But Jesus Loves You

Now Jesus loved Martha.. When he had heard therefore that he (Lazarus) was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
John 11:6a,7

Jesus loved Martha. Martha, the one who fussed at him in Luke 10. The one who thought he didn't care about her. The one who felt alone in serving. The one who needed rest but didn't seem to know it or the author of it.

But Jesus loved Martha. In this chapter her brother is deathly sick. Just like you and I do very often they cry out to Jesus to come and heal him. But this Jesus who loves Martha doesn't come. He didn't do what she asked. He didn't come when she called. If he loved her shouldn't he have came running as fast as he could? The end of verse 5 says Jesus loved her sister, and Lazarus. So why would he stay 2 extra days where he was? How could someone love someone and not come and help when they ask? If Jesus loved these people why didn't he show up and show it?

I must be honest. I have a problem with God not doing things when and how I want. His word says over and over if we call He will answer, and if we need him he is {always} there. But way too often God seems invisible. Sometimes it's like He is not there at all.

I think about Martha..how she had been changed since the time Jesus had came for dinner at her house. She had been so anxious, so angry, and so annoyed, that she missed those sweet blessings of being in Jesus' presence. Jesus was so patient with her. There was so much love behind those words, "Martha, Martha". He wasn't chastising her, but calming her with his precious voice. But here they are in a hopeless, broken situation. Lazarus is dying and Jesus isn't coming like they hoped and prayed.

I can imagine the disappointment Martha and Mary felt that moment Lazarus died. I can imagine the bitter thoughts that filled their minds as hour after hour passed and their Saviour still hadn't arrived.

But Jesus loved Martha.
And I have to say the broken heart isn't the end of the story. They didn't get what they asked for. Instead they got a miracle. The miracle is always worth the brokenness. It's worth the doubts. It's worth the wait. It's worth the wavering faith.

Think about that..God allows things to happen which shake our faith for a moment because He knows very soon it'll strengthen and grow deeper roots of faith in us!

Maybe he hasn't came when you called. Maybe you're still waiting. Maybe your dream has died. Just remember "Now Jesus loved Martha". But Jesus loved YOU.

The Christian life is a journey..day by day we walk through valleys, up mountains, through night seasons, storms, trial after trial, flat tire, you name it..these are what life is. It's hard! The Lord knows that. Sometimes we wonder if he really loves us, but soon his love will be evident to those around you. The Jews said, "Behold how he loved him!" In verse 36.

He loves me so much that he won't give me what I want. He loves me so much that he won't do what I want. He used their story to get glory! He loves me so much that he wants others to see his love as well.

That's what real love is. Oh the love of Jesus how vast, how measureless!
Don't forget how much Jesus loves YOU. He knows best and only does what is best. We must trust him. Sometimes we have to have patience with God.

Huldah the weasel squeaking Truth

2 Kings 22:14-15
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.
And she said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me..

King Josiah began to reign when he was only 8 years old. At age 16 he began to seek the Lord unlike his fathers before him. He desired to live right and please God. 4 years later at age 20 he began to repair the damage done to the House of God by those before him. While cleaning up things the Book of the Law was found in the Lord's house (vs8). For the first time in many years the Word of God was read aloud. In verse 10 the book is read to the King. Josiah is broken over the things he hears. "For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book.." (vs 13).

Josiah sends the priest to talk to the Prophetess, Huldah. A prophetess is an inspired woman. Her inspiration was God alone. Her name means weasel or mole. To many in our culture that would be an insult. When I first read the meaning of her name I didn't like it.. but if she's a weasel I'd love to be a weasel any day! A weasel lives hidden under roots, or in holes. Huldah was no stranger to the secret place. Weasels are often quiet and unnoticed. She wasn't concerned with the limelight. Weasels are small but their hearing is superb, and they see things others often miss. They keep to themselves, and mind their own business. {I think we need more weasels!} It is said when a weasel squeaks that death is near. In 2 Kings 22:15-20 the weasel squeaks. Think about it..Huldah must have been very brave! The king could've killed her for her negative message but it was the truth. She spoke truth even though the message was hard. Death was coming, God was upset, and his wrath would not be quenched. Many of the prophets spoke falsely, but she remained true to the Lord no matter how those around her lived. She wasn't squeaking gossip rumors, or lies. Her voice wasn't just noise..her voice was truth. If we must squeak, let it be total truth that we squeak!

I've been teaching on the different Prophetess' in the Bible in Sunday school..although we do not have prophets or prophetess' today I'm so thankful God can and desires to use us all. I was taught (in a church) years ago women have no purpose but to stay at home..glad I know the truth now. I want to be an inspired woman who {squeaks} truth for my great God❤️

To the one who feels ~Low~

Luke 1:46-49
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

I'm thankful the Word is alive..just what I need right at the perfect moment. Last Sunday night my brother Josh preached his first message at church. It was an answered prayer and a blessing to see and know his story of how God brought him to where he is today. I thought about what Mary said in Luke 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. How true that verse is! But often it doesn't feel like "great things". As I was reading in Luke tonight I noticed one little word in verse 48. ~~{{Low.}}~~ Sometimes the small words get over looked but they usually have great meaning. Mary said the Lord hath regarded her low estate.

As I think about the context and where she was at this time I wonder if she had been low. I wonder if she had been down and out before the angel appeared to her with the great news of our Saviour. I wonder if she too battled with her self worth and identity like I often do. I wonder if she battled with wondering if she had a purpose and what her future might hold. Maybe she was just speaking humbly to Elisabeth but tonight as I myself am struggling I hope she had been just what the word says; low. Maybe that sounds bad to wish another to be down, but if she really was low (before) then it gives me hope and encouragement because in just a few short months she was no longer low but she was rejoicing. The night the angel appeared to her, Mary was troubled and fearful. He gave her a word and a promise, nothing more (Luke 1: 28-35). Can you imagine? Some might say God interrupted her life, but I say He changed her life. The critics criticized, the gossipers gossiped, and of course the haters hated. She was given a tough set of circumstances but she was changed through it.

I know Mary must have been special for God to use her to bring forth Jesus (Luke 1:31), but I wonder who she was BEFORE. Who was she before her sole purpose was for Christ? Who was she before she made it all about HIM? We know the Bible tells us, There is none righteous, no, not one -Romans 3:10. So that lets me know she had faults, failures and weaknesses too. Sometimes it helps me to remember the people I read about in scripture are human just like me. Mary was a woman, same as me. She had bad hair days, heavy burdens, and at times tear stains on her pillow. I bet she'd had a few broken hearts and maybe even broken some herself. She had been a bad friend, made the wrong choice, done her own thing a time or two. She was a sinner like us all. She had days where she was selfish, jealous, lazy, and obnoxious. Days where she just wanted to quit. But she didn't. She held on through the low times and in due time she became the masterpiece God wanted.

We might not be perfect tonight but we can be willing. Willing to change. Willing to allow God to perform an AFTER in our hearts. He knows and sees our struggles. When we humble ourselves and our will to please the Father we will have a rejoicing heart no matter the circumstances we face.

I want to take a look at Mary's AFTER. A few months later In verses 46,and 47 she says, "My soul doth magnify the Lord." And, "my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."

Think about that. Who was magnified? The Lord. Who did she rejoice in? The Lord her Saviour. She had joy because the Lord was in his rightful place in her heart. No longer was her heart low and depressed. When we are low, we get self minded, self focused, self indulged. We don't see clearly. We just see our problems. The result is just plain selfishness. Selfishness leads to other things such as, being discontent, jealousy, vanity, and worst of all we can't love others or Jesus right.

I am tired of being Low. It's time to Magnify the Name of Jesus. It's not about me, it's about HIM. He is my reason to live. He is my identity. He is my purpose. He is all I need. I must Focus on his Holy Name. He's done great things and is worthy to be praised! It's time to make much of Jesus. The AFTER can be different than the BEFORE

**I am in no way trying to put Mary down nor accuse her. She was righteous and pure and chosen by God..just a thought about how God changed her through this amazing miracle of Jesus. She was not perfect and she did sin. Wanted to add this before I get a lot of negative comments ;) **

My God is Faithful

1 Thessalonians 5:24
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

On my way home from work I listened to the Jordan's sing 'My God is Faithful'. I started thinking about that, MY..My. God. Is..He is God and there is no other but He IS MY God. That's a capital G. I don't believe in a god/gods. I believe in the one true living God. And I have found that Faithful is He! All other religions and gods that people in this world are deceived into believing in have no power. My God isn't a rabbit's foot to give me good luck and He isn't a statute I have set out in my room. These 'followers' must be faithful to their god. They must do all the work, and prove all the love to be accepted. And for what exactly?? "Salvation only comes in one name..that name is Jesus!" My Lord is faithful to me even though I am so unfaithful to Him. I don't have to die for my god because my God already died for me. Jesus did all the work at Calvary. My heart, soul, and life rest safely in the hands of my faithful God who says He will do IT. It is not about what I can do but what he's already done. All glory, power and honor is His. I am not faithful. I am a failure. My God IS faithful and He never fails ❤️ #takeHimatHisWord

Favour from the Father in 2017

My word for 2017 is Favour. The angel told Mary she was highly favored (Luke 1:28). Joseph responded with grace to each of his trials and found favour with God and others (Genesis 37,39-50). Jabez prayed for favor (be blessed indeed) with God (1 Chronicles 4:9,10). Hannah's name means favored (1 Samuel ch1). I think about these different people and one thing they all had in common were life struggles. Mary was shunned because she was a virgin with child. Joseph was forsaken by his brothers and sold as a slave, wrongfully accused, sat in jail for many years but each step of his journey God gave him favour. Jabez was a sorrowful burden to his mother and had no father. Hannah daily had to face her adversary while she endured years of waiting and praying for a child..she wondered if God would ever answer.

There were times when these different people didn't feel favoured. Today as 2016 comes to an end I'll be honest I don't feel very favoured. I kind of feel forgotten. I feel left out. I feel discouraged and disheartened. I shouldn't feel this way but I do. Just as year after year passed while Hannah waited and prayed and got no answer, so have the years passed for me. Still no answer. Each year it seems to get a little harder. But no one ever said waiting on God was easy. The most miraculous things come from the hardest struggles. The wait and the years can make a persons faith weak. But "when I am weak..then am I strong!" (2 Corinthians 12:10) Only through Christ can my faith be strengthened through the hard stuff. When I try to bare this burden alone it overwhelms me, pulls me way down, steals my joy and consumes my focus.

I recently started reading Wendy Pope's book, Wait and See, Finding Peace in God's Pauses and Plans..I haven't read much but I've already been convicted about my attitude towards God about making me wait. See I just said "MAKING me wait." He doesn't make me wait. A few months ago for the first time in my life I was perfectly content about waiting. I've always struggled with waiting for things. I've never admitted that I am impatient but I am beginning to think that word describes me perfectly. In 2017 I want to get back to being grateful that I "get to" wait. I want to get back to the peaceful place of contentment. I am praying for the Lord to 1. Empower me to WAIT WELL 2. Help me to be PRESENT IN THE PRESENT 3. Allow me to EXPERIENCE GOD IN MY DELAY (page 37,38 in book) 

I am praying for favour with God. I am claiming 1 Samuel ch1 for myself. I'm praying God will remember me just as he remembered Hannah. My petition isn't the same as Hannah's but we serve the same God. He came through for her and I choose to believe he will come through for me too!

Time stands between was is and what will be. The hard part is the not knowing how much time the wait consists of. I look around and see many others experiencing the blessing I'm cry myself to sleep at night begging God to give me. I see people who did it the wrong way yet they have what I really want. But like I said above, my focus has been wrong. Isaiah 49: 18 says, "Lift up thine eyes.."

The truth is I AM favored. I'm no stranger to grace. Goodness and mercy have and continue to follow me each and everyday (Psalm 23:6). When I'm looking at what others have instead of all I already have I will not feel favored. I will not be content with my eyes on others. When we start down the path of dissatisfaction we will begin to believe our feelings. Once that begins we will start thinking our feelings are the only thing that really matters.

Lamentations 3:25,26 tell us the Lord is good to them who wait for him and it is good for us to wait. It sure doesn't feel good. Lately the idea of "waiting" has felt like a waste of time. But feelings usually fail us. My feelings have lied to me too many times. When I've let my feelings lead me they've always led me wrong. In January (2016) just a few days before I flew to Nicaragua for my second mission trip we were singing "living by faith" at church. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said "when are you going to walk by faith?". It's easy to walk by my feelings. It's even easier to listen to my fears and let them lead me. My fears are a lot louder than my faith but oh the peace there is when I let go and let Jesus lead me. Waiting on the Lord requires letting go and living by faith. Faith is content with not having all the answers.

As I look back over this year I see a roller coaster ride. Lots of high places but also some low times. 2016 started with a whole lot of tears. Literally the deepest valley I've ever faced. I remember going to the Potter's Place in Central laying on the floor sobbing not being able to breath because God wouldn't answer me, because he didn't give me what I thought I was suppose to have. I begged and begged and he wouldn't tell me "why?". For months I thought I deserved an answer to my question. Along the way I learned he's with me through the Ups and Downs of life and I do not have the right to demand answers from God. I remember when he showed me Psalm 147:3 {He healeth the broken in heart, he bindeth up their wounds.} For months I begged God to sew me back together and eventually he did. Time does heal wounds if we allow it to. I remember that July summer night when I let go of the past and my dream and told the Lord I wanted to live and not just exist. That night I told my heart to beat again. I accepted God's "No." I chose God's will over my own. It's been a few months since then and I've been hurt by another "No". It seems that's the only answer I ever get. But I trust my Jesus. He knows best for me. Elisabeth Elliott said God will only give us his best..no matter where I am He is giving me his very best. Today his best is singleness. I must accept that and learn to love what He blesses me with. I am favoured even in the midst of my wait. I am favoured even when I don't feel like it. He gives more grace! No matter my need, my desire, my brokenness, or my request He has more than enough grace for me. And the same goes for you. Hannah, Joseph, Mary, and Jabez are just a few people from the Bible who were favoured. These are the ones God brought to my mind as I've thought about this word today.  He's no respecter of persons, so what he did for them He can and wants to do for us..we must learn to rest in Him and wait patiently for Him! Don't let your feelings, fears, trials, waiting season etc. consume you..Fretting over things does not give us any power over the trial. It only causes problems, doubt and further discontentment.

Like Hannah, you might be barren now but God will remember you when the time is right. Joseph was forgotten for years but when the time was right he was remembered and promoted to second in command under Pharoah. That expected end that only God knows will come to pass when it's the perfect time..Jeremiah 29:11 {For I know the thoughts that I think toward you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.} Happy New year! You are favoured and He will remember you when it's time. Trust On in 2017! God's will WILL!