Category: God’s Word

Favor from the Lord

On By HollyIn God's Word, Unequally YokedLeave a comment

God has brought His Word to life for me today in such a specific way. I want to share with you how last month He convicted me, led me to obedience, blessed that obedience and then reassured me in His Word today that He is in control. I am overcome with His goodness. I just spent time, after this great teaching happened, laughing and crying. Tears were streaming but I was also joyously laughing at the amazing love God pours on me. He truly is love. Grace and love and power are just a few of His attributes I was able to see today. He is always all of these things.

Let’s start with last month when I was convicted that I really needed to tread carefully in how I was speaking to my husband about his work. It was a “tear down vs. build up” lesson that God has been teaching me and spotlighting this year. The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. Proverbs 14:1. I decided, by God’s leading, that I would no longer mention or coerce or give my (negative) opinion on the amount of time and energy he gave to work. It used to look like this, “You are taking on too much. You are doing things that you don’t have to do. You are bringing your work home and never really being present, etc…” No change happened. Is that a surprise to anyone? I had preconceived notions of what I thought his time at home should look like and how he should manage his time and what and when he should do what and when. Those of you that know my planning and over planning tendencies can see this being an accurate depiction right?? So my new way, God’s way to speak to my husband about work is this, “Thank you for working so hard for us. Thank you for going above and beyond to provide for us. I appreciate all the many things you do for this family.” About two weeks ago I purposefully started speaking these words of truth to build him up instead of the negative words of destruction. We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor,(or husband in this case), for his good, to build him up. Romans 15:1-2. Now wait for it. Change happened! Most importantly in me, not my husband, but yes there was change in him also.

First, I began to see that my husband is under so much pressure. He is teaching several classes,  he is the director of a new department, he is on several committees, and on top of all that he is a student getting his doctorate. He takes on all this to provide for us and takes on extra volunteer responsibilities at work on committees and such to establish himself among his peers and bosses. So much pressure. He needs no more from me. After my speech changed, he changed. He was so intentional about getting little projects done around the house. He redid my entire bathroom after it had been sitting with a hole in the drywall for a year. Now it is finished and beautiful and he even added special personal touches hanging on the wall. For three days in a row now he has come home, eaten dinner with us, and not taken his computer out of his bag once. No answering emails or texts. He has been home with us, playing, being a family. God can change my husband’s heart. The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it whenever He will. Proverbs 21:1. On this same note, last month God reminded me that He can use my husband to change me. God can use him to sanctify me. My husband isn’t a believer, but God is still my God and he is my husband and His design for our marriage is the same as anyone else. The above verse reminds me of that. God can change my husband’s heart and in this case He changed it in response to my changing attitude. God is so good!

Now here comes the part that I was overcome by. I am doing a bible study and the section I did today was called Building Up or Tearing Down. The very lesson I had  received earlier in the month from God, I was now reading about and every scripture I was now reading was confirming the work God had done. The scriptures that I am referring to today are all from this study and they all applied to my situation that happened earlier in the month. God’s timing is spot on perfect, every time. He knows what we need, when we need it and He sure does write an amazing story in our lives!! The verse that I read that immediately caused the tears and joy filled laughing was Proverbs 18:22 – He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. When I read that word favor, I realized God is doing a good thing in my husband. He is doing an amazing work in our marriage. Every good work He is doing, every promise He is keeping, every conviction of my sin, every time He works and softens my heart in obedience is preparing us to bear much fruit in our marriage and that will glorify God and that is what all of this is for! God is the ONLY way our marriage is working and thriving. My husband doesn’t believe in God. The gravity of that hits me sometimes but then, like today, I am reminded of the power of God that is greater and more powerful than anything and my God is working on my husband. I love being able to see that. I pray that our marriage is already glorifying God by his great power and grace and anticipate how much even more so it will bear fruit when my husband knows and loves God and Jesus Christ as his savior. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3. Most importantly this marriage, what God is doing in my heart, how He convicts me and uses my marriage is preparing me for the day I am with my Lord, my King, for eternity. My eyes are lifted to that truth. That, above all else, is what matters.

One Thing

On By HollyIn God's WordLeave a comment

Luke 10:42 is etched in my brain right now, it comes into my mind so often, daily now, with various events in my life, when others are speaking to me about decisions, trials, etc…my mind keeps going back to those words – but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be take away from her. The beautiful picture painted of Mary seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His Word in  Luke 10:39. Often times when speaking of this verse it is followed with a discussion about how DO we chose that one thing but live in this world where things HAVE to get done, decisions HAVE to be made, things HAVE to get organized, families HAVE to be taken care of, household chores HAVE to be done, ministries HAVE to move forward, we HAVE to serve others. God doesn’t need US to accomplish and do anything.  Our service to our family and our ministry to others is something He LETS us be a part of. On the other hand, we do need Him to accomplish anything and everything in our lives. The Wilmington’s study guide states, “It is more important to hear Him first, before laboring for Him.” It goes back again to our time with the Lord, and how crucial that investment is; it IS the one thing that is necessary.

David speaks in Psalm of this one thing also; One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. Psalm 27:4. The glory of the Lord was in the tabernacle, then the temple. Mary got to literally be in the presence of the Lord, and we as believers can also behold that glory as the Spirit indwells us. To behold the beauty of the Lord and meditate in His temple, what a gift!

This also ties in the word “dwell”, a word God has brought to my attention in the past. Dwell, abide, remain, a place that is our fortress and refuge. We don’t just have a place to go to when we need shelter, we are already there, abiding in Him, and He in us. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 We must remain there, not just visit it once in awhile, abide in Him is to “detach ourselves from all else, to reach out after Him and cling to Him, to sink ourselves into Him.” (Murray). The “I in you” cannot come if the “abide in Me” is not maintained. We can do nothing without it.

The fact that Christ asks us to come to Him; let it sink in – is that not just mind blowing?! Sharing the gospel with ourselves daily, is needed, to wrap our brains around what our salvation means. Andrew Murray’s commentary on this John 15 passage again displays it well, “It is a divine reality that words cannot express, we are in Him and He in us. And the words, “abide in me and I in you,” just tell us to believe it, this divine mystery, and to count upon our God and Christ the Vine to make it divinely true. No thinking or teaching or praying can grasp it; it is a divine mystery of love.”

In studying Luke 10:42 today I came across a verse that seemed like just a part of a conversation but today it hit me so sweetly, Martha talking to Mary before Lazarus was resurrected said, The Teacher is here and is calling for you. John 11:28. Let that sentence forever be written on my heart. God has been so generous in His teaching to me lately. Teaching that comes from conviction of sin, teaching that comes from scripture being illuminated into understanding and teaching that goes straight to my heart and exalts my God. My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. Luke 1:46. His glory is always the result of any teaching I receive. My Teacher IS here and He IS calling for ME, to come to Him daily, in prayer and the reading and meditation of His Word. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is available to us every minute of every day. God’s great and true and perfect Word is right in front of us, in our Bibles, on our phones and iPads and by God’s grace is filling our minds as we memorize scripture. Why would I not abide in this great gift daily? A sinner I am, at times a lazy, selfish, full of pride sinner. Let not a day go by that I don’t start, with my very first ounce of energy going to meet God. When Mary heard her Teacher was calling for her she got up quickly and was coming to Him,  John 11:29. Let that be our response when we wake up and open our eyes and know that our Lord is calling for us. I am SO thankful for this continued provision, that He has made a way for me.

So how can Mary do it, and yet still get her chores and volunteering and ministry and fellowship done? But seek FIRST His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33.

Open Hands

On By HollyIn God's WordLeave a comment

I’m reading Exodus and came to Exodus 29 this morning. I love how digging into God’s word ALWAYS produces knowledge of something new but also a heart conviction. I was coming to a place in the Old Testament where I felt the reading was getting monotonous. I was reading with my hands closed, giving nothing to God, and expecting nothing from Him in this seemingly list-centered, descriptive text. I remembered last year when God revealed so much to me from a similar section in Leviticus so I knew He could do it again, I was just getting in the way. God gently reminded me His Word is rich and it is all used for teaching and correcting and training. 2 Timothy 3:16-17- All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. If I believe the “ALL Scripture”, in this verse then I need to act like it. So I started to STUDY, not just read. I began to look at the notes and the margin and used reference books so I could open my hands and offer God my time and energy and open heart and in turn He delivered a beautiful message.

Exodus 29 describes the ordination and consecration of the Levites to priesthood, starting with Aaron and his sons. It is a beautiful and impressive ceremony that they went through to prepare for meeting with God. We no longer have to do those rituals on the outside to go to Him and spend time with Him but it symbolizes the inward preparedness we must do that God desires of His people when we come to Him in prayer, meditation, worship, or reading His Word. EXCLAMATION POINT,  EXCLAMATION POINT!! The very reason I wasn’t getting anything out of the text earlier is because I wasn’t properly preparing, and the first thing God shows me when I saw I needed to get my heart right was HOW to get my heart right. Matthew 7:8 – For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 1 John 5:14-15 – This is the confidence that we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

This is what I learned, and the steps I must take to prepare myself.

1. They were cleansed. Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. Exodus 29:4. They were a part of the Old Covenant and had to be washed clean before entering the presence of God. We also must draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22. This shows us the first step also in drawing near to Him, cleanse our hearts! I need to be sincere when I go to His Word, not just reading to get through Exodus. I need to have full assurance that His Word is good, all of it, and He WILL show me something each time if I go to Him prepared and clean.

2. They were clothed. And put on Aaron the tunic and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod and the breastpiece, and gird him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod; Exodus 29:4. What should I put on before I start my day with the Lord? But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Romans 13:14. Am I more worried about having my coffee and a comfortable chair and the perfect amount of sleep before I get up? Sometimes I am. Having a special place for that time is important, being awake and ready is important, but more than that is the time I NEED to spend with him. So if those things aren’t in place, I still must go. For me, I can use excuses, usually that involve my comfort being taken away, and I will put those before Him. I want to go to God fully dressed in what He says is important for my ultimate good and comfort, eternity with Him. This is a daily battle against the world and distractions and “stuff” in my home but if I can wake up each morning and put on the breastplate of righteousness as the Levite priests put on their breastpiece, then I know my time with God will be rich

3. They were anointed. Then you shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. Exodus 29:7. They were anointed for God’s purposes; this symbolized the spiritual enduement needed for serving God. They were provided and endowed with the spirit. We are anointed with the Holy Spirit at salvation. But we are continually receiving the filling of the Spirit as a result of obedience and being open to God and His teaching given to us in the Bible. When I go to God each morning I need to be relying on the Holy Spirit to direct and show me and illuminate His Word by believing in Christ and the Word of God as truth. If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” John 7:37-39.

4. They brought a sacrifice. Then you shall bring the bull before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. Exodus 29:10. Later in verse 14 we are told this is the sin offering. To me this is the most beautiful part of the ceremony. Laying their hands on the head of the bull symbolized the animal becoming their substitute, transferring their sins to the sin bearer. What a beautiful picture of what Christ did and continues to do for us. When I go to God in the morning, I need to confess and lay my sin down. I need to let Christ do His work, put on the righteousness given to me by Christ, take the forgiveness given to me and with a clean heart go to His Word. I need to repent with God-centered sorrow, not worldly sorrow and guilt. I need to prepare myself by first letting go of anything in my heart that can get in the way of being led by the Spirit while I am reading God’s Word. He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. Proverbs 28:13.

5. They put blood on their right ear. You shall slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aarons’ right ear and on the lobes’ of his sons’ right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toe of their right feet…” Exodus 29:20. Putting the blood on their ear was a symbol of their sensitivity to God and His Word. They were set apart to be used by God and know His Word. Just as we Christians are today. God’s Word doesn’t make sense to non believers. We have been given a sensitivity and understanding to it. What a gift! I want to use that, not waste it. My morning time with God in His Word should be full of thanksgiving and praise that I have been given this gift, by His grace, to study His Word. The Levite priest also then put blood on their hands and feet. This symbolized a life of service to others on God’s behalf. Whatever God shows me in scripture, whatever gift He has given me in the body of Christ, I then need to go out and use it. Use it to give an encouraging word to someone from scripture, use it to point someone to what the Bible says in regards to a trial, or use it like now, to share the wonderful and faithful way God will provide for us when we seek His knowledge and wisdom.

What an awesome God we serve, that He would once again open my eyes to understanding and open up a part of His Word to me that I wasn’t gleaning anything from, due to my heart not being right. Oh that I would remember this, and make sure every morning I go to him, cleansed, dressed in Christ’s righteousness, filled with the Holy Spirit, laying my sins down, ready to hear from Him, being sensitive to His teaching so that I can be used for one more day to serve my family, to serve my friends, to serve the body of Christ and to serve my King! Take my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than the choicest gold. Proverbs 8:10.

Our Banner

On By HollyIn God's Word, Unequally YokedLeave a comment

The word “banner” has been placed in front of me twice in one day. I have started over reading the bible chronologically and am reading Exodus. Last night I came to the story of the battle against Amalek.

So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner; Exodus‬ ‭17‬:‭9-15‬.

My study bible points out that Moses holding his hands up was a symbol of appeal to God for help and enablement. And the “banner”, recalling Moses’s petition with upraised hands.

Friends, some of you have hands that are getting heavy, growing weary, as you are holding your arms up, displaying God’s banner as you cry out to him for deliverance. Deliverances with trials of health, marriage issues, parenting concerns, depression, addiction, day to day weight of the world. Some of us have been doing so for years, some not as long. There will be seasons we grow tired, BUT God! Just as he delivered Aaron and Hur to Moses we can support each other as we walk side by side in this battle. He has given us a community, He has given us mentors, and most importantly He has given us His Word to guide us in truth! We can encourage and testify to the power of God in defense of His people, just as the Israelites did, led by Moses. We can help hold the hands up of those growing weary at the trial or phase of life they are in. For me, I can be tempted to grow weary in my spiritually unequal marriage. By God’s grace He is enabling my faith to grow stronger and my weariness to grow less.

I write often, so that I can remember ALL that God is doing DAILY! Just as Moses was commanded to “write this in a memorial and recite it to Joseph”, I want to write and memorialize God’s faithfulness. My flesh, my sin nature, can so easily forget. I can complain and grumble just as the Israelites did so often, right after God delivered in a big way. That is why I MUST write it all down.

If I keep my focus on God and not my circumstances I can see blessings upon blessings, I can see daily answered prayers and deliverances, I can see refining in myself and forgiveness by God on my road to sanctification. Those are all the things I want to memorialize.

A friend, a godly mentor, has a prison ministry. He sent me a message recounting his latest visit and that he was moved to the “red unit”, the worst of the worst where they send all the gang members from the other prisons in the state. He was anxious on his first visit in that unit and said “as I walked in the main area there, it was loud, demonic, people crying out in cursing, loud banging and echoing all around. I sat on a plastic chair and opened my bible to Romans and began seeking our God in His word.When my anxious thoughts multiply within me Your consolations delight my soul. I ask our Lord for His sword in remembrance through His Spirit.” After that he had encounters with different men where God’s Word pierced their soul. God provides our protection in EVERY situation by the sword of His Spirit. The second “banner” message I got was at the end of his email to me..

“The Lord has cause my heart to established a banner in His name, and of this I will declare, There is no power of man, nor is their any who can alter nor refute the power and might of His gospel, through the blood and the word of His only Son.” He didn’t know I was reading Exodus and the very same night I read that story of the Amalek battle I got his email.

I am excited to see all that this message of “The Lord is my Banner” will produce in my life. I want to encourage you that when your hands get tired and weary, waiting for the battle to end, waiting for our spouse’s eyes to be open, waiting for “it”to get easier waiting for whatever we feel will make it better, the only TRUE thing we KNOW that needs to lead our life is Christ. We don’t have to wait for that, we already have it!! Sometimes I feel like the waiting defines us. The unequally yoked marriage defines us. The balancing act we have to be ever so aware of defines us. But only if we let it!!

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29-30‬. I want my identity to be in Christ ALONE.  Our circumstances do not define us. The saving work Christ did on the cross to bring us into God’s graces defines us. We are children of the King!!

Sick

On By HollyIn God's Word, TrialLeave a comment

I’m sick today. Head cold, sinus infection kind of sick, stuffy nose, cough, weak and groggy. SG has been cooperative and played in my room; coloring, playing with dolls, watching movies. I was scheduled to work at 4:15 and was preparing myself for that by finding and praying scriptures that would give me the strength to get through a shift while sick. I had sent a message out this morning trying to get my shift picked up but no one replied. Unless you have a fever or pink eye or a doctors note you have to work. I prayed that God would help me keep my attitude positive and not let my sickness be an excuse to complain at work. I prayed Proverbs 3:5 trust in the Lord with all your heart; I prayed Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord and He answered me; I prayed Romans 5:3-5 we also exult in our tribulations, knowing tribulations bring about perseverance, perseverance proven character, and proven character hope...; I prayed Philippians 4:6- be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and over and over I prayed Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. These aren’t scriptures just for “big” trials. God’s Word is for our daily trials, illnesses, attitudes, and inconveniences. His Word can counsel any situation and cover us in truth and the armor we need for any encounter and circumstance. As I was getting ready for work, I DID have peace. I wasn’t worried about how I was going to feel, I KNEW I would be okay. At 3:24, I got a call telling me I didn’t have to come in to work and that the managers would take care of it. Praise God! They NEVER do that. People have had to work before that were much sicker than me. God answered my prayer with deliverance! I have Colossians 3:23 on a notecard at work – Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. I think the managers see that attitude in me and when I needed some compassion from them the Lord guided them to release me from this shift. He takes care of me. He brings me to trials to make sure my heart and attitude are right. He has given me these scriptures prior to this and they were able to comfort me and strengthen me. On top of that God gave me rest, one more day to rest before I have to work an even longer shift tomorrow. Praise God!! Our Lifegroup has been focusing on prayer that praises God and meditates on His goodness and not prayer that is just a checklist of wants and needs. Prayer that praises His Word, His goodness in every situation. This answered prayer today may not seem like a big deal to everyone, but to me it is one more example of His GREAT love for us. I don’t want to wait for just the “big” things to praise Him. He heals me daily, He delivers me daily, He astounds me daily with what is in His Word. Praise His Holy Name!!!

Ask and it will be Given to You

On By HollyIn God's Word, Unequally YokedLeave a comment

2 Corinthians 4:18 – while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

1John 2:15, 17 – Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him…The world is passing away, and also its lust; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 5:21 – Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

At times (more than I would like to admit), I look for my value in “likes” and comments on Facebook . I look for my value in how many compliments my husband gives me. I look for my value in the number of vegetables SG eats. The greatest of these false values and idols I have is Facebook. While I have taken it off my phone and feel like progress IS being made, there are still desires to pop on the computer and check it when I think I have a spare moment.

Last night and this morning, I had a victory over this. After  a discussion in Lifegroup last night and my prayers to the Lord to guide and direct me in my Bible reading, I picked up my bible when I got home last night. I don’t usually read the Bible in bed at night (one of the few times I feel like I could get a lot of reading done) because I don’t want to make my husband feel uncomfortable. But last night I realized this; The Lord has placed me in a spiritually unequal marriage. He also wants me to read my bible. So I need to let go of my “hiding” and trying to be so protective of him in regards to my Bible studies. He knows I believe in God. He knows I read the Bible. So he SHOULD see me reading it, otherwise he is not seeing me follow up on my beliefs. I see him doing math studies because he is a math teacher. So he can see me doing Bible study because I am a daughter of the King!

So, I picked up my Bible and prayer journal and picked up where I left off in Genesis.(instead of grapping by phone and checking Facebook) And guess what?! My husband just went to sleep. No big deal. While I was reading I was enjoying what I was learning. And I went to bed thanking God for doing exactly what I asked about last night. How quickly He delivered! I learned that Genesis ends with Joseph dyeing. That is just one of the little things I learned but it is starting to sink in, it is starting to seem less overwhelming. This morning I was hungry for it even more. So I started Exodus over breakfast. Then hubby and SG when to clean up the car which left me with some more alone time to read further. Another moment to thank God for! My excuse of not having time is not true. If I ask for it, God will show me those little moments I can do some reading. Proverbs 8:17 – I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me.

It isn’t just about the history either, which was my goal when starting to read the Old Testament. I want to get a better background and understanding of the timelines, authors, etc.. As I am reading I am getting so much more though. Learning about Moses and his insecurities about speaking hit home to me. Exodus 4:10 – Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” I SO relate to this. I feel like I can only communicate effectively when I write and when I actually speak it is all wrong. But God’s answer? Exodus 4:11 -“Who has made man’s mouth?…Now then go, and I, even, I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to say.” 

THAT is the power of the Word. While I was searching for “history” God taught me something that I can personally relate to. How marvelous is that ??!! He also showed me more of who He is which draws me closer to Him. Studying the Bible should be about Him and my relationship with Him, not just a history lesson.  That is what His Word can do.

Lord depend my desire and earning for your Word, for YOU!  It is far more important that any book or any website. It is living and active as Hebrews states, but we must OPEN it to bring it alive.