Built-in Thorns

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. – 2 Corinthians 12:7b-9 (NLT)

Built-in Thorns

I’ve often been curious about what afflicted the apostle Paul so much that he begged the Lord to take it away from him. Each time I’ve imagined what it was I thought about physical afflictions: a bum leg, a bad ticker, a boil that just wouldn’t go away.  But today, I got a different perspective.

The Lord led me to the passage above (specifically the first sentence) and it was in answer to my questions about why I am the way I am.  I have many good qualities. I love (deeply). I care (deeply). I’m generous (sometimes to the detriment of my pocket book and my debt).

But, I have some other qualities that are less than exemplary. I don’t know when to keep my stupid mouth shut, for one thing. Things pop out of it that are hurtful and extremely selfish and I can’t stuff them back in! I can curse like a sailor when given the opportunity and enough road rage behind it (fortunately the Lord has given me a lot more driving patience as I’ve aged). I’m vain, opinionated, bossy and impatient.  I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

But, there are even deeper thorns in my flesh that I try to hide even from myself.

The Holy Spirit gave me some of His wisdom today as I read that first sentence in 2 Corinthians. He amplified and clarified what those words mean for me:

So to keep me from becoming proud (relying on my wisdom, throwing caution to the wind, thinking I am invincible, thinking I’m done growing and learning) I was given a thorn in my flesh (built into my very character makeup; DNA deep) a messenger from Satan (of this world – something that pulls me and ties me to this world repeatedly) to torment me (spring up when I least expect it; rear up its ugly head to prove once again how imperfect and sinful I am) and keep me from becoming proud (to keep me reliant upon my Father in Heaven, my friend and savior, Jesus Christ, and my joy and song, The Holy Spirit).

I have asked the Lord more than three times to take this burden from me, to change me, to make it not so, but it is still here.  So, like Paul, I guess I must be glad to boast in this weakness because it brings me closer to the Lord and leaves me reliant upon Him to work His will through that weakness.

I don’t know what Paul’s thorn was, but I’m seeing now why the Lord didn’t have him clarify.  We each have our own demons that we battle.  They may take the form of a physical affliction, an emotional burden, or a wound so deep that it affects your very nature and pops out when you least expect it.  But, take heart, your weakness is the Lord’s opportunity for strength! 

Dear Lord, thank you for helping me see my flaws with a different perspective. Please help me to turn to you when I am experiencing this thorn in my flesh instead of pulling away in shame. Only you can use this weakness for good.  I trust that you will see your perfect will done in my life, one way or another. You have guided me to safe harbors and green pastures so many times and I know that you will again. You see the completed work that I am. You have faith in me and I have faith in you. I love you so much and I thank you for loving me, all of me, just because. Amen.

Blessings and peace,

Leah

God Will Make It Grow

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. – 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NLT)

God Will Make It Grow

I quoted the above portion of Scripture because it stood out to me the strongest from chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians, but the message that I’m receiving really is woven throughout the entire chapter.  I didn’t want to print the whole schlamoley in this devotion, but I do recommend that you crack open your bibles and read through the entire chapter (it will shed light on my ramblings).

The message is pretty simple and one that I’ve received many a time (and will, I’m sure, many times more).  We can plant, we can water, but God makes it grow. I can’t learn, teach, live, breathe without Him. Period.

Paul states it in verse 11: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have – Jesus Christ. 

We all choose churches and spiritual leaders that we feel comfortable with.  Does that mean that if I go to a Lutheran church and someone else goes to an Episcopalian church that one of us is wrong? Certainly not!  If we have a solid foundation in Christ then we are where we are supposed to be!

We have the security and knowledge that the Lord will make sure that we are protected and cared for. We are His temple and His Spirit lives in us. He will thwart anyone who tries to harm His temple.

Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. – 1 Corinthians 3:22b-23 (NLT)

I guess this message may be more for my reassurance and perhaps I should have just kept it between the Lord and myself, but maybe not.  It’s a reassurance for me that if I’m here watering with my devotions and they are humanly imperfect it’s ok because God is the one using my watering attempts to help us grow.  And hopefully, it is a reassurance for you.  If you are reading your bibles, praying, and taking in the true wisdom of Jesus Christ on a regular basis, then you have a solid foundation to stand on.  God will reveal to you His wisdom through what you read and hear.  Keep looking to Him and He will guide you true.

There are lots of preachers and teachers out there in the world.  Most of them are truly building carefully upon the solid foundation of Christ.  Some are not.  The Lord will bring fire to burn away any false workmanship.  He values His temple! We are His temple and His eye is upon us.

Dear Lord, thank you so much for giving me the heart to listen to your voice and then relay what I hear to folks who care to listen.  Please forgive me if I ever mistakenly hear my own imperfect ideas rather than your perfect wisdom! Thank you for reminding me that you are in charge always.  You will make sure that my words water where they’re supposed to and you will grow your people’s spirits according to your will.  Please help me to let my “self” go and be an empty vessel for you to fill. I love you so much and I cannot do anything good apart from you! Amen.

Blessings and peace,

Leah

P.S. I just want to be clear to you all.  I’m not down on myself today.  In fact, I’m at peace because the Lord reminded me that He’s in charge. J It’s a comforting and solid feeling…yes?

Focusing on the Positive

So long as what you are paying attention to is positive, this process, this amplification, can do nothing but serve you.

     But be careful. “Your Attention Amplifies Everything” can work the other way too. If you are paying attention to the negative aspects of a moment, event, emotion, or a person’s personality, then these aspects will acquire more detail. And the detail will attract still more detail, and pretty soon all these negative details will come to dominate your thinking.

    We can give this negative twist a name: Deficit Attention Disorder (DAD – there’s an acronym for you), and a great many of us seem to suffer from it. When we look at many aspects of our lives, our instinctive reaction is to pay attention to the deficits of the situation, to what’s going wrong. In fact, virtually our entire approach to life improvement is based on DAD. The American Psychological Association has fifty thousand studies on depression and only five hundred on joy.

     Instead, when a problem confronts you, shift your focus to what your relationship looks like when it’s working.

     Your problems will not go away – problems never go away. But, whatever your relationship problems are, they will be starved of your attention, and quite soon they will pale in comparison to what you are choosing to build together.

     The axiom “the chain is only as strong as its weakest link” leads you to fixate on all that’s wrong. The practice at the heart of this book, catch-and-cradle, builds on a different insight: one link, made strong, can become the chain.

Excerpts from: “Find Your Strongest Life” by Marcus Buckingham

     Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

    And don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

     And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worth of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me – everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9 (NLT)

__________________________________________________________

Focusing on the Positive

I’ve been a Negative Nancy for the last week or so.  I saw mountains in mole hills and struggled with seeing any silver lining in my future. I’ve been down on myself, my husband, and other poor folk who are just trying to do their job and get along in the world.  I’ve been like a cat that’s had its fur stroked the wrong way. “Meaorrrww!” “Hisss!”

The Lord finally tapped me on the shoulder Tuesday evening and said, “OK, enough is enough, Miss Grumpy Gus! This isn’t like you. Let’s see how we can turn this cranky boat around.”

So, I’ve been praying about it and the Holy Spirit goosed me into continuing my reading of Marcus Buckingham’s book this morning. 

Yep, there it was…plain as day. I’ve been suffering from Deficit Attention Disorder.  It’s an insidious and destructive disease!  It seeps into your very core and permeates everything you look at, interact with and imagine.  I believe it’s one of Satan’s best used tools.  If he can turn your thoughts to what’s wrong, then you lose sight of everything that’s possible and right through God.

As Marcus indicates in the quote above, your problems won’t just magically go away.  There will always be problems.  But, if we focus on them…they will grow exponentially!  Eeek! I don’t like that idea at all!

But, the wonderful thing is…that attention that we can focus on the negative can also be focused on the positive! If we’re going to blow something out of proportion…wouldn’t it be so much nicer if it was something positive?  Imagine that!

And gee, golly…there it is in the wise words from Paul. Fixing our thoughts on what is good and wonderful will bring the peace of the Lord to us!  Now that’s something to think about J.

Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me of all the good that you have placed in my life. Thank you for all the wonderful things that you have created in this beautiful universe. Thank you most of all for the Son that you sent into our negative, sin ridden world to bring back the positive and joy that you originally intended. Please help me to see the world through your loving eyes. Please help me to see everyone I come in contact with as a marvelous and miraculous creation that you love dearly. Please help us all see the positive strengths in each other and help us to foster them for the betterment of our families, our church, our community, our country and our world! I love you so very much! Amen.

Blessings and peace,

Leah

More

December 2 - The Ideal Man

Draw nigh, shoes off thy feet, in silent awe and adoration. Draw nigh, as Moses drew nigh to the burning bush.

I give you the loving intimacy of a friend, but I am God too, and the wonder of our intercourse, the miracle of your intimacy with Me, will mean the more to you, if sometimes you see the Majestic Figure of the Son of God.

Draw nigh in the utter confidence that is the sublimest prayer. Draw nigh. No far-off pleading, even to a God clothed with majesty of fire. Draw nigh. Draw nigh, not as a suppliant, but as a listener. I am this Suppliant, as I make known to you My wishes. For this Majestic God is Brother too, longing so intensely that you should serve your brother-man, and longing, even more intensely, that you should be true to that Vision He has of you.

You speak of your fellow man as disappointing you, as falling short of the ideal you had of him. But what of Me? For every man there is the ideal man I see in him. The man he could be, the man I would have him be.

Judge of My Heart when he fails to fulfill that promise. The disappointments of man may be great and many, but they are nothing as compared with My disappointments. Remember this, and strive to be the friend I see in my vision of you.

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." James 4:8

Devotion quoted from twolisteners.org

More

I have been dissatisfied recently.  I’ve wanted more.  More has been the word that has permeated my thoughts…defining what I have as “less than.”  I haven’t been getting enough: affection, understanding, laughter, money, joy, love.  The list could go on, but I think you get the picture. 

I was starving and didn’t even know it.

It wasn’t until I was given a glimpse of more that I realized I’ve been missing it.  But, then, that more isn’t mine to have. It dwells in others. 

I envy.

I covet.

I am dissatisfied.

Searching and praying this morning, the Lord led me to the above devotion. Those words are rich with complexities.  They answer my seeking heart. 

At His feet is where I belong.  Only Jesus can truly fulfill all my needs.

But, those words I’ve highlighted…are they not apropos to everyone? Shouldn’t we be seeing each other through Jesus’ eyes? Shouldn’t we strive to be the friends/church members/husbands/wives/daughters/sons/community members that He sees in us?

Or better yet, shouldn’t we be praying that Jesus help us be the people He knows we are inside?

I encourage myself and everyone to look through the eyes of Jesus today. There can be no dissatisfaction, no disappointment, no lacking…if we are seeking Jesus in the hearts of our fellow man.

Dear Lord, you have created in me a heart that loves deeply and needs an amazing amount of love in return. Please forgive me when I forget that only You are ever going to be able to return to me the amplitude of love that I seek.  Please help me to release my expectations of more from those that I love.  Let me be grateful for what they can give and help me to give my best to them always. And Lord, thank you for your bounteous love that permeates every aspect of my life. It is plain as day, if I only stop to look for it…instead of dwelling on what I perceive is missing.  Help me to draw close to you because I need you close to me. I love so deeply that it hurts sometimes. Only You are capable of accepting this love fully. I give it You with all my heart. Amen.

Blessings and peace,

Leah

A Time for Peace

A Time for Everything

For everything there is a season,

     A time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

     A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

     A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

     A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

     A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

     A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

     A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

     A time for war and a time for peace.

     What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

    And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again. – Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 (NLT)

A Time for Peace

This has been a rough week for me and for those I love.  Health risks, death, loss, confusion, fear, and uncertainty have been just a few things shadowing our lives. I cried buckets of tears last night, feeling the pain of those I care about.  My sinuses are none the better for it this morning!

I had news of even more loss today and my heart began aching anew.  My own struggles were warring with my desire to reach out and comfort, encourage and support my heart family. That’s when I remembered Pastor’s suggestion to me this week.  He told me to stop and take some quiet time with the Lord. 

So, I did.

And in this quiet time came the wise words of Solomon.  The internal struggles I was wrangling with gave way to the peace of understanding.

I’m not the first person to face these challenges.  And neither are my loved ones.  This has happened before and will happen again.  It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t feel the pain and loss, but there is a peace to be had if we realize that there is a purpose for it.  We cannot see the whole scope of His work, but we do have eternity planted in our hearts.  What we are experiencing is temporal. It’s necessary, but this too shall pass.

This is the season for grieving and a time for loss. But, it is also the season to love, to embrace, to keep and to build up.  There is a surety in knowing this.

If you are like me and are experiencing emotional, physical or spiritual challenges this season…stop and meditate on the passages above.  Pray and ask the Lord to speak to you His timeless wisdom.  Fill your hearts with the solidness of His everlasting plan for us.  When you look at the huge scope (for us) of time and planning that the Lord has created for our ultimate glory, it puts our struggles in a little bit better perspective.  We are not insignificant, our troubles are not any less painful or important…but, to know that He has helped others through this and will again…for a greater, eternal purpose for us all…helps cushion the bumps and bruises with a padding of peaceful security.  This is just one season.  There are other, better, more joyful ones to come!

Dear Father in Heaven, Silly me…why do I beat my head up against the walls of my short-sighted perspective all the time? I look at my situation (and the situations of my loved ones) and I rail against the injustice and hopelessness of it all.  My human efforts cannot change or heal these wounds and it deflates me.  You are so patient with me.  You let me bang around for a while and then you gently lead me to your heart and help me regain my eternal perspective once again. I am so very grateful that you love me enough to take the time to steer me in the right direction each time I go off on my tangents. I am most especially grateful for the peace that you have blessed me with this morning. Your peace that passes all understanding has lifted me from my sadness and worries.  I am so thankful there is a time for peace for me today. I love you with all my heart, soul, body and mind. Amen.

Blessings…and peace!

Leah

Threadbare Righteousness?

 ¹⁰ I delight greatly in the LORD; 
   my soul rejoices in my God. 
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation 
   and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, 
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, 
   and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 
¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up 
   and a garden causes seeds to grow, 
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness 
   and praise spring up before all nations. – Isaiah 61:10-11 (NIV)

⁵ He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

 ⁶ Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. – Genesis 15:5-6 (NIV)

 ⁵ I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

 ⁶ In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” ⁷ The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. – Galatians 3:5-6 (NLT)

In Pastor’s sermon yesterday he used the phrase “clothed in righteousness” and the Holy Spirit prompted me to write it down and meditate upon it this morning.  I don’t know about you, but some days I feel like I have on the Emperor’s new clothes.  Because of my poor choices and human nature my righteousness seems extremely thin at best.  Oh, I treat others well, and I do my work for church. I care for my family and I do “all the right things.” But, I know inside I am not following what the Lord wants me to do.  I feel like each choice I make that pulls me away from Him…whether it’s mental or physical…rips at the seams of my righteousness.   When I am particularly down on myself that robe of righteousness seems more like a tattered scarf of not-quite-good-enough.

So it was this morning.  But, the Lord led me to the passages above. He helped me realize that if my righteousness were dependent upon my perfect choices then I would indeed always be running around naked as a jaybird. But, it’s not.  It’s my faith and my belief that He chooses to see and then wrap His robe of righteousness around.

¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. – Ephesians 6:13-15 (NIV)

My belief is my breastplate, then…not my wayward inclinations…not my treacherous human nature.  And if I have nothing else…I have my belief.  It shines like a beacon in my heart…guiding me through the rocky paths of my poor choices and human frailties.  His truth is there to hold up my flimsy garments…and my belief in His salvation, His love, His sacrifice, His eternal life…will keep me warm and safe during the challenging and cold times in this life.

Dear Jesus – thank you so much for your Holy Spirit who dwells in me and speaks to me your truth.  Thank you for that Spirit especially today.  He has shown me that my righteousness is not threadbare.  I am imperfect. I make poor choices on a daily basis. I have a good heart, but sometimes I am plain stupid!  But, my faith and my belief are solid. On You, my solid rock, I stand.  You have saved me from myself countless times and You will do so again, I’m sure.  Please help me to don my breastplate of righteous belief in you and buckle on Your belt of truth each and every day.  You are my redeemer and I love you so. Amen.

Blessings and peace,

Leah

Burden

I lie in the dust;
     revive me by your word.
I told you my plans, and you answered.
     Now teach me your decrees.
Help me understand the meaning of your
          commandments,
     and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
I weep with sorrow;
     encourage me by your word. - Psalm 119:25-28 (NLT)

 

My heart is heavy. I have several people I love experiencing pain and hardship right now. I am experiencing my own challenges and tribulations.

I am seeking hope.

I am seeking solace.

I am rattling the cage of my encouraging heart and it cowers in the corner afraid to come out.

This burden is too heavy for me to bear.

But Jesus says:   “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

A visiting pastor once told us that the true translation of this last sentence should be “the burden I give you is suitable.”

But, I don’t want this burden. I don’t want this pain. Please take it from me. I don’t care if it’s suitable…I just don’t want it!

And the Holy Spirit whispers: “Rest with Jesus…He’ll carry you for a while. You can pick up your burden again tomorrow.”

Thank you, Lord…I think I’ll take you up on that offer.

Please Jesus, give me rest for my soul and my loved ones’ souls.  Help us seek Your wisdom and strength.  Please give us hope and peace, comfort and guidance, Your deep, abiding love that will not forsake us in our time of need.  We are just where we should be, needing you.  I need you. You are the only one who can carry me when I’ve stumbled and struggle to get up and continue walking.  I love you with all my heart and soul. Amen.

Blessings and peace,

Leah