable shape of the church, about so much doctrinal vacuity, vapid preaching, non-existent discipleship. We asked Dr. Henry if he saw any hope in the coming generation of evangelicals.
And I will never forget his reply.
“Why, you speak as though Christianity were genetic,” he said. “Of course, there is hope for the next generation of evangelicals. But the leaders of the next generation might not be coming from the current evangelical establishment. They are probably still pagans.”
“Who knew that Saul of Tarsus was to be the great apostle to the Gentiles?” he asked us. “Who knew that God would raise up a C.S. Lewis, a Charles Colson? They were unbelievers who, once saved by the grace of God, were mighty warriors for the faith.”
Of course, the same principle applied to Henry himself. Who knew that God would raise up a newspaperman from a nominally Lutheran family to defend the Scriptures for generations of conservative evangelicals?
The next Jonathan Edwards might be the man driving in front of you with the Darwin Fish bumper decal. The next Charles Wesley might be a misogynist, profanity-spewing hip-hop artist right now. The next Billy Graham might be passed out drunk in a fraternity house right now. The next Charles Spurgeon might be making posters for a Gay Pride March right now. The next Mother Teresa might be managing an abortion clinic right now.
But the Spirit of God can turn all that around. And seems to delight to do so. The new birth doesn’t just transform lives, creating repentance and faith; it also provides new leadership to the church, and fulfills Jesus’ promise to gift his church with everything needed for her onward march through space and time (Eph. 4:8-16).
After all, while Phillip was leading the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ, Saul of Tarsus was still a murderer.
Most of the church in any generation comes along through the slow, patient discipleship of the next generation. But just to keep us from thinking Christianity is evolutionary and “natural” (or, to use Dr. Henry’s term “genetic”), Jesus shocks his church with leadership that seems to come like a Big Bang out of nowhere.
Whenever I’m tempted to despair about the shape of American Christianity, I’m reminded that Jesus never promised the triumph of the American church; he promised the triumph of the church. Most of the church, in heaven and on earth, isn’t American. Maybe the hope of the American church is right now in Nigeria or Laos or Indonesia.
Jesus will be King, and his church will flourish. And he’ll do it in the way he chooses, by exalting the humble and humbling the exalted, and by transforming cowards and thieves and murderers into the cornerstones of his New City.
So relax.
And, be kind to that atheist in front of you on the highway, the one who just shot you an obscene gesture. He might be the one who evangelizes your grandchildren.
Dr. Moore is the Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice-President for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves as a preaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church, where he ministers weekly at the congregation’s Fegenbush location. Moore is the author of several books, including The Kingdom of Christ, Adopted for Life, andTempted and Tried.
Used with permission
For years I gave Him reign in life, world and heart – but held back my mind choosing to dwell in the darkness of worry. This manifested in a disturbing pattern. When plagued by worry I called friend after friend to discuss my options, what might happen, or worse, what might NOT happen. We would talk the issue to death.
