Pursued

Today was a great church day. I was able to hear and internalize what pastor preached about. This does not happen often, seriously. With three girls who are up and down all the time, who need to get a drink or they will die, who have to go to the bathroom so bad, who even have the blow thier nose or their life will end...I feel often as I am there only to tell them to "shhh." But today, I was able to sit and listen (and the girls did too).

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life..." Psalm 23:6.

I have pondered, taught, meditated, shared, been preached at and even heard this at many funerals. This psalm was the main message of my great grandma's funeral in fact. I love it. I, like so many, find comfort in this psalm of David. It is beautifully written and, I think, most people can relate to it in some way or another.

But this verse at the end of the psalm...goodness and love will follow me. The english does not do this psalm it's justice. Flip over to the Hebrew language and you get 'radaph': to run after, chase, hunt, pursue.

Do you get it? God is not following us from a distance trying to just sprinkle us with His goodness (pleasure, joy, kindness, bounty, wealth) and love (beauty, mercy, favor)...absolutley not! He is hunting us down, endlessly pursuing us and forcing His uncounditional nature on us whether we like it or not. Why? Because He is desparate for us. Because we need Him.

As I look at unbelievers I think, "God's goodness and love does not skip them. They are so blessed...they just don't know it." And as a believer, it hasn't stopped either. God still pursues me moment by moment because He loves me. I need to remember that. I need to reminded that I am still a pursued and sought after woman of God. I need that from the God Who Sees Me.

Take a moment today and be the one from the 10 who came back to thank God for pursuing you.

Just Forget It

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." Philippians 3:13

This scripture always takes me back to Mexico. Three times it has been a focus scripture - the verses 12-14 have great importance to me. Of all the speakers over the years and different lessons I have heard while there - three times I have (for a full week) been taught from the section. God must be really trying to teach me something here.

The last time I was there, in 2006, I was pregnant, uncomfortable yet completely loving every moment. Gary, the speaker, was teaching about the "forgetting" phrase.

When we look at our bodies...every piece of us faces forward with the exception of our butts. Our eyes, mouths, ears, feet, hands...it all is forward facing. In fact, we were created in such forwardness that is hard to and we have to strain to look behind. It is hindering to look back. Even dangerous at times - like when driving (or rollerskating as I learned yesterday at a church function) - to glance behind.

And the one part of us that does face back, was created for the purpose of getting rid of our garbage. We don't even like to look at what comes out (unless you are Oprah and you are seeing if it makes an "s".)

In this set of verses, Paul is telling us to look ahead - to keep the end of the race in view. He tells us to forget about what is behind, because really, does it matter? Was there a mistake? Fine! Learn from it and move forward. It is not good for runner to be looking back at a misstep because he will trip on what he is not watching out for.

Forget about it! Leave the crap behind you and strain toward what is ahead.

I love the next part, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." A competitor presses on. We look ahead for the finish line - heaven should be on our horizon.

What a glorious finish. Don't look back, it isn't worth it. Learn from it, forget about it and keep your eye on the goal.

Trying Out Hope

A man with leprosy came down and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Matthew 8:2

How many times have I said, "God, I am willing." Or, I've said it in a variety of ways, "Lord, heal me," "Lord, help me," "Lord, I want this...can you give it to me?" "Lord, I just want to stop hurting."

But looking at this Scripture, I am being taught to, maybe, speak to God another way.

This man has leprosy. He is has been outcast from society...especically by the people of God. He is unclean and unloved. Never touched because the sight of him drove fear into people.

So easily he could have called to Jesus from his square of the world, "Heal me!" But he didn't. When he saw Jesus, he went directly to him and knelt before Him. And what does he say?

"Lord, if you are willing..."

This diseased man knows that it is all about Jesus. It has nothing to do with him, but everything to do with the Son of God.

And then he states the obvious, "you can..."

Of course Jesus can! But I rarely have the faith that He can. Maybe I look at my unworthiness and think, "why would He want to?"

I must look at this lepor and learn, it is not about me, it is all about Jesus.

"You can..." and I believe it! Oh, to have faith like this! To know and acknowledge what God can do and seek Him in His Will.

And I believe, when I approach, like this man, Jesus will look at me and say, "I am willing."

How Is It With Your Soul?

I've been there too. Working hard for the Lord, leading Bible study after Bible study, writing articles about faith & God's Word, getting ready for mission trips and camp and retreats and everything else. And at the end of the day, I was exhausted but not fulfilled. I loved my job and helping others grow in their faith...but my faith...what about my faith?

Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Psalm 51:12

The joy of your salvation. It wasn't until I stepped away from my job, stopped working in the church, did I realize that the joy of salvation was for everyone else...I had neglected myself. My pastor used to always ask me, "how is your quiet time?" And I would always answer, "it's ok." But it wasn't. My faith was on the back burner. I look back on that now and ask myself, "How was I a good spiritual leader with my faith life always being pushed to the side?'

Listen to this: Your faith needs to come first! After I quit working I spent some good time with God and let me tell you, He let me have it! If only I had spent that time back then in the office like I do now. And, though this is quite a different thing to do, I now go to another church every week for Bible study. Yes, I know, crazy! But really? Is it? Hasn't God placed godly leaders all around us? I can have quiet time, but it is also helpful to be fed by another person God has called, by another person who has insight into the Word, who thinks a differently than me. And to be in a place where people don't know what I do...I am not being asked all the questions.

I encourage you, get fed! Don't allow yourself to become the church worker who quietly says (to yourself), "Joy?" Heck yes! Joy of God'salvation! For you! Not just the one's you serve, that you desperatly try to reach.

So, I ask you: How is it with your soul?

Email me. Let me know your questions or Bible study habits. We can all use new ideas to implement in our own lives.

You Came Near

I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief." You came near when I called and you said, "Do not fear." Lamentations 3:55-57

I cannot decide if I am comforted or disappointed in these verses. In the end, I know, I will find great comfort. But just listen to (or read) the moment of dissappointment... 'you came near.'

Jeremiah is crying out to God--from the depths of the pit that he is in. I've been there, in the pit that is. Looking up at the walls that surround me and not being able to see a way out. There is no way to climb out of this pit of mine. Only God can yank me out or drop a ladder to me.

Once, when I was little, living in Fruitland, ID, my brother and cousins trapped me in a deep grain silo. The board that we would climb on to get out, the pulled it up and left me down there. I called for help, but no one came for what seemed like a long time. This is how I picture the pit, the depths of the pit. I just see myself as a helpless child calling out for anyone to take notice.

My brother and cousins stood up at the opening laughing and yelling down at me to "...wait just a little longer..." And I remember wanting my dad or my uncle to hear my calls because surely they would rescue me.

And that is the hope that I had and always do have in God...yet look at what the verse says, "God came near and said, 'do not fear.'"

That isn't what I want to hear!! I want to hear that board being slid down and see that hand reaching down for me to pull me out. I don't want to hear a voice from above telling me to not be scared. I am scared!! I am unsure!! I do want out!!

I am disappointed at that moment because I want out of my unpleasant situation. I want my life to be rosie and good and joyful and peaceful. And because God loves me...He'll get me out, but it is not on my terms or time table...it is on His so I can learn the lesson of not going back down there.

And there is the hope, in the lesson that will be learned and in the knowledge that He is near and He has His eyes continually upon me; that He is staying close to me...and that He will get me out of that pit and will teach me NEVER go back.

So how did I get out when I was little? My uncle came along, heard my cries, looked down and said, "What are doing down there?" I told him what my brother and cousins did, and he eventually got me out with the question, "Are you going to do what they tell you to do again?" That was a lesson learned.

(My brother and cousins tell this story a bit differently...but my version is much better!)

So encourage one another...

Encouragement. We all need it and we shouldn't deny it. My goal and my promise is to be that encouragement, to seek Scripture and build up the body with the Word that God has so graciously given to us. My prayer is that you will be refreshed and share the Living Water. So encourage one another and build each other up...